God, History and You

Having Compassion for our Commander-in-Chief

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:05:00 +0000

It was a few minutes past midnight when I suddenly awoke & groggily switched on the TV. The screen was filled with the face of our newly chosen President-elect, Barack Hussein Obama, speaking to the nation that would soon be under his leadership and command. For reasons I still don't understand, I wept, deep, sorrowful tears.The face I now see on that TV screen, or computer screen, or in magazines, has aged far more than one year. The tears I shed then are now replaced with a different strong, deep emotion - compassion. The face I see now looks far more like the face of a man in his late fifties, not forties, and the weight of his first year in office shows markedly in his countenance. 'Grim' would not be an inappropriate word to use in its description.Most understandably so. President Obama is "...learning every day the challenges of a wartime presidency." ( Joel Achenbach, Washington Post )You or I may not have voted for him, may be against some/all of his policies & decisions, but he is a man in a very hot seat that most of us couldn't endure for more than a few minutes, let alone a year...with more to come. Watching President Obama recently, I was struck with this realization. Yes, he chose to run for the office of President of the United States of America, he wanted the job...but like any job, or, in fact, any new situation, its reality often turns out to be a sledgehammer! And once you're in it, you're in it, and there is no reprieve. Can you imagine bearing the crushing burden of making the decision to send tens of thousands of young men & women to war in a foreign land? Knowing you are sending some of them to their deaths? And, that among the survivors will be many living the rest of their lives without an arm or leg(s), disfigured, perhaps blinded? Their entire perception & experience of life will be forever changed. Re-integration into civilian life may not be so easily accomplished, and some may not ever really recover from the after-effects of their wartime military experience. Just writing about this, I am feeling sick to my stomach. How does one actually make this kind of decision without the gut-wrenching soul searching that ravages, leaving a person sick, and sick at heart? Right now, for me, all of the 'Is Obama the Anti-Christ?' hoopla, and all the evil! terrorist! Muslim-connections-of-his-past, (and let's not forget his middle name!), the ruckus revolving around his Kenyan descent, and whatever else was/could be thrown into the mix of opposition to our President, is irrelevant at this point. At this point, he is the man at the helm of our nation, with gale-force winds & approaching tidal waves. (Just yesterday the ship was fiscally sinking, and there were so many holes & so much damage that one didn't know what to plug up first, where do we begin to fix it? But today one hears that it's possible the ship is being righted. Tentatively, and only once or twice, I've heard/read that signs are being seen that the economy has officially begun to recover. I work in retail, and here and there, I've seen prices actually dropping...however, America has not yet reached her safe harbor.) A tsunami called Iran's Nuclear Weapons program is not that far in the distance, with global repercussions, and there is mutiny & tragedy roiling in the belly of the ship. Within and without...I can go to sleep at night, confident that others are manning the ship, and forget about all this. Obama cannot. I can wake up on my days off and savor a big mug of coffee, leisurely, while I ponder changing jobs, or what blogging activity to engage in that day. He cannot. He's in this to win this, and there may not be a truly 'leisure' time for President Obama for quite awhile.Whether Democrat or Republican, or neither, have a heart of compassion for your President right now. If you are a Christian, pray for him. If you are not, pray anyway. [...]

The Bad News is... (con'd.) - or, 'Hard is not Hopeless'

