MOTTS MILITARY MUSEUM

A TREASURE IN CENTRAL OHIO NEAR GROVEPORT. MILITARY MEMORABILIA FROM ANTIQUITY, THE FRONTIER, FRENCH & INDIAN WAR, CUSTER, NATIVE AMERICANS, WILD WEST, REVOLUTIONARY WAR, WAR OF 1812, MEXICAN WAR, CIVIL WAR, LINCOLN, LEE, GRANT, DIORAMA OF PICKETT'S CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG, WORLD WAR I, WAR IN FRANCE, RICKENBACKER, WORLD WAR II, ALGERIAN FRONT, ITALIAN FRONT, WESTERN FRONT, EASTERN FRONT, HOLOCAUST, HITLER, MUSSOLINI, ROMMEL, DOOLITTLE, TIBBETS, KOREAN WAR, GULF WAR, DESERT STORM, DESTRUCTION OF TWIN TOWERS ON 9/11/01. CONTRABAND FROM SPIES. PHOTOGRAPHS, LETTERS, CHINA, PAINTINGS, UNIFORMS, GUNS, BULLETS, TORPEDOS, BOMBS. ELVIS IN THE WAR. ARNOLD SCWARTZENEGER'S TANK FROM AUSTRIA , 1965. A HIGGINS BOAT, PLANE, HELICOPTER FROM VIET NAM, TANKS, HOWITZERS, CAISSONS. GIFT SHOP. EMERSION OVERLOAD.

CREAM RISES

CREAM RISES TO THE TOP. THE BRIGHTEST SHOULD TOO, BUT NOT IN TODAY'S EDUCATIONAL SETTING. THE DAYS WHEN I.Q. AND TEST SCORES AND SINCERE MOTIVATION DETERMINED WHO WAS CHOSEN FOR ENTRANCE INTO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE APPARENTLY GONE. COLLEGE ADMISSIONS’ DIRECTORS CONSIDER STUDENTS FROM WHOM RACIAL PREFERENCES. COMMUNITY SERVICE, POLISHED ESSAYS, COACHING, ATHLETICS, ENDOWMENTS, PARENTAGE, ETC. MAKE THEM 'LOOK' LIKE GOOD - OR BETTER - CANDIDATES. SERVICE LEARNING AND CONSTRUCTIVISM (DON'T ASK FOR A TRANSLATION OF EDUCATIONAL JINGOESE) ARE SERIOUSLY ASSESSED. THE MINORITIES, MONIED AND PRIVILEGED GET BREAKS TOO. 'LEARNING STYLES' OF HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERED. WHY? WE KNOW SILLINESS REPLACES SELF-KNOWLEDGE IN THE INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEENAGERS. I REPEAT WHAT ROBERT HUTCHINS SAID. HE WAS AT ONE TIME PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, WHERE THESE ADMISSION PRACTICES NOW TAKE PLACE. "MOST OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT A HUMAN BEING OUGHT TO KNOW CANNOT BE COMPREHENDED IN YOUTH."

FEELINGS, ARBITRARINESS AND PREFERENCES HAVE NO PLACE IN DECISION MAKING THAT WAS DESIGNED TO RESULT IN THE BRIGHTEST AND BEST BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATION AND, AS A RESULT, THE LEVEL OF CIVILIZATION . FROM WHAT I READ, WE ARE REGRESSING - AND NOT TO THE DAYS WHEN BOSSIE'S OR ELSIE'S CREAM WAS SKIMMED AND CHURNED INTO SOMETHING DELICIOUS AND DELUXE. THE PRODUCTS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF ‘HIGHER EDUCATION’ ARE CURDLING LIKE SOUR MILK AND WHEY.

SMALL WORLD

IT'S A SMALL WORLD. MATTHEW KELLY, A CATHOLIC MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, WAS BORN IN AUSTRALIA; MY DAUGHTER LIVES THERE NOW. I ATTENDED ST. GREGORY HIGH SCHOOL IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND GWEN CONIKER'S ATTENDANCE THERE WAS WITHIN ONE YEAR OF MINE. AT 19 SHE MARRIED, RAISED 12 CHILDREN AND WITH HER HUSBAND FOUNDED AN APOSTOLATE FOR FAMILY CONSECRATION AT CATHOLIC FAMILYLAND IN OHIO. SHE IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED FOR SAINTHOOD. THE "INFORMATIVE PROCESS" HAS BEGUN, THE FIRST STEP OF WHICH IS DECLARATION OF HER AS A "SERVANT OF GOD." "VENERABLE" IS THE 2ND STEP. SAINTHOOD, THE FINALE.

MATTHEW KELLY PREACHES, "WE HAVE TO START CHOOSING THOSE THINGS, ...THAT HELP US...TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES." HIS ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE ALL HAVE WORTH, THOUGH EACH PERSON IS UNIQUE UNTO HIMSELF OR HERSELF. HE PREACHES, "WE MUST BE CONVINCED THAT OUR FUTURE IS BIGGER THAT OUR PAST... NOTHING BRINGS A PERSON TO LIFE LIKE PURSUIT OF A DREAM.. A PERSON NEEDS TO HAVE DISCIPLINE AND 'SELF-POSSESSION.' PEOPLE NEED TO FAST, NOT JUST FROM UNHEALTHY FOODS, BUT FROM UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES AS WELL." THIS WILL PRODUCE HAPPINESS. WELL, MR. KELLY HAS A DREAM; MRS. GWEN CONIKER HAD ONE TOO (SHE DIED IN 2002). NOT ME.

YET, MR. KELLY PROVES THE IMPERFECTION OF HIS OWN CREATION BY HIS FALSE BELIEF THAT THERE ARE UNHEALTHY FOODS. FOOD AND DRINK ARE GIFTS FROM GOD. THE GIFTS ARE NOT UNHEALTHY; UNHEALTHY IS THE ABUSE OF THEM. UNHEALTHY FOODS DO NOT MAKE US UNHAPPY; THEIR ABUSE BRINGS FALSE HAPPINESS. ONE OF THE DISCIPLINES MR. KELLY PREACHES IS FALSE BECAUSE THE MAJOR PREMISE IS FALSE. THE INABILITY TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION I POINT OUT BETWEEN UNHEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY ABUSE, MARS THE OUTLOOK OF MANY WOULD BE SAINTS TODAY.

PEOPLE OR EVENTS ?

DO PEOPLE OR EVENTS WRITE HISTORY? I HOPE IT'S NOT PEOPLE GOING FORWARD. THEY BEHAVE TODAY IRRESPONSIBLY IN THEIR USE OF WORDS. AND THE POWER "OF WORDS IS SUCH THAT THEY HAVE PREVENTED OUR LEARNING SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE WORLD'S HISTORY," ACCORDING TO SIR NORMAN ANGELL A BRITISH WRITER OF THIS CENTURY. PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR VERBIAGE I HEARD THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS PURE MEANINGLESSNESS.

PROGRAM...EXERCISE IN...HIGH TECH.. OFFENSIVELY....SELF-PERPETUATING...IMPACT...HIGH VALUE...FREE PART/TIME JOBS
FREE SCHOLARSHIPS...TEACH EXPERIENCE...ENTREPRENEUR SPONSORSHIP
$88 DOWN, $88 MONTH...BALL, BALL, BALL...7TH GRADE FOOTBALL PLAYERS...POPCORN LUNG...CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR TO THE BUZZ WORDS WAS THEIR HIDDEN MEANINGS. BUT THEN A STRAIGHTFORWARD VOCABULARY WOULD HAVE REVEALED THE IMPOSSIBLE, IMPRACTICAL, IMMORAL OR IRRESPONSIBLE IDEA OR ACTION (LIKE A HIDDEN IMP) BEHIND EACH SOUND BITE.

