We The People

It Is OUR Country

2009-11-23T14:43:00.003-05:00

Today is November, 23, 2009. Our country is being indundated with proposed massive changes. But--can we believe in them?

Let's look at two of the changes quickly:

A massively expensive overhaul to our healthcare system. A set of changes that will not offer healthcare to ALL citizens, despite the 2,000 pages in the bill. A set of changes that includes a THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR bribe to the state of Louisiana. If the government succeeds in pulling this off, We The People will suffer dire consequences, both in our severly diminished healthcare and in our diminshed cashflow. We know that a government that has the power to "give" also has the power to TAKE AWAY.

An excellent source of information is the Heritage Foundation's blog at http://blog.heritage.org. Details of the bill can be found at http://blog.heritage.org/2009/11/20/the-senate-health-bill-true-cost-is-49-trillion/.

The 911 Terrorist trials in New York City. If this were not actually true, it would merely be laughed at. No sane country would permit such an Obamanation. However, Eric Holder's preposterous announcement was not, in fact, a joke, but a WARNING. The trial will be a CIVIL TRIAL, and thus, they will be entitled to protections under the law. Today it was announced that they will plead NOT GUILTY. They want a platform to air their views.

Where in history has such a thing occurred? True, we tried the 1993 terrorists in NYC, but they were arrested in the US. The current fivesome was arrested in Pakistan. They are military combatants. They have already announced their guilt, and announced it proudly. That will be ignored in order to give them their "platform."

We don't seem to know which way to turn. What to focus on. Our economy is about to be destroyed, as is our way of life. Many people, myself included, KNOW that our voices MUST be heard, louldy, boldly, and without fear. Many of us have joined groups such as ResistNet and the 912 Project. We The People must continue to do so.

Glenn Beck has unveiled his plan for the refounding of our republic. True, he has started it. But it is up to us to continue it, to promote, participate, and take action.
http://www.thenational912coalition.net/

We The People can send emails with frustration and fear. Or we can take action. The choice is clear.

Who We ARe

2009-11-16T10:33:00.011-05:00

We are overwhelmed with news that infuriates and upsets us. From a civilian trial for terrorists, to the takeover of our healthcare, to the apologies made by the administration all over the world, we look around and say, "What on Earth is going on?" We see children setting their friends on fire and parents staging balloon shows in order to attract attention.

There is a feeling that we are losing hold of our most fundamental values, morals, way of life, and something deeper - a sense of who we are, of our place in a greater community.

I believe that there is a reason for all of this. Something rather simple, actually, as I think about it. We have diminished the value of the individual. We have relinquished our personal power and uniqueness. We question our own abilities and our intellect. We have passed power on to others, believing that they will make decisions for our benefit even without our consent. We are not proud of ourselves as individuals, and that transfers to our country. We are not proud of it, either.

Without that pride and sense of purpose, our grounding becomes unsettled. Subliminally we feel lost and isolated. This is contrary to the promises of universal [fill in the blank]. We are further apart than we ever have been, certainly in my lifetime.

What might be a remedy for this? That appears obvious as well. Stop believing in the government and start believing in ourselves. Think enough of ourselves to take chances, to work hard, to learn, and yes, to fail. Failure is not horrendous; at least, if we fail, that failure belongs to US. It is SURRENDER that is so terrible--the voluntary relinquishment of our own power.

The focus returns to the INDIVIDUAL rather than the STATE. State power would naturally be reduced, and people's strengths would be given the opportunity to blossom.

Not The End

2009-11-13T15:38:00.003-05:00

This CANNOT be the end of the Tea Party Express! We have LOTS to do!

The first thing on the agenda must be to stop this trial that our out-of-control government has decided upon. The 911 terrorists CANNOT be permitted in our country, never mind New York City.

We MUST take action. We cannot let this group disband.

Back To Blogging

2009-04-02T13:34:00.002-04:00

I had thought that I would permanently discontinue writing this blog. The rise of Barak Obama over the summer was both depressing and frightening, and seeing him get the Democratic nomination settled a pit into my stomach which has now grown in size.

The events that have transpired since the election and the ensuing disgrace of an inauguration / coronation make it impossible for me to be silent, and thus this blog comes back to life.

It is challenging to organize and encapsulate these events, and to put them into a perspective that makes sense. I will try to do that. My opinions will be all over this, but I will include facts that I believe support those opinions. I hope that this information causes Americans to THINK and then to decide, on their own, what they think is best for this country.

First - The Past.

Upon first hearing about Barak Obama, I was somewhat disturbed by the awe in which people spoke about him. I don't believe that human beings merit this type of awe, barring some magnificent achievement or contribution to society. Listening to him, I found nothing there, albeit that he was an excellent speaker. Back then, I simply could not understand what all the hoopla was.

Then he started PROMISING. That immediately sends up red flags for me. I don't believe that promisers deliver. I am a staunch individualist,

and people, especially those in government, who start promising everything to everyone. Hearing and watching interviews with the man on the street showed me that people were BELIEVING in the powers that this man pretended to have.

This is beyond an issue of politics. It is an issue so fundamental that we do not consider it consciously. It is what our basic, fundamental principles ARE, what we value, and how we recognize those values. We live in a country that was founded on a principle that was radical at

the time - that EACH individual has intrinsic value, and the United States was designed to afford that individual the opportunity to do whatever he or he chose to do with that intrinisc value.

We were NEVER to SURRENDER to ANY individual - to give that person power over us, to allow him to make decisions for us. No, our president

was a SERVANT, HIRED by American Citizens, granted very limited powers by the Constitution. I can still feel the shadow of George Washington weeping on inauguration day.

That forgetfulness by the American people has opened the gate for a dictatorial government, masterminded by a megalomaniac who continues to expand his powers far, far beyond what the Constitution permits him to do.

There are still those who are believing his promises. One thing that I can say, his promise of CHANGE has certainly come to fruition.

Second - The Nearer Past

What of his affiliations? By now, at the beginning of April, we have forgotten the 'reverend' wright (I cannot bring myself to put his name in uppercase). Is it possible that we have elected a person with such an affiliation? It did not end there, however. The 'professor' who hates the United States is part of the inner circle of friends.

Is this what a servant of the people should be?

Why the worship? From where does the mystique arise? Are We the People so hungry that we search for someone to worship and we chose the one who promises the most?

As I watched this horrendous scene develop over the past months, and finally the election and coronation, I was continually struck with

thought of religious zealots. The scenes at Obama gatherings had all the look and feel of such events, complete with blind, awestruck worship.

Those who rant against religion fail to see the connection between the two scenarios. To me, they were one in the same; it was merely the objects of worship that differed.

So here we sit. April 2 and Obama in in Europe to push a plan that is so radical that even the radicals don't like it. His megalomania is so obvious that it is beyond disugusting that we have tolerated him for this long.

The Day the Music Died

2008-05-26T19:37:00.011-04:00

Today is Memorial Day, and it turned out to be a day to bring me back 40 years. I had my radio on all day, listening to WABC Radio Rewound. As usual, Mark Simone was terrific on the evening portion of the show. I feel young, free, and happy!

That got me thinking. Thinking about music, and how it has morphed from my childhood until now. Wow! What changes! I was a WABC Radio fan, like just about everyone back then. We had the music on all day, and listened to the DJs and the commercials just as much as the music. Today, as the old commercials came on, I found myself smiling and singing with them as well.

Now, I never listen to music radio anymore. I press buttons, and station after station disappoints me. I love music more than ever, but it seems that I can't find any MUSIC. I've been through many changes, and I fear that I'm getting old and crochety, but the music that is played on the radio now just doesn't sound like MUSIC.

Granted, oldies music is not the epitome of musical excellence. Still, it stayed with you, and I love the tunes now just as much, if not more, than I did then.

So, more thinking.

In sixth grade, we had to do a full research paper. Complete with bibliography, footnotes, and proper referencing. No computers of course, and no crossouts. Pen only. No corrections whatsoever. I pondered topics, and as usual, my Dad suggested an idea which opened my eyes. He suggested that I do a history of Jazz, from the Negro Spiritual through the current time. It sounded interesting so I went for it.

I learned so much! It was fascinating. I listened to gospel music, jazz, rock and roll. I loved the soulful, passionate gospel, its depth of feeling, the magic that it created. I learned about George Gershwin at that time, and Summertime and I've Got Plenty of Nuthin' made me shudder. The gospel music evolved, and Frank Loesser took Damon Runyon's tale, and the boat rocked!
Curiosity made made do more research, before the spiritual and the gospel music. Every uncovering was a revelation - I was only 11.

Music developed for 2 primary reasons - to make requests of the gods, and to honor and give thanks to them. Early cultures danced, chanted, and played rhythms to celebrate life and mourn death. The music was an outward expression of inner feelings - ecstasy - derived from Greek - to go outside yourself.

Music continued to be a celebration of the gods, and God, and of life. It took on new meaning when Vivaldi honored the seasons, and Handel's unsurpassed masterpiece added power and depth to an already rich art. The passion of the ancients was brought to its peak with the Ode to Joy.

Even the symphony expanded. Stravinsky opened the Earth and the Sky. We were drawn inward to a new interpretation of sound.

The music came to the people. Gershwin celebrated the city that he loved. Jazz evolved. The Big Band was Born. Time had passed, but the Call and Response from the gospel music was felt over and over again.

The war prompted a powerful nationalism, and we supported, entertained, and sang about the troops.

Jazz begat Swing, and along came Frank Sinatra, who sang of love; they era of the Love Song was upon us. Rock and Roll followed. Still, the music was celebratory. It spoke of emotions, life, death, gods. It spoke of Love. Music had moved, over time, from the gods to humanity.

Through the 1960s, and then a new transformation began. The music was not merely about love any more, but about things. But - they were fun things! They became silly things, but we still loved them. And we sing them now when we hear them on oldies stations.

More time passed. The music turned dark. Not dark emotion of sadness or loss. The music turned sinister. We loved that too. I don't know anyone who isn't rockin' when Sympathy For the Devil is Played.

It didn't stop. It got darker. But the darkness was not IN ADDITION to the ECSTASY. It REPLACED the ECSTASY. Love songs and silly were becoming rarer and rarer. The feelings inside changed. There was disruption. Chaos. Helter Skelter.

There is a new breed of music. It is charged with hate. I cannot create links to the few that I have heard. I never want to hear them again. Rape, murder, denigration of women, matricide, patricide. What horrors!

Now, songs of love seem to be a thing of the past. We must find oldies stations to hear them. Our children have never heard Rhapsody In Blue, and haven't the faintest notion of who Beethoven might be. The don't snap their fingers to a great beat, because the hateful music is played in non-rhythmic patter. It disrupts the heart. It scrapes at the mind. It overturns the soul.

Is music the reflection of culture, or its cause? There seems to be a common trend in our cultural brilliance - music and culture decline together.

I listen to the lectures produced by The Teaching Company. My favorite professor is Dr. Daniel N. Robinson. In a lecture about ancient Greece, he discussed art and culture. I am paraphrasing, but he suggested that it is not how WE look, but rather WHAT WE LOOK AT, that affects our outlook, sensibilities, and behavior. He pointed out that we might take a long hard look at the buildings that we erect - as he phrases it "In our name." Does a contemporary school compare with Notre Dame? Surely not.

I believe that also applies to what we HEAR. Beautiful music enriches us, lifts us, draws us outside of ourselves, and brings forth joy. Upbeat snappy music sends us boppin'. Love songs soothe our hearts and evoke feelings of love. Silly songs make us laugh.

Horrendous music draws horrendous emotions, unrest, depression, and hatred.

Somewhere, a few years back, the MUSIC died. It was replaced with a savage rage that insults every ear that is subjected to it.

Keep those oldies coming WABC!! Surely the music isn't REALLY dead??

Perhaps we might look backward, and listen to the works that came before this time. Swing dance. Take a ride in a convertible. Close our eyes and listen to The Elf-King and feel the fear and passion. Take our I-Pods to a park by a lake. Sit quietly. Play Moonlight Sonata. But ... laugh and romp as well!

OK - I Don't Get It

2008-05-25T21:53:00.004-04:00

First and foremost...

I am as far from a Hilary fan as you can get. I shuddered the first time that I ever saw her. And the sound of her voice! I am certain that Dennis Miller could come up with a far better metaphor than I can.

