ALL UN-HALLOW

WHEN THE SPIRITS OF YUPPIES WALK, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS TAGS BEHIND. THIS HALLOWEEN, I CURSE THE DAMNED ELITE WHO INHABIT SOME OF THE TURF. FIRST I SAY DAM TO THE VEGETARIAN WHO CHOOSES TO REAP THE REWARDS OF THE ROOTED UNDERWORLD OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES MISSING OUT ON THE DELIGHTS FROM HOOFED GRAZERS OR THE CLAW-FOOTED, FEATHERED PECKERS IN THE SUNSHINE. I SAY DOUBLY-DAMNED IS THE VEGETARIAN WIFE WHO WANTS TO HAND OUT CRACKERS AND PLAY DOH TO TRICK OR TREATERS ON BEGGARS NIGHT IN LIEU OF CANDY. WHAT A HORROR. THE EVENING BEFORE THE SAINTS' DAY, I SAY SOME ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE MADE FOR PUCKISH FUN AND SWEET REWARDS. DAMN THOSE REMINDERS OF THE UNHOLY 'NUT JOBS' THAT WALK THE EARTH.

FOGIE WATCH

THE STATESMAN AND PHILOSOPHER, CICERO, WHO LIVED FROM 106 TO 143 B.C. AND DIED AT AN AGE WHICH WE TODAY CONSIDER YOUNG, KNEW THAT "OLD AGE IS THE CONSUMMATION OF LIFE, JUST AS OF A PLAY." HE CONCEDED THAT THE CURTAIN MUST EVENTUALLY, ON COURSE, COME DOWN.

BUT MODERN RESEARCHERS LOOKING FOR THE SECRET OF PERPETUAL YOUTH IGNORE THE WISDOM OF THE ROMAN FOGY, CICERO AS THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE MONEY TO FUND STUDIES THAT AIM AT PROLONGING LIFE AND RETARDING AGING. SUCH AGENDA-DRIVEN RESEARCH IS POCKETBOOK INSPIRED AND UTOPIAN.

RESEARCHERS SHOULD WATCH OLD FOGIES. EVEN THOUGH THE EXPERTS CLAIM THAT RED WINE RETARDS AGING, SOME SENIORS WHO DESPISE WINE - RED OR WHITE - AS REFRESHMENT, MERELY SUBSTITUTE TEA, COFFEE, JUICE, POP OR HARD LIQUOR TO NO ILL EFFECT AND TO NO CURTAILMENT OF LIFE - ONCE THEY REACH AN ADVANCED AGE.

RESEARCHERS SHOULD WATCH OLD FOGIES. EVEN THOUGH THE ELITE SCIENTISTS CLAIM THAT A 30% REDUCTION OF THE INTAKE OF CALORIES, FOOD, SLOWS AGING, MOST ELDERLY INSTINCTIVELY CUT BACK ON ENGORGEMENT AT MEALS AS THEY SLOW DOWN LATER IN LIFE.

RESEARCHERS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANTI-AGING DRUGS, PILLS, POTION AND PLACEBOS AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THAT PREVENTS DEBILITATION. BUT A LIFE SPAN IS NATURALLY DETERMINED IN A CREATURE. WHEN WILL WE FIND RESEARCHERS TO TALK TRUTH TO THE ANIMALS? TO GET THE MESSAGE THROUGH TO THE LAB MICE THAT OLD AGE IS INEVITABLE, THAT THE PLAY MUST END AND WHEN IT DOES, IT WILL NOT BE A FAT MOUSE THAT SINGS. OCTOGENARIANS - AND WE CAN STATISTICALLY EXPECT MOST AMERICANS TO LIVE 80 YEARS - WILL NOT GO OBESE INTO THE GOOD NIGHT.

BLACK DOGS

A LIBERAL IS LIKE A BLACK DOG FOREBODING AN ATTACK ON YOUR POCKETBOOK. IN MYTH AND LEGEND, THE ENGLISH BLACK DOG, THE GREEK CERBERES, THE EGYPTIAN ANUBIS, THE NORSE FENRIS - EACH REPRESENTED SOMETHING DREADED AND DASTARDLY ON THE HORIZON. LIKEWISE, A LIBERAL. LOCALLY, A LIBERAL MAYOR CAMPAIGNS FOR PASSAGE OF A PARKS AND RECREATION LEVY. THE PUBLIC DOES NOT SUSPECT FOUL PLAY, BECAUSE THEY ARE DELIBERATELY MISLED TO BELIEVE THAT THE LEVY IS A GOOD THING. ACTUALLY, IT CONSTITUTES JUST ANOTHER INCOME TAX ON THE WORKING MIDDLE CLASS, THE VERY WORKING MIDDLE CLASS THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS CONSTANTLY PURPORT TO BE THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR RESCUING FROM TROUBLED ECONOMIC TIMES. THE HYPOCRISY OF THIS BEHAVIOUR WOULD NEVER OCCUR WITHIN A BLACK DOG BECAUSE MINIONS OF EVIL ARE PROUD OF THEMSELVES; THEY HAVE NO NEED TO DISSEMBLE. BUT MR. MAYOR WANTS WORKING MOTHERS, FATHERS AND FAMILIES, WHO ALREADY PAY MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARES OF INCOME TAXES, TO CHUCK UP AN ADDITIONAL $30 A YEAR FROM AN INCOME OF $30,000 SO THAT WHAT THE ELITE LIBERALS SEE AS A NEED AND WANT (INVISIBLE TO MOST OF THE PROLETARIAT) CAN BE SATISFIED BY THEFT AND A LIE. THOSE WHOSE INCOMES ARE HIGHER THEN $30,000 PAY MORE ACCORDING TO A FIXED PERCENTAGE RATE. AS A CONSOLATION, THE MAYOR REPORTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND SENIOR CITIZENS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE TAX. IS THIS JUST OR MERCIFUL? YOUTH AND THE ELDERLY UTILIZE MANY OF THE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS COVERED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT BUT DON’T PAY A CENT?
BASICALLY, THE MAYOR'S PLOY DISGUISES ANOTHER GOUGING OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, WHICH THE MAYOR CONSTANTLY INVOKES AS THE CLASS NEEDING HELP IN THIS 'STRUGGLING' ECONOMY. CAPITALIZE THE 'H' ON HYPOCRISY WHEN IT COMES TO THE TACTICS AND THE AGENDA OF LIBERAL POLITICIANS. AREN'T THEY LIKE FAMILIARS HANGING AROUND THE OMINOUS BEAST?

WHAT A TRICK

WHAT A TRICK NOT TO BE TREATED TO THE TRUTH BY DR. DEAN EDELL ON HIS CALL-IN RADIO SHOW DEALING WITH QUESTIONS RELATING TO HEALTH. NORMALLY, I APPROVE OF HIS DISAPPROVAL OF THE OVERUSE OF DRUGS, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES, VITAMIN AND HERBAL CURES, WEIGHT LOSS SCHEMES, ETC. BUT TODAY HIS LIBERAL, POLITICAL, RANT AND LIES ABOUT CONSERVATIVES, RUSH LIMBAUGH AND EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS PRETTY MUCH SUNK HIS SHIP FOR ME. I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BECAUSE DR. EDELL EARLIER IN HIS PROGRAM, AS AN CASUAL ASIDE, ADMITTED THAT HE HAD "ALWAYS BEEN A RUNNER." A SELF-ABSORBED RUNNER - EUREKA, AN ELITE, DELUSIONAL, YUPPIE, LIBERAL.

DR. DEAN EDELL'S TRICK WAS TO USE A SIMILE THAT "USING ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH IS LIKE COLUMBUS TRYING TO DISCOVER AMERICA IN A ROWBOAT."

A SIMILE, TWO DISTINCT THINGS COMPARED USING LIKE OR AS, VALIDATES ITSELF ONLY IF TRUTH EMANATES FROM THE COMPARISON OF THE ENTITIES. BUT ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH IS NOT AS INSIGNIFICANT AS A ROWBOAT. ON THE CONTRARY, ADULT STEM CELLS FROM BONE MARROW, SKIN AND UMBILICAL CORDS ARE THE ONLY LINES OF RESEARCH THAT PRESENTLY ARE PROVING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING DISEASE. EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS ARE THE POLITICALLY CORRECT CHOICE OF LIBERALS WHO FIND NO MORAL ISSUE WITH USING HUMAN EMBRYOS FOR EXPERIMENTATION. NO POSITIVE DATA EXISTS TO RECOMMEND THEIR USEFULNESS IN CURES. THIS FACT CONTRADICTS WHAT DR. EDELL FIRST POSTULATES, THAT ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH IS LIKE A "DROP IN THE BUCKET, A "ROWBOAT IN AN OCEAN," USELESS AND INSIGNIFICANT. THIS LIE DOES, HOWEVER, SUPPORT DR. EDELL’S LIBERAL MINDSET. IMPLIED IN HIS SIMILE IS THE NEED FOR EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH AS THE ONLY HOPE. WRONG.

RE-STATED AS A WORKING SIMILE, " EMBRYONIC STEM CELL WORK IS LIKE COLUMBUS TRYING TO DISCOVER AMERICA IN A ROWBOAT WITHOUT OARS."
A POSSIBILITY NOT ON THE HORIZON.

UNFIT AT HOME

THE CREED OF THE FILM "FAITH OF OUR FATHERS" IS THAT "MONEY CORRUPTS, THAT THE OFFICIAL STORY OF IWO JIMA IS A LIE, THAT PATRIOTISM IS A BUMPER STICKER." SO SAYS A FILM CRITIC, MR. SMITH. AS USUAL, HOLLYWOOD'S AGENDA PLAYS ITSELF OUT IN A PESSIMISTIC, ANTI-WAR FILM. NEVERTHELESS, THE REVIEWER OF THIS FILM RESTATES THREE TRUTHS. PROPAGANDA IS AS OLD AS WAR ITSELF, A NECESSARY EVIL IN A FORMULA FOR VICTORY. FROM A READING OF A REALISTIC ACCOUNT OF WAR, MOST POPULAR IMPRESSIONS AND OPINIONS ARE PUT TO THE LIE. THIRD, PATRIOTISM OUGHT TO BE PUT ON A BUMPER STICKER; WHERE ELSE OTHER THAN ON A SLEEVE, CAN YOU READ WHAT CITIZENS TRULY FEEL?

BUT HOLLYWOOD'S ANTI-WAR, ANTI-AMERICAN MESSAGE DOES NOT TROUBLE ME AS MUCH AS ANOTHER OBSERVATION OF THE CRITIC WHO SAYS THAT "DISILLUSIONMENT PERMEATES" THE MOVIE AND IS "APT FOR OUR TIMES." WE SHOULD BE DISILLUSIONED WITH CONDITIONS- NOT IN IRAQ - BUT ON THE HOME FRONT.