REAL LIFE CALLS FOR REAL WORDS FROM REAL PEOPLE. AT THE BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN ON SEPT. 10, 1814, A SAILOR CALLED ADMIRAL NELSON'S BATTLE AT TRAFALGAR A "MERE FLEABITE" COMPARED WITH THE BLOODY CONFLICT EVENTUALLY WON BY COMMODORE MACDONOUGH OF THE NEWLY MINTED UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AT BASTOGNE IN 1944, DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN WORLD WAR II, FOUGHT AGAINST FUHRER ADOLPH HITLER, BRIGADIER GENERAL MCAULIFFE ANSWERED THE GERMANS DEMAND FOR SURRENDER WITH THE FAMOUS WORD, "NUTS, " TO BE CONSTRUED IN ANY WAY THAT FIT.

MEN LIKE MACDONOUGH, NELSON, HITLER AND MCAULIFFE HAVE WRITTEN HISTORY; EVENTS LIKE MAJOR NAVAL AND LAND BATTLES TOO. BUT BUZZ WORDS TODAY HAVE NO POTENCY. THEY MERELY CAMOUFLAGE ACTIONS THAT AMERICANS SHOULD (AND WOULD?) NOT SUPPORT IF THEY KNEW WHAT THEY REALLY MEANT.

ALWAYS THE HORSE

IT WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT THE HORSES. THEY COULD - HAD THEY THE ABILITY TO SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE - TELL US WHO WE ARE. FOUR STEEDS (REMINISCENT OF THE 4 HORSES OF THE APOCALYPSE?) RISE ABOVE THE BRANDENBURG GATE IN BERLIN, GERMANY, WHERE PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN ASKED RUSSIAN LEADER, GORBACHEV TO "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!" THE EQUINE QUARTET REMINDS US THAT WEST GERMANY AT THAT TIME, REPRESENTED FREEDOM; EAST GERMANY, DICTATORSHIP AND REPRESSION. THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA REPRESENTS A MANDATE FOR FREEDOM, OPPORTUNITY, WEALTH, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. BUT OUR HISTORY INCLUDES BOTH SUCCESSES AND FAILURES.

IN BANGLADESH, HOWEVER, IT'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP OR STARVATION. THAT WHY A PROGRAM WAS INITIATED OF SMALL LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THEM GET A START IN LIFE. THIS EFFORT’S FOUNDER WAS AWARDED THE NOBEL PRIZE. YET A SIMILAR PROGRAM BEGUN IN THE UNITED STATES WAS A DISMAL FAILURE. MANY RECIPIENTS TREATED THE LOANS AS SUCKER MONEY. THEY KN EW THEY COULD FALL BACK ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR PRIVATE CHARITY IF THEY FAILED AT THE BUSINESS, SQUANDERED THE OPPORTUNITY, OR FAILED TO REPAY THE LOANS. A TRY AT ENTREPRENEURSHIP FAILED. IN CONTRAST, PROOF THAT HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AMERICA STILL PERSISTS. THE POPULARITY OF CORN MAZES, ESPECIALLY IN AUTUMN AND AT HALLOWEEN CONTINUES TO RISE. WHO BUT ENTREPRENEURS COULD HAVE CREATED THIS PHENOMENON? OF COURSE, SUCH AN EXAMPLE OF AGRITOURISM OFTEN INCLUDES THE MANDATORY HAY RIDE, VIEWING THE COUNTRY FROM BEHIND THE RUMPS OF HORSES. ENTREPRENEURS CAN STILL BE FOUND IN INNER CITY, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. THERE MANY SMALL STABLES ARE HOMES TO MAN'S 2ND BEST FRIEND ( PERHAPS 1ST IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF CONTRIBUTION OVER THE MILLENNIA). TRAIL RIDING IS ENJOYED BY EQUERRIES MADE OVER AS CARING, BLACK RESIDENTS.

CALLED, "POETRY IN MOTION," BY AN EQUINE ADMIRER, THE MAJESTIC CREATION, THE HORSE, STILL COULD TELLS US ABOUT THE BEST AND WORST OF MAN’S FORAYS INTO WAR, PEACE, FREEDOM AND ENTREPRENEURIALISM.

"TEACH EXPERIENCE"

WHY DID AMERICA FIGHT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, SEPT. 10, 1813? THAT BLOODY CONFLICT PRESERVED WHAT OR ACHIEVED WHAT? THE QUESTION IS STILL MOOT WHEN I CONSIDER WHAT DEFINES THE 'GOOD LIFE' AS LIVED TODAY. I HEARD A YOUNG STONE TALKING ABOUT HIS PARTICIPATION IN A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME. HE WAS NON-VERBAL AND AWED BY A RIVAL TEAM'S PLAYER WHO WAS 6 FT. 2 IN AND 360 LBS. OBESITY IN THE SPORTS ARENA IS APPARENTLY TO BE ADMIRED. WHAT FOLLOWED THE PLAYER WAS A COMMENTARY BY HIS COACH, WHO WAS JUST ONE STEP ABOVE OF HIS CHARGE ON THE EVOLUTIONARY SCALE. HIS JOB WAS TO "TEACH EXPERIENCE," TO HIS TEAM. IN SPITE OF MISPLACED INTELLIGENCE, THE HEARTS OF NORMAL, MAINSTREAM AMERICANS, LIKE THESE TWO, THE PATRONS AND FANS OF LOCAL AND STATE SPORTS' LEAGUES AND FRANCHISES, ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACES. THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR GOOD LIVES.

NO SO WITH LIBERALS, OFTEN ELITE LIBERALS AND THE MEDIA, PRINT OR SPOKEN. THEIR HEARTS ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE. THEY WISH TO REDEFINE HOW A 'GOOD LIFE' IS ACHIEVED. FIRST, DISSATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO, THEY SEEK THE DOWNFALL OF AMERICA. PATRIOTISM IS AN UNDESIRABLE POWER OF COMMON PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO RISE ABOUT THE LEVEL OF DUPES AND SPECTATORS OF THEIR LIBERAL POLICIES. SECOND, THEIR GOAL IS TO PREVENT ANY FREE SPEECH THAT DIFFERS FROM THEIR OWN AGENDAS. BECAUSE OBESITY IS BAD IT MUST BE STOMPED OUT ALONG WITH AN INDIVIDUAL'S CHOICE OF WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, OR EMBRACE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING MERRY. HOWEVER, THEY DO APPROVE OF ARUGULA, BOTTLED WATER AND MARIJUANA. THIRD, THEY CHAMPION ANY CAUSE THAT'S ANTI CHRISTIAN, JEW OR GOVERNMENT’S INTERVENTION IN EVERYDAY LIVING. AHMADINEJAD, ZEALOUS, NUTCAKE, LEADER OF IRAN, MERITS THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION, BUT NEVER A CONSERVATIVE VIEWPOINT. NO EXPERIENCE CAN TEACH LIBERALS REALITY BECAUSE DELUSION CLOUDS THE PRISM OF THEIR WORLD VIEW. THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF COMPETING ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD LIKE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN POPULAR SPORTS.

SPECTATOR SPORT

IT'S A WONDER THAT KEN BURNS TAKES 15 HRS TO RE-VISIT WORLD WAR II IN HIS TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY. 15 HRS., NOT 4 YEARS, IS ABOUT ALL AMERICANS CAN SPARE OUT OF THEIR HECTIC SCHEDULES TO LEARN HISTORY. SOMEONE I KNOW, HOWEVER, EVEN FELL ASLEEP 11/2 INTO THE FIRST EPISODE ON SUNDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 23RD. PRECEDING THE SERIES PREMIERE, A LOCAL SHOW- AND- TELL OF MEMORABILIA FROM PARTICIPANTS IN THE WORLD WAR, CONFIRMED KEN BURNS' CONTENTION THAT, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD, BUT WORLD WAR II WAS NECESSARY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NECESSITIES AT HOME NOWADAYS REVOLVE AROUND "RECEIVER TYPE" KIDS, LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO WILL GARNER LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORY OR ANY ACADEMIC PURSUIT FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION . THEIR HEROIC STATUS COMES FROM ATHLETICISM ON PLAYING FIELDS AND FROM THE FANS’ FANATICAL SUPPORT. ALSO, HOW MUCH TIME FOR HISTORICAL RETROSPECTION CAN BE SPARED BY VIDEO GAMERS, TO WHOM 15 HRS. COUNTS FOR NOTHING IN TERMS OF SPORTS’ PLAY? HOW CAN MICROSOFT ANTICIPATE SHATTERING A ONE DAY SALES RECORD WITH ITS X-BOX GAME 'HALO III' UNLESS MILLIONS OF PLAYERS PAY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE IN-HOME PAST-TIME?

