Monday, July 31, 2006

The Other Iraq (and Turkey, Syria, Iran)

I found this advertisement while at Newsmax.com. I usually ignore flashing ads; they tend to annoy more than anything else. I know you've seen those big red and white flashing ads for contests and offers. Huge, flashing, annoying! And no place to thide from them. But this was a little different. For one thing the USA flag flashed across the ad.

That's when I will stop scrolling and look. So this time I did. And saw something interesting. I smiled at the short message, and clicked on the ad to see what was there. Here's that ad. Take a look. Click if you like! I think you'll enjoy where you go.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting


Among other things, there is a bit of Kurdish history, things I knew but had forgotten with all the crud going on these days. There's information about the progress that Kurds in Northern Iraq have made since the Liberation from Saddam's regime. Kurds have a sad recent history, one fraught with violence, bloodshed, death. And they have done their own part in inflicting damage on those they seek freedom from.

Some of the Kurdish actions are terrorism. There's no other way to describe them. They have done things that bring to mind the Basques and the Seperatist Movement they created in Spain.

But considering the Kurds status in the nations they inhabit, I can almost forgive them. Not quite, but almost. What they are creating in the north of Iraq is a hopeful nation, a nation of progress, a Muslim country where learning is cherished, not disparaged. So I support an Independent Kurdistan. I believe they deserve it and should be granted it.

Yes, by another stroke of a pen! Give them their own place under their own leaders. Why not take a look at that ad again? Then click and surf on into The Other Iraq!

Sunday, July 30, 2006

I'm a Mousepotato!

Found while surfing the Net: This priceless list from Sandy's Spot. Good blog! Go visit!

Gotta Have Them

NEW WORDS FOR 2006: Essential vocabulary additions for the workplace (and
elsewhere)............

1. BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was
missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

2. SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on
everything, and then leaves.

3. ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and
advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.

4. SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream
only to get screwed and die in the end.

5. CUBE FARM: An office filled with cubicles.

6. PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube
farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.

7. MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

8. SITCOMs: Single Income, two children, oppressive mortgage. It's what
yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to
stay home with the kids.

9. STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and
whiny.

10. SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because
the magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.

11. XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's
workplace.

12. IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying but
you find yourself unable to stop watching them. The J-Lo and Ben wedding (or
not) was a prime example - Michael Jackson, another.

13. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an
electronic device to get it to work again.

14. ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above
the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often
profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to
solve.

15. 404 : Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error
message....."404 Not Found," meaning that the requested site could not be
located.

16. GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same
no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and
subdivisions.

17. OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that
you've just made a BIG mistake. (Like after hitting SEND on an email by
mistake)

18. WOOFS: Well-Off Older Folks.

19. CROP DUSTING: Surreptitiously passing gas while passing through a Cube
Farm.

Celebrating Islam: The National Park Service "Flight 93 Memorial"

This post nailed near the top until August 14, 2006 - the end of the Comments period. Read and get to it, Folks!

The National Park Service was given the solemn task of designing a memorial to commemorate the brave victims of Flight 93 - hijacked on 9/11 by Islamist terrorists.


Tunisia
Flag of Tunisia
Maldives
Flag of Maldives




Topographical Mock Up Of Memorial



Azerbaijan
Flag of Azerbaijan
See all the Crescents?
Algeria
Flag of Algeria

Coincidence? Or a symbol of Islam?


Flag of ComorosTo honor the passengers and crew who fought the Islamist terrorists, keeping them from flying that jet into yet another American landmark, the design chosen to honor these Americans is built around a foundation of Islamic symbols. The Islamic Crescent Moon is only one of those symbols. Along with the gigantic Crescent, the entire memorial is aligned, geographically to face Mecca. In fact the setup is such that it creates a huge Mosque.

Mecca Alignment

Note the alignment to Mecca.


Alec at "Error Theory" says, "A commentator on my blog (Yoel Natan) pointed out that a crescent that people face into to face Mecca is called a mihrab, and is the central feature around which every mosque is built."

I could copy everything these folks have posted, but it's better if you go, read, get peeved, and then go comment! Always On Watch has info. Mike's America has info. Error Theory has the biggest compilation that I have found.

Folks, some unacountable NPS individuals have seen fit to create a Memorial, ostensibly to honor dead Americans, but in fact to honor the cult that killed them. Even after an outcry, the design changed scarcely at all. This is an outrage! Go! Read! Send your comments to the people involved, and to the ones who can change this before it's too late! We do not need, or want, a memorial to Islamist Terrorists in our country.

Go!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And just so you aren't spending the day glum and disconsolate, here's something else I grabbed at Mike's America. Enjoy the image! I did! LOL

Saturday, July 29, 2006

I've been Tagged! Threes:

I've been tagged twice! That means either the folks tagging me think it's funny and I can handle it, or they hate me! I'll go with the former. It's more fun that way. But I'll getcha both! Muhahahahaaaa!

Three …

1) –things that scare me:

Failure
Cockroaches!
Dying alone

2) –people who make me laugh:

Monty Python (can’t split them for this!)
Louis Anderson
The old George Carlin

3) –things I hate the most:

People who lie even though the facts are shown to them
Wasting so many years being lazy
My father passing on when I was still 17 years old.

4) –things I don’t understand:

Women – never have. * sigh *
Leftist thinking
The US Tax Code – the idjits what wrote it oughta be in a Mental Hospital

5) –things I’m doing right now:

Surfing my favorite blogs
Watching Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" in Spanish – I don’t understand Spanish, but there ain’t nuttin’ else on!
Eating a salad with fresh, fried bacon on top!

6) –things I want to do before I die:

Have one of my books make the Bestseller List
Pay off my creditors
Find a woman who wants me, failings and all

7) –things I can do:

Write fiction
Sing like Sinatra
Cook

8) –ways to describe my personality:

Shy
Defensive
Humorous – often at inappropriate times!