DURING WORLD WAR II, SACRIFICES WERE CALLED FOR ON TWO FRONTS. AMERICANS AT HOME RAISED $14 BILLION DOLLARS AVERAGING NEARLY $100 FROM EVERY PERSON WHEN THE ANNUAL INCOME WAS ONLY $1400. TALK ABOUT ASKING WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY? OVERSEAS ON NUMEROUS FRONTS, NOT JUST TINY IWO JIMA, SOLDIERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL CONTRIBUTED THEIR EFFORTS AND SOMETIMES, THEIR LIVES TO WIN THE WAR. MONEY, LIES, EXPLOITATION AND MANIPULATION (PROPAGANDA) AND PATRIOTISM NO DOUBT CONTRIBUTED TO GETTING THE JOB DONE, TO VICTORY.

NOTHING APPROACHING THIS MENTALITY EXISTS TODAY HERE AT HOME. YES, PATRIOTS ARE STILL WILLING TO GO OFF TO SOLDIER, TO SACRIFICE AND TO PERHAPS DIE IN WAR. BUT AMERICANS ON THE HOME FRONT, SELF-SERVE AND SPOIL THEMSELVES. CHECK OUT THIS STATISTIC. ABSENTEEISM IN THE WORKPLACE IS AT ITS HIGHEST PERCENTAGE SINCE 1999. DATA TELLS THAT ONLY 30% OF SUCH ABSENTEEISM IS RELATED TO ACTUAL SICKNESS. THE BALANCE OF THE MISSED DAYS ARE DUE TO STRESS, FAMILY MATTERS AND THE ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY. THE ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY? HOW DID WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE? IS THIS NOT A REVERSAL OF A SENSE OF DUTY? THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN AMERICANS HAS GONE SOFT AND FLABBY, MAKING THEM UNFIT FOR HONEST WORK. WHY DO TOO MANY AMERICANS ASSUME THAT THE SACRIFICES AT HOME AND THE FIGHTING ABROAD DURING SEVERAL PREVIOUS WARS, ENTITLE THEM TO THIS SPOILED LIFESTYLE AND THIS ABANDONMENT OF THE WORK ETHIC? WELL? A THERMOMETER ON THE FOREHEAD CAN NOW GIVE A GENTLE, ACCURATE READING. HOW SOFT OUR CULTURE GET WITH ITS PLETHORA OF SPINELESS, LAZY, SPOILED, SLACKERS.

GOBBLEDYGOOK

GOBBLEDYGOOK WAS INVENTED SOMEWHERE AROUND THE YEAR OF MY BIRTH, BUT I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD TAKE THIS LONG TO FIND THE PERFECT ILLUSTRATION FOR USING FANCIFUL WORDS TO EMBELLISH NOTHINGNESS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEM INTO EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES. GOBBLEDYGOOK IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT AMERICA, VIA ITS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICIANS, HAS MONEY TO BURN. NO TALK SHOULD EVER BE ENTERTAINED AGAIN OF LACK OF FUNDING, OF A MONEY CRUNCH OR OF POVERTY IN ANY OF ITS WAYS, SHAPES OR FORMS.

A NEW PROGRAM, APPARENTLY FUNDED BY 'NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND,' WAS STARTED THIS FALL FOR K-2ND GRADE, CUSTOM DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WITH BORDERLINE AUTISM AND "LOW INCENTIVE DISABILITIES." FORGET THE FACT THAT I QUESTION THAT BORDERLINE AUTISM AND "LOW INCENTIVE DISABILITIES" EXIST; IT IS DIFFICULT TO QUOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THIS INITIATIVE FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AFFLICTED WITH THESE CONDITIONS WITHOUT INVOKING GOD. OH GOD, FORGIVE ME FOR THE NEED TO INVOKE YOUR NAME AGAIN AND AGAIN! WHAT ELSE CAN A COMMON SENSE PERSON DO CONFRONTED WITH MEANINGLESS JARGON SUPPORTING A MEANINGLESS WASTE OF MONEY, SUPPORTING MEANINGLESSNESS ITSELF IN A EDUCATIONAL SETTING.

BASICALLY, DIRIGESTE, GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN PARENTS' LIVES, HAS RUN AMOK. PARENTS DEMAND THAT SOME ENTITY OTHER THAN THEMSELVES ENTERTAIN AND "TEACH" THEIR CHILDREN. GOVERNMENT GIVES THEM WHAT THEY WANT EVEN IF UNSUSPECTING TAXPAYERS FOOT THE BILL. FROM TEACHER, I HEARD ABOUT:

"SEEING DATA,
A FUNCTIONAL TYPE OF SKILLS,
HOW WE ARE ONE TRAIN,
RESEARCH-BASED BLUE WALLS,
HOW THEY ONLY LEARN IF ACCOMMODATED,
PICTURE PREDICTABILITY,
DAY BY DAY BASIS CHANGING,
A LAVENDER-VANILLA SCENTED ROOM,
HIGHLIGHTED CHARACTER TRAITS,
HEART TO MINDS,
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING,
A MULTI-SENSORY CLASSROOM,
MANY MODALITIES,
EATING LETTERS AND
AROMA THERAPY.

OH, GOD, MY GOD, BE AWARE THAT A COMPETING GOD, ‘EDUCARE’, I SPENDING A SURFEIT OF MONEY ON GOBBLEDYGOOK. HIS ROYAL PROGRAM IS THE BASTARD CHILD OF GENUINE EDUCATION AND ADEQUATE CHILD CARE MASQUERADING AS A GLORIFIED, POLITICALLY CORRECT BABY SITTER. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DIVINE KING, ‘EDUCARE’ WON’T BE ABDICATING HIS THRONE ANY TIME SOON WHEN AMERICA HAS SO MUCH MONEY TO BURN.

A VICTIM'S SHAME

IN A TELEVISION COMMERCIAL SPONSORING A DEMOCRAT POLITICAL CANDIDATE, ACTOR, MICHAEL J. FOX. REVEALED HIS TRUE LIBERAL COLORS. DID HE DELIBERATELY GO OFF HIS MEDICATION TO EXAGGERATE THE SYMPTOMS OF HIS PARKINSON'S DISEASE TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS? CERTAINLY HE DELIBERATELY MISREPRESENTED THE ISSUES OF CLONING AND STEM CELL RESEARCH TO PROMOTE THE LIBERAL, DEMOCRAT AGENDA. HE DELIBERATELY PLAYED THE POLITICS OF NO PRINCIPLES IN HIS COMMERCIAL WHICH PANDERED TO AND EXPLOITED VICTIMHOOD. HE OBVIOUSLY VIEWS HIS DISEASE AS A CURSE ALLOWING HIS BEHAVIOR TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

DID THE LATE POPE JOHN PAUL II DELIBERATELY REFUSE TO CONCEAL HIS AFFLICTION, ALSO PARKINSON’S DISEASE BECAUSE OF HIS HUMBLE SUBMISSION TO EARTHLY VULNERABILITY? CERTAINLY HE DID DELIBERATELY ISSUE STATEMENTS OF HIS BELIEF IN THE SANCTITY OF LIFE AT EVERY STAGE OF EXISTENCE. MORALITY, NOT POLITICS OR PERSONAL GAIN, BACKED HIS PRINCIPLES. HE EMBRACED HIS DISEASE AS A BLESSING DISGUISED AS A CURSE. HE SPOKE THE TRUTH ABOUT IT, ACCEPTED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SOUGHT JUST AND MORAL TREATMENT FOR IT THE PUBLIC ARENA. THE LATE POPE, BEING A REALIST AND AN OPTIMIST, PLACED HIS FATE IN THE HANDS OF GOD

HESIOD, IN APPROX. 720 B.C., SAID THAT "IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE THE WILL OF ZEUS." MR. FOX COULD BENEFIT FROM AN ANCIENT HISTORY LESSON OF ADMISSION AND SUBMISSION, APPLICABLE STILL, THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE THE WILL OF GOD." HE, BEING A LIBERAL AND A PESSIMIST, HOWEVER, EMPLOYS LIES, IMPUGNS HIS ENEMIES AND ASSIGNS GUILT TO THOSE WHO DO NOT SUPPORT HIS CAUSE. .

GUESS WHO

NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS GOT, HE OBSERVED, AS COMMANDER, HE HAD TO "PRESERVE OPTIMISM IN HIMSELF AND IN HIS COMMAND. WITHOUT CONFIDENCE, ENTHUSIASM AND OPTIMISM IN THE COMMAND, VICTORY IS SCARCELY OBTAINABLE." HE CONTINUES SAYING THAT A COMMANDER'S OPTIMISM "HAS A MOST EXTRAORDINARY EFFECT UPON ALL WITH WHOM HE COMES IN CONTACT. WITH THIS CLEAR REALIZATION, I FIRMLY DETERMINED THAT MY MANNERISMS AND SPEECH IN PUBLIC WOULD ALWAYS REFLECT THE CHEERFUL CERTAINTY OF VICTORY - THAT ANY PESSIMISM AND DISCOURAGEMENT I MIGHT EVER FEEL WOULD BE RESERVED FOR MY PILLOW."

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SPOKEN BY GEORGE W. BUSH OR A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN OF ONE WAY, SHAPE AND FORM. THIS CAN NEVER BE QUOTED FROM THE PESSIMISTIC WORLDVIEW SPEWING FORTH FROM A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT OF ANOTHER WAY, SHAPE AND FORM. ONE RECENTLY SAID THAT "...THE CURRENT COURSE IN IRAQ IS A LOSING ONE."

THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF OPTIMISM VS. PESSIMISM CLEAVES AMERICA IN HALF TODAY. WHAT DRIVES THE LESSER HALF TO HOLD DEFEATISM WORTHWHILE? WHAT INSPIRES THE GREATER HALF TO HOLD A SOLDIER'S SACRIFICE IN HIGHEST REGARD?

THE PATRIOTIC LEADER QUOTED ABOVE WAS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, COMMANDER OF U.S. OPERATIONS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6TH, 1944. HE, OF COURSE, LATER BECAME OUR PRESIDENT. AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURES AND SLAUGHTERS ON OMAHA BEACH - CASUALTIES THERE WERE 2,200 - AND IN NORMANDY, THAT 1ST DAY OF OPERATION 'OVERLORD', PESSIMISM COULD HAVE BEEN THE ORDER OF THE DAY. BUT EISENHOWER KNEW THAT OPTIMISM WAS THE ONLY OPTION, THE ONLY AMERICAN SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM.

ENOUGH SAID.