WAR FOR TOO MANY IS JUST A SPECTATOR SPORT IN LARGE STADIUMS OR SMALL COMPUTER SCREENS. YET BOTH YOUNG AND OLD CAN SURELY SPARE 15 HRS TO REVIEW HISTORY.

EXPLOITATION

TOLSTOY'S ANNA KARENINA HAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS FIRST SENTENCES IN ALL OF LITERATURE - "ALL HAPPY FAMILIES RESEMBLE EACH OTHER; EACH UNHAPPY FAMILY IS UNHAPPY IN ITS OWN WAY." WHAT HAPPENS, PRAY TELL, WHEN AN ENTIRE ONCE HAPPY FAMILY CALLED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MANIFESTS SYMPTOMS OF NEAR TOTAL DYSFUNCTION? YES, "ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR IN THE BEST REGULATED FAMILIES," AS CHARLES DICKENS OBSERVED IN DAVID COPPERFIELD, BUT IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT AMERICA WALLOWS IN THE SHALLOWS NOW. SADLY, IT’S A MATTER OF CHOICE.

FOR HALLOWEEN, 2007, STORES CHOOSE TO SELL 'KICKING GHOULIE LEGS', AND 'GARBAGE CAN MAN' WHICH MANUFACTURERS CHOOSE TO PRODUCE AND - I GUESS - CONSUMERS CHOOSE TO BUY FOR $40.00 AND $60.00 RESPECTIVELY. ALSO, SEPTEMBER 2007, STORES CHOOSE TO SELL 'BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMERAS,' WHICH MANUFACTURERS CHOOSE TO PRODUCE AND - I PRESUME - CUSTOMERS CHOOSE TO BUY FOR THE 'CAUSE.' USELESS PRODUCTS AND INEFFECTIVE RETAIL PURCHASES, HOWEVER, ARE MERELY EXPLOITATIONS OF AMERICANS’ NARCISSISTIC NATURES AND EMOTIONAL RATIONALIZATIONS. SILLY, SPOILED, SUCKERS - THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE CHOSEN TO BECOME.

I KNOW I AM ONE UNHAPPY CHILD, DESCENDANT, SIBLING, ANCESTOR IN THE AMERICAN FAMILY. WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN HELD TOGETHER WITH A COMMON CULTURE OF SELF-RESPECT, DECENCY AND COMMON SENSE MORALITY. NO MORE. ANYTHING GOES IN OUR DISORGANIZED AND DYSFUNCTIONAL MACROCOSM. DESPITE THE CHRISTIAN EXHORTATION THAT YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MAMMON, AMERICANS ACT OTHERWISE, AS IF THEY CAN HAVE BOTH.

SMOKE IT

OVER THE COURSE OF THE 400 YEARS OF OUR AMERICAN EXPERIMENT, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN AT LEAST 11 WARS. OVER THE PERIOD OF 200 YEARS, FROM ABOUT 1100 TO 1300, EUROPE LAUNCHED 8 CRUSADES AGAINST THE MOHAMMEDAN TURKS. THE IRREPRESSIBLE SPIRIT OF THE MIDDLE AGES THAT CARRIED OVER INTO THE RENAISSANCE, EMBOLDENED THE VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY AND THEN ADVANCED CIVILIZATION, ALBEIT THROUGH UNENDING CONFLICTS, IS PERHAPS NO BETTER EXPRESSED THAN IN THE WORDS OF A 15TH CENTURY KNIGHT.

"HOW SEDUCTIVE IS WAR! WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR QUARREL TO BE JUST AND YOUR BLOOD READY FOR COMBAT, TEARS COME TO YOUR EYES. THE HEART FEELS A SWEET LOYALTY AND PITY TO SEE ONE'S FRIEND EXPOSE HIS BODY IN ORDER TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH THE COMMAND OF THE CREATOR. ALONGSIDE HIM, ONE PREPARES TO LIVE OR DIE. FROM THAT COMES A DELECTABLE SENSE WHICH NO ONE WHO HAS NOT EXPERIENCED IT WILL NEVER KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN. DO YOU THINK THAT A MAN WHO HAS THAT EXPERIENCE CAN FEAR DEATH? NEVER, FOR HE IS SO COMFORTED, SO ENRAPTURED THAT HE KNOWS NOT WHERE HE IS AND TRULY FEARS NOTHING."

PUT THAT INTO YOUR PEACE PIPE, LIBERALS AND SMOKE IT!

EPITOME OF DISGUST

REPRESENTING THE EPITOME OF WHAT'S DISGUSTING ABOUT LIBERAL, ELITE ACADEMICS IN THE UNITED STATES IS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S INVITATION TO TERRORIST AND HATE-MONGER AHMADINEJAD TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS. PAST PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER MIGHT HAVE SAID, "NEVER QUESTION ANOTHER MAN'S MOTIVES," BUT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE WORLD WITH AN AHMADINEJAD. ON THE OTHER HAND, COLUMBIA WON'T SANCTION A REQUEST FOR THE MINUTE MEN TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS OR ALLOW THE R.O.T.C. ON THE CAMPUS. COLUMBIA REPRESENTS FREE SPEECH FOR EVIL 1.0; FREE SPEECH FOR PATRIOTISM OR CONSERVATISM 0. COLUMBIA’S PRESIDENT, MR. BOLLINGER EXPRESSES THE VIEW THAT "THE UNIVERSITY HAS AN OBLIGATION, DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE CORE VALUES OF AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION AND IN FIRST AMENDMENT PRINCIPLES, TO PROTECT ITS STUDENTS FROM IMPROPER DISCRIMINATION AND HUMILIATION." THE INVITATION TO EVIL AHMADINEJAD UNDERMINES THIS STATEMENT AND THE REFUSAL TO ALLOW THE R.O.T.C OR MINUTE MEN CONTRADICTS IT. NO SURPRISE! THE BOTTOM LINE OF A LIBERAL INSTITUTION, ALWAYS SPEAKING WITH A FORKED TONGUE, IS THAT DISSENT AND CONTROVERSY ARE OF ITS DETERMINATION. ONLY THE ANTI-AMERICAN VIEW, THE ANTI-CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, THE PROPER PARTY LINE WILL BE TOLERATED UNDER COVER OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. WELL, I SHOULD REMEMBER TOO THAT COLUMBIA HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A HAVEN FOR FELLOW TRAVELERS (COMMUNISTS) AND SOCIALISTS. AHMADINEJAD CERTAINLY HE IS NOT ARRIVING TO SPREAD WHAT FOUNDING FATHER THOMAS JEFFERSON CALLED, "THE DISEASE OF LIBERTY." DISEASE PERHAPS, BUT WHY A PLAGUE WELCOMED ON ALL OUR HOUSES? ANOTHER SENTIMENT OF DWIGHT EISENHOWER IN 1939, IS CALLED FOR AT THIS TIME. RATHER THAN HITLER, AHMADINEJAD SHOULD "BEWARE THE FURY OF AN AROUSED DEMOCRACY." LUCKILY, OUTRAGE AND OUTCRY ARE BEING PROPERLY EXPRESSED BY TRUE AMERICANS.

