MISANTHROPE

"KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN NATURE IS THE BEGINNING AND END OF POLITICAL EDUCATION." SO WROTE HENRY ADAMS IN THE 12TH CHAPTER OF HIS FAMOUS AUTOBIOGRAPHY ON HIS 'EDUCATION,' PUBLISHED ON THE CUSP OF THE 20TH CENTURY. IT ONLY TOOK 100 YEARS FOR PROOF OF HIS PHILOSOPHY AND ITS INCUMBENT PATHOLOGY TO COME TO FRUITION. AMERICA'S COMPASSIONATE MISANTHROPE, HELLARY CLINTON, WILL BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT. SHE, LOVES HUMANITY BUT NOT PEOPLE AND HAS STUDIED AND MASTERED THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR. FOR HER, NO ACKNOWLEDGED, UNIVERSAL COMMANDMENT HOLDS SWAY - THE DICTATE TO LOVE GOD AND THEN LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS ONESELF. IT MUTATES INTO HELLARY CLINTON'S HUMANITARIAN GOALS OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION AND BURDENSOME TAXES ON THE WEALTHY - ALL ADMINISTERED BY THE ALL-KNOWING AND ALL-CARING GOVERNMENT. WHAT A MISANTHROPE IS, A MISANTHROPE WILL DO TO ADMINISTER TO HER LESSERS.

TO PERFECT HER ART OF COMPASSIONATE MISANTHROPY, PERHAPS HELLARY STUDIED THE WORDS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN: "HUMAN NATURE WILL NOT CHANGE. IN ANY FUTURE GREAT NATIONAL TRIAL, COMPARED WITH THE MEN OF THIS (CIVIL WAR 1861-1865), WE SHALL HAVE AS WEAK AND AS STRONG, AS SILLY AND AS WISE, AS BAD AND AS GOOD." FROM LINCOLN'S SIX ADJECTIVES I HAVE NO PROBLEM PICKING OUT THE ONE THAT PROPERLY APPLIES TO HELLARY CLINTON.

A CROSS BURNING?

ON MY NIGHTLY 10 MINUTE WALK (NO NEED TO GO NUTTY), I REALIZED I WAS A PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR A GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED CROSS BURNING ON MY LAWN. CONSERVATISM WOULD NOT SERVE ME WELL AS I CONSERVE ON TRAVEL, GAS AND MATERIALISTIC CONSUMPTION. WHAT, I THOUGHT, WOULD BE SYMBOLS OF CROSS BURNINGS FOR MODERN DAY LIBERALISM, BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE CROSS. WHAT WOULD LIBERALS BURN ON MY LAWN? AND WHAT FLAG WOULD THEY LEAVE BEHIND AS A REMINDER OF WHO THEY ARE? HERE ARE MY TOP FIVE CONTENDERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HAT.

5. THEY WOULD BURN A FLAG DEPICTING A GOLDEN ARCH, THE SYMBOL OF CAPITALISM AND FREE MARKETS AND THEY WOULD LEAVE BEHIND A LARGE PLACARD OF A HALF-EMPTY GLASS TO SHOW THEIR PESSIMISM AND DOOM AND GLOOM ATTITUDE THAT ALWAYS SEES AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT ITS WORST.

4. THEY WOULD BURN A DOLLAR SIGN, A SYMBOL OF CORPORATE GREED AND THE ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH AND LEAVE BEHIND A WAVING HAMMER AND SICKLE BECAUSE COMMUNISM AND SOCIALISM REPRESENT THEIR PERFECT WORLD IN WHICH EACH AND ALL ARE EQUAL IN FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS ANDTHEREFORE MISERABLE.

3. THEY WOULD BURN THE AMERICAN FLAG ON MY LAWN, A NATURALLY PATRIOTIC AND UPBEAT ICON AND LEAVE BEHIND A WHITE FLAG TO SHOW THEIR CONCEPT OF NEGOTIATION AND SURRENDER WHEN CONFRONTING ANY ENEMY.

2. THEY WOULD BURN A FLAG WAVING A CONSERVATIVE’S BROKEN HEART, THAT FEELS THE SAD STATE OF IMMORALITY AND POWER POLITICKING UNADDRESSED BY WASHINGTON LIBERALS. LEFT BEHIND WOULD BE A FLAG WITH A BLEEDING HEART, THEIR REPRESENTATION OF THE COMPASSION OF GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE AND CONTROL OF EVERY ASPECT OF SOCIETY

1. THEY WOULD IN FACT BURN A CROSS BECAUSE IT IS A SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY AND SACRIFICE, BOTH CONCEPTS ANATHEMA TO THEIR ABROGATION OF AN ACKNOWLEDGED GOD-DRIVEN RULE OF LAW AND THEIR RE-DEPLOYMENT THE MEANING OF SACRIFICE.

A SENIOR FELLOW AT A CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE DARED TO WRITE, "NOTHING THREATENS (OUR) LIBERTY SO GREATLY AS THE UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENT IN WARFARE." HAVING FORGOTTEN HOW WE GOT HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE - AN AMERICAN REVOLUTION AGAINST ENGLAND - HE IS INCAPABLE OF SEEING OUR COUNTRY MOVING FORWARD. P.S. COME TO THINK OF IT, THE SETTING SUN, NOT THE RISING SUN, IS PERFECT TO EMBLAZON A LIBERAL’S FLAG.

CERTAIN DEATH

ABOUT THE YEAR 1700, AN OFFICER IN LOUIS XIV'S ARMY SAID "THERE IS NO JUDGE MORE EQUITABLE THAN CANNON. THEY GO DIRECTLY TO THE GOAL AND THEY ARE NOT CORRUPTIBLE." WAR IS A CERTAINTY IN THE NEVER-ENDING STORY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. IN THE 17TH CENTURY, REGIMENTS WERE OFTEN RENTED OUT TO WARRING NEIGHBORS. CAMPAIGNING AND BATTLES TOOK PLACE IN SUMMER AND AUTUMN; SPRING AND WINTER WERE FOR REST, RECRUITING AND REPLENISHMENT. SIEGE WARFARE WAS POPULAR. YET THE DECISIVE ARM OF ANY BATTLE WAS THE INFANTRY. VICTORIES USUALLY CAME DOWN TO MAN VS. MAN. WHEN THE MATCHLOCK MUSKET GAVE WAY TO FLINTLOCK MUSKET, THREE CHEERS STILL ROSE FOR THE BETTER ARMED MUSKETEERS. THE ARMY WITH THE DECIDED ADVANTAGE, HOWEVER, WAS THE ONE WITH THE GREATER RELIGIOUS FATALISM., THAT IS, WHO BELIEVED MORE FERVENTLY THAT GOD LET NO ONE DIE UNTIL HIS TIME HAD COME. THERE WAS NOTHING TO LOSE, THEREFORE, IN PLIGHTING ONE'S TROTH TO VICTORY EVEN IF IT MEANT DEATH.

FAST FORWARD TO 2007. MUSLIM MUSKETEERS VS. AMERICAN PATRIOTS.
RELIGIOUS FANATICS VS. SOLDIERS HOGTIED BY LIBERAL, POLITICAL-CORRECTNESS. UNLESS WE ARE LED BY ANOTHER CHARLES XII OF SWEDEN (1700) OR GEORGE PATTON ( 1944), VICTORY WILL GO TO THE SPOILERS.

MAD, MAD WHIRL

MAD, MAD WHIRL
IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD. NO, NOT THE TITLE OF ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST COMEDY FILMS, BUT THE NONSENSICAL EDDY AMERICA FINDS HERSELF IN TODAY.