In this case, however, I must define myself as one individual who is not repulsed by her most recent verbal faux paus. I'm absolutely positive that she will never top "it takes a village." Certainly, the frantic scramble to dodge bullets is worthy of a snicker (and the loss of the nomination).

But this? I watch the pundits, and I still don't get it. Does anyone actually believe that she's suggesting an assasination attempt?

My simple mind sees things very simplistically. She mentioned the event because it was a major event that occurred in June, and her poster-boy husband still campaigned in June. That's it. Nothing more.

This never-ending election cycle has become a series of juvenile verbal stabs, media nitpicking, and media adoration. If I see another picture of Barak, I will screem for a prolonged period. Every time I see a picture, I think that I'm in a large plaza in Russia, bowing to the image of Stalin, or in Beijing, awestruck over Mao.

Hope!!! Here's what I hope. I hope to hear something coherent from someone.

Enough!

We are hiring a president. I would ask tougher questions of a high-school student that wanted to help me in my office.

The media had better calm down. We the People are completely frustrated!

Should we take a very careful look at Bob Barr??

Vertical!

2008-05-25T15:46:00.003-04:00

A pinprick comes directly at us at high speed. Two seconds later we realize that it's the F-22 Raptor, and there is Silence! It's sound hasn't reached us yet. Now the pilot turns the plane upward, pointing directly at the sky. As it rises straight up, the blast of sound hits us. He rises, and rises, and hundreds of thousands of us sit in disbelief. He is totally vertical, and he is slowing down. As he reaches the pinnacle, he turns ever so slowly, and meanders his way straight down toward the Atlantic Ocean. The sky is clear blue and he is stunning against it.

He banks left, traveling west, and rides on his side. The machine is so beautiful and graceful! And the speed - it's unbelievable! He is doing things that nobody can believe unless they are actually watching!

He flies upside down - fast! The sounds are following the aircraft and they are mind-boogling, just as the visuals are mind boggling!

The P-51 appears and flies tight next to his wing. They move as one unit.

Our heads are straining as they are craning, but we cannot bring them down to rest. 65,000 pounds of design, test, manufacture and superb flying are above us and we cannot miss a single flip of the tail.

He rises and rises again, and then he FLOATS down. Can this be happening?

The aerobatic pilots are awesome as well. While they are not flying Raptors, the beauty of their flying and precision leave the crowds breathless. A father and son fly 2 planes, side by side, and we can barely see the air between their wings - they are THAT CLOSE. They rise, pause, nearly stall, and spin down toward the water, only to revive themselves at the last possible moment,

Black and Gold - the precision parchuters leap from the aircraft and float in the sky. The chutes open, and plumes of colored smoke follow the men float down. They land on a miniscule black circle, lost in a sea of people on the Jones Beach shoreline.

The sky clears. Silence. From the east comes a plane. No wait. It's not a plane. It's SIX PLANES. They are so close together that they appear to be one craft, until they are close enough, and we Earthlings realize that we are witnessing superb precision. They bank as one and fly past, and like the Raptor before them, the blast from the Hornets reaches us a few moments later.

The Blue Angels are aptly named. Every angle that the sun hits them is beautiful. Every action is perfect - every move thrilling.

Two separate off. Where are the other four? We don't know. But the two are returning from opposite ends of the sky along the beach. From the west and east they follow the Jones Beach shore. They are going to meet directly in front of my eyes. The jetstreams meet and the smooth line that followed each of them melds with the other to form a bursting cloud. How did they miss each other? We could not see any air between them.

They disappear at opposite ends of the sky. The other four approach from the north behind us. Four - one. It is difficult to discern. Again perfect. Their jetstreams follow them and fill the sky. They separate into their Delta formation, moving in 4 different directions, and their jetstreams burst apart. Again beauty.

I realize that I am so proud, and I wonder why. I have done nothing. It hits me. I am simply proud to be Human. To see such accomplishments. To honor the efforts from the initial ideas that bubbled in someone's mind, to the dedication of all of the pilots that honored us with this demonstration of extreme talent. But no, it is far more than talent. It is work, practice, mistakes and corrections. That is what hundreds of thousand of people have ultimately come to see. It is the knowledge that such things exist, and the deep appreciation that they do. The ultimate in science, engineering, and comeraderie. The product of the efforts of many minds striving to achieve spectacular goals.

From the engineers to the pilots, the message was simple and clear: "This is what can be done."

Wyatt's Torch - Ayn Rand Was a Prophet

2008-05-24T07:38:00.006-04:00

I read Atlas Shrugged for the first time when I was 18 years old; like so many other people, my life and my outlook were influenced forever. Ayn Rand's characters emerged larger than life - whether they were good or bad, sinister or benificent - whether I related to them or was repulsed by them. At 18, I believed that Rand was a wonderful storyteller,
but, of course, I thought, the frightening picture that she painted could NEVER come to pass.

Nearly 40 years later, I am shuddering at the similarities between her "story" and the reality of life in the US in 2008. As if she had staged it, our uber-government launched an astonishing attack on the executives of the major oil companies.

Our "representatives," who hold the purse strings on We the People's money, had the audacity to attack the monies that the oil companies make. Before emotion takes hold as you read this, try to bear in mind that making money is the ultimate purpose of doing business. Moreover, the CEOs explained what their return on the dollar was.

The false outrage at the numbers is nothing less than comical; the congress is supported by truckloads of money provided by lobbyists and special interest groups that push legislation to further their individual causes rather than representing the citizenry as a whole.

The executives also pointed out that the government, vis a vis the strong environmentalist lobbies, has prevented both the drilling and the refining of oil in the United States. This leaves the oil companies with very little leeway regarding what they can choose to research. It stifles exploration and creativity. It stunts the development of new ideas. It curtails free enterprise and competition. The result - a country (and a world) in which the citizens become SUBJECTS, falling under the thumb of one and only one industry, and who must succumb to the dictates of that industry.

This is a far cry from the free market system. Business operates best when it operates without restraint, either from the government directly, or from special interest groups that do not reflect the majority of the population. Now, 40 years after the last refinery was constructed, the United States and the world face surging oil increases. Had the companies been allowed to pursue energy resources located here in the US, we might be in a very different position than we are in now.

The economic implications are grim. But...
The social implications are worse.

The government, in the person of this special investigative body, attacked the "obscene" salaries that the oil executives enjoy. Regardless of whether or I not I am happy with their salaries, it is beyond my control to determine them. And that is the way that it should be. That is what FREEDOM is about. Each of us has the same opportunity to explore new ideas, to work hard, and to take risks. The end result, for each of us, is determined by the choices that
we make, and how we pursue those choices.

Bill Gates is not being called to the carpet for the money that he earns, nor is Warren Buffet, or dozens of other wealthy individuals who have made names for themselves via the free
enterprise system.

What is the difference between the two groups? The one that is being attacked is the one that is already subject to government controls! The one that is not is subject to the dictates of the marketplace. During this fiasco, one congresswoman made the horrendous blunder - one that she thankfully recognized as soon as she let the word slip out - but it was too late. The real motive for this "hearing" surfaced. The real purpose of what our "representatives" want to do reared its ugly head. Maxine Waters shuddering the frightening word "socialize" when she threatened the oil companies. It was so ridiculous that she could not recover from it. She stuttered and then fell into stupefying silence.

Ayn Rand already wrote this scene in The Fountainhead. Be sure to watch the video. You will see that Rand had a better resolution. The person called to the carpet actually stood up and spoke on behalf of himself. And in doing so, he spoke on behalf of all of us.

What We the People have forgotten in 40 years is that the individual is what really matters; he is the one who makes the difference; he is the one whose interest must be preserved. The government, on the other hand, now attempts to speak for the people. Yet they cannot do so. It is the INDIVIDUAL, seeking to protect his interests in a free society, who will ultimately create a situation in which EVERYONE benefits.

Somewhere, out there, is a Howard Roark. A John Galt. A Dagny Taggart. A Francisco D'Anconia. What they have to do is stand and speak. If they do not, their work, their risks, and their accomplishments, will be taken away. And if they are, they should not surrender them willingly to a government who would overstep its powers to this stunning extent. Rather, they should destroy what they have created, rather than leaving their creations to the looters who would take them by force. They should emulate Wyatt, and create a torch that can be seen for miles.

Watch the videos. It may be that Gary Cooper was playing a part in a fictitious story. But I believe not. I believe that scene is an ominous foretelling of what was to come.

Beware of a government that is ready to take from one of us in order to beneift of us. They next person that they take from will be you.

Sovereignty Surrendered - This is Absolute Doudou!

2008-05-20T21:28:00.009-04:00

The military junta in Burma refrains from dispensing the foods that have been donated by people all over the world, most significantly by the United States. The happenings in the Sudan are an outrage against humanity.

Yet, the United Nations chooses to send a representative to investigate racisim in the United States. Have the other situations been resolved? I must have missed it.

Hopefully, the first place that Doudou Diène will visit will be the right reverend wright. That will give him enough material for a tome.

He'll probably be so busily immersed in racism in the US that he won't have an opportunity to meet some people:

Barak Obama - Likely Democratic presidential candidate
Condolezza Rice - Secretary of State
Colin Powell - 65th Secretary of State
David Paterson - Governor of New York
Clarence Thomas - Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Any basketball team

Will he have enough time to examine the United Negro College Fund? To spend a few hours of watching the Black Entertainment Network?

Why is this being permitted? Because Benjamin Chang is permitting it. Were We The People asked about this? Was there a referendum? I didn't receive any notification or questionnaire--did you?

We The People began surrendering our freedoms and our sovereignty years ago. We surrendered the Second Amendment. We thought, or believed, that we were acting in the best interest of the collective. We allowed our right to bear arms to be infringed. It seemed good. It felt good. We thought, or felt, that we would be safer. No guns. That was the hope but not the reality. The reality is this: no government has been able to assume absolute power when the people have the right to bear arms.

We The People surrendered our freedoms when we succumbed to politically correct speech. We surrendered the First Amendment. In fact, this vital amendment specifically protects hate speech. Whether we like it or not, we are granted that absolute right.

We The People surrendered our freedoms when we permitted special interest groups to control our government, rather than to have our government moderated via the election process. Now, in 2008, we are in a stranglehold - held by the Middle East - and we watch the price of oil rise by the day. We have not been PERMITTED to drill or to refine oil in many years. Was this put to a vote by the people? Never.

We The People have watched while four judges in California decided, superceding the vote of the people of California, decided to permit gay marriage. The Constitution did not give judges this power. We The People have not given judges this power. The judges did not abide by the will of the People. We sit and watch.

Today, we learn that Doudou Diène is coming to investigate us. NOTHING in our system permits this. Nothing except Benjamin Chang.

We are surrounded by despotic dictators who couch their madness in promises of new beginnings and delight and wonder for all. We KNOW that these are lies. We KNOW what happens when promises are made to the people.

The only promise that the government must make is to STOP. To GET OUT OF OUR WAY. To DISALLOW examination of our country by ANYONE to whom we have not given authority.

It is HIGH TIME for ATLAS to SHRUG.

The Making of Kings

2008-03-28T02:15:00.006-04:00

Bewilderment is the word that comes to mind. To observe the aftermath of the revelations of Jeremiah Wright's (I cannot bear to call him Reverend) rantings is to observe events that would be unbelievable if they appeared in a fiction novel. Yet now, in 2008 in the United States, We The People have an up close and personal show of maniacle rantings and take no action.

Beyond Belief. Is there actually ANYONE who still supports Obama? Terrifyingly, yes. His affiliation with monsters has not deterred the American people. We have partaken of some drug, some hyptonic sleight-of-hand, and chosen to conduct ourselves as though business is still as usual.

Thirty years ago, we slowly turned our backs against religion and worship. It began with another ranting - words that reached a Supreme Court - that led to the abolishment of a "moment of silence and meditation." As time passed, the moral compass that religion provided, eroded, with fragments dropping off like old plaster in an abandoned building.

Yet, we still need to worship. We have rejected our independence, our passion for the individual, for courage, hard work and strength. We have replaced that with a sense of hopelessness, of weakness, of inability. That has led us to turn to heroes to fulfill our dreams, where we were once responsible for their fulfillment.

Now, to honor monsters, the charming sheep of the degraded "parish" in Chicago are BUILDING a mansion for their god. His horrific rantings have assured him of a place high in their hearts. Instead of an outcry to shake the world, we hear the sound of carpenters.