9) –things I can’t do:

Run – I’m 50 and have put on a lot of weight since I quit smoking
Drink more than 2 beers without getting verbose!
Write Poetry

10) –things I think you should listen to:

The Voice of GOD in the Bible
Classical music such as the Rhapsodies of Enescu
The sounds of a storm

11) –things you should never listen to:

Rap – it ain’t music!
Perpetual victims
Your head when your heart contradicts it

12) –absolute favorite foods:

M&Ms!
Prime Rib/Lobster!
Chinese Cuisine

13) –things I’d like to learn:

How to attract a good woman
How to pray better – nothing is more important than my walk with the LORD!
How to save money

14) –beverages I drink regularly:

Water over ice
Beer – Newcastle Brown Ale or Blue Moon are very good!
Coffee – No decaf for me!

15) –shows I watched as a kid:

Dennis The Menace
Crusader Rabbit
Warner Brothers/Hanna-Barbera Cartoons

16) People I’m tagging:

Angel at Woman Honor Thyself
Kevin at Toast, It’s Not Just For Breakfast Anymore
Brooke at NeoCon Command Center

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Red Shirt Fridays Marching On

My folks sent me an email a few days ago. It was quite interesting, because of its content, as well as the fact it had been forwarded a few times. Originally from unknown people, then from more unknown people, then from friends of my folks, thence to me. Each forwarding had a number of additional email addresses on it. So, suffice it to say that this email has been seen by quite a few people and may well have been forwarded on to quite a few more!

Big deal, you say? Well, the email was about Red Shirt Fridays!

Here, take a look. Keep in mind that the entire email was done in Red Letters!

"Subject: Red Fridays
Just keeping you "in the loop" so you'll know what's going on in case this takes off. If you don't want to or remember to wear red, you can see who
else does.

RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority". We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red -blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.

If everyone of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is...We need your support and your prayers. Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.

IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON

IF YOU COULD CARE LESS THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON --- IT IS YOUR CHOICE. WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.

THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED---- SO WEAR RED! --- MAY GOD HELP AMERICA TO BECOME ONE NATION, UNDER GOD.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!"


Look familiar? Of course it does! Well, I emailed my folks right back to say, “Hey! I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now. Read my blog! LOL”

See? It’s spreading! Don’t have a red shirt? Go buy one? Can you think of a less expensive way to be supportive of the brave men and women in our Armed Forces? Wal-Mart has T-shirts for $5.00, polo shirts for around $7.00. Go get one. Wear it on Fridays - every Friday!

And if someone asks why, you let ‘em know it’s to show how much you love the American Troops who are in Harm’s Way to protect our Liberties!

Get crackin’! Time’s a-wastin’! It’s Red Shirt Fridays!

This Far, And No Further ...

"The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas - a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated."
- Ronald Reagan
40th president of US (1911 - 2004)


Job 38:2, 8 - 11
2 "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

8 "Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth from the womb,

9 when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,

10 marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,

11 and said,"Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?"


- The Holy Bible
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A United Nations 'observation post' in Lebanon is bombed, possibly on purpose, by Israeli planes. The U.N. demands a complete investigation. The World diplomatic voices join in the chorus, demanding that Israel stop the aggression against the innocent people of Lebanon. Yet it is believed that the so-called 'observation posts' have been used to spy on Israeli movements, facilitate weapons movements in Lebanon, cover for Hezbollah operatives. The U.N mission has been compromised by its own rapacious greed and incompetence. They are, in fact, in league with the Terrorists.

Recently we have heard cries calling on Israel to respond to the Hezbollah terrorist attacks with 'proportionate response'. As in 'tit-for-tat', we must suppose. Hezbollah fights from hideouts within civilian neighborhoods, from within hospitals and mosques. They are shielded, usually knowingly, by the very civilians who we are told are innocent victims of Israeli aggression. And while the terrorist of Islam fire their rockets and missiles purposely into civilian targets in Israel, cower behind women and children in attacks against Israeli forces, the World would have us hold back Israel. We are called upon to safeguard the terrorists and denounce the people who have been attacked, again and again, by fanatics.

The World continues to plead with our nation to convince Israel to seek a 'path for peace', as if that has not been tried again and again. We are told by former Federal government officials that we are the only super power in the region and that we hold sway with both sides, thus being the only ones who can stop the war there. Americans, told of the danger of Lebanon for years, and despite US State Department warnings against traveling to, or staying in, Lebanon, went there. And now endangered, they demand that the US government not only rescue them from the situation there, but stop it.

Stop Israel. Keep them from killing innocent Lebanese civilians. And the Western Media proclaim the horrors of Israeli attacks on the Lebanese people and trumpet the sorrow, bloodshed, and horror of what is happening in Lebanon. And on occasion they also show us images of the victims of Hezbollah in Israel.

But the World Media remain quiet about the Israeli soldiers kidnapped from Israel by Hezbollah in the north, and by Hamas in the south. Two Islamic terror organizations, shielded by their civilian neighbors in Lebanon, and elected to office in Gaza, commit acts of war, and then call upon the West to restrain the victims from seeking justice. And retribution.

History in the region of the Middle East tells us quite clearly that for each step toward peace, made by Israel, they have been made to pay a steep price in blood. Every move Israel has made to promote peace in the region has resulted in increased violence from the Islamists. Each time Israel has conceded land to the Islamists they have been attacked for their weakness - for that is how the Islamists see Israel's concessions - and made to pay more for Peace than for War. And still the World calls on them to give up. To step back further, to concede again.

Far too many in the West cannot, or will not, see the Evil that is Islam. They prattle on about its proud history: of exploration, of art, of medicine, of learning. All nonsense. And what they will not allow themselves to see now is the utter depravity of Islam and its interations with the Civilized World around it. This Cult of Death is granted concessions by the West that are suicidal in nature. Concessions that nobody would ever accept were the circumstances local rather than global.

Imagine that your neighbors began lobbing M-80s into your yard, onto your patio, through your windows. Would your response be to grant them part of your yard? If they crawled under your fence and kidnapped your child, would you offer to sit down and discuss the matter with them? Or would you call the police? Would you expect the Authorities to punish the missile lobbers, retrieve your child, and punish the kidnappers? If so, then you are not considered nuanced enough to be discussing the Middle East 'situation'.

And that 'situation' is but a tiny, though massively dangerous part of what is happening in the OWrld, whether we want to face it or not. For Islam is on the move. As it has since its violent, bloody inception, Islam is expanding, demanding converts or surrender, moving in and demanding that each place give in to its demands. Western Europe, which fought for its own survival centuries ago agaisnt this same Death Cult, finds itself once again endangered by Islam. This time it is different, though.

