HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2007

MAN'S PHYSICAL ANCESTRY IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM HAS NO
BEARING ON HIS UNIQUE, SPIRITUAL NATURE. - EVAN R. GOLDSTEIN

TWO WINGS LOFTED THE AMERICAN EAGLE INTO FLIGHT: ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHY AND THE NATION'S COMPACT WITH THE GOD OF THE JEWS. - MICHAEL NOVAK

AMERICANISM IS THE 4TH GREAT WESTERN RELIGION. - MR. GELERNTER
(IN ADDITION TO CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM AND PROTESTANTISM).
AMERICANS ARE GOD'S ALMOST CHOSEN PEOPLE. - ABRAHAM LINCOLN

WHEN THE PROTESTANT GOD SUPPORTED AMERICA'S FLIGHT INTO FREEDOM, THE ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHY OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS COULD NOT HAVE BOLSTERED THE FOLLOWING SENTIMENT:
"CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS THE MOST PRE-MEDITATED OF MURDERS, TO WHICH NO CRIMINAL'S DEED, HOWEVER CALCULATED, CAN BE COMPARED". - ALBERT CAMUSTODAY, ACTIVISTS TAKE FANTASY FLIGHTS WHEN THEY DEMAND ONLY LIFE SENTENCES FOR ALL CAPITAL CRIMES. THEY SEEK TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY ON THE BASIS OF HUMANITY, CLAIMING 'ENLIGHTENMENT.' THEIR CAUSE IS UNJUST. IT HEARKENS BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PREMISE THAT THE ANIMAL MAN IS FUSED WITH HIGHER MAN POSSESSED OF REASON AND SPIRITUALITY, BUT THEY SIMPLY MISUSE THEIR HIGHER POWERS. REASON AND SPIRITUALITY - FINGERPRINTS FROM OUR CREATOR- REMIND US THAT THE RECOGNITION OF OUR UNIQUENESS DEMANDS RESPECT FOR LIFE AND PUNISHMENT FOR EVIL THAT DISRESPECTS IT. PUNISHMENT MUST INVOLVE THE DEPRIVATION OF A LIFE AS THE ONLY RIGHT AND HUMANE ANSWER TO OUTRAGEOUS, HORRENDOUS, PRE-MEDITATED AND UNREPENTANT MURDERS.

WE ARE NOT FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM ANIMALS TO BE ANGELS; WE ARE FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE ANIMALS TO BE AWARE OF THE NEED FOR JUSTICE.

THE BIG THREE

IN DANTE'S POEM, THE INFERNO, THERE WERE 9 RINGS IN HELL SPIRALING DOWNWARD INTO THE PIT. OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM REPLICATES THIS SITUATION TODAY. NO LONGER DO WE HAVE THE 3 R'S OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE - READING, WRITING AND 'RITHMATIC. NO LONGER ARE THE 3 D'S UPHELD - DECORUM, DECENCY AND DILIGENCE. NOW 9 LEVELS OF CORRUPTION AND COMPROMISE ARE NEEDED TO RULE A PUBLIC SCHOOL - PRINCIPAL, TEACHER, SPEECH THERAPIST, SOCIAL WORKER, PSYCHOLOGIST, READING SPECIALIST, RESOURCE-ROOM TEACHER, TEACHER AIDE AND LUNCH MONITOR. COUNT THEM AGAIN, NINE. HOW MANY ARE SUPERNUMERARIES WHEN THREE WOULD DO - PRINCIPAL, TEACHER, DISCIPLINARIAN?

LET'S RETURN TO THE DAYS OF YESTERYEAR WHEN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS DID NOT DEFEND THE LOW RATINGS OF THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP BASED ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING. WHEN ONE RESTAURANT - THE HOME - WAS AVAILABLE FOR PATRONAGE AND NOT ONE FOR EVERY 664 AMERICANS (AS OF 2003). WHEN SATISFACTION WAS DERIVED MORE FROM FEEDING OUR MINDS THAN OUR FACES.

I KNOW, I KNOW, THE LONE RANGER WAS A PRODUCT OF FICTION.

LIFE SENTENCES

OUTRAGE, ACQUIESCENCE OR ACTION IS THE CHOICE OF REACTION TO THE DEATH OF COMMON SENSE. A NEW TRIAL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR A LIBYAN AGENT CONVICTED IN THE BOMBING OF A PLANE OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND THAT KILLED HUNDREDS A SCORE AGO. THE MASTERMIND WAS TO SERVE A LIFE SENTENCE BUT LAWYERS HELPED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY STAMP COMMON SENSE INTO THE GROUND AND EXHUME A DEAD ISSUE. WILL COMMON SENSE, DECEASED, GO TO HELL? A VIRTUE LIKE COMMON SENSE, SACRIFICED, OUGHT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO TO HEAVEN, HAVING DIED AN INNOCENT VICTIM OF THE LACK OF MORTALITY IN MORTALS.

A PROBLEM ARISES WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MEANING OF ‘LIFE SENTENCE’. CONVICTED MURDERERS - SPARED THE DEATH PENALTY - DO NOT SERVE THEIR TERMS. NEITHER DO MARRIED COUPLES. THE RELATIVISM OF MODERNITY MEANS NOT ONLY THAT SEMANTICS IS DEAD, BUT MORALITY AS WELL. A VOW TO LIVE TOGETHER 'TILL DEATH DO US PART,' MEANS NOTHING. A LIFE SENTENCE TO SPEND 'ONE'S LIFE BEHIND BARS SEPARATED FROM SOCIETY' MEANS NOTHING. BOTH WORDS AND DEEDS, WITH THEIR CONSEQUENCES, MEAN NOTHING.

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND ACTION HAS ALLOWED 9.5 MILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO EACH ACCUMULATE THAN 2 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS. WHY ARE LIFE-TIME SENTENCES ONLY LIMITED TO ACQUISITIONS OF WEALTH?

NEITHER OUTRAGE NOR ACQUIESCENCE WILL ACCOMPLISH MUCH UNLESS SUPPLEMENTED BY ACTION. LET'S GET BACK TO WORK USING COMMON SENSE TO ILLUMINATE WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG SO THAT MORE PEOPLE SERVE OUT THEIR SENTENCES PROPERLY ON EARTH.

PRIORITIES

PRIORITIZE - KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST. HOWEVER YOU SAY IT, ACTIONS PROVIDE PROOF OF WHAT IS CHOSEN.

CHRIS BENOIT, THE WWE WRESTLER, PUT STEROIDS AND DEATH OVER LIFE, KILLING HIS WIFE, SON AND HIMSELF. LIKEWISE BOBBY CUTTS JR WHO MURDERED HIS WIFE AND UNBORN CHILD. BOTH ARE TRIUMPHS FOR THE DEVIL AT WORK IN OUR WORLD.

A LOCAL AGENCY PUT FREE MONEY AS THE FIRST CONSIDERATION BEFORE HANDING OUT 15,000 FREE BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES IN THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM. NEITHER NECESSITY OR ADVISIBILITY WERE CONSIDERED IN THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM, ONLY MILK, WITHOUT WHICH THEY WOULD NOT BE FUNDED.
4,200 OPPONENTS OF A PROPOSED NUCLEAR WASTE PLANT PUT THEIR EMOTIONS FIRST AND ITS POSITIVE ASPECTS SUCH AS SAFETY AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS INTO THE BACKGROUND. THEY EVEN SOLICITED AN ACTIVIST TO HELP THEM PREVENT A BOOGEYMAN IN THEIR BACKYARD.

THE LOCAL MAYOR'S PENCHANT FOR SPENDING IS HIS TOP PRIORITY. WHEN HE CALLED FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE DOLLARS FOR ROAD PROJECTS AND WAS OPPOSED, HE CHOSE TO CALL THE OBJECTION POLITICAL MANEUVERING. HIS LIBERALISM IS ALWAYS TRUMP.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS NECESSARY TO ALLOCATE ONLY 10% OF THEIR BUDGETS FOR FOOD, AMERICANS TODAY CHOOSE TO SPOIL THEMSELVES BY OVER-SPENDING AND UNDERCUTTING THEIR SAVINGS.

4 OF MY NEIGHBORS, PLUS THEIR VISITORS, GAVE 'DRIVING HERE AND RETURNING FROM THERE' TOP PRIORITY YESTERDAY, JUNE 26, 2007. 59 TIMES, VEHICLES DROVE PAST MY HOUSE SITUATED ON A DEAD END LANE (20 TRIPS FROM ONE PARTY). OBVIOUSLY NO SHORTAGE OF GAS EXISTS, ONLY SELF-CONTROL AND COMMON SENSE.

A LOCAL RADIO STATION CONTINUES TO PLAY INTERVALS OF PATHETIC NOISE BEFORE THEIR NATIONAL AND LOCAL NEWS. THEY PUT INTO PLAY THEIR PRIORITY, NOSTALGIC SOUNDS OF THE 1970'S ( NO WAY CAN THEY BE DESCRIBED AS MUSICAL).

A DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER CALLER, A FATHER, A LITTLE DOWNBEAT BECAUSE OF PEER DISAPPROVAL, PUT HIS FAMILY FIRST BEFORE HIGHER EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS. PRAISE TO HIM AND ALLELUIA.

DEJA VU?

DEJA VU IN 2007?
1.THE PARTY HAS A "VESTED INTEREST IN MILITARY FAILURE."

2."DEATH AND AGONY ARE FAMILIAR SHAPES."

3."THE DREAD OF EQUALITY DESTROYS UNITY."

4."THE EFFECT WAS OF A MILITARY SACRAMENT."

5."THE PRESIDENT CALLED FOR 500,000 MORE MEN."

6.THE WAR WAS IN ITS 4TH YEAR.

EXCEPT FOR #5, EACH STATEMENT LITERALLY PARALLELS A REALITY IN 1864 DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.

1. THE DEMOCRAT PARTY THEN, THE LIBERAL PARTY NOW CALLS FOR
'PEACE WITHOUT VICTORY.'
2. BY THE 1000'S THEN, BY SINGLE DIGITS NOW, THE FATALITIES ADD UP.
3. THE THOUGHT OF NEGROES EMANCIPATED AND GIVEN RACIAL EQUALITY DIVIDED THE COUNTRY INTO TWO AMERICAS, NORTH AND SOUTH IN 1864. SUNNI, SHITE AND KURDS DREAD A SHARED POLITICAL AND SOCIAL STATUS IN IRAQ. HERE AT HOME WE CALL THE OPPOSING PARTIES, THE RED AND BLUE STATES WHICH DEFY UNIFICATION.
4. LEE SURVEYED HIS TROOPS AND AN OBSERVER FELT IT WAS LIKE A (SACRAMENT), A PUBLIC ACT VIEWED AS A MEANS OF SERVING GOD. FOR A COMPARISON, RECALL THE FALL OF THE STATUE OF SADAAM HUSSEIN.
5. NO, OUR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH HAS NOT CALLED FOR 500,000 MORE TROOPS, LIKE LINCOLN, BUT HIS SURGE HAS BROUGHT OUT PROTESTS TOO.
6. WILL 2007 BE THE TURNING POINT TOWARDS HOME IN THE IRAQ WAR ON TERROR PARALLELING THE FINAL CAMPAIGNS COMMENCING IN 1864?

THE CYCLICAL WHEELS OF WAR KEEP TURNING. TOO BAD NO GRANT, SHERMAN OR SHERIDAN IS ROLLING LIKE THUNDER TODAY.

COMMON SENSE : ROADKILL

GOVERNMENT IS A COMPETITOR THAT ANNIHILATES WHATEVER COMES INTO ITS PATH. ITS FIRST VICTIM HAS BEEN COMMON SENSE.

LIBERAL (PROGRESSIVE) POLITICIANS WANT PEACE WITHOUT VICTORY. COMMON SENSE SAYS ACCOMMODATION AND WEAKNESS NEVER PRODUCE A VICTORY IN A WAR. BASEBALL TEAMS WITH MONIKERS LIKE MUD-HENS, SLIDERS AND PAINTS REPRESENT THE ELIMINATION OF REFERENCES TO VIOLENCE AND WAR. COMMON SENSE SAYS THAT NO COMPETITIVE SPORT TEAM CALLED THE 'PAINTS' IS INSPIRED TO TRIUMPH AGAINST ADVERSITY. A PAINTED WARRIOR MIGHT BE. PUBLIC SCHOOLS MANDATE 'MAINSTREAMING' STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND MEDICAL AILMENTS INTO REGULAR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. COMMON SENSE SAYS THAT STUDENTS WHO DISRUPT THE LEARNING PROCESS (FOR WHATEVER REASONS) DO NOT BELONG IN THE NORMAL CLASS SETTING. PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGES FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ATTEMPT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE THOUGH WE HEAR DAILY OF OCCURRENCES OF MURDER AND HOMICIDE SUCH AS JESSIE DAVIS AND HER UNBORN BABY FOUND BURIED IN A SHALLOW GRAVE. COMMON SENSE SAYS THAT PARENTS AND SOCIETY SHOULD TEACH RESPECT FOR LIFE; PERSONS THAT DO NOT, SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO FREELY PURSUE THEIR OWN LIVES. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HAVE UNVEILED THE MYSTERIES OF CELLS IN LIFE, GENES IN INHERITANCE AND GERMS IN DISEASE. COMMON SENSE ASKS WHY RESEARCH CONTINUES TO BE FUNDED WHICH DENIES THE BIOLOGICAL FACT THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION. MANDATES AND SUBSIDIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE FUELS TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN OIL. COMMON SENSE SAYS, WHY NOT DRILL FOR OIL WHERE WE HAVE IT, OFFSHORE AND IN ALASKA, AS WELL AS BUILD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS FOR GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY? THE TRAGEDY EXISTS OF ABSENTEE BLACK FATHERS; 50% OF BLACK CHILDREN ARE BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK. COMMON SENSE SAYS WELFARE PROGRAMS, GANGS, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY AND IRRESPONSIBILITY HAVE CREATED THE PARENTAL VOID. DATA PROVE THAT MARRIAGE IN TWO-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS HOLDS A FAMILY TOGETHER AND PROMOTES HEALTHFUL, PRODUCTIVE LIVING. ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING (BULBS) PURPORT TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. COMMON SENSE SAYS NEITHER THE LIGHT BULB NOR MAN'S FOOTPRINT CAN AFFECT GLOBAL WARMING BECAUSE LIFE ON EARTH DEPENDS UPON THE ENERGY OF THE SUN AND THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE ALREADY IN PLACE FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT AT NO LEVEL PROMOTES INDIVIDUAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH SAVINGS. RATHER IT ENCOURAGES AMERICANS TO RELY ON RETIREMENT PACKAGES AND SOCIAL SECURITY. COMMON SENSE SAYS THAT IF FOUR MOVIES - OCEANS 11, SPIDER-MAN, SHREK AND PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - AND THEIR SEQUELS COMBINED CAN RAKE IN 3.5 BILLION DOLLARS DOMESTICALLY, AMERICANS ARE PROUDLY WASTING THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY AND DISPLAYING THEIR NEGATIVE SAVING'S RATE.

COMMON SENSE SAYS THAT ACTIONS ARE BEST WHICH PROCURE THE GREATEST HAPPINESS FOR THE GREATEST NUMBERS. THAT LEAVES GOVERNMENT OUT! GOVERNANCE BY POLITICIANS WITH THEIR FULL-BLOWN SENSES OF POWER AND PRIVILEGE, HAS GIVEN US POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, REALITY DENIAL, NARCISSISM AND MORAL MALAISE.

MODESTY, WHERE ARE YOU?

IT'S A GIVEN RATIOCINATION THAT AMERICA IS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET CARRYING A DISCARDED SENSE OF MODESTY. WHY HAS MODESTY DIED, A VIRTUE DEFINED AS A REGARD FOR DECENCY OF BEHAVIOR, SPEECH, DRESS ETC, A RESTRAINT IMPOSED FROM A SENSE OF PROPRIETY?

WESTERN CIVILIZATION'S UNIQUE TRADITIONS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND INQUIRY HAVE DEVOLVED INTO SEXUAL PROMISCUITY, CRUDE SPEECH, THE PROMOTION OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND UNMANLY MEN AND "GIRLS GONE WILD." THE VALUE OF MODESTY IS TO OPPOSE COARSENESS, WHICH BEGETS COARSENESS IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY.

AS WAS SAID IN 1862 ABOUT THE DOWNTURN OF HOPE FOR RESOLUTION IN THE CIVIL WAR, "THE SCABBARD HAS BEEN THROWN AWAY." THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK THEN, ONLY UNREMITTING BLOODSHED UNTIL THE POINT WAS REACHED OF UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. TODAY THE VENEER OF MODESTY AND DECENCY HAS BEEN THROWN AWAY. COVERING UP THE HUMAN BODY - THE PUN INTENDED - SEEMS UNDESIRABLE AND IMPOSSIBLE.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG, MODESTY WAS NOT JUST A WORD, THE SPELLING AND DEFINITION OF WHICH WAS REQUIRED ON A TEST. MODESTY WAS GIVEN CACHET; INNOCENCE WAS PROMOTED. BOTH WERE INTENDED TO INSTILL A SENSE OF PRIDE IN ONESELF. A CULTURE OF MODESTY WAS IMPOSED AUTHORITATIVELY FROM ABOVE IN ORDER THAT IT BE INTERNALIZED. EXAMPLES: STRAPLESS GOWNS WERE ANATHEMA AT THE PROM. PARENTS FORBID SKIN-TIGHT OR REVEALING CLOTHES. SDS BUTTONS - SUPPLY THE DEMAND FOR THE SUPPLY -WERE DISTRIBUTED TO YOUTH AS ENCOURAGEMENTS TO RETAILERS TO PROVIDE MODEST APPAREL. WARNINGS WERE ISSUED (AT HOME, SCHOOL, CHURCH), "NOT TO PLAY WITH YOURSELF." MODESTY DEFINED CHARACTER. VIRGINITY REPRESENTED THE IDEAL. YET DECENCY TODAY IS LIKE A DISCARD IN A HANDBASKET, UNWANTED, UNMODERN.