We have foresaken ourselves. We deserve whatever we get.

2008-03-11T22:56:00.009-04:00

There is so much to say about Spitzer's revelation that I don't know where to begin. We have heard the news as well as the pundits, so now, even after only a few hours, the information begins to go stale. From the moment that I saw the news, I knew that I had to post what I thought and felt. And I don't feel terrific. So I'm going to use words that we don't often hear in our politically correct world - slave, bum, cheat, liar.

For me it is not as much about Spitzer's actions as it is about his wife's actions. So I will address that now.

I was sitting with a group of colleagues, all of us watching Spitzer's very abbreviated press conference.

Why, exactly, was she doing there? The phrase "to lend support to her husband" is beginning to stink to high heaven. Why, exactly, does she want to support him? Why does he deserve it?

It probably was not too long ago that Hillary did the same ridiculous thing. I was disgusted then and I am disgusted now. Any woman who stands in front of the whole world, supporting a powerful, wealthy husband who conducts himself in this manner, is certainly far away from my type of woman.

Here's what I would have loved to see: I would have loved to watch her standing there, listening to the nauseating 1 minute false apology, and then, when he was finished, she would turn to face him, reach her arm behind her as far as possible, like a pitcher does during the wind-up, and then SMACK him across the face as hard as possible. Hopefully, a few teeth would have flown out of his lying cheating mouth.

Now THAT would have been a statement about Women's Liberation!

Not a chance. She stood there like a mute slave, unable to speak, ashamed, the object of pity.

You know why men do what they do? Because women cowards let them.

My colleagues said that it was about the money. That the money, and all that went with it, was more important. Then don't call yourself LIBERATED and a FEMINIST, because you are a SLAVE to MEN and to MONEY.

A truly liberated woman does not need a man OR his money. And the law degree obviously has no meaning. It takes more than a degree and the executive suite to define liberation. It takes more than an expensive suit to define strength and courage.

My mom stayed home and took care of us. She doesn't have a law degree, or an expensive house, or expensive clothes. Just a regular Mom. But, I tell you this,
she would NEVER LET A MAN DO THIS TO HER - no way!

As I listened to the callers to the various radio talk shows, I was stunned by the number of people, both male and female, who, although shocked, "understood" that this sort of thing happens. True, they felt, by a margin of about 7/3, that our disgraceful governor should step down. But some even had the audacity to use EUROPE as some sort of standard for political conduct. And there was an interesting concession to the notion that this is a victimless crime.

REALLY! What about the three daughters? At best, their friends will feel embarrassed and sorry for them. At worst, they will be the object of tasteless jokes. Both situations are unacceptable, and they will have been victimized.

What about We The People of New York? This seems so painfully obvious that I cannot believe that nobody has stated it outright: If this BUM lies to his WIFE and DAUGHTERS, then precisely how can the people of New York trust him with ANYTHING?

It's time to go backwards - perhaps a few embarrassing slaps across the face would save some daughters from months of disgrace and embarrassment. And also save We The People from governments, both local and federal, that disregard our basic belief systems, our morality, and the ideas and institutions that we have held so dear.

What institution? Everyone forgot I suppose. That would be the institution of marriage - Mr. and Mrs. Spitzer are MARRIED. That is supposed to mean something. Evidently not. Not to them. And not to the people.

The "Women's Liberation" movement has been around since the early 1970s. Enough already. We are far less liberated than we were then. Burning bras did nothing for us, as they never could have. Earning degrees and securing executive positions separated us from ourselves. We were told that we could Bring Home the Bacon and Fry it up in the Pan. Terrific! Before we became LIBERATED, we only had to fry it. After LIBERATION, we also had to bring it home! How blind were we? How easily led!

And we have "high-powered" women to set the standard for us. The pathetic Mrs. Clinton and the equally pathetic Mrs. Spitzer.

Are we SERIOUSLY considering voting for a WOMAN for our PRESIDENT? I cannot think of anything more frightening.

Spitzer's Abortion Passion

2008-03-08T20:49:00.006-05:00

Once upon a time, the word abortion was spoken in hushed tones, and, should a young women elect to have one, she often went alone to a rare doctor who would accomodate her. Roe vs. Wade has fortunately lightened the burden for such unfortunate women, but at the same time, opened the door to a deluge of abortions which are now performed for the most banal of reasons.

Abortion has morphed from a shame to a right. Perhaps that is the measure of the American people.

Or - is it a measure of liberal media who direct the actions of liberal state and federal legislatures?

We don't use the word abortion too much any more. Like all of our sugar-coated jargon, we assign terms like reproductive rights and freedom of choice. Why not just use the word abortion?

As we approach the November election, reproductive freedom is high on the list of issues that the contenders bloviate about. For countless Americans, abortion will NEVER be an issue, and should not even occupy a place in the political jargon. But it has been imposed upon us.

Now, in New York State, Governor Spitzer is pushing state senate bill S5829 - Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act (RHAPP). Regardless of one's opinion on abortion, New Yorkers should know the salient points of the bill:

No Minimum Age on Abortion
No Parental Notification
No Restriction on Term Length - an abortion can be performed through full gestation
Any medical professional, no specialization required, can perform the abortion

Spitzer and his cronies are trying to double-talk us into accepting this. I have sent letters and emails to the people listed at the site below. I have only gotten one response. It did not address my concerns, but rather tried to explain why this bill is so wonderful.

It seems that our passion for life has degraded into passion for death.

This is being forced upon New Yorkers. Learn about the bill and then decide if you want to take action. If so, visit http://abortionbill.org/.

The government can impose their will only on a people who allow them to.

Whew!

2007-12-04T01:43:00.002-05:00

What a relief! The people of the world have really lucked out. The Muslims in the Sudan have, in their infinite kindness and mercy, decided to pardon the British teacher who violated them so terribly. Oddly, this was not plastered over the home pages of news websites or the front pages of newspapers. Why not? Was this not important enough?

The Sudanese people were screaming for her death after her arrest. For the wicked crime of naming a teddy bear Muhammed, Ms. Gibbons was in serious danger of receiving 40 lashes as punishment. And, although the media did cover that story, the coverage was surprisingly moderate.

Why was there not a stronger outcry from the whole world? Surely this action trumps any underwear being placed over the head of one of the Guantamo prisoners! Come to think of it, it surpasses may other actions that caused internationa uproar,

The Muslim community has accomplished most of what they intended to do. They scream racism and bigotry at any action which does not exhalt them, and they threaten to kill, and succeed in killing, anyone who commits an act which they feel speaks poorly of their religion - the Religion of peace.

We the People must be able to speak out, for or against any particular group, without fear of reprisal. Our right of freedom of speech must never be abrided. Hate Crimes laws, and fear of Muslim outrage, have silenced the people and created a very real fear of civil suit or prosecution.

Treason in our Government

2007-09-25T00:09:00.000-04:00

We the People elected them. They were supposed to represent US. What happened? Where does the Constitution specify that non-citizens receive the same rights that citizens enjoy? Certainly, that precious document speaks of rights for ALL people, but at this point in history, it is the American citizen whose rights are being trampled upon.

Now, Elliot Spitzer has decided to give drivers' licenses to illegal aliens. His reason - "Spitzer insists this requirement imposed a hardship on the undocumented without helping security." Newsday 9/24/2007. So what? Why is that an issue at all?

Providing them with drivers' licenses will impose a hardship on the rest of us. A reminder to this horrendous governor - We the People are the ones that he should be concerned about.

With American jobs being outsourced, American industries being sold to foreign interests, American schools being deluged with non-English-speaking non-citizens, where is the government's responsibility? When are We the People going to raise our voices
in wild opposition?

Government action in this regard is beneath anything acceptable. It is beneath illegal. It insults the Founding Fathers and the Constitution. It is nothing short of treason.

Why should We the People continue to obey the law? We have learned that disobeying the law results in significant benefits to the lawbreakers. We the People have many responsibilities. We pay taxes, fees, surcharges. We conform to town ordinances, county ordinances, state ordinances, and federal regulations. We are being bled dry, and when all is said and done, every right that
we enjoy is being handed to illegals who have no responsibilities.

Congresspeople who advocate for illegals ahead of citizens should be impeached. Spitzer should be immediately impeached. We the People need to speak out, cry out, and make the demands that are at least equivalent to the demands of illegals who flaunt our laws and our borders.

The Shame of the United States

2007-09-24T23:14:00.000-04:00

In 1939, the Nazi machine in Germany, led by their hypnotic and beloved Adolf Hitler, was engaged in the systematic genocide of groups of people that they considered sub-human. The most noteworthy groups were the Jews, but they were not the exclusive group. Coupled with the horror and rage upon discovery of the death camps came the terrible question, "How could this have happened?"

Now we know.

Under the false mantle of freedom of speech, the United States, exemplified in the hallowed walls of Columbia University, has INVITED a monster, killer, extinguisher of freedoms, to speak inside of its walls. There is no excuse or apology that can be considered sufficient to absolve them, and by extension, all of us, for the depravity of this day.

Anyone who was awake on 9/24/2007 saw, heard and read the news. We saw protesters against and in favor of Ahmadinjad. What we did not see was enough of the protests. Most of us went to work, to school, and carried on our daily business. As responsible citizens, this IS what we do. But today should have been a day that was different. Today was a day that we all should have stopped what we were doing and cried a resounding "NO!"

But We the People could not. We are, after all, the people who make it possible for governments and universities to subvert all of our freedoms when they permit this horror to continue. We tolerated this because we always tolerate. We watched, wept, burst with rage, yet managed to go to our offices and schools and live up to our responsibilities as if this visit and speech were just another example of misplaced Constitutional understanding.

But no, it is far, far more than that. Our silence was our permssion; it was our seal of approval for a monster, and the outward welcome that he received. Our silence will be our death. We deserve it.

How could it have happened in 1939, 40, 41, etc.? It happened while the citizens of Germany turned away from the rancid smell of burning flesh. After all, the Nazi party was doing what was best for the country, was it not? And now, all these years later, the bastion of academics is doing what is best for the freedom of speech.

The hypocrisy of the university is beyond belief. The second-grader would be able to clearly see through that. While the Minutemen will not be invited again, and ROTC disallowed, it is more than clear that open debate comprised of differing opinions is the farthest thing from the minds of the academics at Columbia. But, put the double standard aside. Operate on the
assumption that Dick Cheney will be speaking their soon, with Ann Coulter an invited guest the week after. The university should not have invited the Iranian "leader" to disgrace the grounds of an academic institution.

Watching the students the evening before, we heard how they wanted to hear what Ahmadinejad had to say. Why? Haven't they heard enough? Is is possible that any living female is remotely interested in what he has to say? Here, in the United States, where there is screaming to allow women to enjoy every possible freedom, the women at Columbia seemed not to mind the invitation to a leader of a country that dimishes its women in every way imaginable.
Where is NOW - The National Organization of Women? Which women, precisely, do they represent? Not one that I know.

And what of our government, and our president? Where is the outrage? Why did they permit Ahmadinejad to enter the country at all? We are all screaming over the opportunities that Clinton had to apprehend or kill Osama Bin Laden; now we have a mass murderer entering our borders, and NOTHING at all is done. This seems far more grievous.

More disgracefully, the State Department, in response to an outcry by the Muslim world which stated its resentment over the phrase Islamo-Fascist, stated that the United States understands that Islam is a religion of peace, and is one of the great religions of the world. Really? A religion of peace? While it may be true that not all Muslims are terrorists, NEARLY EVERY TERRORIST THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS A MUSLIM.

How is it possible that an entire world has become so frightened of these people to the point of inviting them, apologizing for them, and supporting schools for them? Is it the fact that we all know that these people are truly madmen, and we are frightened to our very core?

Fear should not be the way that we deal with global cancer. INTOLERANCE is what We the People need to embrace, and to spread throughout the world. We the People will not tolerate a machete at our throats. We the People will not tolerate Imams that spread hatred and destruction. We the People will not tolerate leaders who deny the Holocaust, who provide weapons to our enemies, who abuse women, who engage in torture, and who kidnap and hold hostage our fellow citizens for 444 days.

What could We the People have done? We could have followed John Galt and stopped the motor of the world. We could have gone on strike. No worker should have gone to work. No parent should have sent a child to school. No car should have been driven. No store should have been visited. But...we were too otherwise occupied.