Europeans, in their Liberal, compassionate way, allowed Islam to enter. Acts of mercy, giving home and sustenance to refugees from other Muslim lands, has resulted in a growing minority of demanding, violence-prone cultists who despise their adoptive homes and refuse to assimilate into the societies around them. They are attempting to take over those nations from within. First through legislative means, and political bullying (Hate Speech Laws anyone?), then through armed uprisings, violent criminal activities, and the cordoning off of entire areas within cities, where the actual native populace can no longer tread without fear for their lives and limbs.

Europe may well fall this time, where they did not centuries ago. What will America do? Our own naysayers have emboldened the Islamist enemy. They have cost this nation precious blood through their tacit support of the Islamist Horde. Their incessant whining about the 'Rights' of the enemy attempt to weaken our resolve. We listen at our peril. Now is not the time to debate the finer points of diplomacy. Now is the time to gird up our loins, put on our armor, heft our swords and go fight the Forces of Darkness and Chaos. Because they are coming. Many are already here, working to weaken us from within. Using our Media, our Courts, our common decency as platforms from which to launch more attacks.

Time may be up for Freedom, and will be if we surrender. But maybe not. Maybe this is just what we need to weed out the Stupid from among us. Maybe we have been waiting for the moment when our own home-grown traitors and enemies would finally reveal themselves, not only to us, but to the World. We tolerated them throughout the Cold War, despite the revisionist history that proclaimed a Dark Age of McCarthyism. They were in league with the Evil of the Soviets then, they are in league with the Evil of Islam now.

It's time for us, the people of the United States of America, to stand up and say, "This far, and no further!"

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

- Ronald Reagan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unity Among Terrorists is Angel's post on the problem. Good read!

The Pirate's Cove gives us "New Lib Talking Point: No Israeli’s Are Civilians". Thanks, Cap'n Teach!

Bloviating Zeppelin has "Hezbollah and Condi Confounded" to explain some things.

The Anchoress posts about Iraq, a part of the War on Islamist Terror, with "Iraqi PM addresses Congress". Read it! She also reveals "Hezballah using funny US Money?". Are you aware that the use of counterfeit currency is considered an act of War? It is. Are we going to do anything about it? Hmmmm?

Gayle, at My Republican Blog, asks, "Will America Become a Carbon-Copy of France?". A scary thought!

"Cartoon Wednesday" at the NeoCon Command Center, is Brooke's take on recent events.

Educated Shoprat has "Thoughts On A Yahoo Story" that makes us wonder who is writing the story of the Middle East troubles. I recommend staying awhile at his blog and reading his posts.

At The Wide Awake Cafe Laura Lee posts "Tom Foreman Can’t Tell a Terrorist when He Sees One", relating a CNN correspondent's inability to discern the difference between building things in support of Evil (Hey! The NAZIs built schools, too!) and building things in support of growth and the future. As always, Laura Lee has good stuff!

JackLewis.Net posts "News From Israel" describing the peaceful practices of Hezbollah in their 'dispute' with the Israelis. And get your corner banner for your blog while you're there!

The Truth-Pain Emporium serves up "The 51st State (er.... star)", reminding us of just how close to Israel we in the USA actually are. Read it!

Don't forget to vote for Anna's blog "A Rose By Any Other Name" at The Blogs of Summer site. She's in the running for Military Blogs. Go and vote! The read Anna's "A History Lesson"!

Not surprised by World reactions to the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict? Sister Toldjah says, "Israel being blamed for UN’s failure to get UN observers out of the line of fire", and has a solid post on the lunacy!

Monday, July 24, 2006

What's The Point? Oh, yeah ... "Ooops!"

My drive home from work lasts maybe fifteen minutes, if the traffic is a tad heavy. So when I flip on the radio I don’t expect to hear much, other than commercials, of anything deep or interesting. I usually tune in one of two local talk stations. On this particular drive home I was listening to a guest host who I have heard before. He is somewhat Conservative, which I prefer, and he’s usually pretty ‘up’ on whatever his subject is.

I have no idea what this day’s subject was – not enough time! – but what I heard had me scratching my head. He was announcing that the Land of Israel was not mentioned once in the Bible.

Now I am no theologian. Not even close. But I certainly have read the book many times. And I know for a fact that the ‘Land of Israel’ is certainly mentioned. And often! But here he was stating categorically that it wasn’t, and that the translations were somehow lacking, probably owing to the Greek and Aramaic originals.

Now, when I heard the phrase ‘Land of Israel’ the first thing that came to mind wasn’t the New Testament, but the Old Testament. The Hebrew Scriptures. A caller spoke with him – the voice came across to me as ‘Jewish’ – don’t roll your eyes! Listen to Jackie Mason and tell me you don’t think ‘Jewish’! – and this caller proceeded to explain that the phrase was indeed used often, and was Hebrew in origin. The host demurred that the Bible was written in Greek and Aramaic. He seemed to grasp that yes, Israel was the name given to Jacob a grandson of Abraham. He seemed to grasp that the Torah was indeed written in Hebrew, but seemed to fail to grasp that the Torah was only the first five ‘books’ of the Old Testament, that the rest of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew as well. I was confused.

Now, at this point I sort of tuned him out. My mind was roaming and I was formulating a reply to him in my head – yes, I do that a lot! – and explaining to him that the Christian Bible consists of two sections: The Hebrew Scriptures, popularly referred to as the Old Testament, and the Greek Scriptures, popularly referred to as the New Testament. And by that time I had arrived home.

I went in, flipped on the computer and went right to the Blue Letter Bible on the internet. I typed in ‘Land of Israel’ and hit the search button. 228 matches, 31 of which were an exact match, that went right up to Matthew in the New Testament. Alright, I had some facts now. So I emailed the host.