I CAN ONLY RATIOCINATE THAT THE DEVIL HAS TRANSFORMED MODESTY DECEPTIVELY AND CLEVERLY INTO SOMETHING DIRTY AND EVIL, NOT TO BE ADMIRED OR DESIRED. NEVERTHELESS, IMMODESTY IS ON ITS WAY TO HELL.

1ST DAY OF SUMMER

ON THIS 1ST DAY OF SUMMER, CAN THE DEAD COME BACK TO LIFE? WE HAVE BEEN IN A DROUGHT PERMEATED WITH HEAT WAVE AND VIRTUALLY ALL VEGETATION HAS WILTED OR DIED. THE GARDEN, DEPENDENT ON THE WHIMS OF WEATHER, HAS FAILED. HENCE THE QUESTION WHETHER A WELCOME RAIN CAN INITIATE A RESUSCITATION OR JUST A SIGH OF RELIEF. I SIGHED WHEN I AWOKE TODAY JUNE 22ND TO A QUIET, STEADY DRIZZLE. THANK GOD! DON'T TELL ME WE'RE NOT, HAVE NOT BEEN, A CHRISTIAN NATION.

FOLLOWING IN THE PATH OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL WAR REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO THE HIGHER POWER AS "THE RECORDING ANGEL," AS THE "CREATOR (WHO) ORDERS SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE," AS THE "GOD (WHO) HAS HELPED ME," AS THE "SOVEREIGN RULER OF THE UNIVERSE" (TO WHOM I OWE GRATITUDE). AND TO CONFIRM THE EXISTENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN GOD, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN COMBATANTS ALIKE AGREED THAT DURING THE BLOODY BATTLES, "SATAN WAS HOLDING HIS ORGIES ON EARTH AND DEATH SUPPED FAT ON THE FEAST." THE EXISTENCE OF THE EVIL ANTI-CHRIST WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION OF OVER-ARCHING WINGS OF A GOOD GOD.

I AM THANKFUL FOR OUR 1ST HEAVEN-SENT RAIN IN A MONTH - THOUGH ONLY A 1/4 INCH) ON THE 1ST DAY OF ANOTHER HEAVEN-SENT SUMMER.

THERMOPYLAE PLAYED OUT ON A SMALL SCALE

THERMOPYLAE PLAYED OUT IN MICROCOSM WHEN FOUR AMERICAN NAVY SEALS MET AND RESISTED AN ASSAULT BY A HUNDRED TALIBAN FIGHTERS IN AFGHANISTAN A FEW YEARS AGO. IN 480 B.C., AT THERMOPYLAE, A SMALL FORCE OF SPARTANS UNDER LEONIDAS HELD OFF THE PERSIANS UNDER XERXES AND FINALLY DIED, TO THE LAST MAN RATHER THAN YIELD. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OUTCOMES OF FIGHTING IN A MOUNTAIN PASS IN GREECE AND A ROCKY OUTCROPPING IN AFGHANISTAN, WAS THE SOLE SURVIVOR IN THE 21ST CENTURY FIREFIGHT.

EVEN IF MOST OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS A HUMAN BEING OUGHT TO KNOW CANNOT BE COMPREHENDED IN YOUTH, DUTY IS ONE,VITAL THING READILY EMBRACED MANY TIMES OVER. ADMIRAL DAVID GLASCOW FARRAGUT TOLD HIS WIFE BEFORE A MISSION AT NEW ORLEANS DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, "HE WHO DIES IN DOING HIS DUTY TO HIS COUNTRY, AND AT PEACE WITH GOD, HAS PLAYED OUT THE DRAMA OF LIFE TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE". TO THE SPARTAN WARRIORS AND THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS, DUTY CALLED AND IT WAS ANSWERED. HEROIC EFFORTS CAME INTO PLAY. NO SOLDIER WAS A HERO AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE EACH WAS SIMPLY DOING HIS DUTY, WHETHER IT WAS TO LIVE OR TO DIE. ALL SPARTANS PERISHED; ONE AMERICAN SURVIVED.

A SHOO-IN

I READ ABOUT A SITUATION IN WHICH THE CHIPS WERE DOWN AND A MAN WAS RUNNING AND HIDING TO SAVE HIS LIFE, "CIGARETTES WERE THE ONLY LUXURY HE COULD ENJOY." DESPERATE, HE EVEN ROLLED MOSS IN NEWSPAPER AS MAKESHIFT SUBSTITUTES. "THE PROSPECT OF EVEN A DAY OR TWO WITHOUT A CIGARETTE WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIM." TODAY, THE LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, DEMOCRAT, SOCIALIST, DO-GOODER POLITICIANS TAKE AWAY NOT ONLY SOME PEOPLE'S METAPHORICAL TOBACCO LIFE LINE, BUT ALSO THEIR RIGHT TO GRAB ONTO IT. THIS IS EVIL. OBVIOUSLY, THE HUMAN PROCESS OF NATURAL SELECTION HAS TAKEN A WRONG TURN.

TODAY, DUTY IS OFTEN COMPROMISED. IT NO LONGER IS UNDERSTOOD TO INVOLVE DEMANDS ON ONE'S SELF. HUNDREDS OF FIREFIGHTERS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 AND NINE ON JUNE 18TH, 2007 IN SOUTH CAROLINA, UNDERSTOOD DUTY'S CALL. IN THE WORDS OF A BROTHER OF ONE OF THE THOSE KILLED ON 9-11, THEY HAD AN "IDEA OF WHAT DUTY DEMANDED - NOT NUANCE, AMBIVALENCE, NOT LEGAL TECHNICALITIES."

IN CONTRAST, I HEARD AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ENROLLMENT IN A START-UP CHRISTIAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL WHICH WOULD COST $3500 PER YEAR. THE MEN DISCUSSING THIS VENTURE, REFERRED TO THE DUTY OF PARENTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE BEST EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN, YET THEY BOUGHT INTO THE LIE ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY "BEING THE WAY IT IS." THEY IMPLIED THAT $3500 WOULD BE A DIFFICULTY, A SACRIFICE. OH, IS IT? OUR ECONOMY IS FANTASTIC. IT IS SO FANTASTIC THAT 70% OF AMERICANS DELUDE THEMSELVES INTO THINKING THAT THEY CAN RETIRE COMFORTABLY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE DONE LITTLE TO PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE, FINANCIAL NEEDS. IT IS SO FANTASTIC THAT 50% OF AMERICANS HAVE SAVED LESS THAN $25,000 FOR THEIR RETIREMENT. THE $3500 DIFFICULT DOLLARS COULD BE ACCUMULATED AT THE RATE OF MERELY $10.00 A DAY OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. HOW HARD IS IT?

AS THE LIBERALS STRIP AND CHIP AWAY AT THE RIGHTS OF AMERICANS, AMERICANS COUNTERACT BY ABANDONING THEIR DUTIES TO THEMSELVES BY SAVING, TO THEIR CHILDREN BY COMPROMISING THEIR EDUCATION AND TO THEIR GOD BY ALLOWING BOTH TO HAPPEN. HELLARY CLINTON WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. NEED A CIGARETTE NOW?

A MOCKINGBIRD SINGS

THE TUNES OF THE BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY OF BIRDS HAVE WAFTED AROUND ME 3 DAYS AND NIGHTS. HIS (HER?) CALLS HAVE CONTINUED VIRTUALLY, UNINTERRUPTED EVEN INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING. THEIR PERSISTENCE AND BEAUTY AWAKENED ME IN THE DARK OF NIGHT, PUNCTUATING WHAT WAS OTHERWISE A COMPLETE STILLNESS, NOT EVEN A BREEZE, NO OTHER NATURAL NOISES. TO THE DEMANDS OF ITS GENES, THE MOCKINGBIRD COMPLIED. IT DWARFS OTHER AVIAN ATTEMPTS AT SONG WITH NOTES OF MULTI-FACETED, MULTI-LEVELED, NUANCED AND TRUMPETED DELIGHT. DELICACY INTER-TWINED WITH STRENGTH. MIMICRY OF INFERIORS. TRILLS, CHIPPINGS, WHISTLES, CHEEPS AND GLISSANDOS. SOMEWHERE ATOP A LEAFY PERCH, MY MOCKINGBIRD POURS FORTH ITS MELODIES.