Our shame is most likely beyond what we can atone for.

In the words of the brilliant and courageous Elie Weisel, "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

A Government OF the People, BY the People, FOR the People

2007-07-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

144 years ago, President Lincoln vowed that this government would not "perish from the earth."

It seems that it has. Our government is no longer for the people of the United States, but rather, for any group of people who demands anything, is offended by any words, resents any actions, that We the People might commit. Our government has forgotten that we exist. It searches, and finds, any screaming, whining, crying and complaining group that whines, cries, and complains to it. It pays no attention to its citizens, its workers, its voters. We the People are a dim memory.

Today, the Senate voted AGAINST a bill which would protect "whistle blowers," those people on airplanes who report suspicious behavior of other people on the aircraft.

How did this all start? In November 2006, six imams were removed from a US Airways Flight at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Why? Their behavior was suspicious, and caused concern and fear among the other passengers. What happened next? The Muslim community was outraged! Now, the passengers who reported the suspicious behavior are under threat of suit. In order to protect people from threat of suit subsequent to reporting suspicious behavior, a bill was introduced by Representative Peter King. In a nutshell, the bill would have protected people from suit subsequent to reporting suspicious behavior. BUT THE BILL WAS VOTED DOWN.

Why? If a behavior is suspicious, we are obligated to notify the proper authorities. Sure, we can still report the behavior, but we are not protected from suit if we do so. Many people will therefore remain silent.

This is very confusing. So much of the political debate centers on a fear of offending people. However, our politicians never seem to be afraid of offending law-abiding American citizens. This is beyond belief. Each day, with each insane Congressional decision, a layer of of rights is being eroded.

Someone in government should actually READ the Bill of Rights. That document is a list of restrictions on GOVERNMENT; it is NOT a list of restrictions on WE THE PEOPLE.

It began with a list of words that we were no longer permitted to say. A clear abridgment of the First Amendment.

What ever happened to "If you see something, say something?" What ever happened to the findings of the 911 Commission? What is the point of investigating an event, learning from the investigation? Does all of that mean nothing?

When speech is restricted, it becomes easier and easier to erode the other rights that were so carefully specified. We the People sit quietly, in awe, and without recourse.

It also appears that the Fairness Doctrine is not dead and buried.

Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) attempted to introduce a bill which would insure that the FCC would not reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. That attempt was unsuccessful, blocked by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) Now, We the People are threatened once again by our own government.

It is hard to imagine how something like the Fairness Doctrine would be implemented. Would the FCC hire a group of people to sit and listen to radio shows, and to watch television shows, counting the number of minutes that one point of view was expressed, and then imposing a fine on the company if the same number of minutes that the opposite point of view was NOT expressed? How can legislation of this sort be written? What, exactly, would it specify? How would it be upheld?

These congressional actions are beyond the point of debate and understanding. We the People must take strong actions, expressing our outrage and rejection of the recent decisions that congress has been making. We must impeach our non-representatives. We must demand what we learned that we already had - what Lincoln promised us 144 years ago.

Can We Enjoy Our Summer?

2007-07-16T18:36:00.000-04:00

It seems as though we are continually being bombarded with bad news. Consider some of the things that are occupying the newswaves, airwaves, and cyberwaves:

Global Warming
Something VERY scary is happening there. Now, Europe is considering ILLEGALIZING sports cars. Other groups are saying that since it is humanity that is causing the global warming problem, we must consider how important humanity really is. Huh?

Fairness Doctrine
Now we are so concerned over balanced discussions on talk radio, we are contemplating regulating that type of speech. What about the severely left-tilted news media? And the disgracefully left-tilting population of university professors and university courses? Are we to insist that we have "fairness" in those venues? We probably should. But We The People
sit silently, believing in the Constitution, and relying on that document to support us in times of crisis. We adhere to the principle of freedom of speech down to its core, and any discussion to the contrary should be raising RED FLAGS all over the place.

Dial-A-Scandal
Is this for real? Do people truly have nothing better to do than dig up dirt on our polticians and call in to report sex scandals. Are there truly no bigger issues? Huh?

Hate Crime Expansion
Senator Kennedy wants to expand the Hate Crimes doctrines to include homosexuals. Where is this legislation being placed? In the Defense Bill. Huh?

Toxic Food
Now we have to worry about food coming from China. Some of it appears to be contaminated. We the People would like country-of-origin labeling on all of our food. This may fall under the category of hate crime. Huh?

Drug Cartels from Mexico
The news is telling us that an enormous amount of drug trafficking is taking place along the southern border. It is becoming a problem. They are also reporting that marajuana cultivation has significantly risen in the U.S. Huh?

Rising Islamic Hatred
Last week, We the People got to watch some video that had been released from mosques in England. Blatant hatred of the West, vows to kill infidels, a world takeover by islam. Are We the People surprised? We know that this happens in the US as well. Funny, this does not seem to qualify as a hate crime. Huh?

We the People need a break. Summertime in the US should be a happy, lazy, loving time. We need to remember that. We need to spend time with the people that we love. Go to free concerts in the park. Swim in the ocean. Pack a picnic. The US offers us bliss; we only have to get up and engage it it.

The Myth of Tolerance

2007-07-01T08:23:00.000-04:00

Tolerance - a word which initially sparks a feeling of warmth, caring, and understanding. A sense of acceptance - live and let live. These are all worthy of our dedication and commitment. Without tolerance, we would be at each other's throats every time one individual even mildly annoyed another. Gone would be the simplest and most fundamental of human interacion. We might stop opening doors for each other. We might blast our horns when the first car stopped at the red light didn't move fast enough for us. We might bicker over trivialities with co-workers and loved ones. Indeed, the notion of simple courtesy might quietly fade away.

Tolerance is what we learn from our families as an integral part of growing. We learn that the universe does not revolve around us, and that we are part of a family, then a school community, and then a world community. Our relationships with our families begin to define how we we relate to the rest of the world.

This tolerance is an essential, salt-of-the-earth foundation for our relationship with others.

This is NOT the tolerance that I speak of.

Our basic concepts have become distorted. We have taken the notion of tolerance and morphed it into ill-considered acceptance. We accept more and more of what was once thought to be distasteful or abhorrent. It is one thing to accept idiosyncratic behavior, and quite another to accept cursing, drunkenness, poor hygienice habits, or unkindness.

Tolerance means to understand that we are all different, yet all operating under a common set of behavioral standards. We can function withing that set, but we must not wander outside of it.
We see this in schools, and it permeats school culture. We understand that there are children with "special needs," and we tolerate behavior from those students that we would not otherwise tolerate from the mainstream population. Such students can throw computer monitors across the room, stab a teacher with a pencil, harass other students, and cause classroom chaos. Because they are "classified," their behavior is tolerated.

We see this in the public arena, where a young "actress" can drink her way into oblivion, have her photographs sprawled all over the media, and the parents of her young admirers do nothing to stop their daughters from worshipping this pathetic creature. A no-talent rich girl is treated like a world leader - on her way to and from prison.

How tolerant we are!!

Our tolerance extends, most distressingly, to the world stage. We watch imams and and self-proclaimed religious leaders speak of the destruction of all those who are different from them. From Jew-hating "presidents" to 22-year-old fanatics, words of unspeakable hatred bombard our sensibilites, generating both fear and rage.

And we continue to tolerate.

Our tolerance, if do not reconsider it, will surely be our destruction. On the other hand, We the People might consider what INTOLERANCE might propagate. What if we did not tolerate the stabbing of a teacher, cursing in school, throwing monitors, excessive drinking, drug abuse, infidel-hating? What if we actually said, "No more of this?" What might happen then?

What if We the People said, "This is how we want our country to be?" And then acted upon it.

The Fairness Doctrine

2007-06-30T07:39:00.000-04:00

I have always been frightened by anyone, or anything, that promises fairness, equality, something for everyone. Not that I don't believe in those things per se; it is simply that I don't want to be promised them. I would rather initiate and act upon those principles on my own.

The Fairness Doctrine (http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/F/htmlF/fairnessdoct/fairnessdoct.htm) was considered, and thankfully, rejected, decades ago. It appears to be rearing its head again. This most likely has much to do with the recent rejection of the proposed amnesty legislation.

Years have passed since our personal freedoms began erosion through the false promise of equality. We have failed to notice that there are now words that we cannot say, and that we are held accountable for, if we do say them. After the individual words were BANNED, HATE SPEECH emerged. So, even if we do not use the BANNED words, the tone and feeling of
our statements are yet again restricted.

Now, Talk Radio finds itself in the crosshairs of this abuse of the English language. Under the guise of FAIRNESS, options are being considered to "level the playing field" in the arena of radio. The playing field is already leveled. Open competition insures that. Radio, like its advertising states, is one of the last bastions of "free" that We the People have to choose from. Radio is supported, not by the government, not by donations, but by the adverisers. If the
public does not respond to the advertising, either because they don't like the products or because they don't listen to the particular station, then the advertisers will discontinue their contracts with the stations. The stations will either change and provide programming that attracts listeners, or will flounder by the wayside.

Consider the ramifications of a Fairness Doctrine. How would speech be regulated? The politicians think that there is too much conservative talk. They want opposing viewpoints. Consider this from a practical point of view. First, what is the determination of conservative? Where would the line be drawn? Second, who would be the arbiters? Who would make the
decision?

Are We the People actually willing to surrender own abilities to think and decide, to a group of nameless folks that we allow to think and decide for us?

Why are politicians concerned about what is said on Talk Radio? Perhaps this is because TR reaches so many people, and those people are actively involved and concerned about events that take place in the US? It seems that politicians would welcome this huge block of people, and take their opinions into consideration when making their own decisions.

We the People must be very wary of people who make promises to us. Rather, we need to find people who solicit our opinions. When we allow people to make promises, we give them control. Just like we did with speech.

This is far afield of what the Founding Fathers envisioned.

The Death of Amnesty

2007-06-29T23:18:00.000-04:00

I hope that this title is not premature. We know that Congress, with its typical inability to accomplish anything, has been unable to prepare legislation that We the People can agree to. Both fortunate (in that the cloture vote failed) and unfortunate (in that Congress is inept), this action goes far beyond the simple fact of reducing this to dust. It lets our "representatives" know that we are unhappy with their performance.

In the business world, companies generally implement policies that cover the handling of employees whose performance is questionable. After repeated (usually 3) warnings, the employee is terminated. What recourse do We the People have? It is clear that voting, in and of itself, is not the answer. There are numerous long-term senators, who should have long ago been removed from their positions of lazy power.

First, we must insist upon term limits for congressmen and women. More than any other statement, this directly tells them that they have a finite amount of time in which to perform the duties that they were elected to perform.

Second, must must stop allowing them to try to convince us of the value of their proposals. How many congresspeople did we have to watch and listen to, trying to make us understand how this ridiculous, long-winded, ineffective legislation was NOT AMNESTY? Their job is not to try and convince us; their job is to represent us. This fiasco only underscored the obvious--it is not We the People who are being represented; rather, it is illegal aliens that are being represented.

I can imagine Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison right about now.

Beyond the abhorrent failure of Congress to perform lies the question of illegal immigration itself. I have spent the past couple of days, listening to business owners in my area, touting the benefit that these workers have provided. There is no argument with this. The workers ARE working, and we need them to do that. So if they are so important to our businesspeople, why don't our businesspeople sponsor the workers so that they can become properly
processed and registered into our systems?

This seems inordinately simple. What is the problem? I suppose that is obvious as well. These businesspeople who need these illegal workers so desperately, need them because they can pay them below the minimum wage. So who is kidding who? Let them put their money where their mouths are.

We the People are confused by the degree to which politicians and businesses will go to defend those who are continually committing crimes. As a citizen of the US, I, and you, are always in a position of having to provide PROOF - citizenship, immunization, work status, residency, and yet, that is readily accepted by all of us, as it should be. On the other side of the fence (pun intended) lie those who flaunt our laws, and expect to be understood and compensated as well.
What is the impetus, then, of our conformance with the laws? It has clearly gotten us nowhere.

Do we get amnesty if we lie on a job application? Do we get amnesty if we send our children to school without the proper immunization? Do we get amnesty if we misrepresent ourselves on our tax returns?

What has happened in the United States? How did we get to a point where the citizens are the last ones to be considered when business and politics need to make a decision?

Our voices were heard these past few weeks. The amnesty bill no longer exists. But, it is not time for us to be quiet. We must make more and more noise.