CELLPHONES AND BLACKBERRIES HAVE EMPOWERED THE IGNORANT, THE OBSESSED AND THE OBNOXIOUS. WHAT GOOD PURPOSE DOES EITHER OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES SERVE? THEY APPEAR TO DRIVE BOTH USERS AND OBSERVERS MAD.
CARBON-NEUTRAL VACATIONS ARE THE RAGE. GOING GREEN, ALSO CALLED THE 'PRICE OF OFFSETTING," IS NOTHING MORE THAN PLAYING WITH ILLUSION. TRUE NEUTRAL WOULD BE THE NEGATION OF A VACATION. WHO NEEDS TO ENTER ANOTHER WHIRL OF UNNECESSARY AND EXPENSIVE ACTIVITY CALLED A GETAWAY ANYWAY?

THEN THERE IS THE USE OF SUPERIOR WISDOM IN DECEIVING OTHERS, TANTAMOUNT TO SPIRITUAL THEFT. THIS IS PRACTICED IN WASHINGTON WHERE LEADERS USE THEIR SKILLS AND CLEVERNESS FOR PERSONAL GAIN, NOT TO PROMOTE HONOR OR CREATE A JUST STATE. AMBITION WITHOUT VIRTUE IS MADNESS.

AS HENRY DAVID THOREAU SUGGESTED, SIMPLIFY - DUMP THE CELLS AND BB'S, SIMPLIFY - DUMP THE VACATIONING, SIMPLIFY - DUMP THE POLITICAL BOZOS.

HOPE FOR TODAY

IT ONLY TAKES A GENERATION FOR CHANGE TO OCCUR. REMEMBER THE ECONOMIC AND MORAL RECOVERY OF COUNTRIES THAT SUFFERED A FALL FROM GRACE - GERMANY, JAPAN, VIET NAM, CAMBODIA AND SOUTH KOREA? REMEMBER TOO, HAIGHT-ASBURY, THE HIPPIE ENCLAVE IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE MID-1960'S. THERE, HIPPIES EXERCISED THEIR FREEDOM TO DROP OUT FROM RESPONSIBILITY, WORK, PATRIOTISM AND FAMILY AND DROP INTO DRINK, DRUGS, PROTESTS AND THEIR REVOLUTIONARY FORM OF LIBERALISM. YET THE LOST CHILDREN OF THE HIPPIES OF THAT GENERATION DEVELOPED, IN MANY CASES, INTO SOLID CITIZENS ROOTED IN TRADITIONAL VALUES. WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATIONS CAN OCCUR IN THE SPACE OF TWENTY YEARS. THEIR PARENTS, HOWEVER, HAVE NEVER CHANGED. I QUOTE ONE DAD, SPORTING A PONYTAIL SILVERY WITH AGE, WHO REGRETS THAT HIS PALIMPSEST CHILD "JUST ISN'T AS FREE AS HE USED TO BE." HE MEANT HIMSELF, WHO WAS FREE, BUT ABSENT AS A PARENT, POOR BY CHOICE AND LOSER- HERO TO HIS PEERS. LIBERALISM BEFORE THE 1960'S DEFINED FREEDOM AS BEING WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO BE; IT FELL FROM GRACE IN THE 1960'S. ITS LIBERATING FORCE IMPLODED INTO THE WRONG IDEA OF FREEDOM. INSTEAD OF PERSON BEING ALL HE COULD BE, A PERSON TRIED TO BE AS MEANINGLESS AS POSSIBLE. EVENTUALLY ANOTHER WRONG IDEA ENTERED THE PSYCHE OF THE HIPPIE - THAT GOVERNMENT COULD SUBSTITUTE FOR INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. LIBERALS TODAY ARE JUST AGED HIPPIES. LUCKILY, THEIR THEIR CHILDREN AND OFFSPRING OF SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED AMERICA’S HISTORY. THERE'S HOPE FOR TODAY AND HOPEFULLY ENOUGH OPTIMISM FOR TOMORROW.

LINDSAY OR POE

THINK ABOUT THIS CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO SOLUTIONS TO DRUG ADDICTION. THE "GOLDEN GUTTER" (A PHRASE COINED BY EX-ALCOHOLIC TALK SHOW HOST GLENN BECK) VS. THE FILTHY HOLE OF BRITAIN’S DERELICTS. LINDSAY LOHAN REPRESENTS THE FORMER, THE 21ST CENTURY’S POLITICALLY CORRECT SOLUTION TO DEPRAVITY, A RE-HAB FACILITY, HOUSING ONLY ANTISEPTIC MORALITY AND FAILURES TO REFORM. IN CONTRAST, EDGAR ALLAN POE, THE WRITER, REMINDS US OF THE STREET DEPRESSION IN MID-19TH CENTURY ENGLAND WHERE DRUNKS, DRUG ADDICTS AND LOSERS FOUND THEIR FINAL REST. NEITHER LINDSAY NOR EDGAR CHOSE TO 'KICK THEIR HABITS.' YET, I ASK IF WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT A FALLEN BEAUTY? SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT A CREATIVE ARTIST WHOSE PERMANENT PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF GREAT LITERATURE IS ASSURED?

LET'S ASK THE COLLEGE STUDENTS OF TODAY WHO NOT ONLY TAKE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS BUT COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR RISING COST. WILL THEIR MINDS BE WASTED? WILL THEY WASTE THEIR SUBSTANCE WITH RIOTOUS LIVING? LINDSAY OR POE - THE PROOF LIES IN THEIR WAKES.

UNNATURAL NARCISSISM

FOR THE YOUNG ARCTIC FOX, LIFE AS FAR AS HE CAN 'COMPREHEND' IT, IS GREAT. YET THERE IS ONLY A SINGLE SEASON OF YOUTH. ALL A PUP NEEDS TO KNOW MUST BE GATHERED IN HIS FIRST YEAR OF LIFE BECAUSE THE SURVIVAL RATE FOR WINTERING OVER IN ALASKA IS 50%. THE PLAYWRIGHT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WROTE IN HIS PLAY 'CORIOLANUS,' THAT "NATURE TEACHES BEASTS TO KNOW THEIR FRIENDS." RIGHTLY SO, BECAUSE DEATH AWAITS A CREATURE CAUGHT UNAWARES. WITH DNA SUPERIOR TO FOXES WHY CANNOT MAN FROM HIS PERCH HIGHER UP ON THE EVOLUTIONARY LADDER MAKE BETTER USE OF HIS LIFE? WE ARE GENERALLY TOO BUSY TO STOP AND APPRECIATE NATURE, TOO FLUSTERED TRYING TO NAVIGATE VACATIONS AND PAPERWORK, TOO BUSY MAKING AND SPENDING MONEY, TOO WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THE RECORD-BREAKING BASEBALL HIT BY BARRY BONDS AND CAUGHT BY A FAN WILL BE TAXED, TOO LAZY TOO LEARN PROPER PARENTING PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF KITS, TOO IRRESPONSIBLE, IN FACT, TO EVEN CONDUCT TWO-PARENT HOME.

THE ARCTIC FOX MAY NEED TO LIVE AND LEARN FAST, BUT HUMANS ARE SLOW LEARNERS, LIVING AS IF THEY ARE GREAT NO MATTER WHAT CHOICES THEY MAKE.