NO SHADOW

MAKE NO MISTAKE, SHE CASTS NO SHADOW, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT AND MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NANCY PELOSI. SHE AVERS THAT THE (NOT HER) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RUNS A "CORRUPT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE" WITH "SURROGATES" THAT DO HIS BIDDING. DOES THIS DEPICTION NOT SOUND LIKE ANOTHER LEADER WHO HAS FAMILIARS TO DO HIS BIDDING? NANCY CONTENDS THAT SHE IS A "PROFESSIONAL" (AREN'T ALL HIS MINIONS?) WHO HAS NO "PERSONAL" HATRED FOR PRESIDENT BUSH. HER JOB IS SIMPLY TO CREATE A "DISTINCTION" BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND TO "WIN." CREDIT HER WITH COMPLETE SUCCESS.

NO MISTAKES COULD BE MADE DELINEATING LIBERALS FROM CONSERVATIVES. A LIAR LIKE NANCY PELOSI WITH THE FULL-BLOWN AID OF DELUSIONAL THINKING IS EASY TO IDENTIFY AND EVEN EASIER TO FLEE. DID NANCY HAVE THE LAST DROP OF HUMANITY (BY ASSOCIATION, ESTROGEN) DRAINED FROM HER BODY FROM CHILDBIRTHS, MENOPAUSE OR FROM ABORTING HER VALUES AND BELIEFS TO THE POLITICAL PARTY OF THE DARK ONE?

LIBERALS SEE NO FUTURE FOR AMERICA UNLESS IT IS ENROBED IN SELF-SERVING POWER. DITTO FOR THE PESSIMISTIC ONE THEY SERVE, THE ONE WITHOUT HOPE, THE ONE WHOSE ONLY HOPE IS TO SUCK FELLOW TRAVELERS DOWN TO HIS LEVEL. LIKE NANCY, HE ALSO CASTS NO SHADOW.

TO PONDER

THE DONKEY BY G.K. CHESTERTON

WHEN FISHES FLEW AND FORESTS WALKED,
AND FIGS GREW UPON THORN,
SOME MOMENT WHEN THE MOON WAS BLOOD,
THEN SURELY I WAS BORN.

WITH MONSTROUS HEAD AND SICKENING CRY,
AND EARS LIKE ERRANT WINGS,
THE DEVIL'S WALKING PARODY
OF ALL FOUR-FOOTED THINGS.

THE TATTERED OUTLAW OF THE EARTH,
OF ANCIENT CROOKED WILL;
STARVE, SCOURGE, DERIDE ME: I AM DUMB,
I KEEP MY SECRET STILL.

FOOLS! FOR I ALSO HAD MY HOUR,
ONE FAR FIERCE HOUR AND SWEET:
THERE WAS A SHOUT ABOUT MY EARS,
AND PALMS BEFORE MY FEET.

SUCH POETRY ABOUT PATHOS AND TRIUMPH TOUCHES THE SOUL. THE PATHOS IS OF SUBMISSION NOT CONQUEST; THE TRIUMPH IS OF SUBMISSION TO THE DIVINE. WHO AMONG US HAS NOT FELT - AT SOME TIME OR OTHER - HOW UGLY WE ARE, HOW UNDESERVING, SAD? YET WHO HAS NOT ALSO FELT THAT IMMINENT MOMENT WHEN BITING TEARS WELL UP - IN GUILT OR SWEET VICTORY OR A RUSH OF PLEASURE?

A RHYTHM OF IAMBIC PENTAMETER, 4 SHORT LONG SYLLABLES, "FISH..FLEW..FOR..WALK", ALTERNATE WITH IAMBIC TRIMETER, 3 SHORT LONG SYLLABLES, "EARS..ERR..WINGS", A RHYME SCHEME ABCB WHERE 2ND AND 4TH LINES RHYME IN EACH STANZA. FIGURES OF SPEECH SUCH AS A SIMILE ERRANT WINGS. METAPHOR, OUTLAW OF THE EARTH, ALLITERATION, F..AR, F..IERCE, PERSONIFICATION, DONKEY SPEAKS IN 1ST PERSON. THE AUTHOR'S THEME INFERS THAT THE DONKEY'S PLIGHT ON EARTH MIMICS THAT OF JESUS WHO FACED SIMILAR TREATMENTS AND FEELINGS. EMPATHY IS ESTABLISHED WITH THE DONKEY AND CHRIST. JESUS' BIRTH MARKED A TIME OF MIRACLES SUCH AS WHEN FORESTS WALKED. THE AFFECTIVE POWER OF A POEM IS WHAT ULTIMATELY DEFINES IT.

TO PONDER

THE DONKEY BY G.K. CHESTERTON

WHEN FISHES FLEW AND FORESTS WALKED,
AND FIGS GREW UPON THORN,
SOME MOMENT WHEN THE MOON WAS BLOOD,
THEN SURELY I WAS BORN.

WITH MONSTROUS HEAD AND SICKENING CRY,
AND EARS LIKE ERRANT WINGS,
THE DEVIL'S WALKING PARODY
OF ALL FOUR-FOOTED THINGS.

THE TATTERED OUTLAW OF THE EARTH,
OF ANCIENT CROOKED WILL;
STARVE, SCOURGE, DERIDE ME: I AM DUMB,
I KEEP MY SECRET STILL.

FOOLS! FOR I ALSO HAD MY HOUR,
ONE FAR FIERCE HOUR AND SWEET:
THERE WAS A SHOUT ABOUT MY EARS,
AND PALMS BEFORE MY FEET.

SUCH POETRY ABOUT PATHOS AND TRIUMPH TOUCHES THE SOUL. THE PATHOS IS OF SUBMISSION NOT CONQUEST; THE TRIUMPH IS OF SUBMISSION TO THE DIVINE. WHO AMONG US HAS NOT FELT - AT SOME TIME OR OTHER - HOW UGLY WE ARE, HOW UNDESERVING, SAD? YET WHO HAS NOT ALSO FELT THAT IMMINENT MOMENT WHEN BITING TEARS WELL UP - IN GUILT OR SWEET VICTORY OR A RUSH OF PLEASURE?

A RHYTHM OF IAMBIC PENTAMETER, 4 SHORT LONG SYLLABLES, "FISH..FLEW..FOR..WALK", ALTERNATE WITH IAMBIC TRIMETER, 3 SHORT LONG SYLLABLES, "EARS..ERR..WINGS", A RHYME SCHEME ABCB WHERE 2ND AND 4TH LINES RHYME IN EACH STANZA. FIGURES OF SPEECH SUCH AS A SIMILE ERRANT WINGS. METAPHOR, OUTLAW OF THE EARTH, ALLITERATION, F..AR, F..IERCE, PERSONIFICATION, DONKEY SPEAKS IN 1ST PERSON. THE AUTHOR'S THEME INFERS THAT THE DONKEY'S PLIGHT ON EARTH MIMICS THAT OF JESUS WHO FACED SIMILAR TREATMENTS AND FEELINGS. EMPATHY IS ESTABLISHED WITH THE DONKEY AND CHRIST. JESUS' BIRTH MARKED A TIME OF MIRACLES SUCH AS WHEN FORESTS WALKED. THE AFFECTIVE POWER OF A POEM IS WHAT ULTIMATELY DEFINES IT.

NO AESTHETIC NEUTRALITY

UNROLLING FROM A HOLE UP IN A TREE -

NO EVIDENCE OF AESTHETIC NEUTRALITY -

EMERGES WITH REGULARITY AT DAWN -

TO HUMP AND HOP ACROSS THE LAWN -

DESIGNED AS LIFE, COMPLETELY WILD -

A FLUFFY, TAN CATERPILLAR LIKE CHILD -

TO SKIP ACROSS TALL, LEAFY TERRAIN -

FROLIC BACK AND FORTH TO FREEBIE GRAIN -

OCCASIONALLY WAVE A SEMAPHORE TAIL -

DASH ABOUT, ALERT, FRESH AND HALE -

A SQUIRREL IS WITNESS IN THE MIDST OF FALL

TO AN INVINCIBLE SUMMER'S INTERNAL CALL.

DISCIPLINE

HE SAID IT WITH RHYTHM AND RHYME, ENGLISH POET RUDYARD KIPLING, LESS THAN A CENTURY AGO.

"RIDE WITH AN IDLE WHIP, RIDE WITH AN UNUSED HEEL,
BUT, ONCE IN A WAY, THERE WILL COME A DAY
WHEN THE COLT MUST BE TAUGHT TO FEEL
THE LASH THAT FALLS, AND THE CURB THAT GALLS,
AND THE STING OF THE ROWELLED STEEL."

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS STILL DICTATES THAT WHEN A DRUG FREE CAMPAIGN IS CONDUCTED, A YOUTH WHO STUMBLES INTO DRUG USE OR ADDICTION, IS PICKED UP, NOT SPANKED AND POINTED AGAIN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I KID YOU NOT; THIS IS WHAT I HEARD FOR THE BEST PLAN OF ACTION OF A LOCAL DRUG FREE INITIATIVE. WHY CAN'T A PARENT, COUNSELOR, EDUCATOR OR POLICY MAKER, YOU NAME THE EMPOWERED ENTITY, RECOGNIZE A WILD, ADOLESCENT PONY WHEN HE OR SHE BUCKS LIKE ONE? DRUG USE SYMBOLIZES A REARING UP, STRIKING OUT, RUNAWAY HORMONES, A SPIRIT OF REVOLT. THE COLT (OR FILLY) MIGHT NOT EMBRACE A TAMING, BUT A "THERE WILL COME A DAY." TAMING OF THE BEAST USUALLY RESULTS IN A TRACTABLE, WORTHWHILE, USEFUL AND BELOVED HORSE. VIRTUALLY EVERY CHILD GROWING UP - IF ADULTHOOD IS THE GOAL - MUST FACE HIS OR HER DAY OF A SPANKED RECKONING, OF DISCIPLINE, THE GREAT ENABLER.

FACTS AND IDEAS

FACT: A PRIEST FROM THE 1960'S WHO INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHED AN INNOCENT, NAKED CHILD, MARK FOLEY, IS NOW ALIVE AND UNPUNISHED AT 72 IN MALTA.

IDEA: THE BETRAYAL BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST ON EARTH AT ANY TIME OF THE MESSAGE OF PURITY, GOODNESS AND REDEMPTION.

FACTS ACCORDING TO AUTHOR JOSEPH EPSTEIN ARE "UGLY, THORNY THINGS." IDEAS, HE SAYS, ARE "VELVETY AND SUAVE," BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THE COMFORT OF KNOWING THAT "UNDERSTANDING AND CONTROL OF THE WORLD IS ON THE RISE." PERHAPS, MR. EPSTEIN.