“Hi ___.
I caught a few minutes of you covering for _______ this afternoon. You kept insisting that the Bible was written in Aramaic and Greek. Partially correct, as I know you've been told. The New Testament - the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Revelation - were originally written in Aramaic and Greek. But the Old Testament, the foundation from which the New Testament rose, was written in Hebrew. Thus the Old Testament is often referred to as the Hebrew Bible. Or the Hebrew books of the Bible. Our modern Christian versions of the Bible contain an Old (Hebrew) Testament and a New (Greek/Aramaic) Testament.
I'm surprised you weren't aware of that!
By the time of Jesus, the area that once was Israel was called Judea (a bad Roman version of Judah - Land of the Judahites: Jews) and Samaria(the northern area of ancient Israel which was settled by the Samaritans after the Babylonian Conquest of Israel). The area was called Israel throughout the time of Saul, David, and Solomon. After that, the Kingdom split into two Kingdoms: Israel the northern Kingdom, Judah the southern Kingdom.
Okay? :D
Carry on!”

Okay, I perhaps expected a ‘Eureka’ moment from him. That slap to the head, “Ohhh, that’s right! What was I thinking?” But I didn’t get it. Nope. What I got was this:

“Jacob was known as Israel -- the land was not. and, the Hebrew language in the Torah (sp) I am aware of.”

Ahhh, so he’s not grasping this, is he? Okay, I have nothing to do, I’m sipping my ice water, so let’s continue, eh? Look, when I am in the ‘Spirit’ I get on my soap box, in my pulpit, and I talk. Off went another email in reply, this time with a few scriptures, and their references in links:

“Well, from the book of First Samuel, then from Second Kings, comes this:
1Sa 13:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [them] swords or spears:

2Ki 5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

2Ki 5:4 And [one] went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that [is] of the land of Israel.

2Ki 6:23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

That's simply two of the Old Testament books. The inhabitants of Israel called it Israel.”

I didn’t want to spam him with all 31 matches. Or go digging through the whole 228 matches I found. Those should have been sufficient, don’cha think? Well, I did. Off went the email. A little while later came a reply:

“I'm really not being a jerk.. and am not being arrogant.. but, I'm reading that to say it's the "land" of the guy named "Israel." As in "Host's" land or "benning's" Land. From what I can tell this very land was split in two as Juda to the south and Israel to the north some time later. but, again -- I ADMITTEDLY am still a mere young student of these facts. thanks for being patient.”

Okay, now that looks as though he’s closing in on the facts! Right? He says right there “From what I can tell this very land was split in two as Juda to the south and Israel to the north some time later.” Doesn’t that mean that there was a place called ‘Israel’? Looks like it to me. So I just had to clarify, being helpful, don’t you know:

“No, I know you're not being a jerk. A nation named for a man is not unusual. Denmark is the English modern of Dan's Border. Or Dan's March. England, fo course, is Land of the Angles. The Angles were named for a forbear.
Israel was the name of the land. Named for the forbear Jacob. The people would take his name also - Israelites - so their land became Israel or Land of the Israelites.
Now I like the sound of benning's Land. But I am cash and land poor. So I doubt it will happen! Ahhhh, but a guy can dream, eh?”

Enough? I thought so. But seems I am too optimistic. For back came another reply:

“By the way, most historical references I'm finding are calling that parcel of land "Canaan" or "Juda." I'm still learning”

Yes, he is. And I hope he digs deeper, and not by following the same anti-Israel texts that are touted by the mainstream. He ought to be reading his Bible!

I replied:

“Correct! Canaan was its name. Until the Israelites invaded and took it. Judah was the name of the southern Kingdom following the splitting of the Kingdom. Israel was the north and Judah was the south. It's from about that time that the inhabitants of the southern kingdom came to be known as Judahites, shortened to Jews.
Who isn't still learning?”

And that was the end of our correspondence. I really didn’t expect more, but I had hoped to show him the facts. Now, what was going on here? And why am I even relating this? Not to expose a Talk Show Host who is ignorant – he isn’t, or stupid, he isn’t! Not to show my expertise, I don’t think. Because I am no expert. That’s why I went to the source when I hopped online. I needed to find the scriptures I was sure were there, but could not cite from memory. Even now, I'd bet some of what I wrote him is not quite exact. (No, I don't think I made any errors, but ... *shrug*)

Which is why in many of my comments and in some of my posts I say, “if my memory serves …” or, “if I’m remembering this correctly”. Because my memory is not a computer. I have thoughts and memories that are wrong! In error! And I recognize that.

So many people don’t! Which is why propaganda works so well. Our memories can be altered by a stray word, or repetition. When I think I remember something … oh, I remember that politician saying this … well, sometimes it isn’t what that politician said at all! No, at times it’s a paraphrase from the News (we know how reliable that is!), or a parody from a comedian, or it was somebody else entirely! See? We mis-remember. We do it all the time. That’s one of the great uses of the computer and the Internet. We can ‘fact-check’! But we don’t. Not always. We use our memories and speak from them.

Now that radio talk show host probably was told by somebody - at a party, at a bar, in a lunch meeting – that an interesting fact was that nowhere in the Bible is Israel called Israel! He may well have responded, “What? Are you nuts? ‘Course it was!” No. That’s a common misconception … blah, blah, blah. And the host remembered that and regurgitated it on the air. He’s dead wrong, and should have acknowledged that as soon as callers explained it to him. So why didn’t he?

Because he’s human. He was sure he was right. He remembered that ‘factoid’ so it must be correct! But he wasn’t. And as I emailed him with proof, including links to the scriptures themselves, he could have checked easily enough. What better proof than a document that has early copies from over 2000 years ago. Early copies that are the same as the modern translations. Easily checked. Yet he clung to the idea that he was right, that the Land of Israel was not called Israel.

We find it impossible sometimes, to admit we’re wrong. Way off base! We just hate to admit we have been exposed. I know I hate it! And yet I have learned to be careful about the things I say. Not because I fear errors, but because I hate having to say, “Yeah, I was way off on that! Man, what was I thinking?” Hate it. I want to be correct. So I fact-check. And I take care in what I say. And when I’m not sure I make sure that whoever I’m talking to knows I’m not sure.

Mr. Talk-Show-Host: The Land of Israel was called that. By its inhabitants. By its neighbors. By its enemies. We know this from the Old Testament of the Bible and the New Testament of the Bible. We know it from hieratic writings in Egypt and Babylonian and Assyrian writings. It’s a fact, sir. A little in depth reading will reveal it to you.

Carry on, sir, ‘cause I like your show when I hear you. Good luck! And good reading!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

The Littlest Patriot: Updated~!

Scroll down for the updates! And enjoy the picture!