WHAT'S TRUMP

I CONSISTENTLY LOSE AT CARDS, NOT BECAUSE I REFUSE TO CHEAT TO BOLSTER MY CHANCES OF WINNING, BUT BECAUSE I'M APPARENTLY, INHERENTLY UNLUCKY. NOT SO WITH LIBERALS. THEY PLAY - AT WILL - A TRUMP CARD HIDDEN UP THEIR SLEEVES EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY ARE CALLED UPON TO SHOW THEIR TRUE HAND. A FEW EXAMPLES WILL SUFFICE. THEY PLAY THE CORPORATE GREED CARD WHENEVER A SCAPEGOAT OR BOGEYMAN IS NEEDED TO EXPLAIN THE FAILINGS OF REPUBLICANS AND/OR CONSERVATIVES. YET, DEMOCRATS AND/OR LIBERALS INEVITABLY ACCUMULATE WEALTH BY INVESTMENTS IN CORPORATIONS VIA THE STOCK MARKET ( OR OTHERWISE) AND FROM CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE WEALTHY AND INFLUENTIAL. THEY PLAY THE RACE CARD TO GARNER VOTES AND PLAY INTO THE VICTIMHOOD AND INEQUALITY OF BLACKS, BUT NO WAY WOULD THEY CHOOSE FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR THEMSELVES THE OPPORTUNITY OF EQUAL STATUS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH THEIR BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THEIR WAY TO SUCCESS IS PAVED WITH PRIVILEGE AND ATTENDANCE AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THEY PLAY THE RELIGION CARD WHEN THEY CLAIM TO PRAY IN THE "CATHEDRALS OF PLURALISM" AS ONE OF THEIR PROGRESSIVE LEFTISTS PUT IT. YET GOD IS NOT WELCOME IN THEIR MULTI-CULTURAL CHURCH BECAUSE ADMITTING GOD’S EXISTENCE WOULD LEAVE NO ROOM FOR ALTERNATIVE HIGHER FORCES SUCH AS SOCIALISM OR GLOBAL WARMING. THEY PLAY THE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS CARD THAT MANDATES EVEN THE CEO OF TOYOTA APOLOGIZE FOR AN ACT OF GOD, AN EARTHQUAKE, THAT CAUSED DELAYS IN AUTOMOBILE SHIPMENTS. THIS EXPECTATION OF OBEISANCE, OF COURSE, COMES FROM UNGODLY MEN AND WOMEN.

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO REMEMBER AND BE GLAD: 'UNLUCKY IN CARDS; LUCKY IN LOVE.'

CATCH 22

"A SECRET CEASES TO BE A SECRET IF IT IS ONCE CONFIDED - IT IS LIKE A DOLLAR BILL, ONCE BROKEN, IT IS NEVER A DOLLAR AGAIN." THUS, JOSH BILLINGS, AN 18TH CENTURY APHORIST, UNDERSTOOD BOTH MORALITY AND POLITICS. IF THE INTEGRITY OF A SECRET IS CRACKED, IT CAN NEVER BE MENDED SAFELY. A MODERN WISE CRACKER WOULD AGREE THAT WITHOUT SECRECY, THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T FUNCTION. THAT IS WHY AMERICANS HAVE TRADITIONALLY TRUSTED THEIR JUDGES, CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO PROTECT THEM. BEHIND THEIR BACKS, OF COURSE, ENTREPRENEURIAL AMERICANS HAVE OFTEN DONE WHAT FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SUGGESTED, "TRUST BUT VERIFY." CAN WE COUNT ON OUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES OR OUR 'PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS' TODAY?

NO! WE CANNOT TRUST MOST OF OUR POLITICIANS TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT SECRETS OR DISCERN THE RIGHT THING. MONEY, POWER AND POLITICAL IDEOLOGY (OR FANTASY) WHISPER ANOTHER SECRET THAT INTEGRITY IS IMPRACTICAL AND UNELECTABLE. YES, AMERICANS CAN, IN MANY CASES VERIFY INFORMATION, BUT NOT IN ALL INSTANCES, BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S INTRENCHED WALL OF SECRECY. IT'S A CATCH 22.

ARE WE CITIZENS HOPELESSLY TRAPPED? I DON'T THINK SO. NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM. AFTER TRUST SEEMS HOPELESSLY LOST, AMERICANS WILL AGAIN DEMAND TRUTH, PURSUE VERIFICATION OF FACTS AND APPROVE OF THE NECESSARY SECRECY FROM A LEADER THEY CAN FOLLOW.

PROCESS OR ACT

THE WORD ‘PROCESS’ USED CONSISTENTLY BY PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS, MERELY DENOTES LAPSES OF TIME. AS TRUE BUREAUCRATS, THEY INVOKE THE CONCEPT OF BUCKPASSING TO JUSTIFY THE INERTIA IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. FOR THEIR STUDENTS, HOWEVER, EDUCATION SHOULD BE AN ONGOING PROCESS OF ACCUMULATING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. AS WE KNOW, LITTLE READING OR STUDYING ACTUALLY OCCURS AS STUDENTS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH THE RANKS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS PRACTICE THEIR FORM OF A POLITICAL PROCESS WHICH INVOLVES OBFUSCATION OF AND ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THEIR REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE OPPONENTS. THEIR AGENDA IS TO PERPETUATE INERTIA UNTIL THEY CAN RETURN TO POWER.

IN CONTRAST TO PROCESS, THERE IS ACTION. A NAVY SERVICEMAN AT THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, IN WORLD WAR II, OBSERVED THAT "IF WE'VE EVER HAD A FIGHTING ORGANIZATION, IT'S BEEN THE MARINE CORPS." IF NOT READY ( IN AN EMERGENCY), THEY GET READY FAST." THIS SAILOR OBSERVED PURE ACTION, THE RESULT OF A RIGOROUS, MARINE, TRAINING PROCESS.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A PROCESS WAS THE TIME I SPENT TRYING TO RE-START AN OLD MANTLE CLOCK THAT HAD STOPPED TICKING. AFTER CONTINUOUS FIDDLING TO LEVEL IT AND ADJUST THE PENDULUM OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS, I CONCLUDED IT WAS OVER-WOUND OR DEAD. I PUT THE BLACK METAL 'THING' AWAY ON A DRESSER. YEARS PASSED. RECENTLY, ON A WHIM I CARRIED THE HEAVY 'THING', JOSTLING IT, DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS AND PLACED IT ON A TABLE. ACTION! THE PENDULUM TICKED AWAY.

I AM REMINDED TOO OF THE GRADUAL PROCESS OF THE OPENING OF THE FLOWERS OF A LILY PLANT. IT REQUIRES A LONG, LAPSE OF TIME. ONLY IN ACTION, AS NINE GIANT, DEEP PINK, VARIEGATED, KNOBBY, PERFUMED, SIX-PEDALED FLOWERS, WITH OOZING STIGMA AND STAMENS DRIPPING BRONZE POLLEN, DOES THE STAR-GAZER LILY EARN ITS FITTING ADJECTIVE, SPECTACULAR.

PROCESS IS FINE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO LIVE FOREVER IN ANTICIPATION OR DENIAL. ACTION HANDS OUT THE REWARDS.