FACTS LIKE THE GRISLY MURDER, DISMEMBERMENT AND SUICIDE IN FLORIDA AND THE TERRORIST THREAT AGAINST SPORTS’ STADIUMS THIS WEEKEND ARE ALSO UGLY AND THORNY THINGS. HOW VELVETY AND SUAVE ARE THE IDEOLOGIES BEHIND THEM? HOW VELVETY AND SUAVE WAS THE MOTIVATION OF A MAN OF GOD WHO KNEW HE VIOLATED HIS VOWS WITH HIS IMPURE THOUGHTS? HOW VELVETY AND SUAVE WAS THE ANGER BEHIND THE AXE AND KNIFE THAT SEGMENTED A VICTIM AND LED TO THE DESPAIR OF A SUICIDE? HOW VELVETY AND SUAVE IS THE PEACE OF MIND OF THOUSANDS OF SPORTS' FANS FACED WITH THE THREAT OF IMMINENT DANGER?

VOLATILE IDEAS CAN BE RADICAL AND LEAD TO LAWLESSNESS AND SOCIAL DISORIENTATION. THIS IS NOT COMFORTING. THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND AND CONTROL THE WORLD FREQUENTLY CONTRIBUTE TO ITS DESTRUCTION. A PESSIMIST ONLY SEES THESE UGLY AND THORNY IDEAS THAT IMPLEMENT UGLY AND THORNY FACTS. AN OPTIMIST KNOWS THAT THE VELVETY AND SUAVE CONCEPTS THAT ADVANCE CIVILIZATION ARE NOT JUST ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. THEY ARE BELIEFS THAT BETTER THE WORLD. ONLY THEY ARE VELVETY AND SUAVE.

SELF SURRENDER

TO QUOTE A POLITICALLY CORRECT IRS AGENT REFERRING TO WESLEY, THE FUGITIVE, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD "EFFECTUATE HIS SELF SURRENDER." IN COMMON PARLANCE, PLEASE, JOHN, TURN YOURSELF IN!

FOLLOWING A RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE HAD NOT PAID RENT ON HIS FARM FOR 2 YEARS, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, HAD THE TEMERITY TO RUN A RADIO COMMERCIAL WHICH EMPLOYED A TESTIMONIAL FROM A PERSONAL FRIEND TO JOHN WHO "KNOWS THE RULES AND PLAYS BY THE RULES AND UNDERSTAND AND SHARES OUR VALUES."

NOT MINE. LORD ACTON IN 1887 OBSERVED THAT "POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT; ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY." POLITICS NEVER LETS LORD ACTION'S ADAGE REST. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, JOHN WIELDS NO ABSOLUTE POWER BECAUSE HE CAN BE REPLACED IN OFFICE. MORALLY, HE SHOULD PAY HIS UNPAID BILL. BUT THE DAMAGE TO PUBLIC TRUST - WHICH IS A FOOLISH NOTION ANYWAY - HAS BEEN DONE.

WESLEY SNIIPES 'DISAPPEARED' AFTER BEING 'FOUND OUT' THAT HE DID NOT EVEN FILE INCOME TAXES FOR 6 YEARS. LUCKILY JOHN CAN'T HIDE. HE'S (APPARENTLY) NOT RICH OR FAMOUS OR BLACK ENOUGH. CAN THE VOTER JUST TURN JOHN OUT AND VOTE A NEW MAN INTO HIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT? POLITICIANS, SUI GENERIS, PLAY BY THEIR OWN RULES AND RARELY SHARE THE VALUES OF COMMONERS. POWER CORRUPTS. REMEMBER LORD ACTION?

THE NUMBERS GAME

300,000,000 AMERICANS, BUT ARE THOSE COUNTED ALL CITIZENS OR ARE SOME LESS THAN LEGAL?

12,000,000 DOLLARS OWED BY WESLEY SNIPES TO THE IRS, BUT HOW COULD HE AS A HIGH PROFILE PERSONALITY HAVE ESCAPED NOTICE FOR 6 YEARS?

130,000 EMPLOYEES OF BIG STEEL, BUT WHY ARE THEY PROTECTED BY TARIFFS WHICH PREVENT FREE TRADE?

27,000 HOCKEY REFEREES IN THE USA, BUT WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN A VIOLENT, UNCIVILIZED SPORT?

200 TEACHERS IN NORTH CAROLINA CITED FOR SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS WITH STUDENTS, BUT WHY ARE THEY NOT ROLE MODELS?

28 MONTHS AS A SENTENCE FOR A LAWYER WHO AIDED AND ABETTED THE TERRORISTS WHO ATTACKED THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN 1993, BUT WHY NOT PUNISH HER GOAL OF SABOTAGE?

ONE INDIVIDUAL LIKE MYSELF, BUT WITH NO USE FOR ILLEGALITY, FRAUD, PROTECTIONISM OR DEGRADATION, PROMISCUITY OR TREASON? AM I ALONE?

CAN AMERICA'S FOUNDATION STAND UP TO A CLOSE EXAMINATION? AM I MYOPIC TO CONCENTRATE ON OUR ROTTING CORE? LONG TERM, I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE PESSIMISTIC, BUT IN THE SHORT RANGE WHERE DO WE LOOK FOR LIGHT? I DISAGREE WITH DR. PANGLOSS IN VOLTAIRE’S SATIRE, CANDIDE., WHO IRONICALLY BELIEVES THAT OPTIMISM IS "THE MADNESS OF MAINTAINING THAT EVERYTHING IS RIGHT WHEN IT IS WRONG." THIS WORLDVIEW IS UPENDED. OPTIMISM IS THE SANITY OF CORRECTING WHAT IS WRONG IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN WHAT'S RIGHT. EASIER SAID THAN DONE. WHERE DO WE START?

175,000 SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES INHABIT THE WORLD. STOP, LOOK, AND APPRECIATE JUST ONE.

NOBEL ECONOMICS

OCTOBER IS - AMONG A MYRIAD OF OTHER CAUSE CELEBRES - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. WHAT AMERICANS SHOULD BE AWARE OF - AND BEING POLITICALLY INCORRECT, THE FACT WILL NOT BE DISPENSED - IS THE SHAMEFUL STATUS OF MARRIAGE IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY. A MARRIED TWO-PARENT FAMILY UNIT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM (OR CRISIS IF POLITICALLY CORRECT) OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE THINNESS OF TWO PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, IRREGARDLESS OF TWO INCOMES IS SPREADING; UNMARRIED HOUSEHOLDS NOW REIGN IN THE U.S.A. A CO-INCIDENT INDICATOR OF THEM IS THEIR LOW INCOMES WHICH WIDEN THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR AND ACCELERATE THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS. THIS SHAME IS A BIG, DIRTY SECRET - AGAIN POLITICALLY INCORRECT. THE REMEDY IS NO BIG DEAL. EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, MARRIAGE, CHILDREN, STABILITY - IN THAT ORDER. SUCH A SUCCESSION OF LIFE CHOICES WILL RESULT IN FEWER LOW WAGE EARNERS OR LOW WAGE NON-MARRIED PARENTS, WHICHEVER TERM APPLIES. IF THE U.S.A. CANNOT BOAST OF A PREPONDERANCE OF 'TYPICAL FAMILIES', IT CANNOT EXPECT A RISING MIDDLE CLASS.

THIS INSIGHT REMINDS ME OF A FEW OPINIONS OF THE NOBEL PRIZE WINNER IN ECONOMICS, EDMUND PHELPS, WHO RECENTLY DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS NOT PERCIPIENT OF THE COMMON SENSE OF REAL PEOPLE. HE ADVOCATES, AS ONE SOCIAL SOLUTION TO LOW WAGE WORKERS ( OFTEN SINGLE PARENTS), AN INCREASE IN THE WAGES OF THE POOR. DUH! OBJECTION: EXPENSES RISE TO MEET INCOME AND THE POOR, AS TIME IMMEMORIAL PROVES, WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE BAD CHOICES AND WASTE MONEY, NO MATTER WHAT INCOME THEY ACHIEVE. THE ECONOMIST ALSO ADVOCATES HIGHER TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL LEVELS OF WAGE EARNERS. OBJECTION: INCREASING TAXES ON THE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WHOSE SPENDING PATTERNS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE MONEY AND FOSTER SUCCESS, SLOWS DOWN THE ECONOMY WHICH IN TURN ULTIMATELY HURTS THE LOWER CLASSES. THE ECONOMIST ADVOCATES RAISING TAXES FOR EVERYONE IN ORDER TO RETIRE GOVERNMENT DEBT. OBJECTION: THE PUBLIC AT LARGE CANNOT RELATE TO THE PROBLEM OF 'WASHINGTON’S OVERSPENDING AND DEFICIT EXCEPT AS AFFECTS THEIR BILLS AND DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. FURTHERMORE, ELIMINATING THE DEBT WILL NOT PROVIDE AN "INCENTIVE TO WORK" FOR INDIVIDUALS NOR WILL IT PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT "TO ADVANCE IN THE WORLD." SUCH A GLITTERING GENERALITY FOR THE GLOBE COULD ONLY BE SPOKEN BY AN ACADEMIC FROM HIS IVORY TOWER. THE ECONOMIST ALSO BELIEVES THAT “TOO MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA SUFFER JOBLESSNESS, ... AND THEY “CAN’T EARN A DECENT LIVING.” HE ADVOCATES ONE SOLUTION, TO SUBSIDIZE COMPANIES “FOR THE ON--GOING EMPLOYMENT OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS. OBJECTION: SUBSIDIES ACTUALLY COME FROM TAX CONTRIBUTIONS OF NON LOW-WAGE WORKERS. THERE WILL BE NO INCREASED DEMAND FOR EMPLOYEES UNLESS EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES CONTRIBUTE TO A COMPANY’S BOTTOM LINE ( OR UNLESS THE LINE IS SUBSIDIZED WHICH IS LIKE A CATCH 22).

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS DON'T LIVE IN, WORK IN, UNDERSTAND OR PURSUE A COMMONPLACE EXISTENCE IN, THE 'REAL' WORLD. TAKE IT FROM ME.
IN THE REAL WORLD, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A CLASS WITH POOR HABITS THAT WILL REMAIN POOR. THE MIDDLE CLASS CAN BE SAVED BY THE RETURN OF A TWO-PARENT FAMILY. THANK GOD FOR THE RICH WHO SUPPORT THIS COUNTRY.

FIRST LOVE

IN THE SOFT LIGHT
OF A WARM FLAME
FROM THE WAX FRAME
PEERS A SOUL BRIGHT.

AND FOR ONE FACE,
NOW ITS WIND CALLS -
TO THE FOOT-FALLS
OF A HEART'S RACE -

"COME WITH QUICKNESS
AND A WARM BREATH;
COME LIKE SICKNESS
AND ITS SWEET DEATH."