We must demand representation - we certainly already have the taxation!

Developing Murderers

2007-04-19T23:19:00.000-04:00

We have been inundated with images, videos, and sounds from the Virginia Tech mass murderer. So much has been said about mental illness, medication, guns, motivation, isolation, education, school security, that it almost seems meaningless to add to the conversation. I think, however, that we need to look at this from an additional perspective.

We examine the problem as we see it in the current time and place. What can we do to prevent this in the future? How can we protect our schools? Why were officials either unprepared, or unwilling, or both, to take control of a situation which seemed to present problems long before these murders took place?

We must look back, not merely into Cho Seung-Hui's past, but into the past of our culture as a whole. As we look back, we might not like what we see.

Our public school system has shifted its focus from the education of our young people to the protection of our young people. From what? From everything. Our educational administrators do not want these children to experience unhappiness, failure, stress, hard work, or challenge. We classify them endlesslessly, recommending Ritalin at every corner. When behavior problems begin to occur, we brush them under the rug, avoiding punishment in favor of conversation and attempts at guiding children into discussing their actions, without ever having to atone for them.

Long ago, we dropped with words "wrong" and "right" from our vocabulary. Instead, we apply the lie-riddled misnomer "inappropriate" to everything from forgetting a homework assignment to stabbing a teacher with a pencil. What we hope to achieve with this lie is beyond understanding. Evidence is beginning to show that the the adults who emerge from these childhoods are weak, unable to handle the challenges of the world around them, and, frighteningly, they are deeply, deeply angry.

Without every having had to learn to control or vent their anger, these children-approaching-adulthood lash out at everything around them. Not content to merely slaughter others, they turn their weapons on themselves, thus giving up whatever hope might have been within them. That hope had long ago been crushed, with the medications and the lies that administration plied them with.

Why does this occur? The administrators live in dread of parental frowning, and thus, they enable the children to hold the school, and everything that the school should represent, hostage, filled with fear of the next pencil-stabbing. Administrators will not take charge of parents, establishing strict codes of conduct within the school, and the resulting anarchy spreads like a rumor throughout the classrooms. Curse at the girls? Terrorize students in the playground? Talk to the teacher as if he/she is the child's slave? Everyday occurrences in our ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

Parents want to be friends with their children. They do not want to say "No" to their children. But it is baffling as to why. What, precisely, is being accomplished? The resulting pool of children is a slag of disrespect, not only for parents, school, and authority, but most sadly, for themselves. They do not even have the wherewithal to stand up for themselves. Seven years later, a college classroom holds students who have been shot in the head, none of whom had the self-respect to try to stand up for themselves.

Not surprisingly, the hero of the story is a 76-year-old Holocaust survivor. What a different picture he casts from the youngsters in his charge! He has endured the worst, has lost the most, has faced the greatest dangers. The thug Cho Seung-Hui seems not to be a threat to him. He places himself between his students and the murderer, saves the children, and loses his life.

What does the media fill us with 24/7? Disgusting, abhorrent, vicious pictures of a monster pointing a gun in our face. What might it be like if our children were to see Liviu Librescu and learn the story of this man's life? They might come to realize that we can overcome even the most horrific of challenges. They might discover that strength, courage, and self-reliance exist within each of them.

Instead, they abuse themselves, each other, their schools, teachers, and parents. And then they are given medication.

Now I'm Really Scared

2007-04-12T17:49:00.000-04:00

The past two days have been a whirlwind of media craziness. What has happened? We have seen an entire country making decisions based on fear rather than reason. What are we afraid of? We are afraid of a racial reaction if severe action is not taken against someone. Who is that person? Is he a politician? Does he have power or control over us? Does he hire us, fire us, or collect our taxes? Is he a doctor or a lawyer, in whom we entrust our health and our most important concerns?

No, he is a talk-show host. Don Imus said four words. Those four words stripped him of two jobs in 24 hours.

This was propagated by two of the most racist, hateful, bigoted non-reverends that have maliciously entrapped the American population. Church-free, these supposed preachers stand for nothing but anger, hatred, and racial divisiveness.

They are free to speak as they speak. I think that I am glad that I live in a country that permits their voices to be heard. That is not what I'm afraid of.

What I'm afraid of is this...

The US population is so stupid that they actually believe what these people say. And the moguls of CBS and MSNBC are equally stupid. And terrified as well. Quivering in their boots, afraid of reprisal, they release Don Imus, hoping to appease a sliver of the population, but a noisy, boisterous sliver, to be sure.

For years, my ears and eyes have been assaulted by the most vile, vicious, disgusting lyrics and videos, all of which stretch my imagination to the limit. In my contact with children, I am appalled by the websites that they regularly visit, and the monsters that play the "music" that these unsuspecting children listen to. With this supertrash as their regular diet, the children do not even know about music that speaks of love, beauty, grace and joy. What they do know is that women are objects, that sex is a pastime without a basis in a loving relationship, and that a good grind is the way to video success.

But it is Imus that gets the rap. The kids never listen to him - they don't know who he is. Sharpton and Jackson found a perfect target - a man who has shocked his audiences for over 30 years, while generating millions of dollars for suffering children. Isn't there something strange about that?

The marketplace should have driven the ramifications of Imus' remark. But the marketplace was not permitted to function. The Reverend SS took charge. What next? Krystallnacht?

Monsters Among Us

2006-09-20T23:06:00.000-04:00

The past two days of UN debauchery are almost too much to bear. What has been permitted to take place on the floor is a disgrace even to a body which has an already tainted reputation. Permitting people to speak of the annihilation of a culture is beyond reason to any person with a sense of morality and justice. And insults to a head of state should be unacceptable.

What is more enraging is the response of the other members of the floor. Applause to rantings of this sort only serve to demonstrate the low, unconscionable characters that nations choose to represent them. One can only conclude that the nations themselves are beyond reason and understanding.

And what of the American people? Why are they not burning Chavez in effigy, as the muslim monsters did a few days ago? Those thugs are unable to get past words that were uttered in the 14th century, yet their leader incites genocide now, in our time. Why are We The People NOT blowing up Citgo gas stations and offices to show our disdain for the outrageous comments of monstrous leaders of a backward nation?

The answer lies is the basic, essential difference between Americans and the peoples of these beyond-belief-and-understanding nations. Americans can both take it and dish it out. We can listen to the words that make our blood boil, and still go about our lives, without carrying hatred in our hearts and wearing it on our sleeves. We use cliches such as, "We are better than that," or "We do not sink to those methods," or "The statements are so ridiculous that we will not honor them with a response."

This is all wonderfully theoretical and high-sounding, but the masses of the world do not hold themselves to any such standard. They revel in the madness of leaders who oppress them, and who then divert attentions away from themselves to the target that is most easy - the United States. The masses of the world are fed, nurtured, and energized by hate. Why not? What else do they have?

Americans have so many choices, and our lives are so much richer and fuller, that we can choose to ignore such rabble for what it is. But we do so at our peril. While we pant in anticipation for news about Tom Cruise's new baby, the monsters of the world are training in camps throughout the world, mezmerized by leaders who hold up targets for them to focus their frustrations and hatred.

It is far past the time for Americans to wake up. Our lives, our nation, and our culture are at stake. These people intently mean for the destruction of the West, and they state so explicitly on the floor of a body who lives under the banner of a peaceful coalition of nations.

The United Nations must be excommunicated from the United States. Now. Not tomorrow. There must be such a statement of outrage that the world trembles in fear of what America's reprisal will be. Fear is all that they understand, so fear is what we must present to them. Talk will not matter. Negotiation will yield nothing. Our support, in any form, of all foreign nations must cease. Now.

We The People must speak loudly and unquestionably. We must DEMAND that our government take charge of this situation. We cannot, and should not, attempt to control what occurs in other nations. But we must take a stand on what takes place in our own.

Is Everything Bleak?

2006-07-13T13:45:00.000-04:00

Israel and Lebanon are bombing each other. Everyone hates the US and its president. Gas prices are $72 per barrel. Snipers and rapists in Arizona. Kim Jong Mentally-Il. It certainly seems that we have nothing to be happy about, and quite a bit to worry about.

Sure, we can say that we seem to be hanging on the brink of a World War (what, precisely, has been going on for the past 5 years?). We aren't sure whether or not we'll be here tomorrow.
Maybe that is precisely the point. Maybe we need to live our lives and find things that are worth appreciating. And then, Appreciate Them! That doesn't mean that we think about them for a few minutes before we fall asleep. It means that we appreciate them in their presence, whether they are people, or things, or places. Enjoy our families, our homes, schools, places of work, and the worlds that we occupy on a day-to-day basis. It is true - we don't know what tomorrow will bring. SO - why think about it?

Has Anyone Seen the First Amendment?

2006-06-21T00:02:00.000-04:00

The United States is nearly unrecognizable. Last week, the representatives of We The People called for a book banning. This week, a school shuts down the microphone during a high school graduation speech. There are a couple of disturbing aspects to this.

1. The title of the article states that the speech was religious. In other words, a reference to God or Christ automatically classifies the speech as religious. By that logic, a reference to baseball would make the speech a sports rally, a reference to Karl Marx would make it communistic, a reference to Wiley Coyote would make it a cartoon.

Are we really that stupid? Are we actually buying this? Why was the valedictorian not permitted to make her speech? She was citing the things that she felt helped her achieve what she achieved. Is she actually not allowed to say that?

2. Allen Lichtenstein, the ACLU lawyer, stated that since it was a school-sponsored event, then the content was school-sponsored as well. Really? So when Hamas speaks at UCLA, we can also assume that that speech is school-sponsored. But, at UCLA, the microphones are not turned off. And the ACLU will be right there to defend Hama's right to free speech.

We certainly are lying to our students when we cover the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We discuss what free speech means. We then leave out the examples of abridgment of those rights.

We were silent when the list of words that could not be spoken first blasted our ears and our intellects. We permitted SOMEONE (who, exactly, I want to know) to give us a list of words that we could not say. The list has become the foundation for the much-overused term politically correct.

If my child attended a school where the microphone was turned off during a valedictorian speech, I would demand a refund.

Book Banning?

2006-06-11T22:45:00.000-04:00

My previous post commented on Ann Coulter's book, "Godless," and I offered my thoughts on the subject. I think that Ms. Coulter is too intelligent to have stated her case in the manner in which she did.

The uproar over the book is what is most noteworthy. From the left and the right, there are angry responses to her comments. Quietly, some people admit to agreeing with her premise, but at the same time, disapproving her caustic style.

Today, however, something more sinister has occurred. Two New Jersey assemblywomen, Linda Stender and Joan Quigley, have requested that New Jersey retailers ban the book from their shelves.

Did I hear that correctly? Unfortunately, yes. Exactly what country are we living in?

First, the outrageous hypocrisy.

Did any legislators call for banning the voice or the opinions of Ward Churchill, when he said that the people who were killed in the Towers on 911 were "little eichmanns?"

The democrats and socialists are democratic and socialistic for a period equal to exactly how long you think what they think, say what they say, and read what they want you to read.

With the gigantic mouths that continually degrade US troops, capitalism, religious beliefs, and the things that We The People have come to know as the foundations of our lives, a dissenting voice is not likely to be tolerated.

While the democrats and socialists forbid Handel's Messiah at a "Holiday" concert, they call for the banning of books with words with which they disagree.

What is happening is very, very frightening. But it need not be. We The People must stop sitting quietly by, feeling guilty for believing what we believe and thinking what we think. There must be an outcry against such "representatives" as these two women, who would DARE to suggest that banning books should even be considered.

Linda Stender and Joan Quigley should be removed from their positions of public trust immediately.

Much, Much Ado

2006-06-09T19:58:00.000-04:00

Another busy week.

Zarqawi has been eliminated from a rather complex network of terrorists. Will this have an effect on the overal morale and sentiment of Muslim extremists? I tend to think not. Will this have an empowering effect on US and coalition troops? I hope so. With the plethora of negative media coverage of the Iraq war, I would like to see the morale of our troops boosted as much as possible.

Certainly this war has been less than the success than was originally anticipated. Our troops are dying and coming home severly injured. Why is there not air support? Why are we fighting a war in which the primary show of force is via troops on the ground? Why are we not sending in airpower, then following the air assaults, sending in troops to maintain order? Why did we not learn from Vietnam, that ground wars are fruitless exercises in false shows of force?