TIME TO GO

THE UNITED NATIONS INSPIRES ME TO IMITATE THE PUNNING ON THE NAME OF BOTTOM, THE WEAVER, IN MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. THE TRAGEDY OF BOTTOMLESS CONSCIOUSNESS CAN APPLY TO BOTH BOTTOM AND THE U.N. FOR THE 15TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THE U.N. HAS DENIED ADMISSION TO TAIWAN. IN 1971, TAIWAN WAS EXPELLED IN FAVOR OF CHINA. WHY IS THERE NOT ROOM FOR IT NOW? WHAT HAS THE TINY, INDUSTRIOUS COUNTRY DONE TO DESERVE SUCH DISRESPECT? OR RATHER WHAT CLOUT HAS CHINA THAT WARRANTS THIS INJUSTICE? ARROGANCE AND A NONSENSICAL APPROACH TO REALITY ARE COMMON DENOMINATORS OF BOTH CHARACTERS AT THE BOTTOM - THE U.N. AND THE BUFFOON IN SHAKESPEARE'S PLAY. LET'S CONSIDER THE DIFFERENCE, HOWEVER, IS THE NATURES OF THEIR SPORTS. THE GREAT PLAYWRIGHT SIMPLY ATTEMPTED TO PUN AND PLAY WITH HIS AUDIENCE. THE UNITED NATIONS PLAYS AT A COMPLICATED GAME, RE-CASTING CHARACTERS ON THE WORLD'S STAGE. IT TREATS POLITICS AS A BLOOD SPORT. ALL'S FAIR ONLY IN LOVE AND WAR, NOT AT THE U.N. CAN'T SOMEONE SAY TO IT, "FOR GOD'S SAKE, GO."

DUAL STINGS

TASER TROUBLE JUST PROVES THE HYPOCRISY OF THE LEFT. VIET NAM VETERAN AND PAST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SENATOR JOHN KERRY, RECENTLY WAS PEPPERED WITH QUESTIONS FROM A YOUNG JOURNALIST AT A FLORIDA COLLEGE. WHEN HE WAS TASERED, KERRY NEITHER DEFENDED NOR DISMISSED HIS FELLOW, LIBERAL SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINE IN THE WAR AGAINST REPUBLICANS. ARMED WITH THE WEAPON OF WORDS, WORDS GUARANTEED UNDER THE 1ST AMENDMENT OF FREE SPEECH, I THOUGHT HE WAS SAFE IN THE BOSOM OF HIS PROTESTING BUDDY, MR. KERRY. NO WAY. FREEDOM OF SPEECH DEFENDED BY THE LIBERALS FROM THE 60'S ONWARD AND SUPPOSEDLY DENIED WITH THE ADVENT OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION - STOPPED WHEN IT PREVENTED MR. KERRY FROM EXPRESSING HIS OPINIONS. KERRY'S COWARDICE AND INACTION AND HYPOCRITICAL ELITISM, PROVIDE A COUNTERPOINT TO HIS FELLOW PROGRESSIVE (LIBERAL), SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON, WHO WISHES TO REMOVE FREE CHOICE FROM AMERICANS REGARDING THEIR HEALTH CARE. AS SHE SAID, HEALTH CARE WILL BE MANDATORY AND UNIVERSAL, BUT CITIZENS WILL BE FREE TO CHOOSE OPTIONS.

LACK OF FREEDOM IN THE AGENDA OF LIBERAL POLITICS CONTRASTS WITH TOO MUCH OF IT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS EARLY AS 5TH GRADE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONCERT BAND. NO REQUEST WILL BE DENIED. INSTRUMENTS, SOME COSTING AS MUCH AS $3,000, CAN BE PURCHASED, EVEN AS 'RENT-TO-OWN.' THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AT ONE SCHOOL, LEAPED FROM 30 TO 160 IN JUST A YEAR. MAYBE THE PROMISE OF A TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD EVERY 4 YEARS PROVIDES INCENTIVE. THE COLLEGE, BAND DIRECTOR SEES THE TRIP AS HAVING "AN EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE." HE LAMENTS HIS "GRUELING SCHEDULE" AS A MUSIC MAJOR WHEN HE WAS IN COLLEGE. COULD AN ACADEMIC MAJOR BE MORE GRUELING? THE POPULARITY OF A MUSIC PROGRAM SHOWS THAT FREE CHOICE HAS SCRAPPED ACADEMICS IN EDUCATION.

WHAT DO THESE TWO BITS OF INFORMATION HAVE IN COMMON? CAN BOTH THE DEATH OF FREEDOM AND THE DEATH OF INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS BE GOOD? NO, THEY ARE DUAL STINGS ON AMERICA'S CONSCIENCE.

THE VERB

"WE ARE NOT RETREATING. WE ARE MERELY ATTACKING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION," SAID MARINE GENERAL SMITH IN 1950 IN KOREA. " WE MUST CHANGE DIRECTIONS AND RE-DEPLOY OUR TROOPS," SAY LIBERALS IN 2007. THE KEY WORD "ATTACK" SETS THE TONE FOR VICTORY RATHER THAN DEFEAT. THE WORD RE-DEPLOY IS MERELY A SYNONYM FOR SURRENDER.
ANOTHER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW IN WAR, IS THE VERB. THE VERB WAS USED (AND NATURALLY ABUSED) BY A CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER ALLEN CARLSON WITHIN EARSHOT OF HIS TIRED AND DOWN-TRODDEN MARINES IN KOREA AS A MORAL BOOSTER. ..."THAT VERB, THAT SINGLE, UGLY, FOUR-LETTER WORD," ... "LIES EMBEDDED LIKE A DIRTY, RECURRENT JEWEL IN THE MOSAIC OF MARINE PROFANITY." OFFICER CARLSON APPLIED IT " TO THE DRIVER, TO HIS ANCESTORS, TO HIS TRUCK AND HIS HOWITZER, AND REPEATEDLY TO HIS RETREATING BACKSIDE." ... THAT VERB, "CONQUERED, AS IT OFTEN DOES, AND THE COLUMN MOVED ON." SUCH INSPIRATION COMES FROM LECKIE'S BOOK, THE MARCH TO GLORY.

WE DON'T HEAR ENOUGH OF THE VERB TODAY AS QUOTED BY OUR WARRIORS ATTACKING THE ENEMY. RATHER THE ENEMY FROM WITHIN ATTACK OUR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ATTACK CONSERVATIVES FOR THEIR UNACCEPTABLE IDEAS AND ATTACK INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER THAT RUN COUNTER TO THEIR OWN AGENDA.

LET'S AGAIN SEND THE VERB (F...) REVERBERATING NOT THROUGH THE HILLS OF NORTH KOREA BUT ACROSS THE GLOBE TO THE ISLAMIC TERRORISTS WHO WITH THEIR DEMONIC SCREAMS, LIKE THE PAST COMMUNIST CHINESE AND NORTH KOREANS, WANT US DEAD.

SHORT OR TALL

THE WEALTH OF NATIONS RESIDES IN THEIR PEOPLE. HOW MANY AMERICANS DOES THIS EXCLUDE? THE O.J. SIMPSONS, THE BRITTANY SPEARS? THE PARIS HILTON, THE SERIAL RAPISTS WHO ATTACK YOUNG MOTHERS? THE SALLY FIELDS OR THE LIBERAL POLITICIANS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SMUT MASQUERADING AS DO-GOODING CALLED SEX EDUCATION IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES? THE BARRY BONDS, THE WOMAN, DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO SAYS 110 BILLION DOLLARS WILL FUND UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE BUT FORGETS TO MENTION THAT 600 BILLION DOLLARS ALREADY SUPPORTS UNNECESSARY POVERTY AND WELFARE PROGRAMS? IF AMERICA'S WEALTH RESIDES IN ITS CITIZENS - ILLEGAL OR NOT - SOMEONE OUGHT TO REMEMBER THAT WEALTH IS TREASURE OF ONE'S OWN CREATION AND NOT LIMITED BY A SOCIALISTIC SOCIETY, THE KIND THAT LIBERALS DREAM TO ESTABLISH IN THE UNITED STATES. IN THE NEWLY ORDERED GALAXY OF SOCIALISM, I WONDER HOW WE WILL CUT THE HOLLYWOOD ELITE, CELEBRITIES, SPORTS HEROES, EDUCATORS, POLITICIANS AND MEDIA LIBERALS DOWN TO THE SIZE OF US BOURGEOISE - SHORT ON INDECENCY AND IMMORALITY, BUT TALL IN THE EYES OF A JUDGMENTAL GOD.