OPTIMISM VS. PESSIMISM

LIBERALS, PROGRESSIVES, SOCIALISTS, THINK AIR AMERICA, STUDENT PROTESTERS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, BARBRA STREISAND, ROSIE O'DONNELL, REPORTERS FOR THE WASHINGTON POST AND NEW YORK TIMES, ARE PURVEYORS OF PESSIMISM. THEY DISPLAY THEIR TRUE COLORS BY 1. FOMENTING DISCORD FOR POLITICAL GAIN, 2. BY RAGE AND RESENTMENT OVER DISAGREEMENT WITH THEM AND 3. BY ATTACKS ON FREE SPEECH FROM THEIR OPPONENTS. SUCH BEHAVIORS ARE UNPATRIOTIC AND CONTRIBUTE TO CHAOS. THEY APPEAL TO THE DARK SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE AND EXUDE PESSIMISM. WHEN IT IS EASIER TO SURRENDER TO COWARDICE THAN TO COURAGE, LIBERALS NATURALLY CHOOSE PESSIMISM BECAUSE OPTIMISM DEMANDS COURAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, GLIB POLITICIANS WHO WISH TO MASK THEIR LIBERAL AGENDA CONTINUALLY EXECUTE GLISSANDOS OVER RAISING TAXES BY EGO-ASSUAGING WORDS AND VAPID PROMISES. MANY CITIZENS SUCCUMB TO THIS. METAPHORICALLY, CITIZENS ARE ALSO VICTIMS IN THE RAPE OF THEIR FREEDOM OF CHOICE, YET THE ALLURE OF 'HELP IS ON THE WAY' DRAWS FOLLOWERS EASIER, FASTER AND MORE OFTEN THAN A REALITY CHECK ROOTED IN OPTIMISM. OPTIMISM, UNFORTUNATELY, INCLUDES A MEASURE OF PAIN. THE LIBERALS BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN - IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES - ALLEVIATE PAIN. RAISING THAT FLAG ON IWO JIMA SURE WASN'T EASY, BUT IT WAS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION ONCE SIX MARINES MADE UP THEIR MINDS THAT IT WOULD BE DONE. THE 'FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS' WAVED WITH OPTIMISM, NOT THE PESSIMISM OF THE LEFT.

OPTIMISM, 12,000

12,000 REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC. THE PLEXUS OF ECONOMIC INDICATORS POINTS UPWARDS. WHO SHOULD LOOK DOWN OR BACKWARDS AT A MISERY INDEX CREATED BY OUR PESSIMISTIC, PAST PRESIDENT, JIMMY CARTER? NO ONE. FEDERAL TAX REVENUE FOR THE FY 2006 (FISCAL YEAR) APPROACHED 2.4 TRILLION. THE DEFICIT IS FALLING. THE DJIA (DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE) NEARS ITS ALL TIME HIGH OF 12,000. OPTIMISM IS CALLED FOR ON ALL FRONTS; IT INSURES OUR FUTURE. UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS ACTUALLY CAUSED THE DEATHS OF SOME SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S OPTIMISM THAT THE IRAQI PEOPLE WOULD EMBRACE DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM ACTUALLY HINDERED THE CREATION OF EFFECTIVE SECURITY STRATEGIES AND TACTICS AFTER THE INVASION. WE FACILITATED INSURGENTS AND TERRORISTS TO BECOME KILLING MACHINES. ON THE OTHER HAND, OPTIMISM CONTINUES TO ASSURE AMERICANS THAT WE WILL WIN THE WAR ABROAD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EQUATE SUCCESS AT HOME WITH EDUCATION AND HARD WORK.

ONE (OR 12,000) REASON TO EMBRACE OPTIMISM IN OUR WAR AGAINST THE ISLAMOFASCISTS, IS THAT IT ROOTS ITSELF IN THE GOODNESS OF HUMAN NATURE. THE MISOLOGY AND MISOGYNY OF THE IDEOLOGY OF MUSLIMS CONDEMN THEM AND THEIR RELIGION TO FAILURE. HATRED OF REASONING AND DISCUSSION AND HATRED OF WOMEN (AS INHERENT TEMPTRESSES) LEAD THE MUSLIMS TO NO GOOD. REJOICE FELLOW AMERICANS! CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA, DEMOCRACY EDUCATED US, SUFFERING AND HARD WORK MATURED US, THE LAWS OF NATURE AND NATURE'S GOD (NOT ALLAH AKBAR) SUPPORT US. OPTIMISM IS THE KEY TO OUR KINGDOM’S SURVIVAL.

HIGH FLIGHT

IN MEMORIAM TO DEATH ON A DAYLIGHT FLIGHT...
OCTOBER, 11, 2006 of CORY LIDLE, YANKEES PITCHER

OH! I HAVE SLIPPED THE SURLY BONDS OF EARTH,
AND DANCED THE SKIES ON LAUGHTER-SILVERED WINGS,
SUNWARD I'VE CLIMBED AND JOINED THE TUMBLING MIRTH
OF SUN-SPLIT CLOUDS - AND DONE A HUNDRED THINGS
YOU HAVE NOT DREAMED OF - WHEELED AND SOARED AND SWUNG
HIGH IN SUNLIT SILENCE. HOV'RING THERE,
I'VE CHASED THE SHOUTING WIND ALONG AND FLUNG
MY EAGER CRAFT THROUGH FOOTLESS HALLS OF AIR...

UP, UP THE LONG DELIROUS, BURNING BLUE
I'VE TOPPED THE WIND-SWEPT HEIGHTS WITH EASY GRACE
WHERE NEVER LARK, OR EVEN EAGLE, FLEW -
AND WHILE, WITH SILENT LIFTING MIND I'VE TROD
THE HIGH UNTRESPASSED SANCTITY OF SPACE,
PUT OUT MY HAND AND TOUCHED THE FACE OF GOD.

BY JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE, JR. PILOT, KILLED IN WORLD WAR II.
SONNET 14 LINES
RHYME, ABABCDCD EFEGFG
RHYTHM, IAMBIC PENTAMETER, 5 SHORT/LONG ACCENTS PER LINE
METAPHORS, LAUGHTER-SILVERED WINGS, HALLS OF AIR, BONDS OF EARTH
PERSONIFICATIONS, SHOUTING WIND, TUMBLING MIRTH
ALLITERATIONS, SOARED, SWUNG SUNLIT SILENCE, SLIPPED SURLY, BURNING BLUE, FLUNG FOOTLESS, SANCTITY SPACE
GRAND THEME, FINAL TWO LINES

DON'T IGNORE

NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TELL MYSELF TO IGNORE THE NONSENSE SPEWING FORTH FROM THE MOUTHS OF EDUCATORS, I CAN'T REFRAIN FROM COMMENTING UPON ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF INCOMPETENCE OF THE NANNY STATE. BIG BROTHER AND BIG SISTER (STATE GOVERNMENT) NOW MANDATE AN ENTRY YEAR TEACHER PROGRAM. THE WORD 'PROGRAM' USUALLY INITIATES MY 'FIT' BECAUSE THE DEVIL LURKS IN THE DETAILS.

THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT MENTORING NEW TEACHERS. I'M TOLD THAT IT INVOLVES PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND ASSESSMENT OF THE NEOPHYTE'S PORTFOLIO BECAUSE MANY (NEW TEACHERS) "NEED HELP." WHAT IS THE ASSUMPTION BEHIND THIS PROGRAM? TEACHERS ARE INCOMPETENT OR JUST INSECURE? THEY ARRIVE ILL-EQUIPPED TO TEACH, EVALUATE OR SELF-START? OR DO THEY LACK SELF-ESTEEM? THIS MENTORING PROGRAM BUTTS INTO A TEACHER'S CLASSES, MANDATORY STUDENT TESTING PROCEDURES, SELF-EVALUATION AND EDUCATIONAL TECHNIQUES. SUPPOSEDLY, IT IS WELCOMED WITH OPEN HEARTS BECAUSE TEACHERS WISH TO "AFFECT LIVES" AND FOLLOW THEIR "PASSION." IT'S FUTILE TO WISH THAT I BE SPARED SUCH IDEALISTIC BROMIDES THAT OFTEN REFERENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF A "PROPER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT" WHICH ONE TEACHER APPRECIATED BECAUSE WITH AIR CONDITIONING HE DIDN’T "HAVE TO SWEAT TO DEATH."

EACH TOUCHDOWN TO A FOOTBALL NUT IS ANOTHER ORGASM. WHY DO I FIND SPORT IN MONITORING THE SACKING OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM? EACH TIME I HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER PROGRAM TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS, I AM OVERCOME WITH A PAROXYSM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RETCHING. WE DO NOT NEED TO FUND PROGRAM AFTER HAND-HOLDING PROGRAM THAT WASTES TAXPAYERS' MONIES. IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TEACHERS ARE UNABLE TO TEACH, WHAT PURPOSE HAS BEEN SERVED BY THEIR EXPENSIVE COLLEGE EDUCATION INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL COURSES, PROBABLY SUBSTANTIALLY SUBSIDIZED BY GOVERNMENT LOANS? ARE THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS JUSTIFIED? TEACHERS LESS PREPARED EACH YEAR CORRELATE WITH STUDENTS LEARNING LESS EACH SEMESTER. IT'S MADDENING THAT EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY PERSISTS IN HITCHING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

WE DON'T NEED TEACHERS WHO CAN UTILIZE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS. WE NEED INDIVIDUALS COMPETENT TO SHARE INFORMATION AND PRESENT IT TO STUDENTS READY TO LEARN. LOTS OF INFORMATION, OFTEN AND WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT IT MUST BE ASSIMILATED. A BOOK, A ROOM, A BREATHING VEHICLE FOR DELIVERY OF INFORMATION - THIS MINIMUM WOULD SUFFICE. EVEN IF THE DELIVERY WERE PASSIONLESS, INFORMATION CAN ONLY BE AFFECTIVE IF A MIND IS RECEPTIVE. A SMOLDERING ACADEMIC INTEREST WILL NEVER IGNITE IN EVERY BRAIN. BUT THE POVERTY OF LEARNING IS IN "LOW EXPECTATIONS" TO PARAPHRASE PRESIDENT BUSH, NOT IN THE RICHNESS OF WASTEFUL SCHOOL FUNDING.