The attempted terrorist attack in Toronto. Why? Precisely what has Canada done? When is the world going to wake up?

The Marriage Amendment failed in the Senate. Being a strong Constitutional purist (while at the same time admitting to NOT being a Constitutional scholar), I believe that this falls far outside governmental jurisdiction. I am also very wary of a government attempt to redefine ANYTHING. Regardless of my personal definition of marriage, I agree with the Senate's decision. On the other hand, I think about what I believe is the Senate's motivation.

Like abortion in the past, the issue of same-sex marriage is igniting many emotional fires. The Senate, in its recent history, has been reticent about passing legislation that would anger activist groups. Committed to a secular philosophy, and disregarding the belief of over 70% of the citizens that is is supposed to represent, the Senate is harking to the call of the voices that currently holler the loudest.

Ann Coulter's new book, Godless, with its fiery paragraphs ridiculing four women who have earned the dubious title of The Jersey Girls.

Ms. Coulter is a fascinating figure. The Madonna of the commentators, she knows how to enrapture both her admirers and detractors. She knows how to set fires. Unlike Madonna, she is a well-educated, well-informed attorney. A staunch conservative, Ms. Coulter is, to say the least, fearless. The statements in her book have charged print, radio, and Internet media for the past week.

The four women who were blasted by Ms. Coulter embody what is disgraceful about the aftermath of the attacks. Discontented complainers, they are using their personal tragedies to carry torches and denounce the President.

But...but...but...Ms. Coulter is too smart of a women to have needed to include the inflammatory statements in her book. Her point would have been just as strong, probably stronger, had she simply stayed on track with information and refrained from personal slamming. Score -1 for her on that.

This sort of behavior bothers me at a gut level. I know why. I think that attacks of this nature are used by people who are too stupid to think of anything else. So, when intelligent and articulate people engage in them, it disturbs me.

Another character that practices this on, sadly, a daily basis, is Ron Kuby.

Far on the opposite end of the political and ideological spectrums from Ann Coulter, Mr. Kuby resorts to tactless and ridiculous remarks on his morning radio talk show. But...but...butt...Ron Kuby is brilliant. When I need real, pure, beautifully explained facts on legal matters, I listen to him.

So I ask them both, what's with the seventh-grade remarks?

The answer to my question is the most disturbing element in my thoughts regarding the week's events. We The People are getting used to language of these types. Our politicians do it. Our public figures do it. Our most loved Hollywood figures do it.

Who are we, anyway? Do we have any standards at all? Do we ever consider WHAT we listen to? We could easily demand more intelligence, more tact, more respectable conduct from those to whom we give our attention, wherever that attention is directed. How do we state that demand? Easily. We turn away from those figures whenever they do it.

Citizenship - What For?

2006-05-28T20:56:00.000-04:00

The immigration bill that was passed by the Senate is truly beyond understanding. Rather than considerations of what would be optimal for American citizens, the bill is concerned with what is best for illegal immigrants. Not only illegal immigrants, but their families as well. Unlike the House bill, which is focused primarily on border security enforcement, the Senate bill provides for paths to citizenship for those who are already in the US. illegally. Why?

One reason is the supposed inability to locate these people. That's funny - if I don't pay my taxes, or I park in the wrong place, or I put my garbage out before 5pm, there will always be somebody there to locate me.

The problem seems to be self-explanatory. Illegals are entering the country. They obtain illegal social security cards. They are thus difficult to track. Does it not seem obvious that the solution to the problem is to protect the border so that the other problems would not present themselves at all?

With the passage of this bill, illegals would be entitled to in-state tuition. Excuse me?

With the passage of this bill, illegals who operate with stolen social security numbers would still be entitle to social security benefits. What?

What, exactly, is the point, or the benefit, of being a US citizen? Oh, yes. SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR THIS. That would be us.

Disagraceful.

But Vincente Fox thinks that this is a wonderful bill! That alone should be ringing all sorts of bells to us. Of course he loves it! That makes millions more of his citizens that he no longer must be concerned with.

All citizens should write to their senators and congressmen and express their outrage over the bill. More importantly, these people must be voted out of office. If not, then We The People should just close our mouths and prepare for the typranny that rapidly approaches.

Racism, Buttons, Language

2006-05-20T11:28:00.000-04:00

The Senate vote on making English the national language (well, not actually the national language; it's the official language) has sparked yet another round of heated debate. I am awed by the fact that there were senators who voted against such a bill. Why, exactly? What should be the national/official language of Germany? Or Greece? Or Italy? Hopefully, those languages are German, Greek, and Italian, respectively. It seems so patently obvious that it is difficult to understand the existence of any debate whatsoever. Nonetheless, the debate took place, as did the vote, and hence the results.

Which brings me to my original question. WHY NOT? Precisely what would prevent a YAY? It seems that Harry Reid had an answer - the English language, or believing that it should be the official language, is RACIST. Huh? Racist? Which race is being demonized? The Greek race? Or the Spanish race? Do we actually elect so-called representatives who do not understand English, despite the fact that they appear to speak it? Harry should know that Spanish people are not a different race from Irish, German, or French people. He states that the bill is directed against Spanish-speaking people. How would he know such a thing? There are many languages spoken in the United States, and many are spoken to the extent that non-speakers of those languages can no longer support their businesses.

For example, I can no more imagine sitting in a shop, getting my nails manicured, while a row of Korean-speaking girls are twitting away and giggling. I admit it - I am not comfortable with it. I have no idea what they are saying, whether they might be ridiculing me, and I feel compromised and uncertain. For me, the problem no longer exists. I do my own nails, thank you very much.

Or the new Asian fresh foods store that recently opened near my house. Not a single sign is in English. Both my family and I love Asian food of all types, and we regularly try new dishes. When I go into a store, I would like to know what I am buying. But, here is the former USA, I cannot.

Back to the bills. There were actually two of them. One is Salazar Amdt. No. 4073 - "To declare that English is the common and unifying language of the United States, and to preserve and enhance the role of the English language." While the title is rather clear, the purpose is not. How will this bill be implemented? How will it be monitored? How will infractions be adjudicated?

The second bill is Inhofe Amdt. No. 4064 - "To amend title 4 United States Code, to declare English as the national language of the United States and to promote the patriotic integration of prospective US citizens."It appears that some people now support a national language in addition to a common and unifying language. I have the same questions with this as I do with 4073 - How will this bill be implemented? How will it be monitored? How will infractions be adjudicated?

I have the unsettling feeling that I have just been patted on the head and told to go off to sleep.

Perhaps Harry should engage in closer examination of what We The People have had to agree to in the name of non-racism. There are probably better examples of racism to be found, and found without looking too hard. Harry might do well to look for these examples. Perhaps then he could realize how inept he truly sounds.

Here's one already! Buttons & badges, while seemingly innocent, now will have a new meaning. And time, it seems, is now going backward! Remember those lovely yellow stars that Jews in Nazi Germany had to wear? Well, they're back! Who would have known! Remember, it always pays to keep your old things.

Are you listening and watching Harry? Try focusing on something that is actually REAL.

Milllions of Phone Numbers

2006-05-13T20:35:00.000-04:00

I have spent the week reading and listening to arguments in favor of and opposed to the USAToday revelation on the sharing of telephone records with the US government by Verizon, BellSouth and AT&T. I have also spent time thinking about what I think about this revelation. My initial reaction was rage--real unmasked rage. My heart rate and pulse both accelerated, and the saliva was pouring into my mouth (a sure sign that I am on the verge of losing control!).

Those initial reactions notwithstanding, I allowed myself the time to sit back and think. Knowing that I am predisposed to being anti-government-power, I simmered down and started to relax. Then I did my reading and listening. I have discovered that I think a few things.

First is my personal opinion and feeling regarding the government's acquisition of my phone records. The fact is, I simply could not care less. I am an astonishingly law-abiding citizen (I've actually NEVER cheated on my taxes) despite the fact that I disagree with much of what the government does and the power that it has. I decided a long time ago that my responsibility as a member of any particular group obligated me to conform to the rules and regulations of that group, or to make the conscious decision to remove myself from that group. Hence, I'm here in the US and I obey its laws.

Back to the records. I just do not care if the government knows who I call. I am trying to care, and I cannot seem to make myself care. Interestingly, I have asked many people if they care. They don't either. And in listening and reading, I've discovered that when people are asked if they care, for the most part, the answers are once again No.

But, but, but, that is just the records of calls to and from my phone. What if we discovered that the conversations themselves were monitored? That is a more difficult question. Again, for me, I feel the same apathy. But, when I ask others that question, a significantly higher number of people oppose such action. Fair enough. I think that the action would certainly be unconstitutional, despite my personal indifference.

I think that being well-versed in the Constitution is a responsibility that all citizens have, and we should carefully consider that document when we form our opinions. I wish that we now had the benefit of the genius and wisdom of both James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, and that understanding them would enable us to better articulate intelligent arguments. Alas, they are long gone, but I believe that they believed in an informed and educated population who would have the knowledge and wisdom to solve difficult problems using this wonderful document in the manner in which they intended.

Now on to the government itself. I believe staunchly in very, very, VERY limited government power. I believe that the government's primary, and ALMOST only, function, is the protection of its citizens. Insert this data gathering action, considering the potential threat to the United States, and I can understand the government's need to amass a database of information that could ultimately lead to the incarceration of subversive and dangerous elements within our borders.

I love technology, and I recognize that technology has expanded individual, corporate, and government powers to extents never foreseen by our Founding Fathers. I also know that since I received my social security number, my real and true privacy was, if not fictitious, at least, clouded.

So far, I understand, if not applaud, the government's actions in this regard.

Now to the other consideration. I have heard and read much less about this than I have about the horrors committed by our government. And that is the culpability of AT&T, BellSouth, and Verizon. As I think of these three companies, my initial rage returns and the saliva begins to pour back into my mouth. The first thing that comes to my mind is, "How dare they?" If I were predisposed to obscenities, this would be the perfect place to insert them. But I will stick to my question and complaint.

My expectations as a customer are vastly different from those as a citizen. The notion that this information is being turned over to the government without, at the very least, notifying me, is outrageous. I also find is very noteworthy that Qwest Communications, the smallest of the three, seemed completely capable of refusing the government's request. How is that possible? At first glance, it appears as though there was no government force in the acquisition of this information. Why did AT&T, BellSouth, and Verizon surrender that information? Were they paid for it? Were they ordered to turn it over?

This is where the power of Capitalism can truly become known. We The People have power as consumers that far exceeds (sadly) our powers as citizens. On that principle, I will end my relationship with my providers, and find others that stand stronger in their sense of obligations to their customers. I hope that others do the same.

And now the last point. Would this have ever been necessary if profiling were implemented? Do we not have a fair idea of the types of telephone conversations that are deemed suspicious in some way? Why are American citizens, as an entire group, being targeted, at great expense, great upheaval, and great discontent with the government?

May Day

2006-05-05T01:33:00.000-04:00

Several days have passed and I have taken the time to reflect on events of the past week while trying to avoid emotional, non-rational reactions.

The first event is Boycott America on May 1. The media did a superb job of labeling it A Day Without Immigrants. This misnomer is probably more detrimental to the US than the event itself. It certainly was not a day without immigrants; the purpose was A Day Without Illegal Immigrants. A very different connotation, and resulting emotions and opinions must be considered in light of what they actually reflect, not what the media conjurs up in order to advance its own opinions.

Companies closed, people marched, children stayed home from school, and many of our
"representatives" expressed their support of those who boycotted.

We The People had less representation than we have already become accustomed to having, and as usual, we went about the business of living our lives, going to work, and making an attempt to provide for our families. We simply had too much to do to involve ourselves in counter-protests. After all, we pay the taxes that enable our representatives to support those who enter illegally, while we continue to be legal citizens.

There is something bizarre and unreal to this. Who is to blame? Is it the immigrants themselves? Of course, yes, in the sense that they have flaunted themselves in the face of our laws, simply by disobeying them in coming here.

Our big and small businesses, who relish in the joys of cheap labor and the ability to conduct their business without paying withholding taxes, social security, and the other taxes that legitimate businesspeople pay. Our non-representatives, who simply forgot those
who elected them and support them.