UNHOLY ASS

I DIDN'T SEE THE PHOTO OF A DONKEY WITH A HALO OVER ITS HEAD ON THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE, BUT I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. WHAT IT PURPORTS TO REPRESENT IS THE LEFT-WING OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY COURTING THE RELIGIOUS VOTER. IN TRUTH, IT PICTURES ONLY THE EXTREME, LEFT-WING, 20% OF DEMOCRATS WHO ARE HELL BENT ON RULING THIS COUNTRY. A HALO HUNG ABOVE THEM SIGNIFIES THEM AT THEIR HYPOCRITICAL BEST. THE POLITICAL ASS, IN THIS PICTURE IS PER SE A CREATURE WITHOUT A GOD AND RELIGION. IT CANNOT PER SE BE SAINTLY, DEVOUT OR PURE. SECULAR OPPORTUNISM AND POLITICAL UTILITARIANISM CAN NEVER BE CAUSES FOR CANONIZATION.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THESE SECULAR LEFT-WING DEMOCRATS AT WORK IS THEIR PASSAGE OF A LAW IN DENVER, COLORADO, REQUIRING EVERY DOG OWNER TO NEUTER HIS MALE ANIMAL UNLESS WRITTEN PERMISSION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE CONTRARY. THESE HYPOCRITES PREACH AND CAMPAIGN FOR SO-CALLED 'FREEDOM', BUT THE INTENT OF THEIR POLICIES IS TO TAKE MORE AND MORE OF IT AWAY FROM CITIZENS. OTHER EXAMPLES ARE MYRIAD OF THEIR 'BENEVOLENT' DICTATORSHIP IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. THEY TELL US TO: BUCKLE OUR SEATBELTS, WEAR BIKE HELMETS, NOT SMOKE, NOT SHOOT, WEAR CONDOMS AND PAY MORE TAXES. THEY REGULATE OUR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES, OUR WATER, ENERGY AND LIGHT BULBS. WITHOUT GOD, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR THE SECULAR, LEFT-WING, RADICAL (PROGRESSIVE) DEMOCRATS. JESUS WOULDN’T RIDE THEIR SYMBOLIC DONKEY INTO JERUSALEM. THEIR SYMBOLIC DONKEY WOULD NEVER BE PERMITTED TO DISTURB THE PEACE WITH ITS BRAY. THEIR SYMBOLIC DONKEY'S EARS CONTINUE TO GROW LONGER AND LONGER UNTIL THEY RESEMBLE HORNS, REFLECTING THE CONTROLLING FORCE WITHIN THE BEAST. SORRY, NO HALO FOR THE ASS.

GO!

IN 1653, OLIVER CROMWELL FAMOUSLY SAID TO THE LONG PARLIAMENT, "DEPART, I SAY, AND LET US HAVE DONE WITH YOU. IN THE NAME OF GOD, GO!" SUCH A SENTIMENT WHICH RESULTED IN THIS CASE IN A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT, HAS BEEN REPEATED THROUGHOUT HISTORY. A MR.AMERY REPEATED CROMWELL'S WORDS IN 1940 IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WHEN HE ADVOCATED THE OUSTER OF PRIME MINISTER CHAMBERLAIN, AFTER WHICH CHURCHILL WAS CHOSEN GREAT BRITAIN'S LEADER.

ON JULY 21, 2007 THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE HARRY POTTER FICTION SERIES GOES ON SALE AND IT'S THE GOOD WIZARD'S TURN TO ADDRESS HIS ARCH ENEMY, VOLDEMORT AND END HIS DEVILRY. HERE IN AMERICA, LEFT-WING LIBERALS SUFFERING FROM BUSH DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, PERSIST IN ATTEMPTING TO BE DONE WITH OUR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. AT THE SAME TIME, JIHADISTS AND ISLAMIC TERRORISTS, ESPECIALLY IN IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN, THROUGH THEIR SPOKESMEN PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD AND OSAMA BIN LADEN RESPECTIVELY, INVOKE THEIR GOD ALLAH AS THEY CRUSADE TO BE DONE WITH US, THE WESTERN INFIDELS.

"DEPART, I SAY, AND LET US HAVE DONE WITH YOU," WAS THE EXHORTATION HIGHLIGHTING SPEECHES OF ADOLPH HITLER DURING WORLD WAR II WHEN HE PURPOSED TO ERADICATE THE JEWS. TODAY IT IS THE CALL OF THE NEW FOUR APOSTLES OF THE GOSPEL OF ATHEISTS - HITCHENS, DAWKINS, HARRIS AND DENNET - WHO HOPE TO BE DONE WITH GOD AND BY ASSOCIATION, RELIGION, WHICH THEY CONSIDER THE SOURCE OF THE WORLD'S TROUBLES.

A ROUSING PLEA, FIT TO STIR HEARTS AND MINDS, CAN CAUSE A TIDAL WAVE OF REPERCUSSIONS - FOR GOOD OR FOR EVIL. STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK BONES AND APPEALING WORDS CAN HEAL OR HARM US.

I, CONVOLACEOUS

I BLOOM IN THE FIELD, ALONE-
I TOUCH THE SOUL OF ONE-
I SEE 360 DEGREES, ALONE-
I RETURN EACH YEAR FOR ONE-
I TASTE THE DROUGHT, ALONE-
I SHOW WHITE FUNNELS FOR ONE-
I HEAR THE BIRDS SING, ALONE-
I RELY ON THE FIDELITY OF ONE-
I FEEL THE RAIN DROPS, ALONE-
I SMELL SWEETLY TO ONE-
I, ALONE, REMEMBERED BY ONE-
I, VINY, THRIVE UNDER THE SUN.

A TOTAL DOWNER

"HENRY... WATCHED A MAN DEAL WITH A PAIR OF OXEN THAT WERE SO EXHAUSTED THEY COULD MOVE NO FARTHER. HE BUILT A FIRE UNDER THEM AND THEN BEGAN TO POKE AT THEM WITH BURNING BRANDS, BUT THEY STILL COULD NOT MOVE THE LOAD AND SO WERE SLOWLY ROASTED ALIVE BEFORE HIS EYES."

MAN'S INHUMANITY TO ANIMALS LIVES ON WITH THE ARREST OF THE ATLANTA FALCON'S QUARTERBACK FOR DOGFIGHTING, GAMBLING AND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, SHOOTING DROWNING OR HANGING SOME ‘INCOMPETENT’ DOGS.

LET'S RETURN TO THE KLONDIKE STAMPEDE OF YESTERYEAR, 1897, TO ADD TO AND REINFORCE IMAGES OF THE DEVIL'S WORK. GOLD RUSHERS AT SKAGWAY DESCRIBED CONDITIONS THERE AS "LITTLE BETTER THAN A HELL ON EARTH." NO TONGUE OR PEN COULD DESCRIBE THE TRAGEDIES THAT ENFOLDED IN THIS PART OF ALASKA. ON DEAD HORSE TRAIL, CROSSING WHITE PASS, TRAVELERS COULD "TRACE THE TRAIL BY BLOOD ALONE," WHERE 3,000 HORSES DIED. ALSO IN 1897, OF THE 1800 HUMAN STAMPEDERS WHO TOOK THE ALL WATER ROUTE TO DAWSON IN THE KLONDIKE, ONLY 43 REACHED THEIR DESTINATION.

IN 1897, A REINDEER HERD FROM NORWAY THAT WAS TO FEED STARVING KLONDIKERS, EXPERIENCED VIRTUAL EXTINCTION DUE TO STARVATION. OF THE 539 REINDEER ONLY 114 SURVIVED THEIR TREK TO DAWSON. FOR THE 22,000 GOLDRUSHERS SUFFERED UNTOLLED SUFFERINGS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS CHILKOOT PASS.

I QUOTE AGAIN FROM PIERRE BERTON WHO SUMS UP MAN'S GREED AND INHUMANITY TO ANIMALS IN HIS DEFINITIVE NARRATIVE OF GOLD FEVER: "ROTTING HORSEFLESH WAS THE TELLTALE PERFUME OF THE KLONDIKE STAMPEDE."

REFECTION OF THE PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION - OR IT STATUS TODAY IN DOGFIGHTING OR SUICIDE BOMBINGS - CAN BE A TOTAL DOWNER.

TIMID AS A MOUSE

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE TIMID AS A MOUSE? TO BE SHY, BASHFUL, RESERVED AND SENSITIVELY TIMID? OVER A CENTURY AGO, GEORGE MOORE SAID THAT "WITHIN THE OFTENTIMES BOMBASTIC AND TRUCULENT APPEARANCE THAT I PRESENT TO THE WORLD, TREMBLES A HEART SHY AS A WREN IN THE HEDGEROW OR A MOUSE ALONG THE WAINSCOTING." NONSENSE.