All I know about this image is that it was posted online by "Bookwight".

by BookWight



Are you smiling now? Inhale, breath in the sweet air of Freedom. We will win out in the end.

Update!: See the corner banner? Up there on the right corner? Wnat one just like it? I could paste the html here, but I think you should go to the source. He has other corner banners, too. Please go to JackLewis.net for the html and the low-down! Let him know I sentcha! LOL

I have never intended the Writing Pad to be a political blog. It was intended for the Arts, most specifically Art that I like and my own writings (Buy My Book!), and then, perhaps, the occasional opinion. But these are perilous times, and we must lend our voices in support of Good and in defiance of Evil. For if we do not speak now, raise our voices now, the time will come when our voices will no longer be heard. For the hearers will be dead. Now is the time to speak up. Now!

So, I say proudly, unashamedly, "I stand with Israel!"

Gayle at My Republican Blog has "AND WE THOUGHT HELEN THOMAS WAS SCARY!", an interesting post. She says about Iran, "The legal age for a girl to be married is 9! Most girls haven't even hit puberty at 9. Talk about child abuse! And they are not allowed to watch men engaging in sports unless the men's legs are fully covered? Sheesh! I suppose these asshats believe themselves to have such sexy legs women will not be able to control themselves!" Go read it! Gooooood stuff!

newton, at "Oh How I Love Jesus", gives us "The Decision", in which we read, "Even though most of the media ignores it nowadays, there is no way to deny that there has been a massive exodus of people of Jewish heritage and/or ancestry into Israel. This exodus begun in very small stages in the turn of the nineteenth and the twentieth century, when the land was so barren that no one really cared about growing anything on it - that is, except for those with such a strong attachment to the ancestral land that they did begin trying." Heavy. Deep. Important. Go.

Wonder Woman at "Let Freedom Reign" posts, "What cost, citizenship?", where she begins, "In the course of the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon, a raging debate has started over how much consideration is owed to dual citizenship holders who are permanent residents of Lebanon. Wherein one side insists that Canadian citizenship entitles the holder to the universal rights and privileges held therein, the other side insists that a person who holds dual citizenship, but does not make Canada their home, should take second priority to Canadian residents." This post has resonance for the US, too!

The Anchoress brings us a reminder of the underhanded goings on that bring us false information with, "Classical Values finds a wormhole". Follow the link. Just amazing what the Left will do to push their own agenda regardless of Truth.

Along with some other gems, Brooke posts, "The Definition of Ingrate" about a daughter suing her parents. Spoiled, immature girl! Absolutely amazing and not surprising any longer.

With "A Question For Islam", Educated Shoprat brings us a Native American Professor asking an important question of Muslims. Well worth the read, Folks.

Finally, something to let simmer in your mind. Daniel Webster, lawyer, United States Senator and Secretary of State during the nation’s Antebellum era, famed for his oratorical abilities in the period of American Political Giants before the Civil War, said this: "If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and instill into them just principles, we are then engraving that upon tablets which no time will efface, but will brighten and brighten to all eternity."

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Another Quotation: Ruminate, My Friends

mountain stream


"The world is full of contention and contentious people. They will not tell you the time of day or day of the month without their little display of hostility. I have argued with Meyer about it. It is more than a reflex, I think. It is an affirmation of importance. Each one is saying, 'I can afford to be nasty to you because I don't need any favors from you, buster.' It is also, perhaps, a warmed application of today's necessity to be cool. ...

"If I were King of the World I would roam my kingdom in rags, incognito, dropping fortunes onto the people who are nice with no special reasons to be nice, and having my troops lop off the heads of the mean, small, embittered little bastards who try to inflate their self-esteem by stomping on yours. I would start the lopping among post-office employees, bank tellers, bus drivers, and pharmacists. I would go on to checkout clerks, bellboys, prowl-car cops, telephone operators, and U.S. Embassy clerks. By God, there would be so many heads rolling here and there, the world would look like a berserk bowling alley. Meyer says this shows a tad of hostility."


- Travis McGee in, "The Empty Copper Sea" © 1978 John D. MacDonald

Sunday, July 16, 2006

A Quotation Upon Which To Ruminate


"Do not confuse "duty" with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily. Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect.

But there is no reward at all for doing what other people expect of you, and to do so is not merely difficult, but impossible. It is easier to deal with a footpad than it is with the leech who wants "just a few minutes of your time, please -- this won't take long." Time is your total capital, and the minutes of your life are painfully few. If you allow yourself to fall into the vice of agreeing to such requests, they quickly snowball to the point where these parasites will use up 100 percent of your time -- and squawk for more!

So learn to say No -- and be rude about it when necessary.

Otherwise you will not have time to carry out your duty, or to do your own work, and certainly no time for love and happiness. The termites will nibble away your life and leave none of it for you.

(This rule does not mean that you must not do a favor for a friend, or even for a stranger. But let the choice be yours. Don't do it because it is "expected" of you.)
"

- Lazarus Long in, "Time Enough For Love", © 1973 Robert A. Heinlein

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Some Well-Needed Chuckles

Red Shirt Fridays Redux

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As originally posted on 6 July, 2006:


From Sues Views, by way of Bushwack, comes this:

Wear red on Fridays and send a message to the liberal media and politicians. Here's why. This was sent to me today and retells an incident that happened in an airport recently. The author is unknown and whether it's true or not is uncertain. But the message still holds true, and the idea of wearing red on Fridays is a good way to show our support for the troops.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting

"Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.


"Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting "Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said, 'hi,' to the little girl, then she asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, he didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.


"The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up. When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the otherservicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting "After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying, 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'


"The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American."

RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority". We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions.Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked, "What can we do to make things better for you?" is...

We need your support and your prayers.

Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.


Image Hosted by Free image hosting


I can add not one thing to this, Folks. Let's do it, shall we?

Pierre-Auguste Renoir: French Impressionist for blogagog

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Since blogagog mentioned Renoir, I figured I may as well look into him. So I did. He was French, lived from 1841 - 1919, was an Impressionist, and was the friend of many of the most famous artists of the time. Like blogagog, I prefer the Art I look at to resemble what it claims to be. Impressionism sidles away from reality, or as one puts it "... under [the] influence of Impressionism, recreation of objective reality was discouraged and replaced by the practice of developing oneÂ’s subjective response to a piece of work to actual experience."