The immigrants are most likely the least blameworthy. For the most part, those people who come here operate under the same work ethic, moral codes, personal values that many citizens already have. It is their original methods of entry that we oppose, not their presence per se. But once they are here, we are left to confront the problems that ensue, and we all know what they are; they need not be elaborated here.

The real issue is government. I am not certain what has happened to it. Reading about our
Forefathers, I feel certain that they would staunchly disapprove of all of this. I rather like imagining sitting in a room with Jefferson and Madison, who strongly disagreed with one another, perhaps Ben Franklin joining the group, and of course, George Washington. I imagine presenting May 1 as a fictitious scenario and ask them for their reaction. I can only imagine disbelief on all of them. The same disbelief that I feel right now.

The second issue is the sentencing of Zacarias Moussaoui. I have been thinking about that as well. It is certain that the remainder of his days will be, to say the least, very boring. Perhaps to the extent of driving him insane. Is he perhaps insane already?

Here is where those who advocate the understanding and acceptance of cultural differences have not only dropped the ball, but smashed it into smithereens.

Moussaoui's defense attorneys presented his mental and psychological states as mitigating conditions for his complicity in 911. But, they presented these arguments using OUR standards of what is mentally healthy and unhealthy. The presumption that Moussaoui emerges from a culture in which the slaughter of 3000 people is considered insane completely disregards the significant cultural differences that in fact exist. Moussaoui is a product of a philosophy that is at the same time fanatical to us and exhalted to them. How, then, can our psychological standards be set upon him? Why impose them at all?

It has been said that the US has demonstrated to the world its strong sense of justice and fairness, regardless of who has committed actions against us. That is a true statement. We have done just that.

However, I have not seen such statements made by the world community, whatever that might
actually be. The world community is quietly going about its business, seemingly indifferent to American fairness and justice.

We have sent another, equally strong message to the world community. That message is this: You can participate in the design and planning of the slaughter of thousands of Americans, and you will not be capitally punished. This message is loud and clear for those who believe that the beheading of those who oppose them is well within their moral right.

I agree with Moussaoui. He won. USA lost.

As has been the case in the past few years, it appears to be We The People who are no longer considered in any situation. All that we do provide the funding.

Terrific.

Another Look at Immigration

2006-04-30T11:46:00.000-04:00

I just read a pro-immigration article, and I want to share it with everyone. I like what this writer has to say, and I happen to also be a strong advocate of the Cato Institute.

To read the article in full, click here.

Clarification is very important. The general rhetoric is "pro-immigration" or "anti-immigration" and this is a misrepresentation. We who support immigration control are not against immigration; rather, we are against illegal immigration.

Yes, the US was built and continues to be supported by an immigrant population. That should continue. By the same token, we must know who comes to this country; we should insure that they are healthy; we should insure that they enter with the intent to abide by our laws. That is the essence of the argument.

Anthem

2006-04-29T12:11:00.000-04:00

I never loved the National Anthem. I cannot sing it. But, I always respected it. I respected what it stood for. And, I knew, with certainty, that it was a part of my world.

I am not a big baseball fan either. But, it would seem very strange to me if suddenly, there were no more New York Yankees. They are a part of my world as well.

We all have worlds, made up of cultural artifacts, personal history, new ideas, and new experiences. Without thought, we rely on those worlds as the grounding for our lives. Together, our shared experiences bind us in what we call culture. Regardless of our race or national origin, we share a pool of those common experiences, and we enjoy a silent comeraderie that never needs to be addressed directly.

We do not expect those foundations of our lives to be uprooted, unless we, ourselves, uproot them on our own. Outside forces do not have the authority to take those roots away from us. They do not have the authority to ask us to accept changes that are so fundamental to our lives.

Now we are being asked to accept one of those changes. No, not asked. The change is being made, and in a free society, they are permitted to be made. But, not at the expense of our foundational worlds.

We are going to say, "Yes." We have always said, "Yes." We said, "Yes" when we were told to select 1 for English. We said, "Yes" when we had to find English on the outside of a package in order to determine what was inside. We said, "Yes" when we had to search for and locate the English instructions in a user guide. We said, "Yes" when we walked into a store and read signs in two languages.

We do not have to say, "Yes." "No" is just as easy. It is just a bit scarier, and because of that, it suddenly becomes much harder. But it isn't harder. What might happen if we said, "No?" A powerful, beautiful, emancipating, heart-opening sensation of relief, self-worth, and REAL freedom. The freedom to say, "No."

We can select a new National Anthem. I propose America The Beautiful. Because it is. And we have forgotten that it is. We are assaulted with rhetoric about how horrendous we are, and this happens as we are immersed in saying "Yes."

On May 1, we can refuse to buy a product that has more than one language on its label. I know, we might not find any. So, OK we will not buy any. We can go outside and sing American The Beautiful as loud as we can. We can ignore anyone who marches down the street, vowing to bring our world to a halt. Yes, ignore. The media circus that is taking place over this is beyond reprehensible. And we can hold their leaders and organizers responsible for threats against the United States.

But we won't. We will just say "Yes."

New Senate Bill

2006-04-26T18:12:00.000-04:00

The Senate voted and approved additional appropriations on Border Security.

You can read the details here.

There is a large, nationwide boycott planned for Monday, May 1. What, precisely, is being boycotted? Anything American. Who is boycotting? Not Islamist fundamentalists, or white supremacists, or any other far right or far left group.

It is the Illegal Immigrants who have entered this country.
The boycott is called the National Day of Action, but also has the tag line of "Nothing Gringo."

Doesn't this make a sensational case for deportation?

Pity Egypt

2006-04-26T15:46:00.000-04:00

I have always admired the Egyptian culture and its history. My godfather, rest his soul, was an Egyptian. Very dignified and proud. He came to the US and became a chef, and owned several restaurants. I remember him so well!

My godparents would visit Egypt and bring back jewelry for me. I can still remember how I felt - I was awed by how beautiful and how different it was from anything that I saw in stores in this country.

This slight exposure led me to read more and more about Egypt - now and its history. What a magnificent society! Sadly, I am not a traveler. But Egypt is one of the places on Earth that I have always wanted to visit.

What is the point of the bombings that have taken place in the past two days? What is going to be accomplished? I simply do not understand. Why would anyone want to attack any part of that country?

Why Ayn Rand Matters

2006-04-22T20:19:00.000-04:00

Ayn Rand was a novelist and thinker in the mid 1900s. Russian by birth, she came to the United States as thousands did before her. Her philosophy is revealed through her literary works, and the most famous of which is Atlas Shrugged. Having lived through the Communist movement in her own country, and seeing the tragedies that it propagated, she found comfort as well as opportunity in the United States.

Everyone should read Atlas Shrugged. It should be read, discussed, and analyzed in high schools. We have forgotten what greatness is, and we need to be reminded.

Atlas Shrugged is the ultimate reverence for rationality, individuality, and the beauty of capitalism. Not only are these themes addressed as such, but their moral justification is held as the novel’s highest ideal. Not only is capitalism the best economic system, it is the most moral system. Not only is individual freedom the most important of human rights, it is the foundation upon which all other rights are based. Not only is capitalism a beautiful and optimal system, but it can only succeed when rationality and individuality are fully in place. The celebration of the individual through responsibility and rational thought are carried through to a system which thrives on the results of that rationality.

Atlas is the metaphor for the entire novel. As punishment for rebellion against Zeus, Atlas, despite his courage, inner strength and external prowess, is sentenced to support the heavens on his shoulders. Atlas Shrugged is the story of the strong who are forced to work for the benefit of the weak, the thinkers for the benefit of the non-thinkers, the producers for the benefit of the users, and the individual of achievement and talent for the benefit of society. With his energy redirected toward the support of the weak, his strength can no longer be directed to the elevation of the world.

The understanding of the need for Atlas to shrug is exemplified in many of the poignant scenes in the book—one of the most notable is the conversation in the railroad car between Dagny Taggart and a former employee of a now-defunct automobile company. The worker described the eventual degradation of the culture, creativity and spirit of the workers when the motto “from each according to his ability – to each according to his need” was adopted. No longer was excellence rewarded with higher pay or envied positions, but was absconded by those less capable to satisfy what they determined to be their needs. No longer did the employees share in enthusiasm of a marriage or birth among them, but now dreaded the additional drain on their income to support the new burden in their midst. Where once spirit coupled with intelligence and work ethic drove the company to an exclusive position of excellence in the industry, now the company floundered to support itself under the loss of revenue resulting from the degradation in product quality.

The power of Atlas is exemplified in the words of John Galt in his speech to the world—a small parted beautifully stated in “In place of your dream of an omniscient automaton, accept the fact that any knowledge that man acquires is acquired by his own will and effort, and that that is his distinction in the universe, that is his nature, his morality, his glory.” The book demonstrates that within each of us lies the power that emerges from rationality and responsibility, and that it is free and independent will that creates success or failure, freedom or bondage, love and respect, or resentment and dependency.

Atlas Shrugged – What does this mean? Atlas abandons his responsibility to the world. He shrugs the weight of the world off his shoulders, freeing himself from the burden of carrying others. Without the weight of the world on his shoulders, Atlas is freed to use his full powers as he sees fit. The world, meanwhile, is left to support itself. John Galt warns – “Do not pretend that a malevolent reality defeated you—you were defeated by your own evasions. Do not pretend that you will perish for a noble ideal—you will perish as fodder for the haters of man.”
What happens in the novel when Atlas shrugs? The strong leave the weak to support themselves. The thinkers, creators, artists, and scientists of the culture renounce their responsibilities and form a world of their own in which no Atlas is required. The society thrives by the combined benefits of the talents of its members. These talents are not surrendered or subject to the community’s will; they are freely traded by mutual consent and in fair exchange for the talents and products of others.

The creed by which the inhabitants live in the Colorado valley is simple, pure and unencumbered by the burdens that Atlas once held. “We do not tell—we show. We do not claim—we prove. It is not your obedience that we seek to win, but your rational conviction.”
As this new society thrives, small, quiet, and secretive, the external world begins to flounder from lack of men and women of talent and the resulting works that they produce. Their economy slowly but steadily deteriorates until the greatness of their culture is a thing of the past.

Atlas Shrugged is about Greatness – the potential that exists within each individual and which can only be realized when the individual is unencumbered in the quest for objectivity, rationality, and excellence.

Atlas Shrugged is a cry against Dominance – the harnessing and sacrificing and burdening of the individual for the benefit of a society that does not understand, appreciate or respect the minds that have created the benefits that the society enjoys.

Atlas Shrugged is about Responsibility – of the individual to himself and to no other. If that individuality is honored with dignity and ethical foundations, society benefits directly from the creations of that individual.

Atlas Shrugged is about the Degradation of a society in which no individual stands out, a society in which the members are slaves, chained to the burden of the mass culture that they have allowed to emerge, rather than liberated by the advancement of the individual in accordance with the highest of freedoms.

Is the outlook depicted in Atlas Shrugged weak? Most definitely not. But it is a warning – a picture of a future society ruled by mob desire squelching individual freedom. It is the picture of degradation, of the shame of diminishing oneself to the whims of others.

What is its message? How are we to be uplifted? By the visions that each of us holds so dear; the vision of our future achievements, reached after hours, days, weeks and years of diligent, purposeful and rewarding work. It is the vision of our own moments of glory, of the real sensations that we experience when our efforts are rewarded through the appreciation of others who offer us their best in return.

Click here for the Ayn Rand Institute.
Click here for the Objectivist Center

Immigration Info

2006-04-22T07:56:00.000-04:00

If you want to know what the candidates are doing on immigration reform, click on the links below to get more information.

Our immigration system is a non-system! We must speak out and insist that our candidates hear us! We must also be informed - we must know what their positions are and how they are voting.

What Can You Do? Boycott NOW!

2006-04-20T22:36:00.000-04:00

We sit at home, or go to work, or take care of our children. Or our parents. Or everything at once.

We are the responsible ones, the reliable ones. We are too busy to protest, or burn flags, or march on Washington. We are the TAXPAYERS. We are the BUYERS. We are the force that truly keeps our country and our economy going.

We don't have the time, or the inclination, to make a statement.

REALLY?

Click here to read Bill O'Reilly's very simple suggestion.

Just a 3% reduction in our gas consumption. Just 3%.

Do it NOW!