AN "UNASSUMING CHARACTER NOT GIVEN TO SELF-ELATION, OF DOGGED PERSISTENCE, OF IRON-WILL." THIS IS HOW JOHN FREMONT AN AMERICAN EXPLORER, GENERAL AND POLITICIAN DESCRIBED OUR PAST PRESIDENT AND WINNING GENERAL DURING THE CIVIL WAR, ULYSSES S. GRANT. SUCH AN ADMIRABLE DESCRIPTION SEEMS TO ME APPLICABLE TO MY CONQUEROR OF THE AIRWAYS. AM I A LONE APPRECIATOR?

THE DAY AFTER

NEAR TURN OF 17TH CENTURY, GEORGE HERBERT SAID, "ONE FATHER IS MORE THAN A HUNDRED SCHOOL-MASTERS." THE DAY AFTER FATHER'S DAY I ASK WHERE, AT THE TURN OF THE 21ST, HAVE THE FATHERS GONE? PUBLIC SCHOOLS ATTEMPT, ACTUALLY ARE COMPELLED BY THE STATE OF MODERN PARENTAL AFFAIRS, TO TRY TO TEACH CHILDREN WHAT THEY ARE NOT LEARNING AT HOME. TEST SCORES TELL A SAD TALE OF ACADEMIC FAILURE. EVEN WHEN PUBLIC EDUCATION ADDS TWO YEARS TO THE FRONT SIDE OF FORMAL SCHOOLING - IN THE FORM OF HEADSTART AND PRE-K PROGRAMS - CHILDREN BEHAVE POORLY AND ARE EMOTIONALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY UNPREPARED TO LEARN.

CHILDREN IN TIMES PAST, WERE TAUGHT AT HOME A FEW BASIC THINGS: HOW TO SIT STILL, LISTEN, OBEY INSTRUCTIONS, WAIT A TURN, SHARE, BE RESPECTFUL, COURTEOUS, CONSIDERATE AND PATIENT, WHEN TO KEEP A VOICE DOWN OR A MOUTH SHUT, TO BE RESPONSIBLE, KNOW HOW
TO PHYSICALLY WORK OR TO PUT STUFF AWAY? CHILD'S PLAY YOU SAY?
IT HAS TAKEN 400 YEARS (SINCE GEORGE HERBERT SPOKE) FOR AMERICANS TO LOSE AT THE PARENTAL GAME.

A LOOK AROUND THE EDUCATIONAL PLAYING FIELD SHOWS THAT PROPER PRIOR PARENTING HAS TAKEN A TIME OUT. ESPECIALLY FATHERS. STUDENTS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WHERE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS COME FROM TWO-PARENT HOMES, EXCEL ON STATE STANDARDIZED TESTS. VIRTUALLY 100% OF THEM PASS. ASKING FOR PERCENTAGES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS SCAREY. IN ONE DIOCESE FAMILIAR TO ME, MOST SOPHOMORES PASSED ON THE FIRST TRY AND VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE SENIORS ACED THE 5 CATEGORIES ON THE TEST.

EXCUSES CANNOT RESCUE THE CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE EFFECT CAN BE ADDRESSED - THE LACK OF FATHERS IN CHARGE. OVER TIME, EVEN GOOD FATHERS HAVE BEEN VILIFIED BY THEIR ENEMIES (FOR POLITICAL AND OTHER MEAN-SPRIITED REASONS). FOR EXAMPLE, ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS CALLED A "CROSS BETWEEN A SANDHILL CRANE AND AN ANDALUSIAN ASS." NO MATTER, AS A MAN AND FATHER HE EXEMPLIFIED AND TAUGHT TO HIS CHILDREN THE FEW, IMPORTANT, BASIC THINGS ABOUT SELF-EDUCATION. LET'S IMITATE HIM.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

MY 3 SONS-
ATHLETES NOT A ONE,
BUT FIT.
MY 3 SONS-
SCHOLARS THEY ARE NOT,
BUT SMART.
MY 3 SONS-
FATHERS NOT SAINTS,
NO WIMPS.
JUST, RIGHTEOUS MEN.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

ANOTHER CIVIL WAR

IN 1861, TOM CORWIN, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OHIO, OBSERVED THAT "SOUTHERN MEN ARE THEORETICALLY CRAZY; EXTREME NORTHERN MEN ARE PRACTICAL FOOLS." HOW MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE CIVIL WAR! SLAVERY AS A CONVICTION WAS CRAZY AND ABOLITION WAS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. EMANCIPATION WAS POSSIBLE ONLY AFTER A HALF MILLION MEN DIED.

AS TIME WENT BY, THE SUBJECT OF EACH OF CORWIN'S STATEMENTS CHANGED. NORTHERNERS AND SOUTHERNERS WERE REPLACED BY CAMPAIGNS FOR WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE, PROHIBITION, WORKPLACE SAFETY, TRUST BUSTING, CIVIL RIGHTS, WELFARE, FREE TRADE, THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION AND PACIFISM . EACH ADVOCACY WAS VIEWED AS CRAZY AND IMPRACTICAL, YET EACH CAUSE SOMEHOW TRIUMPHED IN THE END. SOMEWHERE IN THE COURSE OF OUR HISTORY, HOWEVER, MANLINESS HAS BEEN LOST - OR TO ITS DETRIMENT - COMPROMISED. NOW WHAT? ORIGINALLY AMERICA WAS A WORLD OF MEN. I SUGGEST WE RE-INSERT MEN AS THE SUBJECT. OF CORWIN'S TWO THOUGHTS. MANLINESS MIGHT BE CRAZY AND IMPRACTICAL BUT THE CONTRARINESS OF THE CONCEPT IS UNDENIABLE IN ITS APPEAL.

LET'S CHAMPION A SIMPLE, COMMON SENSE-DRIVEN CAUSE, MANHOOD, AND AWAKEN THE PUBLIC’S CONSCIENCE. WITH CIVILITY WE CAN WAGE ANOTHER WORTHWHILE WAR. IN THE UNINTELLIGIBLE PHRASE OF A BOOK REVIEWER WE MAY HEAR ITS "DYING-FALL RHYTHM," WHATEVER THAT MEANS.

ON FATHERS DAY

FATHER'S DAY'S AROUND THIS WEEKEND AND MONKEY BUSINESS CARRIES
ON AS USUAL IN MYRIAD VENUES. EVEN THOUGH A HOME DEPOT AD TELLS ME IT IS "A PROUD SPONSOR OF FATHER'S DAY, I KNOW AMERICA'S NARCISSISM UNDERPINS NATIONAL HOLIDAYS AND EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. I HEARD THAT ATHLETE-SCHOLARS WILL BE HONORED LOCALLY, YET I KNOW THIS TERM IS AN OXYMORON. I HEARD A BASEBALL COACH DISCUSSING THE "STARTING MENTALITY," OF HIS LOSING TEAM. ONE PLAYER'S 'ERA' (?) IS 71/2, BUT HE HOPES THEY DO BETTER BECAUSE THERE ARE 80 PLUS GAMES TO GO. I AM UNINTERESTED KNOWING STUDENT SPORTS HAS STIFLED THE OXYGEN TO THE ACADEMIC LOBES OF DEVELOPING BRAINS. I HEARD A COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION BRAG ABOUT ITS "FUNDING BENEFITS BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE CUSP OF APPALACHIA." THEY CAN OFFER A FREE SEMINAR ON HOME OWNERSHIP, WITH FREE FOOD (INCLUDING PIZZAS) FROM 3 LOCAL PROVIDERS, WITH WORKBOOKS THAT DISCUSS FAIR HOUSING AND PREDATORY LENDING, WITH 0% DOWN FINANCING AND 2 1/2 % INTEREST FOR 30 YEARS TO FIRST TIME HOME OWNERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE ELDERLY OR SINGLE MOTHERS. IT'S PITIFUL. TAXPAYER DOLLARS CARRYING THE MESSAGE THAT POOR CHOICES, THAT LEAD TO IMPOVERISHMENT, PAY OFF. BUT THEN I HEARD THAT FREE MONEY IS AVAILABLE FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR SCHOOL CLOTHES, UP TO $200, AND FOR AIR CONDITIONING BILLS, UP TO $500, TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY AT 200% ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE. IS IT LEGITIMATE TO RAISE THE POVERTY LINE 200% JUST TO JUSTIFY GIVE-A-WAYS? YEARS AGO, EVEN AS I RESTED IN A SHADED, BREEZY PLACE BECAUSE I COULD NOT YET PAY CASH FOR A WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER, I NEVER ONCE CONSIDERED ANY OPTION BUT A SELF-SERVICE OPTION.