Thus you have to view the Impressionist painting from a distance to get what it is. Stand too close to the painting and you become lost in the brushstrokes. The canvas becomes thoroughly meaningless.

He continues: "So, the immediate visual impression created by the use of unmixed primary colors, small strokes, partially modeled shapes and the element of reflected light turned out to be the main characteristics of Impressionism. Free movement of the painter’s arm with brush in his hand and eyes on the object, made this style more popular and satisfying for all, as there was more margin for the artist’s point of view and angel of perception to be rendered through a more human and more energetic approach. It was really a treat to imprison the changing light and varying ambiance in no time. This brought in an altogether new move toward observing normal things under certain spell of making an “Impression” for that; artist’s eye befell as the platform to study and process available panorama."

Ahem! Uhh ... okay. So it's not as bad as Cubism, but it doesn't give me the satisfaction of Realism. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood is the group of artists that I prefer. But never mind me, let's take a look at the works of Renoir.

Free Image Hosting at allyoucanupload.com La Promenade was painted in 1875. From the thumbnail, you get a good idea what the image should look like. A nice scene, right? Sunlight peeks through the leaves of the trees and dapples the man's pants with light. His nose is lit, while his face is shaded by his hat. The woman is still in full light, as the man helps her along.

And the picture has a hazy quality, as if the pollen count was way up there! Click on the image to get a bigger view of this. Too close to the picture and the woman looks old, the man looks unfinished, perhaps the Village Idiot. The dappling of the distance becomes odd splashes of light color.

Impressionist painting does take tremendous talent and skill. To paint an impression of something, but not the actual something, to suggest something, while only hinting at it in paint, is a technique that needs to be taught, or practiced. This is not a painting technique that is easy. Much like Pointillism, to make an image that the viewer can recognize, takes correct technique and the ability to "see" the picture while not painting the actual object of the picture. Does that make sense?

I painted - Oils, then later, Acrylics - as a younger man, and in my teens. I loved it, though I hated the amount of time it takes. I always found myself struggling, close up to the canvas, fighting to get the tiniest of details into the image. Why? Because I was untrained. There are techniques which allow the painter to "hint" at things that do not need to be painted in their fullness.

As usual, I'm using my own feeble understanding to explain some of this. You have to know that there is a huge vocabulary regarding paiandng adn styles, techniques, and so on. Most of it is incomprehensible taveragevergae person. That's you and me! Frankly, most of the words used to describe these techniques is gobbledy-gook. And we all know it! LOL

Free Image Hosting at allyoucanupload.com"The Boating Party Lunch", painted in 1881, is a very busy picture! Lots of people, lots of food, wine, and such. The thumbnail doesn't do it justice, but again, too close and the painting is not very good. Click on the image to get a better flavor of this. Renoir has fun with light. His contrasts here are really nice. Do you see the grapes strewn on the table in the foreground? The reflections on the glasses and bottles? For me, the 5 people in the upper right and center, detract from the picture, like afterthoughts. They're too close and just clutter the image. See? Even a schlub like me can have criticism.

And lost in that very busy lunch party, do you see the sailboats? The fellow in the odd hat and button-front t-shirt on the left may be looking at them. I like the faces here. The noses, lips, even the little dog! Did you see the dog?

But I don't care for the painting overall. Why? This is one of those paintings that I might hang on the wall. But it is not something I would see every day. No matter where I hung it it would fade into the background like wallpaper, or knick-knacks. That's what you should go for when you want "Art" for your living room, bedroom, or whatever. It has to speak to you all the time. Renoir doesn't do that for me. I'm sure he does that for lots of other people. Art is, after all, subjective.

Free Image Hosting at allyoucanupload.com A last image of Renoir's, this from 1875, showing one of his friends. "Claude Monet Painting in his Garden at Argenteuil". Click on the image for a closer look. Again, you will see how easy it is, close up, to get lost in brushstrokes and lose the picture itself. This is not one of Renoir's best, but it does show Impressionism well. And it shows one of his friends at work.


One interesting note: among Renoir's students was Daniel Ridgway Knight, who was two years older than Renoir. Knight, an American Naturalist painter, did not paint in the Impressionist style. Knight is among my favorites for his lush, pastoral scenes, and the wonderful innocence of his human subjects.

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"Hailing The Ferry"



*sigh* Okay, I will post on Daniel Ridgway Knight next. (as if this is a huge sacrifice? Heheheee!)

Sunday, July 09, 2006

A New Puzzle For You! And More ...

Alright, Folks, here's a new puzzle picture - fine art for the game players! This time the pieces are larger. Not only easier but faster! Yay!

Let me know if you'd rather have smaller pieces, or if this size is good. Also, is the image the kind you'd like to see?

I bet it is! LOL

Good luck!



Your Linguistic Profile:
50% General American English
30% Yankee
15% Dixie
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern


You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!


You Are 20% Sociopath

You're empathetic, loyal, and introspective.
In other words, there's no way you're a sociopath... but you can spot one pretty easily!


You Are Fozzie Bear

"Wocka! Wocka!"
You're the life of the party, and you love making people crack up.
If only your routine didn't always bomb!
You may find more groans than laughs, but always keep the jokes coming.


And finally, a retake shows I'm getting a tad more Conservative. *shrug* no prob, Rob! LOL

Your Political Profile:
Overall: 90% Conservative, 10% Liberal
Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal
Personal Responsibility: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal
Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal
Ethics: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal
Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Friday, July 07, 2006

The Clock


Short Fiction by benning


The ceaseless ticking drew her eyes once more to the old clock hung upon the wall, its glass face reflecting the upside down image of herself.

"6:30," it read in the dim, fading, orange light from the kitchen window. She turned her attention to her ironing, the hiss of the steam roiling around the bright white shirt, rising to tickle her nostrils with the fragrance of detergent and starch.

"Where is he?" she thought for the thousandth time, her strokes nearly in time with the clock's sound.

Her eyes were drawn again to the clock. Shadow cast in the dying light lengthening across the wall; gleaming silver needle of the second hand sweeping around inexorably. The black numbers seemed to dance as the second hand swept past them, as if mocking her. "He's gone. He's gone. He's gone," they seemed to say, mocking her. "Your fault. Your fault. Your fault." She tasted salt at the corner of her mouth and realized she was crying. She could scarcely see the clock now, the light so dim; the tears blurring all. Still it ticked away the accusation. "He's gone. He's gone. He's gone."