Gas Guzzlers

2006-04-19T11:09:00.000-04:00

Today is April 19,2006. I want to remember this date, because it's the day that We The People are being slammed in the face and in the pocketbook more than we have ever been slammed. While CEOs retire with $400 million, we are thinking about alternate ways to get to work because we cannot put gas in our cars any more. The outrages committed against American citizens in recent years is taking us to a boiling point, and we remember the response that our Forefathers gave to the King. Suddenly, those responses seem like the only appropriate way for us to handle what is happening to us.

The expectation that we will continually agree to be ignored, while we support our government, and its gargantuan oil interests, is only supported by the fact that we continue to remain silent. As good citizens, we get up every morning, take care of our children, and then off to work so that we can pay the taxes that support those who steal from us.

This government that endoreses the redistribution of wealth in the form of taxes that fund causes and organizations that have nothing to do with the every day, middle class American citizen, should make a new and startling decision.

Let the government redistribute Lee Raymond's wealth. No wait, not all of it. Lee should DONATE $2 million to EVERY STATE. That leaves him $300 million for himself. That should be able to last him for a little while, and he could still enjoy the spectacular tax write-off that that donation would incur. The $2 million for each state would IMMEDIATELY offset the insane and unlawful price gouging that is now being inflicted on the American people.

Meanwhile, we are hearing about Brazil, and its commitment to be oil-free by when?

Read the article to get more information.

Why has the United States engaged in such a program? We are screaming about Kyoto - so what? We can do this on our own. The oil cartel in the United States must be stopped, or We The People will be working for no reason whatsoever.

So what can we do right now? Of course, we all know about the VERY IMPORTANT BOYCOTT of Mobil and Exxon.
Read the article to get more information.

OK so we don't buy Mobil or EXxon. But we still need the fuel, so we will buy it from someone else. There is only a handful of companies from whom we can buy oil. We need to RELEASE OURSELVES from this hold, and we need to do it NOW.

We MUST select a day where NOBODY buys gas. That's it.
Get on board!

Jabbering Generals

2006-04-19T11:08:00.000-04:00

The news has been overrun this past week - what with generals speaking their mind and calling for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. Perhaps Mr. Rumsfeld should resign; I just don't know.

What I do know is this:It's a bit late for these cowards to speak up. Their responsibility and duty as military officers were to SPEAK UP! If I were the parent of a wounded or killed soldier, I would be furious (as I suppose I am, regardless) of the fact that these men waited to long to speak.

While We Watch

2006-04-19T11:06:00.000-04:00

We are all busy with our lives. We work, raise our families, do what we can. The world move along and we see what happens, but we really don’t take the time notice, to think, and to react.
Here it is at the beginning of July 2005. A situation is developing in the southern US. People are praying! Imagine that. They are praying before school board meeting. They always pray before school board meetings.

But, if the ACLU has its way, that praying will come to an end. Moreover, if anyone dares to pray, says the ACLU, who are not a law-making body, they are subject to ARREST
We need to stop everything that we are doing. We need to notice this, think about this, and to react.

Notice first. Arrest for praying. Are we all aware of the societies throughout history who have implemented such a ruling? Do we know what happened to those societies? Can we envision what will happen to ours? Notice how the argument is framed by the ACLU. They are PROTECTING US. From what? They are upholding the Bill of Rights. Which Amendment?

Think. What does it mean to live in a world in which praying is illegal? Make no mistake; this will carry far beyond the pre- school board meeting. What will people do? Throughout time, in all cultures, throughout the world, people have prayed, not a majority of the people, but an overwhelming preponderance of all cultures have prayed. And they have died for their beliefs and their desire to pray. So, people will continue. How will they be policed, monitored, tracked? Will there be enough guardians of prayer abstention to insure that praying is not taking place? Will every nook and cranny be fitted with surveillance cameras? Will the watchers be trained to differentiate between prayer and simply sitting quietly? What about meditation? Does that count? If a person is meditating on a sunset, is that acceptable, but if he is meditating on God, Whoosh! Off to prison? How do we know?

Many cultures seek solace and joy in quiet moment deeply connected to the natural world around them. In cities throughout the world, groups of people meet in parks and practice the Chinese art of Tai Chi, that gentle, graceful, flowing dance that invigorates yet calms and soothes. The mental, emotional, and psychological effects are not unlike the effects of prayer. The participants, called “players,” feel a communion (OOPS) with a universal energy. Are they praying? Tai Chi is so wonderful that simply observing groups playing is a joyous experience! But this makes it easy for the ACLU. They can simply get some vans, go to Kissena Park in Queens, or xxx, at sunrise, and whisk away busloads of people Why? Because they are PROTECTING US. Tai Chi in public? No more.
But there is a precedent for this. The Chinese government outlawed Tai Chi in the 1950s. (That law is now not upheld).

Think some more. Where on Earth will all of these prisoners be housed? Do we have enough institutions? As time passes (and not too much time; there are many people who pray), the institutions will fill.

Think. We must fee, clothe, and provide medical care for these praying folks. It is going to get expensive! What is the solution?

There is a precedent for this as well. Nazi Germany had a Final Solution for its problems back in 1939.
React. Decide how you want to live. Decide how you want your children to live. What do you see when you close your eyes and you picture your children as adults in the world?

Imagine that world in many forms. Look at the images in your mind. Think logically and do not be afraid to question. If you believe that this ACLU action is benign and meaningless, fine. But, if you believe that the threat that they pose is too great to ignore, then take a stand.

You have the time. Turn off your television. Close your Instant Messenger window. Write. Denounce. Get angry. Refuse to tolerate. Protect yourself, your family, and your world.

I do not pray. Perhaps you don’t either. But I will not ignore reality. Others do; they always have and they always will No organization, no government, no special interest group, will have the power to stop that. But in their efforts to try, they will strip us all of every right that we have.
If we do not take action, we cannot cry when our world disappears from under us. It happened while we watched.

Beheading Horrors

2006-04-19T10:58:00.000-04:00

It seems that beheadings just prompt me to write. I am so remiss...

Eugene Armstrong's beheading is now tacked on to the list of beheadings that seem to deserve so little attention from the press. Dan Rather and the Swift Boat ads have more importance. Why is this? I have so many questions for so many people..

President Bush - why haven't you issued a call to the world to respond to these actions? Why haven't you stood and called for outrage from all Americans, and all those in the world who believe in freedom?

John Kerry - What about you? Aren't you at all outraged?

The news media - why were naked prisoners so amazingly offensive, for weeks on end, and the sawing off of a head doesn't ruffle anyone's feathers?

Why are ANY muslims permitted into the United States? Why are ALL muslims deported? Why are our politicians willing to take enormous risks with the lives of the citizens who vote them into office?
Why haven't the companies who are HELPING the Iraqis packed up their wares and returned home? What company is more important than the lives that have been lost this week?

Why have WOMEN's organizations risen up in outcry to the kidnapping of the Italian women?
Where is the United Nations?
Where is Amnesty International?

These bogus groups, and bogus politicians, by their inaction, have surrendered their rights to govern us, to tax us, to supposedly speak on our behalf, to occupy space in the city of New York, and to make any decisions on which our lives and the lives of our children depend.

When are We the People going to conduct our own march and our own protests?

We want our country back, and we want a moratorium on visitors.

Beheadings

2006-04-19T10:54:00.001-04:00

"I swore never to be silent whenever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.
We must always take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. "
Elie Weisel

The beheadings are atrocities that scream for attention, but the most that we seem to get from our "representives" is vocalized anger with inadequate action or response.

I have been spending some time in writing to my local representative, to the International Red Cross, to the President, and to the New York Times. The Times has featured more than 20 stories on Abu Ghraib, replete with photos, yet chose to use the word "kills" in its headline, rather than the more accurate, and far more compelling, "beheading" in its reporting of the beheading of Paul Johnson. The world is in an uproar over the prison, yet fell to near silence regarding the charred bodies of Americans suspended from a bridge.

Regardless of your political affiliation, it is likely that you have some sentiment, as well as some opinion, on the treatment of Americans in the Middle East, as well as the rising threat to America herself. Please consider writing letters and making your voices heard. We shrug our shoulders and adopt a somber attitude, and many of us are outraged, yet we take no action. As a result, the voices of those who are delighted to denounce the United States are the loudest that are heard.

Contact your representatives. Take a little time.

More About the People

2006-04-19T10:54:00.000-04:00

In our zeal to appease the Europeans and the United Nations, the White House is drafting yet another resolution for the United Nations to consider. Why, I wonder, is the United Nations removed from the responsibility of drafting the resolution? Why is the question not being asked?

We The People, our country, was formed and fought for on the premise of individual freedom, autonomy of the individual. That premise carries to the autonomy of the country. Our global situation now seeks to undermine the concepts of individual freedom, and we are being asked to conform to the wishes of countries whose welfare is largely determined by the generosity of the People of the United States.

Now, 3 Americans are being held hostage by Columbian rebels after shooting another American. President Bush has sent 150 troops to provide intelligence and support to the Columbian military in searching for the hostages.

The truly remarkable thing is - Where is the media coverage on this event? The New York Times has it listed under Other International News. Is that all? Where is the international outcry against this kidnapping?

When prisoners were taken to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the fight against Al-Quaeda, the International Red Cross was quick to investigate the treatment of those prisoners, and to voice strong opinions on that treatment. At the same time, they are not entering Iraq to investigate the treatment of the civilians there. Yet another strange double standard.

It is fascinating and astonishing to see the apathy over the mistreatment of Americans and the screaming over the believed mistreatment of citizens of other nations. Yet the United States continues to take steps to gain the support of the international community.

Without the aid provided by the US, many countries throughout the world would not enjoy much of the agricultural, medical, military, and political advances that they now enjoy. Perhaps the US should consider removing the aid and leaving these countries to their own devices, so that they can manage in accordance with their particular belief systems and cultures. At the same time, the US can use this much-needed money to fortify its borders, take care of its senior citizens, and improve the lot of the poor within its own borders.

From the Beginning - We The People

2006-04-19T10:51:00.000-04:00

We the People…

From Egypt to England, from China to Columbia, from Scandinavia to Sri Lanka, we are ALL immigrants or the children of immigrants…We came to the United States, primarily under harsh and difficult conditions, seeking refuge, because of not only the symbols of freedom that the United States represents, but in the everyday actions of “ordinary” citizens. We came from a diverse and beautiful array of cultures, religions, colors and beliefs, but we all came with a common goal—to CREATE lives for ourselves, to IMPROVE those lives, and to TEACH and PREPARE our children to be moral, honest, industrious American Citizens. We are proud of the cultures from which we came, and even more proud to have become citizens of a country that opens its heart and its doors to all that would offer their best of their individual cultures to create the great American Culture.

We honor our parents and grandparents, and strive to continue to uphold the principles that they held so dear.

We the People…
Are generous, loving, and caring. We are known to always help those in need. After we were attacked on 9/11/2001, we managed to reach into our pockets and gladly share our hard-earned dollars. We managed to find and to share $150,000,000 for the victims of 9/11. No individual is unimportant to us; no life is not precious. We will spend days to rescue one infant from a hole in the ground, offering our skills, our prayers, and our support.

We the People…
Will protect our country.
Will insure the safety of our children and of our families.
Will do it through the proper channels and make our voices heard, but rest assured,
We Will Be Heard!

We the People…
Know what a dictator is not. Our President is not a dictator.
Know what a leader is. Our President is a leader
Know when our lives and our homes are threatened. Will see to it that those who threaten us do not achieve their goals.

You the visitor…
Are here by virtue of OUR invitation.
You have overstayed your welcome.
You have not come to this country in the spirit in which it was built, and in the spirit in which our fathers and mothers fought.
Our invitation is rescinded.

We the People…
Advocate a moratorium on ALL immigration until…
There is ABSOLUTELY NO THREAT AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
There are NO THREATS AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIZENS AROUND THE WORLD.

We will not raise our children in fear. We are finished listening to you who purport to hate the United States yet scramble to come here on boats, floats, ships, planes, and on foot.

We do not want your drugs here.
We do not want your threats here.

We want to continue the life that our forefathers began. We intend to do so.
Do not think of wrestling with us.
We have been quiet while you have been screaming. Our energy has been gathering. We are finished. It is easy for you to remember that this is the Land of the Free.
Make no mistake. It is also the Home of the Brave.

Finally A Blog That I Like!

2006-04-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

No surprise - BlogSpot is the best so far.
I created it, changed my setting, and posted this in just minutes.

I had postings on another site, and I'm going to import them.