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:32:00 +0000

I love it when a succinctly-put phrase, or a concise, hard-hitting sentence or two, breaks it all wide open and I'm struck by genius. I really love that. (And of course I mean the 'genius' of another...my IQ isn't that high!)In the process of re-reading, reviewing & organizing papers and notes, in order to begin this post, I read such a statement that I must've missed the first time around. Following the trend of thought & logic presented by former West Point professor and Yale graduate Frederick W. Kagan, concerning the necessary ingredients for victory in Afghanistan, I found this most enlightening (to me) conclusion: " That does not mean the problem lies with our overall “footprint” in Afghanistan, but rather that we should rethink where (emphasis mine) to put our feet......Understanding this principle is vital, because if we misinterpret the nature of the “footprint” problem we might come to the erroneous conclusion that success requires fewer forces rather than more—or, as some senior leaders are increasingly suggesting, that our presence is the problem." (Frederick W. Kagan, "Planning Victory in Afghanistan" )Alternative viewpoints can be invaluable. Alternative viewpoints conceived our American democracy. Such viewpoints engender conflict, struggle and ultimately require compromise in policy, as was with our Constitution. These are good things.oooThis will probably be my last post on Afghanistan (for awhile, at least). (I hope I'm not hearing cheers out there!) Anyway...in my recent readings & writings, I've noticed similarities and/or parallels of sorts, between the above-quoted Frederick Kagan's viewpoints, and ensuing AfPak developments. My intent with this post is to point them out.ooo"Afghanistan is not now a sanctuary for al-Qaeda, but it would likely become one again if we abandoned it."" Allowing Afghanistan to fail would mean allowing these determined enemies of the United States to regain the freedom they had before 9/11." I continue to be completely unable to comprehend how so many Americans appear to not get this, as dwindling support for our military presence here would seem to suggest. With sharpened Taliban fighting skills leading to greater Taliban control (Bad News, Pt.1) of this critical area, it should be obvious that insurgency dominance is equivalent to a wide open door for al-Qaeda. "Birds of a feather...", right? Though all indications evidence al-Qaeda & its key leaders to be primarily Pakistani-based, as well as the removed head of the Taliban government, from these havens contacts are maintained between the two organizations, and insurgent activity is supported in both southern & eastern Afghanistan. Give up Afghanistan, and you're giving bin Laden free reign. Do that, and America will be looking at a disaster scenario far worse than 9/11. At the time Mr. Kagan wrote this article (2/09), I don't recall just how committed the U.S. was to success in Afghanistan. Apparently not enough, though - "The Pakistani leadership appears convinced that America will abandon its efforts in South Asia sooner rather than later...", resulting in continued Pakistani support for the Afghan Taliban operating in their territory. Such support ensures a certain level of control over the insurgents, which is desirable for the Pakistanis, especially if they are unsure of American reliability in this endeavour. " Until it is widely believed that the U.S. will remain in the fight until the insurgency is defeated, doubt about our commitment will continue to fuel the insurgency." Locally, the Afghanistan populace, fearing Taliban retaliation, may hesitate to commit to us if they doubt our commitment to them. Kagan concludes that "we must make it clear that we will do what it takes to win" in order to gain the trust and cooperation of the people of both countries.Based on previous patterns of American retreat/abandonment in Middle East crises/attacks, from 1983 through 1992, Kagan also theorizes that, by duking it out in Afghanistan, a 'changed...global percepti[...]

Repairing the State of the Union

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:04:00 +0000

There is a rumbling, low like thunder, moving across the land of the free and the home of the brave.I became aware of this movement, just barely, sometime during the past year. To the un- or newly initiated, it may sound like rebellion or anarchy, with all the attendant associations of turmoil. I said, let me keep following this trend, and I have. What at one time may have sounded like extremism now plays a different tune. (In my ears, at least.) Persons who might have appeared fanatical to me, before, I now understand are patriotic Americans who know their Constitution. They have put their hand to the plow and are not looking back, and many of them are going forward with God.The issue is state sovereignty."There are clear limits to the power of the federal government and clear realms of power for the states.""The national government has become a complex system of programs whose purposes lie outside {emphasis mine} of the responsibilities of the enumerated powers {of the Federal govt., specified in the Constitution}..." (State Rep. Susan Lynn- TN, 57th.)Representative Lynn makes the above statements in a clearly explained letter to the other 49 State Legislatures, requesting their partnership in a ' joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government...' As of this posting, I am not sure if this invitation has actually been sent to the various states yet, but for sure it's on its way. Some of the comments made regarding Rep. Lynn's initiative have encouraged and motivated me, expanding my understanding as well. I'm 'getting a grip'! Here are a few -"Please go very public with this and allow the groundswell of support to build. We have truly found that the only thing the federal congress hears is the very loud stomping of the feet of the general population in this great country. They must hear us in this matter, before we become just another 2nd class country, {italics mine} torn apart by an egotist." - Jim, Oct.21, 4:44am"... Let’s make this viral." - Wanda Gray, Oct.21, 6:24am"This is a movement that will be the foundation of getting back to our founding principles. Implementing the Tenth Amendment and challenging the Sixteenth Amendment is the only way to stop the spicket {spigot? suggestion mine} of funding that enables the current trampling of our constitutional rights." - Rich Hand, candidate for Governor of Colorado, Oct.21, 6:41am, who also says"This road is long but in honor of our founders and what they endured; well worth the effort.""Our only hope to preserve this Republic is for all the states to come together and assert their Constitutional rights to reset our government back to its original intent and mandate. God speed." - Ralph Luciani, BGen,(ret.) USAFMC, Oct.21, 9:41amBringing it down to where we live, Ruth Ann Wilson says we need some action at more local levels: "SANCTIFY THE COUNTIES once again. Use the “Private Act” to restore our Counties. As we have a 10th Amendment, so we, the people, have a 9th Amendment..." - Oct.21, 7:37amI've only read about 25% of the comments; so far, all in favor...(I'm sure there are dissenters, but I don't know that I'll be reading through all the rest. I'm using my time instead to write this! But, later...) (Actually, just glancing over some right now & think I'd better read more of them.)One gets the sense of another Revolution of sorts, brewing in this great country, in this great democracy. That sense is underscored by Richard's potent insight, that we need today "the effort and courage of the Founding Fathers". No doubt...Below is Representative Lynn's letter. Please read it thoughtfully, if you have time - "We send greetings from the Tennessee General Assembly. On June 23, 2009, House Joint Resolution 108, the State Sovereignty Resolution, was signed by Governor Phil Bredesen. The Resolution created a committee which has as its charge to:-Communicate the resolution to the legislatures of the several states,-Assure them that this State continues in the [...]