I AM REMINDED TODAY THAT 50% OF AMERICA'S ELECTRICITY COMES FROM COAL, BUT SINCE WE WILL NOT BUILD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS TO DO THE JOB, WE ARE USING 3 TIMES MORE COAL NOW THAN IN THE 1980'S. SUCH DATA ABOUT DUMB GOVERNANCE IS DELIBERATELY SEQUESTERED FROM THE PUBLIC'S VIEW BY POLITICIAN'S WITH AGENDAS. I HEAR ABOUT CROSSOVER VEHICLES (?) BUT AS A LUDDITE HAVE NO NEED TO KNOW WHAT CONSTITUTES ONE. I READ ABOUT A MOTHER-DAUGHTER VACATION TO WATCH THE WHALES BUT I DIDN’T NOTE ANY FEELINGS FOR THE KRILL, SMALL FISH AND PLANKTON CONSUMED BY THE NOBLE PREDATOR. WAVING FLUKES ARE FAR MORE POLITICALLY CORRECT THAN OCEANS OF DEATHS. THE EARTH MAY BE 14 BILLION YEARS OLD, BUT WITH ONLY 200 YEARS OF WEATHER DATA, GLOBAL WARMING ACTIVISTS WANT ME TO BELIEVE WE CAN EXERT CONTROL OVER NATURE. BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR RELIGIOUS CONVERTS TO GLOBAL WARMING IS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY PREACH SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND ABANDONING IT TO HIS PRISTINE STATE.

THE POWER OF CONTRADICTION BUYS RIGHT INTO POPE BENEDICT XVI'S MESSAGE THIS FATHER'S DAY THAT THE "LOGIC OF POWER AND POSSESSING DOMINATES MORE THAN OF SERVICE AND LOVE." YET AMERICANS CLAIM THEY CAN DO IT ALL, HAVE IT ALL WAYS. AN EXAMPLE OF A PRESSING QUESTION PREVALENT TODAY IS WHETHER A MAN SHOULD PRIMARILY, PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY OR PURSUE A CAREER. THE TWO PROPOSITIONS MIGHT BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, BUT MEN FROM MARS TRY TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

FATHER'S DAY, LIKE MOTHER'S DAY WILL BE CELEBRATED RIGHT SIDE UP AND UPSIDE DOWN. PLATITUDES ABOUT ABSENTEE FATHERS, MANLINESS AND MORAL EDUCATION WILL ARE BANDIED ABOUT. LIBERALS WILL CONTINUE TO TALK OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THEIR MOUTHS AT ONCE AND ACT CONTRADICTARILY WITHOUT TAKING NOTICE - HELL BENT ON IMPOSING THEIR BELIEFS ON ALL CITIZENS. ( THINK ABOUT THE NON-SMOKING BAN). PARENTS WILL CONTINUE TO NEGLECT, ABUSE OR MURDER THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF IGNORANCE, AS ADOLESCENTS WILLINGLY PRODUCE MORE CHILDREN.

I AM LEFT WITH RE-STATING THE WISDOM OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT DIRECTED TO ONE OF HIS SONS: "I WOULD RATHER HAVE A BOY OF MINE STAND HIGH IN HIS STUDIES THAN HIGH IN ATHLETICS, BUT I WOULD A GREAT DEAL RATHER HAVE HIM SHOW TRUE MANLINESS OF CHARACTER THAN SHOW EITHER INTELLECTUAL OR PHYSICAL PROWESS. " EVEN OUR FORMER PRESIDENT TRIED TO LIVE FULLY, IN THREE AREAS. AMAZINGLY HE GENERALLY SUCCEEDED IN ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS AND MORAL RECTITUDE. CAN WE SAY THAT MUCH FOR FATHERS TODAY?

TO BE OLDER

TO BE OLD OR NOT TO BE OLD, THAT IS THE QUESTION. TO LIVE IN THE PAST OR BE IGNORANT AS IF "UNDER THE SHADOWS" (A PHRASE USED TO EVALUATE A PLAYER'S SLUMP BY A YOUTHFUL SPORTS' FAN). ROBERT HUTCHINS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO - AT A TIME WHEN AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING ACTUALLY AIMED HIGHER - SAID THAT "MOST OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT A HUMAN BEING OUGHT TO KNOW CANNOT BE COMPREHENDED IN YOUTH."

CURRENT AMERICANS BLISSFULLY LIVE IN PERPETUAL YOUTH. SO MANY HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SPORTS TEAMS PLAY DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME GAMES THAT NO TIME EXISTS FOR READING, WRITING OR HOMEWORK. WITHOUT INQUIRING MINDS OR ON-GOING EDUCATION, NONE OF THE "IMPORTANT THINGS" WILL BE DISCOVERED EXCEPT BY THE NERDS AND OUTCASTS - OF WHICH I AM ONE. TOO BAD TOO FEW HAVE IT AS GOOD AS I.

YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG. I SPEAK WITH SIR WILLIAM WATSON A CENTURY AGO: " SAY WHAT YOU WILT, THE YOUNG ARE HAPPY NEVER,
GIVE ME BLESS'D AGE, BEYOND THE FIRE AND FEVER,-
PAST THE DELIGHT THAT SHATTERS, HOPE THAT STINGS,
AND EAGER FLUTT'RING OF LIFE'S IGNORANT WINGS."

TO TEACH A GORE

"FOR HIM WHO FAIN WOULD TEACH THE WORLD
THE WORLD HOLDS HATE IN FEE -
FOR SOCRATES, THE HEMLOCK CUP;
FOR CHRIST, GETHSEMANE. ... DONALD ROBERT PERRY MARQUIS

FOR WHOEVER FAIN WOULD TEACH A LIBERAL
THE EMBRACE OF FALSE HUMANISM YOU WILL SEE -
SOCIALISM MASQUERADES AS COMPASSION;
INTOLERANCE CLOAKS ALL LIBERTY. ... ME

COMMON GOODS

HOW MANY OF THESE 4 STATEMENTS ARE TRUE? WHICH ONE HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH THE OTHERS?

1. ROBERT E. LEE SAID THAT "POLITICIANS ARE TOO SELFISH TO BECOME MARTYRS."

2. ALMOST ½ TRILLION DOLLARS FACE VALUE OF LEVERAGED LOANS ARE "OUTSTANDING," MOST OF WHICH WILL NEVER BE REPAID.

3. "HEROISM AND COURAGE" ARE THE "THE TIMELESS TRANSCENDENTAL THINGS," AS POINTED OUT BY A MOVIE PRODUCER OF FILMS FEATURING CHILDREN, ANIMALS AND STRONG RELIGIOUS ELEMENTS.

4. THE ORDINARY MAN IS A SELF-RELIANT CITIZEN WHO WORKS HARD, SAVES HIS MONEY, PAYS HIS TAXES AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF HIS FAMILY.

1. FALSE, PAST PRESIDENT, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WAS A MARTYRED POLITICIAN.
2. TRUE, BORROWING BIG BUCKS IS A RISKY BUSINESS.
3. TRUE, THE TRANSCENDENT VALUES ARE THOSE THAT LAST.
4. TRUE, DOING THE RIGHT THING SHOULD BE ORDINARY.

1. ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS A COMMON MAN.
2. HEROISM AND COURAGE ARE POSSIBLE FROM COMMON PEOPLE.
3. THE COMMON MAN IS MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.
4. THE ODD MAN OUT IS THE RISK-TAKER OPERATING WITHOUT SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY.

LESSON OF THE DAY: COMMON CAN BE GOOD AND REWARDING, THUS IT SHOULD BE EMULATED.

MALE VS. FEMALE?

IS THERE A BATTLE BETWEEN THE SEXES? NADAL DEFEATS FEDERER in MEN’S AND HENIN BEATS IVANOVIC IN WOMEN’S TENNIS, BUT THE SEXES DON'T COMPETE IN MOST SPORTS. OUR LOCAL BLUE STAR MOTHERS COLLECT FLIP-FLOPS AND CAKE MIXES FOR THE TROOPS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, BUT IT IS THE MEN WHO FIGHT OUR WARS. IN NORTH AFRICA, 200 YEARS AGO, A FIRST-HAND OBSERVER NOTED THAT WOMEN WERE "MERE NECESSARY SLAVES, "BEINGS WITHOUT SOULS," TO THE ARAB MEN. CAPT. RILEY WHO SUFFERED AS A CHRISTIAN SLAVE TO AFRICAN MOSLEMS, POINTED OUT THAT THE MEN WERE " HIGH-SPIRITED, BRAVE, AVARICIOUS, RAPACIOUS AND REVENGEFUL," BUT AT THE SAME TIME, " HOSPITABLE AND COMPASSIONATE," AND "PROUD OF THEIR INDEPENDENCE." OBVIOUSLY, NO BATTLE WAS POSSIBLE BETWEEN THE SEXES, ONLY BETWEEN TRIBES IN WHICH CASE IT WAS FOUGHT FOR STATURE AND SPOILS. ON THE TURF, TOO, THE COLT, GELDING OR STALLION HAS HISTORICALLY OUT-DISTANCED THE FILLY OR MARE.