"I WAS SHY. I WANTED TO FIT IN. ALL MY FRIENDS WERE DOING DRUGS." THESE WORDS FROM A RADIO, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ARE ALSO NONSENSE.

TAKE IT FROM ONE WHO KNOWS. WALLFLOWERS DO NOT BLOOM AMIDST A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. SHY PEOPLE DO NOT ADAPT A FRONT OF AGGRESSION AND ASSURANCE. WE DO NOT DO DRUGS TO FIT IN. TIMIDITY AND SENSITIVITY MELT TOGETHER FORCING US TO TURN INWARD. 'MOUSEY' WAS A WORD LIKELY TO UNDERSCORE A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PHOTO.

HE THINKS TOO MUCH

SOMETIMES A MAN CAN LEARN TOO MUCH, CAN WRITE BECAUSE NOTHING IS MORE SATISFYING TO HIM AND CAN DIE WITHOUT A CLUE AS TO WHY HE WAS BORN. TAKE THE CASE OF HENRY ADAMS, THE PROLIFIC, AMERICAN, PULITZER PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR.

HE THOUGHT THAT THE AMERICAN WOMAN OF THE 19TH CENTURY WAS MUCH BETTER COMPANY THAN THE AMERICAN MAN. HE WROTE THAT AMERICAN ART, LIKE THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE AND AMERICAN EDUCATION, WAS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, SEXLESS. HE SAID THAT THE GREATEST FORCE THE WESTERN WORLD HAS EVER FELT IS THE FORCE OF FEMALE ENERGY, THE GODDESS OF POWER, THE VIRGIN MARY. THE VIRGIN'S POWER WAS MANIFESTED IN VARIOUS PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, ESPECIALLY IN FRANCE AT THE CATHEDRAL IN CHARTRES AND OF NOTRE DAME.

AT THE END OF HIS DAYS, HE CONCLUDED THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THE TIME OF PTERASPIS, A FISH FROM THE CAMBRIAN PERIOD. CHRISTIANITY WAS USELESS TO THE PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION. OBSERVING, THINKING, READING, WRITING AND TALKING COMPRISED A LIFETIME OF HENRY’S EDUCATION TO AVAIL HIM WHAT? POWER, WHETHER FROM MAN, WOMAN, OR VIRGIN, FAILED HIM AS AN ATHEIST IN THE END.

PASCAL PHILOSOPHIZED INCOMPLETELY WHEN HE SAID THAT "ALL THE TROUBLES OF MAN COME FROM NOT KNOWING HOW TO SIT STILL." SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEK INERTIA (ADAMS' WORD), JUST THINK TOO MUCH. CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS, RICHARD DAWKINS, SAM HARRIS AND YOUR GOD-BASHING, MAD SCRIBBLING ILK, TAKE NOTE.

JAMESTOWN REVISITED

400 YEARS AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. THE JOIE DE VIVRE OF THE JIMSON WEED OBSERVED AT JAMESTOWN IN 1607 STILL EXHIBITS ITSELF ON MY PROPERTY. THREE YEARS RUNNING, I HAVE - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - MONITORED MY BEAUTY. MY BEAUTY IS DEFINED AS A COARSE, EVIL SMELLING, VERY POISONOUS, ANNUAL WEED OF THE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY. ALSO CALLED THE THORN APPLE BECAUSE ITS SEED PODS RESEMBLE SPIKED GREEN WALNUTS. REALLY, ITS NAMES DERIVES FROM JAMESTOWN WHERE IT WAS OBSERVED AND NAMED! I WAGER THAT THE HYPNOTIC AND SEDATIVE AFFECT OF THE WEED'S SCOPOLAMINE WAS APPRECIATED CENTURIES AGO BY PILGRIM SETTLERS. I WAGER THAT THE ANTISPASMODIC AFFECT OF ITS ATROPINE WAS TOO. LIFE WAS HARD AND UNPREDICTABLE BACK THEN; LIFE IS EASY AND AS UNPREDICTABLE NOW, AS THE UNKNOWN PLANT THAT GREW OFF THE EDGE OF MY PATIO THREE YEARS AGO. EVENTUALLY IT WHICH RENDERED WHITE, TRUMPET FLOWERS EXUDING A MUSKY, PLEASANT PERFUME. HOPE INFUSED WITH ANTICIPATION WAS REWARDED WHEN IT RETURNED TO GROW AT RANDOM IN ANOTHER LOCATION THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND RE-SEEDING ITSELF FOR ITS RETURN IN 2007.

LIKE THE DEVIL, WHO DEFTLY DISGUISES HIS EVIL AS GOOD, MY JIMSON WEED, PUTS ITS ETYMOLOGY TO THE LIE. IT IS NOT COARSE, IT IS HUGE GREENERY. IT IS NOT EVIL-SMELLING, ITS FLOWERS ARE FAINTLY FRAGRANT. IT IS NOT POISONOUS BECAUSE I DO NOT HANDLE IT. YES, IT IS AN ANNUAL, BUT I ALLOW IT TO RE-GERMINATE. FURTHERMORE, IT IS ONE OF FEW PLANTS THAT HAS GROWN LUXURIOUSLY IN MY UNFERTILE AND USELESS GROUND.

IN THE SHADED LIGHT OF REPEATED SUNSETS, THE DEVIL'S DARLING, BETRAYS ITSELF WITH ITS ARTISTIC APPEAL, TWO DOZEN FLOWERS AND COUNTING. TRUMPETS AS WHITE AND PURE AS ANGEL'S BREATH. I REMEMBER THE COURAGE OF THE PIONEERS, IN AWE AT THEIR TOUGH SPIRIT, THINK OF MY JIMSON WEED, AND SIGH.

TREE OF HOPE

"THE AMERICAN MIND EXASPERATED THE EUROPEAN AS A BUZZ-SAW MIGHT EXASPERATE A PINE FOREST." IN 1863 HENRY ADAMS OBSERVED OUR FRENETICS. HE KNEW ABOUT AMERICA'S EQUALITY IN FREEDOM, THE GREAT FACILITATOR. HE APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT CHAOS BREEDS LIFE, BUT HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE MIDST OF A CIVIL WAR, THE UNITED STATES WAS CHOPPING DOWN HUMANITY, LIKE TREES, WILLY-NILLY, IN ORDER TO FIND THE TREE OF HOPE WHICH WOULD SAVE OUR NATION. LINCOLN FELL TO THE CAUSE. THE SAWDUST LAY IDLE AWHILE UNTIL RECONSTRUCTION BEGAN. WHAT GREAT COMMUNICATOR WILL LEAD US FORWARD IN HOPE TODAY?

MAJOR PREMIS

IF THE MAJOR PREMISE IS FALSE, ALL STATEMENTS THAT FLOW FROM IT ARE ALSO FALSE. IN OTHER WORDS, ANYTHING MULTIPLIED BY ZERO REMAINS ZERO. TRY ASSESSING THESE ALTERNATIVES.
1.WE ARE FIGHTING A NEW KIND OF ENEMY.
1. WE MUST FIGHT A NEW KIND OF WAR.

2.WE NEED TO FREE OUR COUNTRY FROM DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN OIL.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF OUR DEPENDENCE UPON OIL SHOULD BE AN INCENTIVE TO INCREASE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.

3. HUMAN ACTIVITY CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING.
3. THE SUN CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING.

4.MEN NEED TO BE PUNISHED FOR DISRESPECTING AND ABUSING WOMEN. 4. WOMEN DISRESPECT THEMSELVES.

5.THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PROVIDE FREE HEALTH CARE.
5. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

6. AMERICANS POSSESS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
6. AMERICANS HAVE THE DUTY NOT TO LIE AND SLANDER OPPONENTS.