AUTUMN 2007

NO FRUIT OR BERRIES FOLLOWING FROST-
SPRING BLOOMS IRREVOCABLY LOST-
GRASS STUNTED, GARDENING UNDONE-
RAIN STINGY, GENEROUS DROUGHT FROM SUN-
CHICORY, PINKS AND QUEEN ANNE LACE-
BLOOMING ON THE GROUND'S FACE-
TICKS, VOLES, RABBITS UNSNARED-
LITTLE VITAL POLLEN WITH BEES SHARED.
SPRING, SUMMER - EACH ASSIGNATION
DISTURBS NOT HUMBLE RESIGNATION.

WORDS VS. DEEDS

AFTER GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, WHAT IS HE MOST PROUD OF WHEN HE CONSIDERS HIS HANDIWORK IN THE MIRROR - MAN'S WORDS OR HIS ACTIONS? WORDS WITHOUT CONTENT FLOW FROM THE BOTTOMLESS CONSCIOUSNESS OF HIS CREATIONS CALLED ACADEMICS. FOR EXAMPLE, RECENTLY AMERICA SUFFERED THE "LOSS OF ONE OF THE LAST, GREAT, ORIGINAL ETHNOMETHODOLOGISTS, THAT SMALL GROUP OF REVOLUTIONARY SOCIOLOGISTS WHO BELIEVED THAT SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF GROUP PROCESSES WERE NOT SIMPLY EXERCISES IN THEORETICAL ANALYSES OR RATIONALIZATIONS AFTER THE FACT ABOUT PEOPLE IN GROUPS, BUT RATHER WERE ABOUT SOCIAL PHENOMENA AS CONCRETE OBSERVABLE FACTS (THOUGH OFTEN UNACKNOWLEDGED IN SITUATION). THIS COMMENTARY PROVIDED IN AN OBITUARY NO LESS. GOD MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE WORDS "FEDERAL SUBSIDIES" USED BY WELL-MEANING (OR ARE THEY?) POLITICAL ASPIRANTS. THIS GLOWING PHRASE IS BANDIED ABOUT BUT MASKS ROBBERY OF THE CITIZENRY THROUGH TAXATION AS A SUPPOSED CURE-ALL FOR ANY UNINSURED ILL FORTUNE.

BESIDES WORDS, GOD MUST FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN BEINGS' ACTIONS. 2007 MARKS THE FIRST TIME AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN (THE POLITICALLY CORRECT RE-NAMING OF BLACK) TOOK HOME THE GOLDEN BELT BY WINNING THE NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP. HURRAH! ALSO, SCIENTISTS AT DOW AND MONSANTO CHEMICAL COMPANIES, HAVING BEEN BUSY EXPERIMENTING, CREATED CORN SEEDS WITH EIGHT DIFFERENT GENES THAT FIGHT INSECTS AND WEEDS. HURRAH! TWO HOORAYS VS. TWO OH GODS!. NO DOUBT THE CREATOR KNOWS WHICH REACTION APPLIES TO WORDS AND WHICH TO DEEDS.

WHY OH WHY

WHY OH WHY DO WE GO TO THE MOON WHEN WE HAVE FOOTBALL AND JOHN EDWARDS ON EARTH? SPACE TRAVEL SEEMS TO ME IRRELEVANT AND UNNECESSARY WHEN IMPORTANT DISCONNECTS EXIST HERE ON THE HOME FRONT. A GRIDIRON COACH WISHED THAT THE PLAYERS COULD BE SOMEBODY DIFFERENT ON THE FIELD. HE SAID IT'S OK TO ACT LIKE THUGS, HOODLUMS AND VANDALS IN COMPETITION. HE SAID HIS PLAYERS COULD BE LIKE REGGIE WHITE, AN ORDAINED MINISTER, WHO ACTED DIFFERENT OUT OF PLAY. HE SUGGESTED THAT PARENTS DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE THEIR KIDS MAD BEFORE THE UPCOMING FRIDAY NIGHT’S GAME. WHY OH WHY DO MOTHERS LET THEIR BOYS BECOME FOOTBALL PLAYERS OR THEIR HUSBANDS WATCH THE GAME? THE IMMORAL IDEA - WIN AT ANY COST - SEGUES INTO A REFLECTION ON (OR THE ECLIPSE OF) JOHN EDWARD'S INTEGRITY. A CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRAT NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008, MR. EDWARDS MADE HIS FORTUNE ATTACKING THE RICH AND PANDERING TO THE DOWNTRODDEN. NO COURTROOM SHENANIGAN WAS LEFT UNTRIED. HE ALSO HAD NO DIFFICULTY PUBLICALLY DECRYING INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT FORECLOSED ON THE HOMES OF KATRINA SURVIVORS EVEN THOUGH HIS INVESTMENT IN ONE COMPANY WAS WORTH MILLIONS. THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN EDWARD’S SPEECH AND BEHAVIOR IS AN INHERENT CHARACTER FLAW. WHY OF WHY DO AMERICANS FALL FOR THE APPEAL OF QUACKS?

ONE ANSWER MIGHT BE THAT OUR CULTURE HAS REACHED THE OUTER LIMITS OF GREED, IMMORALITY, INCIVILITY AND INDECENCY IN THE NAME OF TOLERANCE. IF WE GO TO THE MOON JUST BECAUSE "WE CAN," WHY OH WHY CAN'T AMERICANS GO WHERE FEW HAVE EVER GONE BEFORE - DEEP INTO THEIR CONSCIENCES - AND DISCOVER SELF-REDEMPTION?

IN AND OUT

YOU ONLY GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN, IS ADVICE LIKELY TO FLOW FROM THE MOUTH OF A PSYCHOLOGIST. EXAMPLES ARE EASY TO FIND. ELITISTS EXPRESS THEMSELVES WITH PHRASES SUCH AS "FULFILLS HIS GRADUALIST CRITERIA." AFFECTATION PUT INTO WRITING WILL ONLY RESULT IN THE READER DRAWING OUT A SIMILAR CONCLUSION ABOUT WRITER, UNLESS THE READER IS IN SIMPATICO WITH ARTIFICIALITY.

A SCHOOL OFFICIAL SETS HIS PRIORITY ON A PORT-A-POTTY BECAUSE HE DOES NOT WANT HIS SCHOOL TO BE THE ONLY ONE IN ITS SPORT'S CONFERENCE WITHOUT A MODERN FACILITY AT ITS FOOTBALL FIELD. FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS' VENUES RATE FIRST WITH EDUCATORS. EVEN WITHOUT GRANTS OR FEDERAL FUNDING, THEY FIND THE MONEY TO COMPETE WITH RIVAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY SOMEHOW FINANCING A BUILDING TO REPLACE THAT GREEN BOX.

PAST PRESIDENT, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, ADDS ANOTHER DIMENSION TO THE IDEA THAT WHAT YOU SOW, YOU WILL REAP. HE SAID, "TO PREACH HATRED OF THE RICH MAN AS SUCH," IS "TO MISLEAD AND INFLAME TO MADNESS HONEST MEN." NOW HERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO BE CONTEMPLATED WITHOUT THE OBSTRUCTION OF ELITIST MUMBO JUMBO. THE HATRED AND MISREPRESENTATION OF MATERIAL SUCCESS FOSTERED BY THE MEDIA AND POLITICIANS PLAYING POLITICS, CAN INSPIRE NO AMERICAN TO ACCUMULATE WEALTH. WITHOUT PUTTING IN THE EFFORT, THERE CAN BE NO ULTIMATE REWARD. NO SACRIFICE, NO SELF-RELIANT THINKING, NO RISK TAKING RESULTS IN NO SAVINGS, NO INVESTMENTS, NO FUTURE SECURITY. LIKE VISITING A PORT-A-POTTY, YOU ONLY GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN.