THEREFORE, BIOLOGY IS FATE. MAN IS A MAN, MAN MUST HAVE HIS MATE AND SHE MUST KNOW HER PLACE. OFTEN REPEATED ARE THE THOUGHTS THAT "MOTHERHOOD IS WOMAN'S GREAT AND INCOMPARABLE WORK." OR " A WOMAN'S WORK IS NEVER DONE," OR "A WOMAN SHOULD BE SEEN, NOT HEARD." BUT THE "POWER OF THE ETERNAL FEMININE," OUGHT TO BE RESPECTED. IN DOUBT? CHECK OUT THE ON-GOING MEDIA COVERAGE OF PARIS HILTON, AMERICA'S 2007 HELEN OF TROY.

PPP

NOT ONLY PARENTS BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY - UNDER WHOSE AUSPICE I DON'T KNOW - HAVE ABANDONED PPP, PROPER PRIOR PARENTING. I HEARD ABOUT A SUMMER PROGRAM WHEREIN "CHILDREN CAN GET FREE MEALS AT 6 LOCATIONS." THIS IN A CITY OF ONLY 20,000 RESIDENTS. THIS AT A TIME IN OUR LAND OF PLENTY WE HAVE A SIMULTANEOUS OBESITY EPIDEMIC AND HUNGER CRISIS. I READ ABOUT A SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW ORLEANS SCHOOLS WHO ALLOWED STUDENTS WITH 2 D'S AND 2 F'S TO BE COUNTED AS PASSED ON A STANDARDIZED TEST BECAUSE OF "THE TRAUMA THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THROUGH." THIS IN OUR TIME OF RARE PPP, PROPER PRIOR PARENTING WITH MESSAGES OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY, RESPONSIBILITY AND PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.

LOOK BACK TO THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, TO A YOUNG MAN RAISED IN A CONVERTED BOXCAR, ORPHANED AS A TEEN, WHO DID NOT ALLOW TRAUMA TO DESTROY HIS LIFE. MR. SCHWAB SET OUT ON HIS OWN, HORATIO ALGER-LIKE, AND BY 2003 HIS ANNUAL REVENUE REACHED 1 BILLION DOLLARS. REFERENCE A MR. EVANS, WHO LOST HIS WIFE AND 2 DAUGHTERS IN A FIRE EARLY INTO HIS MARRIAGE, BUT DID NOT LET TRAGEDY OVERWHELM HIM OR NEGATE HIS QUEST FOR A USEFUL LIFE.

PROPER PRIOR PARENTING HAS LED TO A LACK OF RESPECT FOR LAWS WHICH IS CORROSIVE TO OUR CULTURE AND OUR SOCIETY'S MORAL IMPERATIVES. LET'S PLUMB THE DEPTHS OF DEPRAVITY THAT HAVE CAUSED A 15 YR. OLD TO FLEE HER ABUSIVE HOME, AN 18 YR. OLD TO BE ABDUCTED AND MURDERED BY A YOUNG FATHER, A SPOILED CELEBRITY TO GARNER INORDINATE, MEDIA ATTENTION OR A 40 SOMETHING WHO DISCARDS HUSBAND AND CHILDREN TO FINALLY 'ENJOY HERSELF.'

PPP HAS BEEN ABSENT FOR A LONG TIME. WHY? HOW CAN AMERICA CALL HERSELF GREAT AND GOOD IF THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION AND PROPER REMEDIATION IS TOO LONG COMING?

1/2 OR 1/2

IS IT JUST RODOMONTADE OR ARE MUSLIMS GENUINELY INTENT UPON DESTROYING OUR WESTERN CIVILIZATION? IS WESTERN CIVILIZATION REALLY THE RESULT OF THE PURSUIT OF AFFLUENCE, SECULARIZATION AND SEXUAL REVOLUTION OR JUST PROOF OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS? IS BILL GATES CORRECT WHEN HE SAID IN HIS HARVARD COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, THAT "HUMANITY'S GREATEST ADVANCES ARE NOT IN ITS DISCOVERIES - BUT IN HOW THOSE DISCOVERIES ARE APPLIED TO REDUCE INEQUITY." ..." -REDUCING INEQUITY IS THE HIGHEST HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT." IF MR. GATES TRULY DEFINES INEQUITY AS UNFAIRNESS, HE SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED FOR SEEING THE CUP OF HAPPINESS AS ½ FULL. BUT IF HE ACTUALLY MEANS INEQUALITY, HIS PERCEPTION IS ½ EMPTY. ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL TO PURSUE HAPPINESS AND INEQUITY, UNFAIRNESS, OBSTRUCTS THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROMISE? MR. GATES ALSO REMINDS US THAT DEMOCRACY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ENABLE INDIVIDUALS AND A CIVILIZATION TO ADVANCE. BUT ALL MEN AND WOMEN DO NOT ADVANCE EQUALLY. PROGRESS SHOULD BE UNIFORM IN A SOCIETY BUT THE HIGHEST HUMAN ACHIEVEMENTS SEGREGATE, SEPARATE AND ELEVATE THE CREAM TO THE TOP. THE RIGHT TO STRIVE IS NOT UNFAIRNESS. FURTHERMORE, LET’S HOPE MR. GATES’ IDEA OF PROMOTING FAIRNESS IN NO WAY INVOLVES THE UNFAIR SYSTEM OF STEALING FROM THE INDUSTRIOUS WHO HAVE SOMEHOW EARNED THEIR WEALTH AND RE-DISTRIBUTING IT TO THE IDLE. INEQUITY RELATING TO OPPORTUNITY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE; INEQUALITY OF OUTCOME IS.

ERADICATION OF INEQUITY MAY BE NOT EXEMPLIFIED BY THE USE OF WELFARE PAYMENTS. THEY STEAL FROM THE PUBLIC TREASURY WITH THE JUSTIFICATION THAT THEY HELP TO EQUALIZE INCOMES AND MAKE LIFE MORE FAIR. THIS FALSEHOOD BETRAYS COMMON SENSE WHICH SAYS THE CURE FOR POVERTY IS SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND EMPLOYMENT. WHAT IS THE POINT OF STRIVING IF THERE ARE NO STARS?

BILL GATES FURTHER ASKED THAT EACH GRADUATE OF 2007 TAKE ON AN ISSUE AND BECOME A SPECIALIST IN IT. THE $64,000 QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHAT ISSUE? BEFORE DECIDING UPON AN ISSUE, I SUGGEST YOU DECIDE WHETHER YOU WILL SEE YOUR WISHING CUP 1/2 EMPTY OR 1/2 FULL. WHETHER YOU STUDY MUSLIM TERRORISM, AMERICAN DECADENCE, ECONOMIC INEQUALITY OR YOUR OWN PERSONAL MORALITY, THE CHOICE PRECEDES THE DRAFT.

HONORABLE

HONOR: A SENSE OF WHAT IS RIGHT OR DUE; REPUTATION. PARIS HILTON (CELEBRITY) HAS NONE. T.E. LAWRENCE (WRITER AND SOLDIER) HAD SOME. CONSONANT WITH POPULAR DEMAND AND HER PERSONAL COMMITMENTS, PARIS HILTON BEHAVES DISHONORABLY. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE DO KNOW THAT T. E. LAWRENCE DIDN’T. SCHOLARS AND GOSSIPS HAVE TEASED US WITH HIS HOMOSEXUALITY, BUT EVEN IF WAS TEMPTED BY HOMOEROTIC TENDENCIES, T.E. LAWRENCE APPARENTLY NEVER ACTED UPON THEM. HE FOUGHT THEM HONORABLY; HIS CONTRIBUTION WAS POSITIVE ON THE WORLD’S STAGE. WE KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT MANY MALES WHO HAVE BEEN TEMPTED BY UNNATURAL THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS, CANNOT SAY, "WE ARE ALL HONORABLE MEN."

HONOR- IS IT DEARER THAN LIFE? DEARER, YES, THAN A LIFE CLUELESS ABOUT RIGHT OR REPUTATION FOR WHICH PARIS SHOULD BE ASHAMED. OF LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, BRITAIN CAN BE PROUD.

EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CAN MAKE ONE THINK LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING. I AM TOLD THAT A 44% REDUCTION IN DEATH CAN BE ACHIEVED BY LIFE STYLE IMPROVEMENTS. HOWEVER, RISK FACTORS SUCH AS WEIGHT GAIN AND DIABETES OFFSET LIFE STYLE IMPROVEMENTS. LIFESTYLE IMPROVEMENTS, THAT IS HEALTHFUL DIETS AND EXERCISING SIMULTANEOUSLY REDUCE DEATHS AND CANCEL THEMSELVES WITH WEIGHT GAIN AND DIABETES ( INCURRED FROM WEIGHT GAIN AND NOT EATING RIGHT). HOW CAN EATING RIGHT AND IMPROVING LIFESTYLE CANCEL OUT LIFESTYLE IMPROVEMENT BY WEIGHT GAIN? I’M LOST.