7.WE NEED TO ELIMINATE POVERTY IN AMERICA.
7. THERE IS NO POVERTY IN AMERICA EXCEPT IN SPIRIT.

8.THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORDS IN ANY LANGUAGE ARE "SUMMER VACATION."
8. THE MOST REWARDING WORD IN ANY LANGUAGE IS WORK.

9. THERE ARE TWO AMERICAS.
9. THERE ARE 300,000,000 AMERICANS.

10. THE SEXIEST BODY BELONGS TO A CAR.
10. THE SEXIEST BODY BELONGS TO THE HORSE.

A FALSEHOOD AS OPPOSED TO TRUTH. FIRST, THE MAJOR PREMISE.

100 YEARS APART

APPROXIMATELY 140 YEARS AGO, HENRY ADAMS MADE A FEW PRESCIENT OBSERVATIONS: IN 1856, THE "ABSENCE OF ENTHUSIASM WAS ALL THAT HARVARD COLLEGE TAUGHT." IN 1858, IN BERLIN, "APART FROM DISCIPLE, ACTIVITY SCARCELY EXISTED." IN 1860, "FRANCE WAS NOT SERIOUS." IN 1861, "CURIOUSLY," THE ENGLISH HAD A "WAY OF GETTING BEHIND A STUPIDITY."

TODAY, A ROCK AND POP MUSIC CRITIC SUMMED UP AMERICA WHEN HE SAID, THE "BABY BOOMERS' MYTH IS THAT "SGT. PEPPER'S (LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND BY THE BEATLES) IS "ROCK'S HIGH POINT."

FORTUNATELY FOR THE CIVILIZED, THIS STATEMENT ABOUT THE 1960'S IS A MYTH. HENRY ADAM'S REFLECTIONS AROUND 1860 ARE TRUE. HUMOR ONLY ADDS SWEETNESS TO HIS ENLIGHTENED WORDS. SADNESS ACCENTS ANYTHING ABOUT THE PATHETIC PERVERSIONS OF THE 1960'S 'REVOLUTION.'

HALF FULL/HALF EMPTY

DISCONNECT: TO SEVER TO SEPARATE TO DISJOINT
OBLIVIOUS: FORGETTING OR HEEDLESSNESS

CAN I SAY THAT A GROWNUP WHO HOPES TO FULFILL HIS DREAM BY FINALLY ATTENDING A GAME AND ANOTHER WHO CAN'T WAIT UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON BEGINS AT THE END OF AUGUST (A MERE MONTH AND A HALF AWAY) - ARE DISCONNECTED FROM OR OBLIVIOUS TO WHAT'S TRANSPIRING IN THE REAL WORLD?

OR SHOULD I SAY THAT BOTH GROWNUPS ARE CONNECTED AND ATTENTIVE TO ONLY WHAT REPRESENTS THEIR REAL WORLD?

THE MELTING POT FOR AMERICANS IS EITHER HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL DEPENDING UPON ONE'S PERSPECTIVE AND PRIORITIES. THE OPTIMISTS SURELY REPRESENT THE HALF OF SPORTS MANIACS, SPORTS BEING AN IMPORTANT MICROCOSM. THE OTHER HALF REPRESENTS CITIZENS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT ISSUES OF THE MACROCOSM, SUCH AS OUR SECURITY, MORAL CULTURE, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, JUSTICE SYSTEM, LAWS AND FRANCHISE. SPORTS' PESSIMISTS OR REALISTIC OPTIMISTS ARE FEW.

I CAN SAY THAT ONLY HALF OF OUR CITIZENRY CAST INFORMED VOTES IN ELECTIONS. WHAT I DON'T KNOW IS HOW THE BLENDING IN THE POT WILL AFFECT AMERICA'S FUTURE.

NO SYNTHESIS

EVOLVING FROM "A MEDIAEVAL, PRIMITIVE, CRAWLING INFANT OF 1838, TO FIND ONESELF A HOWLING, STEAMING, EXPLODING, MARCONING, RADIUMATING, AUTOMOBILING MANIAC OF 1904 EXCEEDS BELIEF."

WHEN HENRY ADAMS( 1838-1918) WROTE THIS HE FELT THAT HIS AGE WAS "THE FIRST THAT WAS EVER ABSOLUTELY LUNATIC." NEVER IN HIS WILDEST DREAMS COULD HE HAVE FORESEEN OUR AGE OF CELEBRATED HOMEYS AND WHORES, OF SUICIDAL ISLAMIC TERRORISTS DRIVEN TO CLAIM PARADISE AS THEY SUBDUE THE INFIDELS ON EARTH.

TENSIONS HAVE ALWAYS MARKED THE HISTORY OF CIVILIZATIONS. THE VIRTUE OF COURAGE VS. THE VICE OF MINDLESS AGGRESSION. EPHEMERA VS. EVOLUTION. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE PROGRESS OF THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE. HENRY ADAMS ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE "NEAREST APPROACH THE WESTERN WORLD EVER MADE TO AN ... INCARNATION OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE," WAS ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI. LIBERALS TODAY, WORSHIP NOT MYSTICISM BUT RATIONALISM, BOTH ATHEISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC AT ITS CORE.

HEGEL (1770-1831) PHILOSOPHIZED THAT HISTORY UNFOLDED THROUGH THE PROCESSES OF THESIS, ANTITHESIS AND SYNTHESIS. HOW WILL OUR FUTURE BE SYNTHESIZED? HENRY ADAMS HOPED THAT A HUNDRED YEARS FROM HIS BIRTH, IN 1938, THREE RATIONAL AMERICANS MIGHT MEET "AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAN BEGAN HIS EDUCATION AMONG THE CARNIVORES, THEY WOULD FIND A WORLD THAT SENSITIVE AND TIMID NATURES WOULD REGARD WITHOUT A SHUDDER."

NOPE. IT'S 2007, AND THE WORLD STILL SHUDDERS. NO PEACEFUL, PERFECT BLENDING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. EAST VS. WEST. IS A RAPTURE, AN ARMAGEDDON OR A SECOND COMING JUST OVER THE HORIZON?

USELESS

IN WHATEVER THE GENERATION, WHETHER OF THE ROARING 20'S, DEPRESSION, WARTIME, TRADITIONALISTS, BABY BOOMERS, GEN X'ERS OR GEN Y'ERS (MILENNIALS), CERTAIN JOBS ARE USELESS. WHY FUND THEM? USELESS JOBS USUALLY REPRESENT A 'PROGRAM,' THE WORD ITSELF REPRESENTING A DROPPED PENALTY FLAG READING ‘GOVERNMENT SPONSORED’ OR ‘AGENDA DRIVEN.’ ONE EXAMPLE IS THE JOB OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST. I LISTENED TO A RECRUITER FOR A LOCAL UNIVERSITY EXPLAIN HIS TITLE. THE YOUNG RECRUITER, HOWEVER, DOES NOT RECRUIT BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL SEEKING COLLEGE ADMISSION MUST IN THE FIRST PLACE WISH TO ATTEND COLLEGE. SECOND, THE RECRUITER CANNOT REACH OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL UNLESS THE PROSPECTIVE STUDENT KNOWS WHAT COURSE OF STUDY HE OR SHE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE. THIRD, THE RECRUITER IS BASICALLY AN OVERPAID ASSISTANT TO SOLICIT ATTENDANCE AT HIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

ANY SELF-STARTING AND INTERNALLY MOTIVATED INDIVIDUAL RENDERS THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST'S JOB SUPERFLUOUS. MONEY FLOWS DOWN THE BRAIN DRAIN BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS A STUDENT’S NO BRAINER DECISION. HE CANNOT ILLUMINATE FOR A STUDENT HIS OR HER PERSONAL INTERESTS, NOR TEACH HIM OR HER "HOW TO GO TO SCHOOL." THE RECRUITER’S A JOB IS USELESS BECAUSE IT ATTEMPTS TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T NEED PRODDING TO PERSONALLY ADVANCE THEMSELVES IN THE FIRST PLACE. HIS SALARIED POSITION IS AS USELESS AS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WHICH CONTINUES TO ATTEMPT TO TEACH THE BEHAVIORLY DISABLED WHO ARE, PER SE, UNTEACHABLE IN TERMS OF MAINSTREAM EDUCATION. NEVERTHELESS A LIBERALLY-DRIVEN, POLITICALLY CORRECT, ANTI-DISCRIMINATORY ENGINE CONTINUES TO DRIVE THE AGENDA OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
NOTE: ALL EDUCATION IS SELF-EDUCATION.