YES, IGNORE

IGNORE THE FALSE ANXIETIES PERPETRATED BY THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ON THE LEFT. WHENEVER THE LIBERALS' SOLUTION TO A FEAR IS GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, A CONSERVATIVE SHOULD KNOWS ENOUGH - FOR HIS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING - TO IGNORE IT. WHEN 1,000 AMERICANS, AGES 18 AND OLDER, WERE ASKED TO DECLARE THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE '08 ELECTION, THEY RESPONDED, THE WAR IN IRAQ. YET THE AARP, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS, A VOICE FOR LIBERAL PROPAGANDA, IGNORED THE 'WILL' OF THE PEOPLE AND THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE OF TERRORISM TO SUGGEST 7 OTHER REASONS TO VOTE. THEY ARE: ECONOMIC SECURITY, SOCIAL SECURITY, LONG TERM CARE, MEDICARE, HEALTH CARE REFORM, IDENTIFY THEFT AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE. ADDITIONAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER WERE IMMIGRATION, STEM CELL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT AND PRESIDENTIAL POWER. BAR NONE, FOR THE AARP, THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT WAS CRUCIAL TO AMELIORATING A PERSON'S ANXIETIES. ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF A GENUINE FEAR OF TERRORISM FOR THE ELECTORATE IS IGNORED. AGAIN I SAY, IGNORE THE LEFT. LIBERAL THINKING IS SOCIALISTIC. IT PITS FEAR AGAINST FREEDOM. LIBERALS (SOCIALISTS) FEAR CAPITALISTIC ENDEAVORS, ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP, FEAR FAILING, AILING AND FREEDOM. TWO ECONOMISTS AND PHILOSOPHERS, FRIEDRICH HAYEK AND AYN RAND PREACHED FREEDOM AS AN ABSOLUTE, THE CONSEQUENCES BE DAMNED. THE NOBEL PRIZE WINNING ECONOMIST, EDMUND S. PHELPS, DISAGREES WITH THIS EXTREME, BUT HE STILL CONTENDS THAT CAPITALISM IS THE BEST CHAMPION OF FREE CHOICES. I CONTEND THAT FREEDOM SUFFICES IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPTING THE MENTAL INCOMPETENCY OF SOME INDIVIDUALS EVEN THOUGH THE CONSEQUENCES OF FREEDOM MAY SOMETIMES BE JUSTLY DAMNED. BUT THIS DOES NOT DETRACT FROM THE JUSTICE OF A FREE, CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY.

MR. PHELPS SUBSCRIBES TO THE IDEAS OF THE PHILOSOPHER JOHN RAWLS WHO DISCUSSED THE "LEAST ADVANTAGED," IN SOCIETY, WHOSE SELF-REALIZATION LIES "MOSTLY IN MARRYING, RAISING CHILDREN AND PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT WILL BE GREATER THE HIGHER THEIR WAGE." THE SECRET TO SUCCESS, OF COURSE, RESIDES IN THE HABITUATED SUCCESSION OF MORAL AND ECONOMIC CHOICES THAT PEOPLE (INCLUDING MYSELF) MAKE OVER THE YEARS. CAPITALISM IN A FREE SOCIETY, LIKE THE CLICHE OF A RISING TIDE, RAISES ANY BOAT AFLOAT. MY MONEY CHOICES OF HOW, WHEN, WHY OR WHAT TO SPEND OR SAVE HAVE BEEN ADVANTAGEOUS TO ME IN A DYNAMIC, CAPITALISTIC SYSTEM THAT HAS NOT HELD ME BACK OR DOWN OR LEVELED MY PLAYING FIELD TO THAT OF MY NEIGHBOR'S.

SO, YES, IGNORE THE LEFT THAT ENCOURAGES LESS SELF-GOVERNMENT. THEIR FEAR-MONGERING, ANTITHETIC TO FREEDOM, CAN SCARE YOU INTO NEEDING MORE GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE.

IGNORE, IGNORE

IGNORE THE ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR. THE FEAR OF A NUCLEAR ATTACK, FEAR OF FAT, FEAR OF SUGAR, CIGARETTES, SALT, TRANS FAT, FEAR OF SEXUAL PREDATORS, FEAR OF HOME INTRUDERS, MENTAL ILLNESS, JOBLESSNESS, FEAR OF ROBBERY, FIRE, FLOOD, A HURRICANE, TORNADO, CANCER, FEAR OF CHILD ABDUCTION. FEAR OF DISEASE, DEATH OR DESTRUCTION MIGHT BE THE CURRENT TREND FOSTERED IN THE MEDIA, BUT IGNORE. IGNORE WHAT A MR. CRAMER CALLS THE "PERMANENTLY PESSIMISTIC PUNDITS" AND THE "SATURNINE SOOTHSAYERS." THEIR OUTLOOKS ARE ENOUGH TO DRIVE ONE CRAZY WITH FEAR AND WE ALL KNOW THAT ANXIETY CAN KILL YOU. TO ADD INSULT TO THIS INJURY FROM NEGATIVE NABOBS, THIS MONTH IS NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS MONTH. ENOUGH! HOBGOBLINS ARE ABROAD. TRICK OR TREAT TIME APPROACHES. AMERICANS DO NOT NEED TO BE TRICKED INTO FEARING POISON AND NEEDLES IN CANDY. THEY NEED TO TREAT THEMSELVES TO A REALITY CHECK ON WHAT WE CAN BE TRULY BE THANKFUL FOR.

AND IGNORE, IGNORE. NUT JOBS LIKE KIM JONG IL ARE DICTATORS IN OTHER COUNTRIES - NOT HERE. JOURNALISTS ARE SHOT DEAD BY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ASSASSINS IN RUSSIA - NOT HERE. HERE - THE FFA, THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA AND THE QUARTER HORSE CONGRESS MEET TO WIDE APPLAUSE. HERE - COURAGE AND HOPE NOT FEAR ARE STILL THE RESPECTED, TIME-TESTED ACTIONS AND REACTIONS TO DIVISION AND DISSENT IN POPULAR POLITICS. HERE - ONE MAY DREAM WITH ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON THAT TO "LIVE OUT OF DOORS WITH THE WOMAN A MAN LOVES IS OF ALL LIVES THE MOST COMPLETE AND FREE." SO IGNORE.

TROUSERED APES

EFFORTS TO RAISE THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR CULTURE ALWAYS TURN OUT TO BE VELLEITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE BASED UPON FALSE PREMISES AND/OR A LACK OF WILL TO BRUTALLY TURN THE RUNAWAY STAGECOACH OF DEPRAVITY AROUND.

IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED THAT AMERICA AS A NATION, CANNOT HATE ITSELF, MOCK ITS IDEALS AND INSTITUTIONS AND ULTIMATELY SURVIVE. WE NEED AT LEAST A MINORITY OF PEOPLE TO SET STANDARDS FOR A MAJORITY TO MIMIC OR THE CONSEQUENT LOSS WILL BE THE IMPLOSION OF OUR SHINING CITY ON THE HILL - IF THERE EVER WAS ONE OTHER THAN AS A PLATONIC IDEAL. NEVERTHELESS, WE MUST BE VIGILANT FOR THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH, VIOLENCE AND DEPRAVITY OVER THE LOVE OF GOODNESS AND THE OBSERVANCE OF THE BASIC COMMANDMENTS OF VIRTUOUS, DAILY LIVING. THIS PHENOMENON HAS BEEN NOTED REPEATEDLY IN THE ANTECEDENT TIMES OF HITLER, STALIN, POL POT, NERO, GENGHIS KHAN, SODOM AND TROY.

THE CONCEPT OF THE 'TROUSERED APE' APTLY APPLIES TO THE ANIMALISTIC SOCIAL BEHAVIOR TODAY. PEOPLE ARE NOT LIVING UP TO THEIR DECENCY POTENTIAL AS CITIZENS. A PROFESSOR WILLIAMS WHO STUDIED THE 'TROUSERED APE' OUGHT TO BE REHEARD. HE SAID: "MEN ARE QUALIFIED TO CIVIL LIBERTY IN EXACT PROPORTION TO THEIR DISPOSITION TO PUT MORAL CHAINS UPON THEIR OWN APPETITES. SOCIETY CANNOT EXIST UNLESS A CONTROLLING POWER UPON WILL AND APPETITE BE PLACED SOMEWHERE, AND THE LESS OF IT THERE IS WITHIN, THE MORE THERE IS WITHOUT. IT IS ORDAINED IN THE ETERNAL CONSTITUTION OF THINGS THAT MEN OF INTEMPERATE MINDS CANNOT BE FREE. PASSIONS FORGE THEIR FETTERS."

TALK ABOUT THE SHAME OF ENSLAVEMENT, THE SHAMEFUL LACK OF INTERNAL SELF-DISCIPLINE. COMPARED WITH IT, BLACK SLAVERY IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES IS A METAPHORICAL FOOTNOTE. MEN AND WOMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS WHO ARE LOCKED INTO THEIR SELFISH PASSIONS AND SELF-CENTERED LIFESTYLES NEED TO LOOSE THEIR CHAINS. THE FALL OF AMERICA -IF THAT'S WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS - WILL HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH MUSHY WILLS THAT HAVE LEFT SO MANY SINNERS IN THE CAVE.

SHOT IN SPRING

HERE IS A PARAPHRASED QUESTION FROM A BELIEVER IN ENVIRONMENTAL CORRECTNESS TO AN ORGANIC LAWN ENTHUSIAST: " IS YOUR LAWN SO IMPORTANT, DOES IT REFLECT WHO YOUR ARE , IS IT WORTH PUTTING YOUR KIDS AND DOG AND ENVIRONMENT AT RISK? IF SO, DON'T BE DISCOURAGED OR GIVE UP NEXT SPRING." TO THIS ENCOMIUM I ADD: IF A PERSON IS CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE APPEARANCE AND SAFETY OF A LAWN TO SPEND $600. ON A 3,500 SQ.FT. SPACE TO FURTHER A ‘ROMANTIC’ AGENDA, SHE/HE NEEDS TO BE SHOT AT DAWN - PREFERABLY IN THE SPRING, NECESSARILY IN THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE WHEN THE DANDELIONS BEGIN ANEW THEIR MARAUDING ON THE GROUND. TAKE IT FROM ONE WHO HAS CRAWLED AROUND A DANDELION-INFESTED HILL PLUCKING HEADS FOR A YUMMY DANDELION WINE. TAKE IT FROM ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO MAKING A FINE WINE IS THE GOOD GRAPE OR FLOWERING, YELLOW WEED. TAKE IT FROM ME THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO MAKING A HEALTHY, MORAL, RATIONAL AND, THEREFORE, WORTHWHILE CULTURE, IS THE SANITY OF ITS CITIZENS. ORGANIC LAWN NUTS ARE SUPERFLUOUS; A FIRING SQUAD IS A FITTING SOLUTION.

AN ART PROFESSOR DESCRIBED HIS ENCOUNTER WITH MONT ST. MICHEL, A MASTERPIECE OF AN ABBEY PERCHED UPON A ROCK IN NORMANDY WITH ITS SPIRE A VENERATION TO THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL. HE RHAPSODIZES IT AS "ONE OF AESTHETIC, EMOTIONAL, EVEN VISCERAL EXHILARATION, ESCAPE AND TOTAL IMMERSION IN ANOTHER TIME; IT AWAKENS THE ROMANTIC IN US ALL." EVEN AN ATHEIST COULD BE AFFECTED BY SUCH MEDIEVAL GRANDEUR, BUT NOT AN ORGANIC GRASS AFFICIONADO. HE/ SHE WHO TRIES ROTO-TILLING, RE-SEEDING, SPREADING ORGANIC COMPOST ( MANURE), UTILIZES TOOLS OF THE TRADE SUCH AS A WEED HOUND, WEED TWISTER, DANDELION TERMINATOR AND WEED DRAGON (ATTACHED I KID YOU NOT TO A PROPANE TANK FOR TORCHING) AND WASTES TIME AND MONEY ON THE INEVITABILITY OF THE UNDOING- RATIONALIZE NONSENSE IN THE NAME OF ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLINESS. HE/SHE IS ROMANTICALLY MORBID FROM THE NECK UP.