MAKE WAR NOT LOVE

"EACH AGE HAS ITS OWN FOLLIES, AS ITS MAJORITY IS MADE UP OF FOOLISH YOUNG PEOPLE." SO SAID PHILOSOPHER AND WRITER, RALPH WALDO EMERSON, A HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS AGO. HE REMINDS US THAT THERE IS ‘NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.’ FADS, FOLLIES, DELUSIONS AND THE MADNESS OF YOUNG CROWDS WILL NEVER LEAVE US BECAUSE IT IS IN THE NATURES OF THE BEASTS. THE SECRET TO MAINTAINING SANITY, IN THE MIDST OF THE ABSENCE OF IT, LIES IN PREVENTING A SOCIETAL TAKEOVER BY IRRATIONAL NONSENSE. LUCKILY, RALPH THE OPTIMIST, DID NOT LIVE TO SEE THE 1960'S. IN THE 60'S, A NEW DANCE CRAZE, THE TWIST, SAID THEN PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, EQUATED WITH "VULGARITY, SENSUALITY, INDEED DOWNRIGHT FILTH." IKE ASKED "WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR CONCEPT OF BEAUTY AND DECENCY AND MORALITY? WITH THE ADVENT OF ROCK AND ROLL, NONE OTHER THAN THE GREAT SINGER FRANK SINATRA CALLED IT "MARTIAL MUSIC OF EVERY SIDE-BURNED DELINQUENT ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH." ANOTHER MUSICIAN, MITCH MILLER, HOWEVER, EXCUSED R & R BECAUSE "YOU CAN'T CALL ANY MUSIC IMMORAL." ALSO, A HARVARD PSYCHIATRIST APPROVED OF IT AS A HEALTHY OUTLET "FOR RESTLESSNESS, FOR UNEXPRESSED AND SUBLIMINATED SEX DESIRES. " ANOTHER PSYCHIATRIST WITH PRESCIENCE SAID, "THE TEENAGER IS ENTITLED TO BE YOUNG."

ONCE THE UPSTARTS OF THE 60'S BEGAN TO HOLD SWAY, THEY NEVER LOST THEIR GRIP. HIPPIES, DRUGS, MINI-SKIRTS, LONG HAIR, ROCK AND ROLL, BEATLEMANIA, PANTY RAIDS, PROTESTS, CAMPUS TAKEOVERS - THE LIST GOES ON AND ON FOR THE LOVE GENERATION WHO PREACHED LOVE NOT WAR. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND WE FIND THAT AMERICA'S CULTURE IS NOW ONE OF PERPETUAL YOUTH. IRONICALLY THE 60'S WAGED WAR, NOT LOVE ON OUR CULTURE OF OUR DECENCY, OUR SENSE OF BEAUTY, OUR MORALITY. THE GENERAL OF WAR, EISENHOWER, WHEN OUR COUNTRY WAS AT PEACE, BEST CHARACTERIZED THE LOSS AMERICA WAS SUFFERING. I SAY IT'S TIME 'AGIN' FOR A WAR TO RECAPTURE THE GOODNESS IN AMERICA'S SOUL.

REMEMBER

WHAT TIMOTHY LEARY REALLY SAID, WITH A FLOWER ON HIS EAR, IN 1967 IN SAN FRANCISCO'S GOLDEN GATE PARK, WAS " TURN ONTO THE SCENE, TUNE INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND DROP OUT - OF HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, GRADE SCHOOL, JUNIOR EXECUTIVE, SENIOR EXECUTIVE - AND FOLLOW ME, THE HARD WAY." THE HARD WAY WAS ACTUALLY THE EASY WAY INTO THE "PSYCHEDELIC CELEBRATION" OF SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL.

THAT WAS A DAY OF INFAMY LIKE DECEMBER 7TH 1941 - THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR AND SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 - THE DEMISE OF THE TWIN TOWERS IN NEW YORK CITY. HIPPIES, JAPS OR ISLAMIC TERRORISTS. GOD AND LSD. GOD AND WAR. GOD AND ALLAH. BAD TRIPS COME IN THREES. WHAT GOD’S CREATIONS AND THE ANTI-CHRIST HAVE WROUGHT!

THREE STRIKES

HERBERT HOOVER SEALED HIS POLITICAL FATE DURING THE DEPRESSION AFTER THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929 WITH THREE MISTAKES:

1. HE INSTIGATED RULES THAT INTERFERED WITH NORMAL BUSINESS DECISIONS.

2. HE SIGNED THE SMOOT-HAWLEY TARIFF TAXING IMPORTS INTO THE U.S.

3. HE INTERRUPTED THE FREE MARKET ACTIVITIES OF THE U.S. STOCK MARKET

AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY CONFIRMED FOR ME THE SAD FATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AFTER ITS LIBERAL' TAKE-OVER IN THE 1960'S.

1. BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED NEED OF STUDENTS FOR PEER APPROVAL AND SUPPORT

2. BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED NEED OF STUDENTS OF HELP FROM MENTORS

3. BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED NEED OF STUDENTS FOR ADVICE FROM ADVISORS

WHAT'S THE COMMON DENOMINATOR FOR EACH OF THE ABOVE 6 DESTRUCTIVE MEASURES? HELP! SOME ONE SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW SOMETIME IN SOME WAY THOUGHT THAT SOME ENTITY OR SOME PERSON NEEDED 'OUTSIDE' HELP. EACH FIX-IT FORGOT (FORGETS) THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM IS A POSITIVE DOSE OF SELF-HELP WASHED DOWN WITH THAT SOOTHING NECTAR, TIME.

EXPERT INTERVENTION

NEVER LISTEN TO AN EXPERT OR YOU MIGHT HEAR THAT "WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO INTERVENE EARLY WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES DIRECTED AT THE AREA OF NEED ALONG WITH PROGRESS MONITORING TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE INTERVENTION." THESE WORDS, FROM A DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN A NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TELL 'IT' ALL - 'IT' MEANING NOTHING, SPOKEN IN GLITTERING GENERALITIES. ONE FACT MUST BE ASSUMED ABOUT SUCH "SOUND AND FURY" FROM AN EXPERT EXPLAINING HOW A PROGRAM OR PROCESS WORKS - THE INTERVENTION IS NOTHING BUT WRONG. TAXPAYER MONEY IS WASTED. INTELLECTUAL ACHIEVEMENT IS DISPLACED. INDIVIDUAL SELF-RELIANCE IS IGNORED. SUCCESS IS RE-DEFINED TO OMIT THE POSSIBILITY OF FAILURE. WORDS FROM EXPERTS JUSTIFYING COMPASSIONATE DISCRIMINATION TO THE DETRIMENT OF LEARNING DIRECTED TO THE MASSES COVER-UP THE OBVIOUS LIKE A BLANKET OVER A CORPSE. SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS JOIN A LONG LIST OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, REGULATORY, AID AND RELIEF AGENCIES, WELFARE PAYMENTS, SPECIAL INTEREST SUBSIDIES, LOW-INTEREST LOANS, IMPORT TAXES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS. ALL DENY COMMON SENSE WHICH SAYS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE EQUAL OR MORE UNEQUAL THAN OTHERS. YET, HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL, EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST DRINK HIS OR HER OWN CUP OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN LIFE. INTERVENTION MEANS THAT SOME NEIGHBORS SUCK OFF OF OTHER NEIGHBORS' POCKETBOOKS VIA GOVERNMENT'S INTERVENTION. HOW RIGHT IS THIS?

SPORTSMANSHIP?