US VS. THEM

WHEN INSULTS BEFALL
WE RUN WITH THEM.
WHEN URGES CALL,
WE RUN WITH THEM.
WE OWN THE ESTROGEN.
WHEN SPAIN'S BULLS STAMPEDE,
THEY RUN WITH THEM.
WHEN NASCARS COURT SPEED,
THEY RUN WITH THEM.
THEY OWN THE TESTOSTERONE.
IT'S US VS. THEM.
A TRADITIONAL FIGHT,
AN INHERENT FRIGHT
PERVERTING WHAT'S RIGHT.

MANLINESS

IS THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF ATHLETICS CALLED TESTOSTERONE? IN A CONTEST SHOT THROUGH WITH UNCERTAINTY, WAVERING BETWEEN THE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN AND TINGED WITH DANGER, IS TESTOSTERONE THE SECRET INGREDIENT?
IN 1912, THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM, CARLISLE INDIANS, DEFEATED ARMY, 27-6 IN A CLASSIC CONTEST OF WILLS. ITS COACH EXHORTED THE PLAYERS BEFORE THE GAME (LOCKER ROOM MAGIC) TO REMEMBER "THEY ARE THE LONG KNIVES, YOU ARE INDIANS." JIM THORPE BECAME LEGENDARY THAT DAY AND THE GREATER MEASURE OF TESTOSTERONE FIELDED THE VICTORY FOR THE INDIANS.

A MODERN TRAVELER TODAY TO MOROCCO (OR ANY QUESTIONABLE VACATION LOCATION) REMINDS OUTSIDERS THAT HE "SEEKS ROMANCE, EXCITEMENT AND ADVENTURE TO THE POINT OF DANGER, WHICH IS A FINE LINE." WHETHER A PIGSKIN CONTEST OR A FAR-FLUNG EXPLORATION, A HEALTHY DOSE OF TESTOSTERONE IS REQUIRED.

RECENTLY A SCOTSMAN, JOHN SMEATON, INSTINCTIVELY KICKED A SUICIDE BOMBER AFTER AN WOULD BE TERRORIST ATTEMPT TO BECOME AN INSTANT HERO. TESTOSTERONE AGAIN WON THE DAY.

BEREFT OF MANHOOD, CAN WOMEN CLAIM THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF ATHLETICS WITH ESTROGEN? THINK ABOUT IT?

IGNORANCE: BLISS

IGNORANCE IS BLISS. IT HAS ENABLED ME TO ESCAPE THE NARCISSISTIC WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY ON A TRIP TO ST. REGIS ASPEN WHERE I COULD VISIT THE REMEDE SPA TO EXPERIENCE A SOOTHING MASSAGE FOLLOWED BY REST ON A COUCH IN A DARKENED, SERENE OXYGEN LOUNGE. MY GOD - AND HE TOO WOULD BE APPALLED - HAVE WE REACHED THE NADIR OF HUMAN POSSIBILITIES?

IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THE FACT THAT 40 OUTDOOR DRAMAS ARE PERFORMED AROUND THIS COUNTRY EACH SUMMER. LOCALLY I'VE KNOWN OF TWO, "BLUE JACKET" (WHICH I HAVE WITNESSED) AND "TECUMSEH," BUT THEY ARE MERELY E PLURIBUS DUO. THE FIRST STAGED PRODUCTION WAS "THE "LOST COLONY," WHICH HAS BEEN PERFORMED IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR 70 YEARS IN AN AMPHITHEATER IN THE PARK ON THE SITE OF THE ORIGINAL ROANOKE COLONY. COULD YOUR MIND MASSAGE HISTORY IN A FITTER, AMERICAN SETTING? RESPLENDENT PAGEANTRY, SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS, CHORAL SINGING, PERIOD COSTUMES - WHO COULD ASK TO BREATHE IN ANYTHING MORE REFRESHING ON A WARM, POSSIBLY BREEZY, STARRY EVENING?

PATRONS INHALING THE FAUX FANTASY OF BOTTLED OXYGEN PERHAPS?

THE GOLDEN YEARS

TAP! TAP! USING MY PAW I TELL HER IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AND FEED ME. 8 O'CLOCK. I KNOW SHE'LL TURN OVER FOR A WHILE. SHE'LL SHOO ME AWAY WITH HER HAND, (MIGHT EVEN PUNCH ME), BUT I'LL RETURN TO SIGNIFY BY SITTING ON HER HEAD, PAW AGAIN AND GRUNT. SUCH IS THE START OF A DAY IN MY GOLDEN YEARS. THE CATCALLING , FIGHTS AND FLIGHTS FROM DEATH ARE BEHIND ME. WITH NO MEMORY, I HAVE NO REGRETS. THE HOLE IN MY WINDPIPE HEALED. MINUS A VOICE, EXCEPT FOR OCCASIONAL COUGHS, I GRUNT AND TAP. ELEVEN YEARS I HAVE SURVIVED. MEALS ARE REGULAR, AT 9 AND 5. MY TREAT OF CHEETOES IS PREDICTABLE, COMING AFTER THE SOUND OF SCRABBLE TILES POURING INTO THEIR PROTECTIVE BAG. YUMMY AND CRUNCHY THEY CAP AN EVENING'S REST. QUOTIDIAN NAPS PRECEDE AN EVENING ONE WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY A BLISS-FILLED NIGHT’S SLEEP.( A TOTAL OF 20 HOURS MANDATORY.) INTERRUPTIONS ARE ONLY FOR FOOD AND PERHAPS A CATNIP FIX. SHE SERVICES ME WITH A GARLAND FLEA COLLAR, ABUSES ME WITH A BATH, POPS INTO MY MOUTH A WORM PILL, EACH FOR A GOOD CAUSE - MY HEALTH. I AM NOT AWARE OF THE APRICOT COLOR OF MY SILKY COAT, BUT I EXPECT MY SERVANT TO WIPE UP THE DIGESTED BALL OF FUR I HEAVE ONTO THE FLOOR OR INTO HIS SLIPPER ON A REGULAR BASIS. I SUCK IN MOIST AIR THROUGH THE SCREEN DOOR. FOR FRESH ODORS A WINDOW WILL ALSO SUFFICE. NO URGE EXISTS TO DASH OUTDOORS ANYMORE AND EVENTUALLY 'RUN' INTO CONFRONTATIONAL TROUBLES. I RECREATE BY NAPPING AND EATING. I SPRAWL IN THE MIDDLE OF ANY FLOOR OR WALKWAY I PLEASE. MY CHILDISH TOYS HAVE BEEN PUT AWAY. THE ANIMOSITY I HELD FOR OTHER HOUSEHOLD CATS HAS BEEN SHELVED. A DOG AND ANOTHER CAT, NEITHER MY COMPANION, ARE IGNORED. FOOD HAS BECOME MY ADDICTION IN MY GOLDEN YEARS. I BEG AT THE KITCHEN COUNTER WHEN MY HUMANS PARTAKE OF LUNCH. I ATTEND TO THE SOUND OF CHOPPING ON THE CUTTING BOARD. 50% ATTRITION STILL RESULTS IN MEAT SCRAPS. TAP! TAP! NAP! NAP! A SNACK! A SNACK! TODAY SHE POSITIONED ME FRONT AND CENTER OF THE GEORGE FOREMAN AND I LICKED OFF THE BEEF GREASE RESIDUE TO MY HEART'S CONTENT. YES, I'M IN MY GOLDEN YEARS.