THERE IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION - FLIGHT INTO THE IMAGINATIVE WORLD OF POETRY.

IN THE RUBAIYAT BY OMAR KHAYYAM THE SPLENDID THOUGHT OCCURS, "A JUG OF WINE, A LOAF OF BREAD - AND THOU."

IN THE DIVAN OF KAFIZ, ALSO AN ARABIC POEM, WE ENCOUNTER THE LINE, "UPON THE CHECQUERED FLOOR OF NIGHT AND DAY, DEATH WON THE GAME."

DOOFUSES WHO DO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS TAKE NOTE. EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY BECAUSE TOMORROW YOU TOO WILL DIE.

D-DAY, CHOOSE SIDES

TO WHAT EXTENT DO MOST AMERICANS THINK ABOUT H-P NOWADAYS? DO MOST AMERICANS KNOW THAT H-P REPRESENTS HEWLETT-PACKARD? CAN MOST OF US NAME H-P'S PRODUCTS? OR CAN ANY OF US RELATE TO TWO STUDENTS STUDYING ENGINEERING AT STANFORD, EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES OF TECHNOLOGY WHO FOUNDED THE COMPANY? WHAT CONNECTION DO WE HAVE TO BILL (HEWLETT) AND DAVE (PACKARD) WHO IN THE 1930'S GOT THEIR BREAK WHEN THEY SOLD AN AUDIO OSCILLATOR TO WALT DISNEY FOR USE IN HIS MOVIE 'FANTASIA'? HOW MANY AMERICANS CAN APPRECIATE THIS INNOVATION? OR IN SPITE OF OUR PROTECTIONIST SENTIMENTS TO KEEP JOBS HERE AT HOME, WHICH AMERICANS KNOW THAT IN 2006, 161.5 BILLION DOLLARS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT WENT INTO BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES. UP 77%, THIS REPRESENTS A 6 YR. HIGH. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERCENTAGES? HOW MANY CITIZENS WILL AMASS A MILLION DOLLARS OF EQUITY IN A LIFETIME MUCH LESS COMPREHEND A BILLION? CAN THE TYPICAL AMERICAN DEFINE EQUITY?

FEW. YET THE CRUCIAL LESSON OF THE TODAY SHOULD TEACH THE DEFINITIONS OF REGULATION AND INNOVATION. THE IDEOLOGICAL DIVIDE BETWEEN THESE TWO NOTIONS HAS FOSTERED OR IMPEDED PROGRESS N AMERICA. BOTH WALT DISNEY AND HEWLETT- PACKARD ADVANCED AND IMPROVED AMERICA BY THEIR INNOVATIONS, THAT IS MAKING CHANGES AS NEEDED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS IMPEDED PROGRESS OVER AND OVER AGAIN BY BURDENSOME REGULATIONS. SOMETIMES GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO; OTHER TIMES IT AIMS TO STIFLE COMPETITION. LUCKILY, THE GENERATION OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WERE NOT IN IDEOLOGICAL LOCKSTEP. EVEN THOUGH THEIR IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS CONFLICTED WITH EACH OTHER, THEY DEBATED THEM.

A TYPICAL AMERICAN ALREADY HAS CHOSEN SIDES. WHAT KIND OF AN AMERICAN ARE YOU? CONSERVATIVES TEND TO INNOVATION. LIBERALS LEAN TO REGULATION. IGNORANCE MAY BE AN AMERICAN'S STRONG SUIT (AS IN A GAME OF CARDS) BUT DYING IN PLACE IS NOT. REMEMBER D-DAY DEC.6, 1944.

D-DAY, CHOOSE SIDES

TO WHAT EXTENT DO MOST AMERICANS THINK ABOUT H-P NOWADAYS? DO MOST AMERICANS KNOW THAT H-P REPRESENTS HEWLETT-PACKARD? CAN MOST OF US NAME H-P'S PRODUCTS? OR CAN ANY OF US RELATE TO TWO STUDENTS STUDYING ENGINEERING AT STANFORD, EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES OF TECHNOLOGY WHO FOUNDED THE COMPANY? WHAT CONNECTION DO WE HAVE TO BILL (HEWLETT) AND DAVE (PACKARD) WHO IN THE 1930'S GOT THEIR BREAK WHEN THEY SOLD AN AUDIO OSCILLATOR TO WALT DISNEY FOR USE IN HIS MOVIE 'FANTASIA'? HOW MANY AMERICANS CAN APPRECIATE THIS INNOVATION? OR IN SPITE OF OUR PROTECTIONIST SENTIMENTS TO KEEP JOBS HERE AT HOME, WHICH AMERICANS KNOW THAT IN 2006, 161.5 BILLION DOLLARS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT WENT INTO BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES. UP 77%, THIS REPRESENTS A 6 YR. HIGH. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERCENTAGES? HOW MANY CITIZENS WILL AMASS A MILLION DOLLARS OF EQUITY IN A LIFETIME MUCH LESS COMPREHEND A BILLION? CAN THE TYPICAL AMERICAN DEFINE EQUITY?

FEW. YET THE CRUCIAL LESSON OF THE TODAY SHOULD TEACH THE DEFINITIONS OF REGULATION AND INNOVATION. THE IDEOLOGICAL DIVIDE BETWEEN THESE TWO NOTIONS HAS FOSTERED OR IMPEDED PROGRESS N AMERICA. BOTH WALT DISNEY AND HEWLETT- PACKARD ADVANCED AND IMPROVED AMERICA BY THEIR INNOVATIONS, THAT IS MAKING CHANGES AS NEEDED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS IMPEDED PROGRESS OVER AND OVER AGAIN BY BURDENSOME REGULATIONS. SOMETIMES GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO; OTHER TIMES IT AIMS TO STIFLE COMPETITION. LUCKILY, THE GENERATION OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WERE NOT IN IDEOLOGICAL LOCKSTEP. EVEN THOUGH THEIR IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS CONFLICTED WITH EACH OTHER, THEY DEBATED THEM.

A TYPICAL AMERICAN ALREADY HAS CHOSEN SIDES. WHAT KIND OF AN AMERICAN ARE YOU? CONSERVATIVES TEND TO INNOVATION. LIBERALS LEAN TO REGULATION. IGNORANCE MAY BE AN AMERICAN'S STRONG SUIT (AS IN A GAME OF CARDS) BUT DYING IN PLACE IS NOT. REMEMBER D-DAY DEC.6, 1944.

O OF W

DATA FROM 2004 REVEALS THAT 46% OF CHILDREN BORN TO HISPANICS, 24.5% OF CHILDREN TO WHITES AND 69% OF CHILDREN TO BLACKS WERE BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK. IT'S NO WONDER THE DEVOUT MUSLIMS HATE US AND WANT TO WIPE OUT OUR CULTURE. IN 2007 I'M GUESSING THAT A HALF, A QUARTER AND ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF CHILDREN ARE STILL BORN TO MEN AND WOMEN, ADOLESCENTS OR A WOMAN AND A SPERM DONOR, WHO THINK MARRIAGE IS IRRELEVANT OR UNNECESSARY. AMERICA IS RIPE FOR A JIHADIST CONQUEST OF OUR INFIDEL WORLD.

YET REMEMBER, SOLIDARITY WITH MUSLIMS EXISTS BETWEEN 75% OF WHITES, 50% OF HISPANICS AND 30% OF BLACKS REGARDING THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE. WHAT PERCENTAGES COULD BE THE TIPPING POINT FOR A TAKE-OVER OR A COUNTER-REVOLUTION IN AMERICA? MARRIED MUSLIM PARENTS UNITED WITH MARRIED AMERICAN PARENTS VS. THE O OF W ARMY. WHAT A GAME. WHAT A CONTEST OF WILLS. U OF M VS. O OF W. UPHOLDERS OF MARRIAGE VS. OUT OF WEDLOCK PARENTS. WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

A GOOD QUESTION

PRIME MINISTER OF GREAT BRITAIN, WILLIAM GLADSTONE, IN 1878 SAID, "THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION IS... THE MOST WONDERFUL WORK EVER STRUCK OFF AT A GIVEN TIME BY THE BRAIN AND PURPOSE OF MAN." WHAT THE SAM HILL HAS LED TO THE LIQUIFACTION OF BRAIN MATTER AND LACK OF DIRECTION IN AMERICANS TODAY?