HOW LOW HAVE THE MIGHTY FALLEN? AS LOW AS THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES PLAYING THE AKRON ZIPS IN AN OPENING GAME OF FOOTBALL. ZIPS? ZAPPED BY POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, THE GRIDIRON HAS COME DOWN TO NAMBY PAMBY NAME-CALLING. IT HAS FORCED THE RE-NAMING OF TEAMS FROM THE REDSKINS, DEVILS OR MARAUDERS TO PERKY, PREPPY, INNOCUOUS MONIKERS LIKE CAVALIERS OR ZIPS. WHAT AN INSULT TO A WARRIOR’S INTELLIGENCE. COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS LIKE OHIO STATE ALSO SCORE LOW IN FAIRNESS BECAUSE THEY PAY OFF A SACRIFICIAL LAMB LIKE THE ZIPS IN ORDER TO SCORE A VICTORY EARLY IN THE SEASON. ZIPS, WITHOUT PRIDE, DON'T CARE BECAUSE THEIR PAYOFF PAYS FOR THE TEAM'S UPCOMING SEASON OF PLAY. THE WINNER WINS BIG; THE LOSER WINS BIG TOO. HOW APPROPRIATE THAT BUCKEYES ARE NUTS! IN THE PRAYER OF A SPORTSMAN, STANZA ONE READS: "IF I SHOULD LOSE, LET ME STAND BY THE ROAD/AND CHEER AS THE WINNERS GO BY!" POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND SPORTS' SCANDALS HAVE SHOWN THAT SPORTSMANSHIP HAS BEEN PASSED OVER IN FAVOR OF VICTORY AT ANY COST

TOUGH CHOICE

IT'S TIME FOR PARENTS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THINKERS. JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU, AN IDEALIST, THOUGHT THAT HUMAN BEINGS WERE INNATELY COMPASSIONATE AND SENSIBLE. TO THE CONTRARY, THOMAS HOBBES, A REALIST, BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE WERE BORN WITH A PERPETUAL AND RESTLESS DESIRE FOR POWER. ON WHICH SIDE SHOULD PROPER PARENTING COME DOWN? SHOULD PARENTS TRUST THEIR NOBLE SAVAGES WITH COMPLETE FREEDOM OR DO THEY CURTAIL CHILDISH ATTEMPTS TO USURP CONTROL? EDMUND BURKE DEFINED TRADITION AS WISDOM WITHOUT REFLECTION. PERHAPS THIS FACT CAN HELP DECIDE THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE OF DISCIPLINE VS. PERMISSIVENESS. TRADITIONALLY, PARENTS HELD SWAY OVER THEIR CHILDREN; THE ROLE OF TEACHER AND GUIDE HAVING BEEN SORELY TIME-TESTED. THE IDEAL (CHILD) CAN NEVER BE ACHIEVED IF REALISTIC ACTIONS ARE NOT EMBRACED. CHILDREN NEED TRADITIONAL PARENTING. SO WE ARRIVE AT WILLIAM THACKERY'S STATEMENT THAT "BRAVERY NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION." HOW MUCH BRAVERY IS EXHIBITED TODAY BY PARENTS? COURAGE AND FORTITUDE ARE REQUIRED TO EDUCATE CHILDREN IN THE GOLDEN RULES. THE TRADITIONAL GOLDEN RULES ARE BASED ON THE 10 COMMANDMENTS. SOMEBODY IMPORTANT SET THEM DOWN IN STONE. PARENTS WHO KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT SHOULD INSTILL THEM INTO THEIR CHILDREN. THEN THE GOLDEN MEAN BETWEEN IDEALISM AND REALISM HAVING BEEN STRUCK, YOUTH WILL GROW INTO MATURE ADULTS.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

MAY LUCIANO PAVAROTTI, REST IN PEACE. WHETHER HE EVER PRAYED FOR HELP FROM GOD TO FIND FULFILLMENT AND JOY IN HIS LIFE - OR NOT - HIS VOICE BROUGHT THE SOUND OF OUR LORD TO THE WORLD.

MAY IT REST IN PEACE, LIBERALISM

IF AS ROBERT H. BORK SAID IN 1996, THE FINAL STAGES OF LIBERALISM ARE TYRANNY AND HEDONISM, WE FAST APPROACH THE 2ND COMING OF GOMORRAH. THE APPROPRIATE IGNORANCE AND ARROGANCE OF ADOLESCENTS IN THE 60'S BEGAN AMERICA'S MORAL SLIDE; NOW IS THE TIME FOR IT TO BE ARRESTED. LIBERAL MORALITY IS UNPREDICTABLE AND ILLOGICAL, HIGHLY INFERIOR TO THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF RIGHT AND WRONG OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES. THEIR IDEALS AND WISHES, IF FULFILLED, WOULD AMOUNT TO DICTATORSHIP BY THE ELITE, A KIND OF PLUTOCRACY. THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON LEADERSHIP WOULD REQUIRE SUBJECTS TO EMBRACE A SELF-CENTERED RELATIVISM; ANYTHING PLEASURABLE WOULD BE ALLOWED. IF MORALS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CULTURE, THEN WE ARE BUILDING A FUTURE ON SHAKY GROUNDS THANKS TO LIBERALS.

WASTED TIME

"THERE IS AN HOUR WHEREIN A MAN MIGHT BE HAPPY ALL HIS LIFE COULD HE FIND IT," SAID GEORGE HERBERT EARLY IN THE 17TH CENTURY. IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT THE ONE HOUR, (ACTUALLY TWO), THAT I WASTED WATCHING A MOVIE FROM LATE NITE TELEVISION. I KID YOU NOT, THERE WERE 9 OR 10 COMMERCIALS EVERY 5 OR 10 MINUTES (ONCE AFTER 15). MODERN TECHNOLOGY OF THE REMOTE CONTROL GETS THE CREDIT FOR SAVING MY SANITY. THE INSANITY OF THE MOVIE JUST ADDS INSULT TO INJURY. A COMMERCIAL FOR AN AUTOMATIC SHOWERHEAD WAS E PLURIBUS UNUM OF USELESS, CONSUMER DRIVEN PRODUCTS. FAST FORWARD TO THE DAYLIGHT PORTION OF A RECENT 24 HOUR PERIOD. WHAT I HEARD ABOUT MODERN LIVING FARES NO BETTER. A LOCAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL WILL SPORT A NEW 'LUNCHROOM' IN THE STYLE OF A FOOD COURT. COMPUTERS HAVE REPLACED OVERHEAD PROJECTORS AS THE MEDIUM FOR TEACHERS TO 'COP OUT' OF TEACHING A CLASS AND JUST BABYSIT IT.

THE HAPPY HOUR WHEREIN HAPPINESS IS FOUND IS METAPHORICAL, OF COURSE, BUT SEARCHING FOR IT THROUGH LOVE, REVERIE OR BETWEEN THE PAGES OF A BOOK IS ALL BUT LOST. LOOKING FOR IT IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES CAUSES NO END TO THE TROUBLES OF YOUTH. WHEN JESUS SAID, "SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND," HE FORGOT TO HAND OUT A MAGICAL, MAGELLAN ROAD MAP TO HAPPINESS, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE INFERRED AN INTERNAL RATHER THAN AND EXTERNAL SEARCH. SO MUCH TIME IS WASTED TODAY BECAUSE WHAT IS "ESSENTIAL IS INVISIBLE TO THE EYE." SO SAYS THE LITTLE PRINCE IN SAINT- EXUPERY'S TALE.

GOOD OLD MORALITY

IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS WERE FEW. RURAL RESIDENTS PURSUING THE AGRICULTURAL LIFE TIED TO THE LAND AND NATURE, CELEBRATED AT A COUNTY FAIR, A CAMP MEETING, A CIRCUS, A FAMILY REUNION AND CHRISTMAS. "THE MORE SPECIAL EVENTS YOU HAD THE LESS YOU ENJOYED THEM," WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE. WISE OLD GEEZERS AND GRANNIES ALSO SAID THAT ,"IF THE ONLY PLEASURE IN LIFE HAD BEEN IN MAKING MONEY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD MUCH PLEASURE." PHILOSOPHY OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS HELD THAT "WANTING WHAT YOU DON'T NEED, MAKES PEOPLE UNHAPPY." FURTHERMORE, IT WAS ADMITTED THAT THE GRADUAL PASSING OF RURAL LIVING WAS ASSISTED BY THE TELEPHONE. HOMESTEADERS SAID THAT THE TELEPHONE MARKED THE END OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS BECAUSE HOME VISITATIONS STOPPED WHEN IT WAS EASIER TO MAKE PHONE CALLS. OLD TIMERS KNEW MODERNIZATION OF AMERICA MEANT THAT GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING AWAY ALL THEIR FREEDOM. TYPICALLY THEY ASKED, "JUST LET US ALONE."