FREEDOMS DAY

INDEPENDENCE DAY,
FOURTH OF JULY
JUBILATIONS.
LET FREEDOM SING.
YANKEE DOODLE TUNES.
PATRIOTIC BUNTING,
OLD GLORY WAVING,
FIREWORKS EXPLODING.
NIGHT SKIES ALIGHT,
TASTES OF VICTORIES PAST,
AMERICAN HEARTS TOUCHED.
AND- EVENING JASMINE FREE
TO PERFUME THE NIGHT AIR
WITH THE SWEETEST SMELL ON EARTH.

MEANS TO THE END

WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN, ACCORDING TO THE PROTESTANT CATECHISM? "TO GLORIFY GOD AND TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER." HOW DO WE DO THAT? DO WE ENGAGE IN A PERMANENT 'SUMMER OF LOVE,' THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHICH IS THIS YEAR 2007? THE MESSAGE BACK THEN IN CALIFORNIA IN THE WORDS OF LSD ADVOCATE TIMOTHY LEARY, WAS TO " TURN ON, TUNE IN AND DROP OUT." SINCE 1967, AMERICA HAS SUFFERED A MORAL LOSS.

EARLIER AMERICANS ESPOUSED BETTER IDEAS. PAST PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND THOUGHT THAT SELF-SUFFICIENCY COULD GLORIFY GOD. IT MEANT SHUNNING FEDERAL AID WHICH "ENCOURAGES EXPECTATIONS OF PATERNAL CARE AND WEAKENS THE STURDINESS OF OUR NATIONAL CHARACTER." HE ALSO ESPOUSED CHARITY TOWARDS ONE'S NEIGHBOR AFTER ONE TOOK CARE OF ONESELF. "CHARITY STRENGTHENS THE BOND OF COMMON BROTHERHOOD," HE SAID.

MORAL RESPONSIBILITY WAS PARAMOUNT TO PAST PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S THINKING. HE STATED THAT MEN WHO GOT WOMEN PREGNANT AND ABANDONED THEM "SINNED AGAINST ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND GRIEVOUSLY SINNED AGAINST SOCIETY." TEDDY ALSO BELIEVED THAT PROMOTING CHURCH ATTENDANCE WAS "GOOD PUBLIC POLICY."

WHAT SUGGESTIONS WOULD DOPPELGANGERS OF CLEVELAND AND ROOSEVELT PUT FORTH TODAY? DO WE STILL GLORIFY GOD BY RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, PERSONAL MORAL RECTITUDE AND SERVICE TO OUR FELLOW MAN? SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. TO REWORK THE WORDS OF THAT LOST GENERATION OF YOUTH, WE SHOULD TURN OFF AND TUNE OUT THE DISTRACTIONS OF MODERNITY AND DROP INTO AN INNER QUEST FOR THE GOOD LIFE. REST ASSURED WE WILL BE GLORIFYING GOD AND ENJOYING HIM FOREVER.

LEADING DOWN THE WRONG PATH

A CHARISMATIC SPEAKER, POLITICIAN AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 1816, HENRY CLAY, OFTEN LED AMERICA AND AMERICANS DOWN THE WRONG PATHS. UNFORTUNATELY HE HELD HIGH OFFICE; FORTUNATELY THE PUBLIC NEVER SAW HIM AS FIT TO BE PRESIDENT.

MARVIN OLASKY, A WRITER, SAYS THAT HENRY CLAY'S "POLITICAL PATERNALISM WAS A SHAM." HE PRACTICED "GOVERNMENT BY WINKING." HE COULD "STRETCH THE PLAIN MEANING OF WORDS, GRAB MORE POWER FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE. " MEN LIKE HENRY CLAY WHO "LIVE BY THE SPEECH, SOON OVERREACH."

UNFORTUNATELY, THE POLITICKING OF LIBERALS TODAY MIMICS THE SHADY DEALINGS OF HENRY CLAY, HELL BENT ON PERSONAL POWER AND GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL. LIBERAL LEADERS IN A TOWN NEARBY ME GAVE AWAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX ABATEMENTS TO A COMPANY TO CREATE 50 NEW JOBS. THE REWARD FOR THEIR GIVEAWAY IS A DELUSION. LIKE HENRY CLAY'S SPEECHES, NEW EMPLOYMENT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT BY DOING THE MATH, THE SUBSIDIES DO NOT JUSTIFY THE COST OF THE ENDS.

A BAD LEADER LIKE HENRY CLAY OR ADOLPH HITLER CAN SOUND SO GOOD. THAT'S THE WAY THE DEVIL PLANS IT. FORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO FIND A NEW NEMESIS, A LEADER WHO EXPECTS TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELVES, BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING FOR OUR COUNTRY, WHO NEVER ASKS WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU.

A LEADER

HE SAID, "IF WE DESIRE TO SECURE PEACE, IT MUST BE KNOWN THAT WE ARE AT ALL TIMES READY FOR WAR."

HE HAD "THE POLICY OF YIELDING TO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT COME IN THE SHAPE OF INSULT AND AGGRESSION."
HIS SAID HIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS A "CONTEST BETWEEN THE VIRTUE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE INFLUENCE OF PATRONAGE."

YES, NOT ONLY DOES GEORGE W. BUSH SPEAKS TRUTH TO POWER, BUT ALSO GEORGE WASHINGTON. YES, IT IS A TYPICAL LIBERAL DEMOCRAT WHO PREFERS TO ACCOMMODATE TERRORISTS IN WASHINGTON AS WELL AS THOMAS JEFFERSON. THE UPCOMING ELECTION OF 2008 BODES ILL OR WELL FOR AMERICA JUST LIKE THE ONE OF ANDREW JACKSON'S IN 1828.

THE TIME FOR LEADERSHIP IS NOW. NOT THE BOGUS BRAND LEE IACOCCA EXEMPLIFIED BY JOHN MURTHA OR AL GORE. BUT A LEADER LIKE WASHINGTON, JACKSON, TRUMAN OR REAGAN FOR WHOM HONOR, INTEGRITY AND FIDELITY WERE PARAMOUNT.

WALTER LIPPMAN REFERRED TO FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT WHEN HE SAID THAT "THE GENIUS OF A GOOD LEADER IS TO LEAVE BEHIND HIM A SITUATION WHICH COMMON SENSE, WITHOUT THE GRACE OF GENIUS, CAN DEAL WITH SUCCESSFULLY. " YET MR. LIPPMAN’S APPRAISAL OF ROOSEVELT'S LEGACY WAS WRONG.

GREAT LEADERS CAN BE WRONG OR EVEN EVIL. "THE EFFICIENCY OF THE TRULY NATIONAL LEADER CONSISTS PRIMARILY IN PREVENTING THE DIVISION OF THE ATTENTION OF A PEOPLE, AND ALWAYS IN CONCENTRATING IT ON A SINGLE ENEMY." THIS RATIONALE BACKED HITLER'S DEMONIZING AND DESTRUCTION OF THE JEWS.

BUT WHAT DEVIL IN OUR MIDST SHOULD BE POINTED OUT BY A GOOD, POLITICAL LEADER TODAY? WHAT LINCOLN WILL FIND THE "BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE," AND LEAD AMERICA ON IN GREATNESS?