She rested the iron on its tail and dabbed at her eyes. She closed them tightly against the memory of the fierce, slashing argument of the morning.

"Your fault. Your fault. Your fault," the clock intoned. She didn't see the flash of bright whiteness that crossed the clock's round face; didn't hear the crump from the driveway; heard no tap of shoes coming to the door.

"He's gone. He's gone. He's gone," the clock screamed.

Strong hands grasped her shoulders and gently pulled her into a deep embrace, as she wept. The familiar tang of aftershave filled her head; scratch of beard along her cheek as he kissed her, saying, "My fault. All my fault. My fault."

"He's back," the clock chirped. "He's back. He's back. He's back."

Copyright 2001 by benning

More of benning's short stories, as well as a lot of great writing, can be found at: T-Zero: The Writer's Ezine







If you enjoyed my short story, you may enjoy my novel, as well! "Benning's War" is an Historical Novel about a few months during the American Revolution. Follow the adventures of a young Virginian from the Battle of The Waxhaws to the Battle of Kings Mountain and beyond. Click on the book cover to take a look!



Laura at The Wide Awake Cafe takes us one a journey into the Revolt of the Generals a few months ago, in "Fiasco? Grabbing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory". Inside information that makes them look even worse than they did then!

Siggy gives us "Self Esteem, Dysfunction And Summer Camp", a look at the mindset of the Palestinians that is interesting!

The Anchoress has quite a round-up of her own going with "Catching up on reading…".

Brooke at the NeoCon Command Center gives us, among other things, "Watada Charged By The Army" which updates us '...about US Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada, who refused orders to fight in Iraq not because of religious objection, but because he disagreed with the President,... '

Always On Watch looks at the London Bombing, "One Year Ago".

Anna at "A Rose By Any Other Name" has some fun and interesting posts. Why pick only one to highlight? The first three will get you started nicely!

Angel at "Woman Honor Thyself" has an "Friendship Open Trackbacks all Weekend" going. Check her posts while you're checking the links of the folks who have trackbacked!

Lots of reading in your future, so get to it! And don't forget the Red Shirt Fridays!

Thursday, July 06, 2006

It's Gonna Get Cold


Just when the Leftists thought it was safe to sit back and relax, here comes more facts to upset the Global Warming apple cart. It would seem that far from being a settled fact, Global Warming is ever more firmly entrenched in the Land of Make Believe.

Arctic waters heating up? It ain't from the Air temperature, but from beneath the waves. Anyone who has gone through the winters in the northern climes, or in Canada, knows just how cold the winters are. And the winters grow colder each year. You can't have colder winters when the globe is warming up. In fact, the summers have been cooling at least since 1998, which is the last "record high temperature" summer. Not last summer, as Al Gore tries to convince us.

So why is the ice cover seeming to shrink in the Arctic? Even while the air remains as cold as ever?

As Phil Brennan puts it: "The answer is quite simple: Mother Earth is belching up red hot magma through the ocean floor all across the globe. It may come as a surprise to you, but two-thirds of all volcanic activity takes place under the world's seas, and currently that activity is heating the oceans to the point where they are sending huge amounts of moisture up into the atmosphere, where it comes down as heavy rain in the spring, summer and fall, and snow in the winter."

And the word around the globe is the same: glaciers are growing, inching toward the seas, getting thicker. Not the opposite, which is the disinformation the Global Warming Alarmists want you to think.

What does that mean, in terms we can all understand? It means that Global Warming is a myth. If anything, we are beginning our descent into an Ice Age. And there is not one thing we can do to stop it. We may be able to mitigate the damage somewhat, with smart actions now, but we are not going to be able to change what the Earth decides to do.

Oh, we won't be seeing Ice Sheets building up in Wisconsin, or glaciers inching through the Manhattan streets. That's in the distant future. As many of us have been saying for at least 20 years, climate is something that moves over vast areas of time, not just space.

So don't worry about the alarmists and their latest idiotic prattlings about warming trends. They're wrong. And they are nearly uniformly made by people who have a vested interest in destroying the Western economies. That's all they care about. Kyoto proves that. They sure as hell don't care about you and yours. So, read the reports by the geologists and oceanographers. Think about what it all means.

And maybe buy an extra parka or two. Your descendants will thank you!
Cross-posted at The Largo Lip.

Red Shirt Fridays: Start A New Movement!

From Sues Views, by way of Bushwack, comes this:

Wear red on Fridays and send a message to the liberal media and politicians. Here's why. This was sent to me today and retells an incident that happened in an airport recently. The author is unknown and whether it's true or not is uncertain. But the message still holds true, and the idea of wearing red on Fridays is a good way to show our support for the troops.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting

"Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.


"Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting "Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said, 'hi,' to the little girl, then she asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, he didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.


"The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up. When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the otherservicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting "After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying, 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'


"The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

Image Hosted by Free image hosting We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American."

RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority". We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions.Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked, "What can we do to make things better for you?" is...

We need your support and your prayers.

Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.


Image Hosted by Free image hosting


I can add not one thing to this, Folks. Let's do it, shall we?

Happy 60th Birthday, George W. Bush

Image Hosted by Free image hostingSome of the President's quotes:
    We will stand up for our friends in the world. And one of the most important friends is the State of Israel. My administration will be steadfast in support Israel against terrorism and violence, and in seeking the peace for which all Israelis pray.

    I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.

    The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got.

    To those of you who received honours, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you, too, can be president of the United States.

    Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called "walking."

    Iraq is no diversion. It is a place where civilization is taking a decisive stand against chaos and terror, we must not waver.

    We cannot blame the schools alone for the dismal decline in SAT verbal scores. When our kids come home from school do they pick up a book or do they sit glued to the tube, watching music videos? Parents, don't make the mistake of thinking your kid only learns between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

    On September 11 2001, America felt its vulnerability even to threats that gather on the other side of the Earth. We resolved then, and we are resolved today, to confront every threat from any source that could bring sudden terror and suffering to America.

    When you turn your heart and your life over to Christ, when you accept Christ as the savior, it changes your heart.