CAN WE CONCEIVE OF LIFESTYLES HUNDRED OF YEARS AGO THAT R.J. MC GINNIS WROTE ABOUT IN 1960? HE SAID: "THEY GO TO DANCES TOGETHER AND THEY EAT HOT DOGS AND DRINK COKES AT FOOTBALL GAMES AND, ON SOME MOONLIGHT NIGHT IN AUTUMN WHILE PARKED FOR A SPELL IN THE LANE, HE POPS THE ETERNAL QUESTION. THEY BOTH KNOW WHAT THE SCORE IS - HARD WORK, AND BABIES RAISED BY THE BOOK, AND SELF-DENIAL UNTIL A START IS MADE, AND HAVING EACH OTHER AND LAUGHING A GREAT DEAL AND HAVING FUN AND A FULL LIFE BECAUSE THEY BOTH WOULD RATHER HAVE A FARMHOUSE ON A HILL LOOKING OUT OVER THEIR OWN FIELDS THAN A PENTHOUSE ON FIFTH AVE. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE FARMING THE NATION'S GREATEST INDUSTRY. THEY BREED THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO STAFF THE PROFESSIONS AND TRADES, PAY THE TAXES, AND FIGHT THE WARS. GOD BLESS 'EM."

PRIOR TO 1960, THE GOOD OLD DAYS HAD GRADUALLY DISAPPEARED AND WITH IT THE MORALS AND MORES OF A GENTLER TIME. HOW DO I KNOW? A NEWS REPORTER SAID THAT THE 2007 HEAT WAVE IN CALIFORNIA CAUSED SUFFERING TO THE ELDERLY BECAUSE THEY WERE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONERS. THINK ABOUT IT.

PROGRESS

"NOT TO GO BACK IS TO SOMEWHAT ADVANCE." THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PESSIMISTICALLY SEE THE CUP OF PROGRESS AS HALF EMPTY WOULD BE HELPED TO REMEMBER THE SINS OF CIVILIZATIONS’ PAST. EMPERORS, KINGS, PIRATES, PEOPLE AND POPES MURDERED AND SINNED. AFTER HE CRUEL RIENZI, TRIBUNE AND DICTATOR OF ROME WAS ASSASSINATED, HE WAS HUNG BY THE FEET. HE WAS SO FAT "HE LOOKED LIKE A HUGE BUFFALO OR COW AT THE BUTCHER'S," ACCORDING TO A CHRONICLER OF THE TIMES. GOOD RIDDANCE TO ONE MADMAN IN THE MIDDLE AGES, HOWEVER, DID NOT ASSURE A BENIGN SUCCESSOR. THE VISCONTI FAMILY, RULERS OF MILAN ALSO TYPIFIED THE BLOOD THIRSTY CULTURE OF THE MIDDLE AGES. ONE DESPOTIC MEMBER EVEN HUNTED MEN WITH DOGS AT NIGHT. THE VISCONTI BANNER PICTURED A VIPER FROM WHOSE OPEN JAWS A NAKED CHILD HAD JUST EMERGED. DID THE CHILD REPRESENT THE BIRTH OF ANOTHER FIEND OR DID IT SIGNIFY HOW THE ROYAL DESPOT WOULD ENGORGE HIS SUBJECTS? THANKFULLY, HUMANITY CAN NEVER REGRESS A THOUSAND YEARS, EVEN THOUGH WE SOMETIMES SEEM TO BE STAGNATING TODAY.

A MERE 300 YEARS AGO, ALEXANDER POPE REMINDED US THAT "NOT TO GO BACK IS TO SOMEWHAT ADVANCE." ON THIS LABOR DAY HOLIDAY, AN EXCUSE TO ABSCOND FROM WORK, LET'S REMEMBER HOW FAR THE LEADERS AND THE WORKERS OF THE WORLD HAVE COME. ALL WHO HAVE LABORED CAN REST IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT AMERICA'S (AND THE WORLD'S) CUP IS OPTIMISTICALLY HALF FULL.

RECLAMATION

ABOUT A 1000 YEARS AGO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOUNDED ABOUT 1000 YEARS EARLIER BY CHRIST WHO ANOINTED THE FIRST POPE, ST. PETER, HAD GONE TERRIBLY WRONG. A CONTEMPORARY OF INNOCENT III IN 1289 SAID OF THE ROMAN CURIA: "THEY ARE STONES FOR UNDERSTANDING, WOOD FOR JUSTICE, FIRE FOR WRATH, IRON FOR FORGIVENESS; DECEITFUL AS FOXES, PROUD AS BULLS, GREEDY AND INSATIATE AS THE MINOTAUR." THE EXAMPLE SET BY CHURCH OFFICIALS CERTAINLY DEVIATED FROM THE IDEALS AND PRACTICES OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS. WHERE ARE WE TODAY? WE WOULD BE HOLIER THAN THEN HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE 60'S. THE 60'S REVOLUTION WITH ITS FREEDOM RADICALS, INSPIRED THE SEX ABUSE SCANDALS OF PRIESTS JUST RECENTLY UNCOVERED AND PUNISHED. RADICALS NOT ONLY DEFINED DEVIANCY DOWN, THEY RAISED IT TO A POLITICALLY CORRECT ART. THIS ART FORM IS REFLECTED IN OUR PRESENT CULTURE OF IMMORALITY.


EVEN CHARLES DARWIN, THE EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGIST, KNEW THAT "THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STAGE IN MORAL CULTURE IS WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE OUGHT TO CONTROL OUR THOUGHTS." MAN BEING A CREATURE HIGHER THAN THE ANIMALS OUGHT TO BE CAPABLE OF CONTROLLING BOTH HIS ACTIONS AND HIS THOUGHTS. YET HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE WHEN ADULTS AND SOCIETY BEHAVE LIKE PERMANENT CHILDREN?


AT THE NATIONAL FOREIGN TRADE CONVENTION, BEARDLSEY RUMI GAVE AN ADDRESS ON WORLD TRADE AND PEACE ON NOVEMBER 14TH 1945. "IT TAKES ONLY A PERIOD OF ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS, " HE SAID, "TO IMPLANT A BASIC CULTURE IN THE MIND OF MAN - THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE AGE OF TWO AND THE AGE OF FOURTEEN IN A PSYCHO-BIOLOGICAL SENSE, HISTORY TRADITION AND CUSTOM ARE ONLY ABOUT TWELVE YEARS OLD. "


IT IS NOT 2007, IT IS NOT 1007, IT IS NOT EVEN 1198 WHEN THE ABOVE COMMENTS WERE MADE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CHURCH. IT IS YEAR 14, THE AGE WHEN WE HAVE CEASED TO ADVANCE MORALLY BECAUSE NO PROPER PRIOR PARENTING HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONS. IT WOULD ONLY TAKE A GENERATION OF RECLAMATION AND REPARATION TO SET AMERICA RIGHT.

INSANITY

AN AUTHOR OF A BOOK ABOUT LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES POSITED THAT "STUBBORN AND PATIENT COURAGE IS PERHAPS THE COMMONEST OF HUMAN VIRTUES." DOES THIS BEHAVIOR COPY THE ANIMALS OR THE ANGELS? DOES IT MIMIC A LOWER EVOLUTIONARY OR HIGHER TELEOLOGICAL FORM OF OUR EXISTENCE? THE FACT THAT THE WRITER CALLS THIS RESPONSE TO REALITY A VIRTUE, TENDS TO FAVOR OUR MOVEMENT FORWARD. RARELY DO WE COMMENT ON AN ANIMAL'S VIRTUE. RARELY TOO, DO WE COMMENT ON AN ANIMAL'S INSANITY. MAN DEMONSTRATES INSANITY WITH REGULARITY.

AN EXAMPLE IS AN ELITIST LIBERAL'S SUGGESTION THAT THERE BE IN AMERICA A GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. HOW DO YOU 'MAKE' CITIZENS VOLUNTEER FOR 1 YR IN THE MILITARY OR SERVICE IN A HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL, OVERSEES OR SAVINGS PROGRAM? AMERICANS ALREADY MAKE VOLUNTARY CHOICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS EVERY DAY; THE ONLY WAY TO 'MAKE' THEM VOLUNTEER WOULD BE TO THROW MORE GOVERNMENT MONEY THROWN INTO THE STUPID IDEA PIT.

HUMANS MIGHT ASPIRE TO GET THEIR WINGS, BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. TODAY’S STRUGGLE IS TO ENDURE WITH STUBBORN AND PATIENT COURAGE THE INSANITY OF LIBERAL IDEOLOGY.