THE DEVIL USES THE HUMAN MIND TO IMPART A RATIONALE TO EVIL OR STUPID DEEDS. HIS DEVILISH SENSE OF HUMOR, AN OXYMORON, GENEROUSLY DELIGHTS IN THOSE WHO WOULD PERVERT NATURAL COMPULSIONS, SUCH AS FLOWERS OR WEEDS FROM THEIR PERENNIAL COURSE. WHEN THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH YUPPIES, ELITISTS AND POLITICALLY CORRECT LOONIES OBSESSING OVER A PERFECT SWARD, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR REASONABLE ROMANTICISM.

I PREFER TO ADMIRE THE VIRGINAL GRASS, AN 'ESTHETIC' IN ITSELF, TO BECOME 'EXHILARATED' BY THE 'IMMERSION' AND THE 'ESCAPE.' I PREFER TO CHANCE MY SANITY TO APPRECIATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CORRECTNESS OF A PERFECTION CREATED BY MAN, THE GRAND, GRANITE EDIFICE OF MONT. ST. MICHEL OR OF NATURE’S WEEDY, WILD GRASSES AND SALT MARSH ON WHICH SHEEP NOW GRAZE AT ITS BASE.

GAMING THE SYSTEM

IF ONE MORE YUPPIE, OVER-ACHIEVING PARENT COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WORKLOAD AND TIME CONSTRAINTS ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STRIVING TO ENTER THE ELITE, IVY LEAGUE COLLEGES, I'LL TELL MY EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESS STORY FROM THE GOOD OLE' DAYS AGAIN, FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME. AP CLASSES (ADVANCE PLACEMENT) FOR WHICH HIGH SCHOOLERS GET COLLEGE CREDIT, SHOULD NOT BE DENIGRATED OR CANCELLED. THEY ARE OF VALUE 1. BECAUSE SMART YOUNGSTERS ARE UNCHALLENGED AND OFTEN BORED WITH REGULAR INSTRUCTION AND 2. THEY GIVE A LEG UP TO PUPILS IN THEIR COLLEGE PURSUIT. PARENTS WHO GRIPE THAT THEIR CHILDREN STRESS OUT FROM DEMANDING ACADEMIC COURSES, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE DISINGENUOUS. THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THAT THE ONLY REASON TO PURSUE AP AND EMBELLISHED RESUMES IS ENTRY INTO THE 'RIGHT' UNIVERSITY. RIGHTNESS EQUATES WITH PRESTIGE AND HIGH SALARIES UPON GRADUATION. AN EDUCATION IS IRRELEVANT. GAMING THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS STINKS; IT’S TAINTED INTELLECTUAL INTEGRITY. FORGOTTEN IS THE FACT THAT KNOWLEDGE IS ITS OWN REWARD AND THE POINT OF EDUCATION IN THE 1ST PLACE.

MY SUCCESS STORY FROM THE GOOD OLE' DAYS SHOULD BE INTERJECTED HERE. I ONCE WAS ACQUAINTED WITH A FELLA, WHO GRADUATED FROM A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL THAT ADMINISTERED A MUNDANE REGIMEN OF BASIC UNEMBELLISHED INSTRUCTION. MINUS A TRACK RECORD AS A 'STAR' OR SPECIAL STUDENT, THIS FELLA FROM A WORKING CLASS FAMILY, UNABLE TO AFFORD ANY ELITIST COLLEGE (OR TO EXPECT TO EVER MATRICULATE AT ONE) ATTENDED A COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR A YEAR. HE SAVED HIS MONEY FROM EMPLOYMENT AND WITH A LITTLE FAMILY ASSISTANCE, ENTERED A LOCAL UNIVERSITY THE FOLLOWING YEAR. HE DISCOVERED AN APTITUDE FOR A SPECIFIC MAJOR AND APPLIED HIS BRAIN TO ITS STUDY ALONG WITH OTHER REQUIRED AND ELECTED COURSES. UPON GRADUATION, THIS FELLA SCORED IN THE 98TH PERCENTILE ON THE GRADUATE RECORD EXAM. WHAT A LOSER! NO PUNDIT, POLITICIAN, PROFESSOR, EMPLOYER, ENTREPRENEUR OR PHILANTHROPIST WOULD EVER BEAT A PATH TO HIS DOOR, SINCE HIS HOUSE NUMBER REPRESENTED AN UNOBTRUSIVE, NONDESCRIPT, UNHERALDED ADDRESS.

BUT LOSERS WHO HAVE LEARNED A LOT AND LOVED IT ARE NOT GRIPERS. NOR DO THEY REGRET THE INTELLECTUAL EXPERIENCE. RATHER, LIKE THIS FELLA, THEY PERPETUATE IT, MAKING IT THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS IN LIFE. TODAY'S HIGH SCHOOLS TURN OUT A MAJORITY OF BARELY LITERATE, BORED AND VAPID MINDS. THE LITERATE OVER-ACHIEVERS, HELL-BENT UPON SELECTION TO ATTEND THE 'RIGHT' SCHOOLS, LEARN ONLY ENOUGH TO CLIMB THE LADDER OF WORLDLY SUCCESS. INTELLECTUALLY THEY FARE NO BETTER THAN THEIR PROLETARIAN INFERIORS.

WAKE-UP CALL

HOW COULD WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE LESSON OF 9/11 THAT DARKNESS MUST BE ENDURED IN ORDER TO CONFRONT THE DAWN? IN THE 5TH CENTURY B.C., POET EURIPIDES OBSERVED "HOW OFT THE DARKEST HOUR OF ILL/BREAKS BRIGHTEST INTO DAWN." A CLEAR, SUNNY DAY BETOKENED DEATH ON A SEPTEMBER MORNING, 5 YEARS AGO IN NEW YORK; IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REVEILLE TO A SLEEPY, LAZY, SPOILED, SELF-CENTERED COUNTRY, OBLIVIOUS TO A DANGER THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORESEEN. I QUOTE THE WRITER AND THINKER WM. F. BUCKLEY WHO WAS PARAPHRASING ANOTHER AND LIKE-MINDED WRITER AND THINKER, WHEN HE ASKED, IN THE 1970'S, "HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DISCOVERING THAT YOU ARE SLIPPING INTO A DARK AGE?" YES, HOW.

TERRORISM ISN'T THE ONLY LOOMING THREAT. PUBLIC ATTITUDES MUST CONTAIN A COLLECTIVE MORALITY THAT IS IN TURN FOSTERED IN A FREE SOCIETY. BUT EXAMPLES OF MORAL SLIPPAGE APPEAR AROUND EVERY CORNER IN OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY. MORAL LAPSES AND ETHICAL IGNORANCE MAKE A MOCKERY OF AMERICA'S HEGEMONY. OUR ENLIGHTENED HEGEMONY IS A MYTH, A PRELUDE TO A DARK AGE LOOMING ON THE HORIZON. CITIZENS, POLITICIANS, PUBLIC POLICIES, SOCIAL MORES AND THE ENTERTAINMENT CULTURE - ALL LIVE OUT BLINKERED AND UNDISCERNING LIVES. THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS, LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, NEED CLARIFICATION OR A DARKNESS WILL DESCEND UPON OUR LAND.

THE COMFORTING ASIDE OF TRAGEDY

THE FRAILTY OF EXISTENCE RESTS UPON OPPOSITES SO IT'S APPROPRIATE TO LOOK FOR THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE TRAGEDY IN THE AMISH COMMUNITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. A MAD, POSSESSED VILLAIN PLOTTED REVENGE, TORTURE, SEXUAL ABUSE AND DEATH FOR YOUNG GIRLS. THE DEVIL MADE HIM WANT TO DO IT. NONE OF THE ADVANCEMENTS OF CIVILIZATION WILL EVER FREE US FROM WITNESSING OR SOMETIMES PERSONALLY EXPERIENCING THE DARK SIDE OF THE HUMAN SOUL, BUT GRACE IS POSSIBLE. OCCASIONALLY, THE UNMERITED LOVE AND FAVOR OF GOD IN CHRIST, OCCASIONALLY A FREE GIFT OF GRACE, DESCENDS TO AN EARTHLING. PERHAPS MORE OFTEN THAN WE'LL EVER KNOW. SOMEHOW A DIVINE INFLUENCE ACTED WITHIN THE HEART OF THIS SINNER TO PREVENT HIM FROM CARRYING OUT HIS SATANIC, SADISTIC, SCHEME OF TORTURE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. SOMEHOW TO PARTIALLY MITIGATE HIS GUILT AND REDEEM HIMSELF, THE MURDERER OPTED TO SIMPLY SHOOT HIS VICTIMS AND THEN COMMIT SUICIDE. HIS SOUL TORTURED AND SOLD TO THE DEVIL, SOMEHOW EMBRACED GOD'S MOMENTARY GRACE.

THERE WAS NO REASON OR WORTH ON EARTH TO VALIDATE THESE YOUNG GIRLS’ DEATHS. THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THIS TRAGEDY IS THE SWIFTNESS OF TRANSPORTATION OF HIS LITTLE, INNOCENT ONES TO THE WELCOMING ARMS OF THE LORD.

LOVE CAT

LOVE, CAT

LOST, PLAINTIVE, SCRAWNY,
TAWNY, CRIES, "DO THE RIGHT THING,
I CHOSE YOU TO LOVE."






SAVE! HOW?
21% OF INCOME GOES FOR HOUSING. $10.00 AN HR. 8 HRS. A DAY, 40 HRS. AT $400 A WK. TIMES 4.3 WEEKS A MONTH EQUALS $1720 MONTHLY SALARY BEFORE TAXES AND DEDUCTIONS. 21% FOR RENT OR MORTGAGE PAYMENT EQUALS APPROX. $361. THESE NUMBERS SEEM RIGHT FOR A MINIMUM SHELTER. SO HOW DOES A WORKER SAVE? 80% OF INCOME REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR FOOD, CLOTHING AND FUEL. APPROX. $1376 MUST BE TRIFURCATED. UNLESS... 10% OR $137 IS AUTOMATICALLY SAVED. THE BALANCE OF $1239 REPRESENTING 90% COULD THEN BE ALLOTTED TO FOOD CLOTHING AND FUEL. IS THIS POSSIBLE? WHERE OR WHERE THEN DOES ENTERTAINMENT COME IN? IS SECOND INCOME NEEDED? PERHAPS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. PERHAPS ENTERTAINMENT DOESN'T FIT IN. PERHAPS A SECOND INCOME TEMPTS. PERHAPS AN ALTERNATIVE COMPUTATION COULD BE CONSIDERED.