Many Happy Returns of the day, Mister President!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

The American Revolution: Not In Vain


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From the website, "Revolutionary War":

"The United States enlisted a total of about 200,000 soldiers and sailors during the war. Battle casualties were 4435 dead and 6188 wounded. An estimated 20,000 Americans died of non-combat causes. [Other sources cite: 'An estimated 25,000 American Revolutionaries died during active military service. About 8,000 of these deaths were in battle; the other 17,000 deaths were from disease, including about 8,000 who died while prisoners of war. The number of Revolutionaries seriously wounded or disabled by the war has been estimated from 8,500 to 25,000. The total American military casualty figure was therefore as high as 50,000.']

1200 Hessians were killed in action and 6,354 died from illness or accident.

According to data from the Daughters of the American Revolution, the last surviving U.S. veteran of the conflict, George Fruits, died in 1876 at the age of 114. However, Fruits was never on a pension roll.

The last surviving veteran may have been Daniel F. Bakeman (died 1869), who was placed on the pension rolls by an act of Congress and is listed as the last survivor of the conflict by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs."




From Wikipedia:
'Clarke Crossing the Wabash' Hosted by Free image hosting
"The total loss of life resulting from the American Revolutionary War is unknown. As was typical in the wars of the era, disease claimed more lives than battle. The war took place during a massive North American smallpox epidemic which probably killed more than 130,000 people. Historian Joseph Ellis suggests that Washington's decision to have his troops inoculated may have been the commander-in-chief's most important strategic decision.


"About 171,000 seamen served for the British during the war; about 25 to 50 percent of them had been pressed into service. About 1,240 were killed in battle, while 18,500 died from disease. The greatest killer was scurvy, a disease known at the time to be easily preventable by issuing lemon juice to sailors, a step not taken by the Admiralty due to what historian Piers Mackesy characterized as "administrative apathy". About 42,000 British seamen deserted during the war.


"Approximately 1,200 Germans were killed in action and 6,354 died from illness or accident. About 16,000 of the remaining German troops returned home, but roughly 5,500 remained in the United States after the war for various reasons, many eventually becoming American citizens. No reliable statistics exist for the number of casualties among other groups, including Loyalists, British regulars, American Indians, French and Spanish troops, and civilians."


The Revolution fought against Great Britain for the Independence of the American Colonies was a long conflict. Only the Vietnam War was longer in American History. The population of the American Colonies at the time of the Revolution is estimated at 3.5 million people. The estimate of 200,000 colonists fighting at one time or another in the Revolution, means that fully 5.7% of the population fought, and risked their lives in defense of Liberty.

Today, in Iraq alone, the present number of battlefield deaths, of American combatants, stands at 2,529. If we estimate a force of 150,000 Americans in Iraq, we have what amounts to one-half of one percent of the population of the United States. That doesn't count, of course, the total number of Americans serving in the US Military. But look at the comparison with our own War of Independence. 5.7% of the populace versus .05%. My math may be off, but we are looking at a population of over 300 million in the USA. Do we have 3 million Men & Women in the Armed Forces? We are fighting the War On Terror with one hand behind our back and our legs tied together. And that's something this Nation has done often in its Wars.

The Revolution raged for 8 years - 1775 until 1783 - and was fought from Canada south to the Georgia border with Spanish Florida. Fortunes were lost, and rich men died in poverty, having given their entire fortunes to the War effort.

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From an Interview with Jeffrey M. Keenan:

"Life for a soldier in the eighteenth century was hard. Extremely hard. Men rarely had enough to eat, and often went days without food. They would forage the areas around them for anything edible, and often were marching through places already stripped of food and game. Supplying the troops was difficult and beset with problems - transport was hard to come by, money was in short supply, and suppliers were corrupt. To find a cornfield was like reaching heaven. Soldiers would eagerly eat green corn, drink molasses, and eat unripe apples.

Tents were sometimes available to troops, but sleeping in the open was probably the norm for militias. They would wrap themselves in a blanket for warmth and sleep with their muskets in their arms.

Clothing was truly 'rag-tag' and led to mocking comments from the British and Loyalists. Even the French were appalled at the aspect of an army without proper uniforms, but the sight of these lean, tall, hard American men impressed the French a good deal.

These men had no shoes, or wrapped their feet in rags. And they still went forward to fight for their freedom. It amazes me. I could not do it. To give an idea of the conditions of these fighting men, let me paraphrase the words of an observer following the battle of Trenton. "You could have followed the Americans by the bloody footprints they left in the snow."

As far as medicine, they had leeches for bleeding, and amputations for bad wounds. They suffered from smallpox, typhus, and dysentery. Prisoners of the British faced starvation and disease on the dreaded prison ships.

Discipline was spotty at first, but became harsher as the war went on and Washington needed a more disciplined army. Hanging offenses included striking an officer and desertion. Flogging was a common form of punishment."


Give thanks to GOD, Americans, for the Bravery and Fortitude of these Merchants, Farmers, Doctors, Lawyers, everyday Men & Women. Those who chose Liberty and Freedom over the King of Great Britain. Those who risked Life, Limb, and Fortune to gain Independence.

GOD Bless America!
'Triumph of patriotism-Washington entering New York, Nov. 25,1783' Hosted by Free image hosting
Triumph of patriotism-Washington entering New York, Nov. 25,1783

Monday, July 03, 2006

Remembering and Celebrating Independence Day

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The Declaration of Independence. Painting by John Trumbull



IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.



flintlock


Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.

The finest document ever created by American hand, the Declaration of Independence has been a foundation for many nations across the globe. Often cited by young rebels as the reasoning they have adopted for their own movements, it is unequalled anywhere in the world.

Perhaps if more Americans read it, and recited it to their elected representatives, we would have a more honest and responsive government. This document explained why the Colonies of North America were tossing their government into the trash. Oh, Washington, D.C? Are you listening to Mr. Jefferson? Do we, the People, have to do this again?


flintlock


We claimed our independence once before. We can certainly do it again if we must.

Read the Declaration of Independence, people. Then try a good read through the United States Constitution. I think you will be surprised by just how much the US Government does that it is not permitted to do. Not permitted by Law.

Hold on to the promises of the Declaration and the Constitution! GOD Bless America!