WEALTHY POLITICIANS PROMISE TO TAX THE WEALTHY BUT DECEIVE THE PUBLIC INTO THINKING THEY TOO WILL PAY THEIR FARE SHARE. AN AMERICAN IS HOODWINKED INTO THINKING THAT "RECKLESS LENDING" EXISTS WHEN IN REALITY IT IS RECKLESS BORROWING THAT ABOUNDS. THE ANSWER TO DEBT IS NOT "HOLISTIC FINANCIAL COUNSELING" OR RECONCILING DEBT "IN CONCERT WITH THE MORTGAGE." RATHER, SIMPLY STATED, A PERSON SHOULD NOT LIVE BEYOND HIS MEANS.

SINCE THE TIME OF SOCRATES AND HIS QUESTIONING DISCIPLES, PLATO AND ARISTOTLE, THE 'LONG DEBATE' HAS RAGED ABOUT THE NATURE OF REAL VALUES AND WHAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING, THE GOOD LIFE. THE DYNAMIC TRIO, REALIZED THAT HUMANITY ONLY LEAVES CHILDHOOD BEHIND WHEN IT BEGINS TO CRITICIZE ITS CERTAINTIES AND WEIGHS THE WORTHINESS OF ITS BELIEFS.

IT'S TIME TO QUESTION THE REALITIES (CERTAINTIES) OF SOME OF OUR PREVALENT THINKING SUCH AS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, HEDONISM AND VICTIMHOOD. IT'S TIME TO ASK WHY LIBERALS AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATS DISSOCIATE INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE AND RESPONSIBILITY FROM AMERICAN GOALS. IT'S TIME TO ADMIT THAT POWER IS THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE, THE MEANINGFUL LIFE IS THE GOOD LIFE, THE CITIZEN HAS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO HIMSELF AS WELL AS HIS GOVERNMENT.

MEN WROTE OUR CONSTITUTION. WHEN DID MEN IN AMERICA REGRESS INTO BOYS? I SUPPOSE THE BACKSLIDE BEGAN IN THE 60'S WHEN GIRLS JOINED THE BOYS IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL REVOLUTION CALLING FOR PERPETUAL YOUTH AND A POSITIVE NARCISSISM. THEIR BELIEFS MADE COMMON SENSE AND MONETARY AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY BORING.

FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR

IF PARIS HILTON SHOWS UP AT THE JAIL, IF SHE MAINTAINS 'GOOD BEHAVIOR' DURING THE TIME OF HER INCARCERATION, SHE MIGHT GET OUT EARLY EVEN THOUGH ONLY HALF OF HER 45 DAYS ARE SERVED. WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE WHO DISPLAY LESS THAT EXEMPLARY HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND WHO POSSESS LESS INTEGRITY THAN AN ANIMAL WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR GOD-GIVEN INSTINCTS, GET TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR? NATURE'S CREATURES NEVER GET A BREAK. THE WAR HORSE, FOR EXAMPLE, NEVER HAS HAD TIME OFF FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE BEFORE OR AFTER A COMMITMENT TO BATTLE. ITS SERVICE MAY OR MAY NOT END BEFORE THE ENGAGEMENT IS WON OR LOST. THIS BEAUTIFUL BEAST, A MARVEL OF EVOLUTION, MERELY PLAYS OUT ITS GENETIC GAME HONESTLY. WHAT CONTRIBUTION TO EVOLUTION HAS PARIS HILTON MADE? SEEMS TO ME THE VALUE OF HER LIFE SHOULD BE MEASURED, AS IN THE RETAIL WORLD, BY THE MAXIMUM EXPLOITATION OF PRICE AND QUALITY. WELL, PARIS HILTON RENDERS THE QUALITY OF GOODNESS AS DROSS, AND DISCOUNTS TO VIRTUALLY NOTHING HER PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE. FURTHERMORE, AS IN THE RETAIL WORLD, VALUE INCREASES IN PROPORTION TO THE AMOUNT OF SERVICE UNIQUELY RENDERED TO A CUSTOMER'S NEEDS. WITH THIS CRITERION IN MIND, WE NOTE THAT PARIS SERVES HER BASEST NEEDS TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHERS; THE HORSE SERVES HUMANITY.

LET'S REMEMBER THAT IT IS INEVITABLE THAT PARIS HILTON’S GOOD BEHAVIOR WILL ONLY BE TEMPORARY. SADLY, HER LIFE LACKS VALUE AND SERVICE. A WAR HORSE WOULD BEHAVE IN A MANNER TRUE TO ITS NATURE SERVING ITS CREATOR WELL.

'RAISING AWARENESS'

RAISING AWARENESS IS THE BIGGEST FRAUD FROM THE 1960'S. WHAT DOES AN AWARENESS WITHOUT CONTENT OR CONSEQUENCES ACCOMPLISH? BETTER A VISITATION TO EXAMPLES OF NOBILITY AND IGNOMINY, THAT IS, STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS.

TWO PEOPLE COMMENCED AND PURSUED A LOUCHE EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR IN THE EARLY 1980'S EVEN THOUGH THE MAN WAS MARRIED WITH 3 CHILDREN. A REVIEWER OF A BOOK WRITTEN BY THE 2ND WOMAN (AND LATER WIFE) NOTED THAT "WITHIN THE RAPTURE AND FRESH SENSE OF POSSIBILITY, THERE WAS AN AWARENESS OF THE PAIN THEY WERE CAUSING OTHERS AND, INEVITABLY THEMSELVES." NEVERTHELESS, THESE SELF-CENTERED INDIVIDUALS SUCCUMBED TO WEAKNESS, A SYMPTOM OF THE 60'S LEGACY.

IN CONTRAST LET US LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF NOBILITY AND STRENGTH. "WHERE HE GALLOPS, THE EARTH SINGS." THIS EPITAPH TO KELSO WHO DIED IN 1983, REMINDS THOSE LIVING THAT WHEN HE GALLOPED, THE WORLD WITNESSED A PAEAN TO EQUINE PERFECTION. HIS SUCCESS WAS NOT GUARANTEED FROM BIOLOGY OR 'WRITTEN IN THE WIND.' FRACTIOUS AND UNPREDICTABLE, KELSO NEEDED TO BE GELDED TO UNLEASH HIS COURAGE AND SPEED. HIS CAREER IN THE EARLY 1960'S, RACKED UP 53 WINS, PLACES AND SHOWS OUT OF 63 STARTS.

THE MAN LOST IN THE RAPTURE OF HIS MASCULINITY SHOULD HAVE BORROWED A PAGE FROM KELSO'S RACING FORUM AND 'NEUTERED' HIS FEELINGS WHEN TEMPTED, BUT HE DID NOT. HE APPROACHED LIFE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WEAKNESS. A DUMB BEAST LIKE 'KELLY,' THE GREAT RACEHORSE, RAN FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH WHEN HIS "WITHERS WERE UNWRUNG."

MORALITY IS COOL

" IN WORDS, AS FASHIONS, THE SAME RULE WILL HOLD,
ALIKE FANTASTIC IF TOO NEW OR OLD;
BE NOT THE FIRST BY WHOM THE NEW ARE TRIED,
NOR YET THE LAST TO LAY THE OLD ASIDE."

INTO THIS SENTIMENT OF ALEXANDER POPE IN THE 1700'S, SUBSTITUTE THE WORD GOODNESS. WILLIAM WILBERFORCE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO ENCOURAGING BRITAIN'S CULTURE TO DO JUST THAT, MAKE GOODNESS FASHIONABLE.

WITH GOODNESS, AS FASHIONS, THE SAME RULES APPLY. FASHION AND GOODNESS WILL BE REGARDED AS ASTONISHING OR SHOCKING AT FIRST OR JUST OLD-FASHIONED. BRAVE SOULS MUST SET THE EXAMPLE, DARING TO BE GOOD SO THAT OTHERS WILL FOLLOW THE NEW FASHION STATEMENT.

BRAVERY NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION EITHER. THEREFORE, LET'S MAKE GOODNESS THE ‘IN’ THING AGAIN. THE VICTORIANS - DESPITE THEIR BEHIND- THE- SCENES HYPOCRISIES - SET AN EXAMPLE IN BRITAIN AND AMERICA OF FASHIONABLE MORALITY. IN MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS, A CLUB SPONSORED A 'COURTESY IS COOL' CAMPAIGN. MEMORY ROBS ME OF KNOWING WHAT MEASURE OF SUCCESS WAS ACHIEVED, BUT THE IDEA OF CIVILITY SHOULD BE ONE THAT IS PERENNIALLY POPULAR. DITTO WITH MORALITY. THE UNITED STATES IS LOATHED ABROAD FOR OUR DEPRAVITY, NARCISSISM AND SELF-CENTEREDNESS. THOUGH NOT WITHOUT GLARING EXCEPTIONS OF MORAL RECTITUDE, THESE BAD BEHAVIORS RESONATE NEGATIVELY WITH OBSERVERS OF OUR CULTURE. WHEN MORALITY IS COOL, WHEN GOODNESS IF FASHIONABLE, OUR COUNTRY WILL HAVE RETRIEVED SOME OF HER PAST GREATNESS.