THE MONTHLY SALARY OF $1720 BEFORE TAXES COULD ALLOW FOR A MANDATORY 5% SAVINGS, A MERE $86. MONEY PUT ASIDE AND ACCRUED OVER TIME, NEVER TO BE TOUCHED EXCEPT IN A TRUE EMERGENCY. YES, THERE'S THE RUB, DETERMINING AN EMERGENCY, DETERMINING A PRIORITY, DETERMINATION SOLIDIFIED INTO HABIT. YES, IT CAN BE DONE.

THE POOR IN BODY OR SPIRIT COULD EACH BENEFIT FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING.

SAVE!

SAVE! AMERICANS NEED TO SAVE BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. GREED (COVETOUSNESS) IS A CAPITAL SIN IF PRACTICED WITH CAPITAL ENJOYMENT. AMERICANS ARE ENVIED (ANOTHER EVIL) WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION.

U.S. CONSUMERS ARE STILL SPENDING; THEY NEED TO SAVE. THEY NEED TO SAVE EVEN THOUGH THE ECONOMY WOULD COLLAPSE AND IT WOULD LEAD TO A SLOWDOWN IN THE RETAIL, HOUSING OR ENTERTAINMENT MARKETS. GOODS WOULD BE UNSOLD, HIGHER PRICES WOULD ENSUE, JOBS WOULD BE LOST, FEWER TAX DOLLARS WOULD BE COLLECTED, TAXES WOULD BE RAISED OR SERVICES CUT. NEVERTHELESS, SAVING IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE BEHAVIOR OF AMERICANS ALSO BETRAYS A PRIDE (ANOTHER DEADLY SIN) IN THEIR ABILITY TO SPEND MORE THAN IS EARNED, TO PLUNGE INTO NEEDLESS DEBT, TO WASTE NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO GENERALLY, PLEASE THEMSELVES. LUST, ANGER, GLUTTONY, ENVY AND SLOTH ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS AS BIT PLAYERS IN AMERICA'S LONG-RUNNING DRAMA CALLED AFFLUENZA.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY (DOING THE RIGHT THING) PRETTY MUCH MAKES ONE MESHUGGANAH TODAY. IT'S CRAZY TO INDULGE IN SELF-CONTROL, TO SAVE AND EVEN INVEST FOR THE FUTURE AND TO WILLINGLY JOIN THE 20% MINORITY SCORNED FOR NOT 'HAVING IT ALL.' IT'S CRAZY TO 'GO IT ALONE' AND BE LONELY IN A LIFESTYLE OF COMMON SENSE SPENDING AND UNDER-INDULGENCE. LUCKILY, THE CRAZIES, WHO HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK, INVESTMENTS IN THE LARDER OR WANTS UNCONSUMMATED, RARELY DISPLAY, SO THEY DO NOT CONSTITUTE A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT. IN THE LONG RUN, HOWEVER, THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY KEEPS THEM HUMBLE.

WHETHER OR NOT SHAKESPEARE TOOK HIS OWN ADVICE, HE OFTEN WISELY GAVE IT. IN A POEM (THE RAPE OF LUCRECE ), HE WRITES THAT "THOSE THAT MUCH COVET, ARE WITH GAIN SO FOND,/FOR WHAT THEY HAVE NOT, THAT WHICH THEY POSSESS/THEY SCATTER AND UNLOOSE IT FROM THEIR BOND,/AND SO, BY HOPING MORE, THEY HAVE BUT LESS." IN OTHER WORDS, THE GREEDY ARE NEVER SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE; IN THE END THEY LOSE MORE THAN THEY GAIN. WINNING COUNTS, SO AMERICANS NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SAVE.

STILL A CHOICE

THE SANDS SIFTING THROUGH THE HOURGLASS, BUT IT'S STILL TIME TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AUNT BEA (OF MAYBERRY) OR UNCLE JOE (OF RUSSIA). THE CHOICE IS TO LOOK AHEAD OR WATCH OUT BEHIND YOU. THE CHOICE IS BETWEEN CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANISM AND THE LIBERAL SOCIALISM OF LEFT-WING DEMOCRATS (PROGRESSIVES). PAST PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (F.D.R.) ENUNCIATED THE FOUR BASIC FREEDOMS THAT SHOULD BE GUARANTEED TO ALL AMERICANS. THEY ARE FREEDOMS FROM WANT AND FEAR, FREEDOMS OF SPEECH AND OF RELIGION.

TO EACH GUARANTEED FREEDOM, LIBERALS ATTACH AN 'UNLESS.' FREEDOM FROM WANT, MEANS A MINIMUM OF FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, FUEL AND COMPANIONSHIP TO ENABLE THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. FOOD AND DRINK ARE ALLOWED FOR LIBERALS, UNLESS...FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS FATTENING OR SUGAR LADEN. WHAT TO WEAR IS O.K. UNLESS... FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS FUR. WHERE AND HOW TO LIVE IS FINE UNLESS...FOR EXAMPLE, RESIDENTS OFFEND A LIBERAL BY SUPPORTING A WAL-MART OR RESIST A TAKE-OVER BY AN ELITIST’S EMINENT DOMAIN. FUEL FOR HEATING OR COOLING IS PERMITTED, UNLESS...IT CONTAINS PCB’S, POLLUTES THE ATMOSPHERE OR IS NOT FOSSIL-FREE AND RENEWABLE. COMPANIONSHIPS ARE SUPPORTED UNLESS... FOR EXAMPLE, THEY INCLUDES ALTERNATE LIFESTYLES.

FREEDOM FROM FEAR IS GUARANTEED, UNLESS... FOR EXAMPLE, IT INVOLVES RACIAL PROFILING, GUN OWNERSHIP, WIRE TAPPING OR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS GUARANTEED, UNLESS...FOR EXAMPLE, QUESTIONS ARE RAISED REGARDING THE EXISTENCE OF GLOBAL WARMING, BANNING THE FLYING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG, HIGHER TAXES, OR THE USE OF NUCLEAR POWER.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION IS GUARANTEED, UNLESS...FOR EXAMPLE, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ARE ACTED UPON TO CONDEMN ABORTION, ILLEGAL DRUGS, ILLEGAL ALIENS, EUTHANASIA OR SUPPRESSION OF PUBLIC PRAYERS.

LIBERALS CHOOSE TO RE-ENGINEER EACH FREEDOM, 1. TO ACCOMMODATE FOR A LEVELING OF THE MASSES (SOCIALISM), 2. TO PUSH AN ELITIST CAUSE WHICH DISCRIMINATES IN FAVOR OF A PARTICULAR GROUP OR 3. TO ACT AGAINST A GROUP OF WHICH THEY DISAPPROVE. (DICTATORSHIP). CONTRADICTION IS INHERENT IN THEIR GOALS.

SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE IMPOSITION OF LIBERALS’ CHOICES, THE FREEDOMS AND CHOICES OF AMERICANS SLOWLY ERODE AWAY. WILL IT BE AUNT BEA’S VALUES OR UNCLE JOE’S?

LIBERAL STRIPTEASE

IN THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE BRAVE, THE CONSERVATIVES ARE WEAK AND ENSLAVED. WHAT IS TO BE DONE? AFTER THE LEFT PERCEIVES, OR CREATES, A NEW CRISIS SUCH AS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAYS, OBESITY, SMOKING OR THE LATEST, TRANS FATS, IT INITIATES A SOLUTION AIMED AT SAVING THE PUBLIC FROM ITSELF. A RESCUE FROM VICTIM HOOD, HOWEVER, MEANS A LOSS OF FREEDOM. THE DIRIGESTES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY CHIPPED AWAY AT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES. THE INCOMES OF CITIZENS ARE NOT SAFE FROM MEDDLING EVEN THOUGH MONEY SPENT SHOULD BE A MATTER OF CHOICE. NOW, EVEN PERSONAL OPTIONS ARE VERBOTEN. BALLOT AFTER BALLOT, PROPOSAL AFTER PROPOSAL, PROGRESSIVE CAUSES HAVE BEEN FOISTED ON THE PEOPLE OR PUT TO THE VOTE. SOMETIMES THE MAJORITY ON THE RIGHT OBJECTS VOCIFEROUSLY TO NANNY'S (THE GOVERNING ELITE) DISCIPLINE. OTHER TIMES THEIR REASON IS OVERCOME BY THE EFFORTS OF FULL TIME, LIBERAL ACTIVISTS, BY HYSTERIA WHIPPED UP BY THE MEDIA OR BY SCARE-MONGERING PROPAGANDA. UNFORTUNATELY THE CONSISTENCY OF THE LEFT’S WINS HAS BEEN AT THE EXPENSE OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. AMERICANS’ INNATE RIGHTS ARE BEING SMUDGED OVER, CHIPPED AWAY AND PEELED OFF WITH ALARMING REPETITION. CREDIT THE SUCCESS TO LAWYERS, JUDGES, ALDERMAN, MAYORS, GOVERNORS, LOCAL AND CONGRESSIONAL POLITICIANS.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE? CONSERVATIVES (USUALLY REPUBLICANS ON THE RIGHT) HAVE SAID 'NO' TO GAY MARRIAGE, 'YES' TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FAST FOOD, 'WHO CARES' TO SOMEONE WANTS TO SMOKES AND 'SO WHAT' TO TRANS FATS. LIBERALS, HOWEVER, (USUALLY DEMOCRATS ON THE LEFT), IN SPITE OF CLAIMS THAT OUR PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE ERODED OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, LEGISLATE THEIR ELITIST WISHES THAT ELIMINATE CITIZENS' RIGHTS' TO CHOOSE
.
AS THE STRIPTEASE OF RIGHTS CONTINUES, MORE AND MORE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO THE ELITISTS' WAYS OF THINKING. THIS TREND MUST STOP. FOLLOWING THE BOMBARDMENT OF NEGATIVES REGARDING A SELECTED CRISIS, A TIPPING POINT IS REACHED AND SOME REPUBLICANS, SOME CONSERVATIVES, SOME WHO HAVE FELT 'RIGHT', GRADUALLY TURN LEFT. THUS, GAY MARRIAGE MIGHT BE O.K., JUNK FOOD IS JUNKY, EVEN SECOND-HAND SMOKE KILLS AND ARTERY CLOGGING FAT MUST GO. WHAT IS TO BE DONE? THE RIGHT AND LEFT DIVIDE THE COUNTRY ALONG THE FAULT LINE OF FREE WILL IN A DEMOCRACY. ONE HALF VOTES FOR CHOICE; THE OTHER AGAINST IT. THE DIVISION REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER CIVIL WAR. AN UGLY PICTURE.