The Centrality of our Constitution

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Where do I begin?If the passion hasn't gripped you , or America's early history at least presented intrigue, then my next statements will fall flat. Dudsville. If we were in a face-to-face, you'd be looking at me funny...it's happened before!! (Not that long ago, either...) In an apparently ill-chosen moment with a poorly-selected subject, I tried to express my vivid sense of the 'here & now' continued existence and presence of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln...men of destiny. They live on. There was an instant when I felt I was walking with them, invigorated, having fellowship. Having entered their heart's desire myself, and having found it to be vital & alive, still beating in the spirit, I found them there as well. Absence of their physical beings matters not. They are alive.So today, this sense of connection & continuity appears again, as I'm gaining more understanding of the basic mechanics of government, (which understanding has begun to grow as a result of even small attempts to learn about, and the specifics of, our Constitution.) I know that I keep using words like 'amazing' and 'stunned', and I apologize for repetitiveness! (so I will refrain from their use right now) but they so make the point!!! Besides the Word of God, I cannot fathom any other written works, EVER, to be, or to have been, so priceless. Wrought with such wisdom and resulting in such enduring democratic governance. I think of the Genesis 1 description of the earth being 'without form,and void', and 'darkness was upon the face of the deep.' It occurs to me that, until recently, this would've been a pretty accurate description of my knowledge of our Constitution, and the structure of our nation's government. But just as God moved upon those dark waters, and started speaking shape & form & structure into existence, so is He now doing with me. Light entered. It is starting to make sense now...more than make sense, the power of God is exploding, and it is exploding in my personal Constitutional epiphany.Talk about the 'Big Bang Theory' !My point is that getting an understanding of the structure & function of government today underscores potently the words, plans & activities of the Founding Fathers, because this is what they produced. They are IN IT. We are co-workers with them! Americans can carry on the legacy of the Revolution. But they cannot do it by side-stepping or skipping over the Constitution of the United States of America. The answers lie therein.ooo"...citizens have evidently not been teaching the Constitution and its history to their children for many generations..." ( B.Johnson, comment on the subject of state sovereignty, a 10th. Amendment principle)More to come...just getting started![...]

another Personal Note...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:42:00 +0000

I know I've said this before, more than once, but the miracle in my heart continues & I am almost compelled to sound the trumpet yet again.

I think about the days of Revolution more & more. I realized today that I want to go back in time & be a part of it. What it must have been like in those days is barely conceivable! Can you imagine the excitement of shaping a nation?? I feel a discernible sense of camaraderie with the men who met in Philadelphia in 1787 to forge & frame a new Constitution for a young America. I remember reading that Jefferson was not present and wanted, so wanted! to be...he was living in Paris, our ambassador to France, an ocean away, and felt left out, being in a sense excluded from what he termed "the assembly of demi-gods". (Lerner, Max - Thomas Jefferson: America's Philosopher-King) And god-like it was, I can see that now, to have been in such a place at such a time, such an amazing, amazing time in history!

This afternoon, I began reading a book entitled "How We Choose a Congress" . Every word came alive. It was almost as if I was there, on Capitol Hill, somehow involved. The saga continues, the dream lives on. The pricelessness of what we have here in America stuns me. The moments when I realize this are the moments of reality clear, true and brilliant. By stark contrast, the many other moments of my day & life, the humdrum, uneventful or so-so times that make up the fabric of a day or week...are causing me to wonder, how long have I been asleep? What am I doing with this gift of life & Liberty? I am coming late, way late to an awareness of the miracle, and find myself re-assessing priorities.

A Living Vision

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Earlier today, I was checking out the Department of Justice's 'snappy new Web site' (according to Washington Post columnist Al Kamen) -- Justice.gov. Not too long ago, I visited the White House website, and awhile back, I had reason to look into Congressman Andrews homepage. In each case, to my surprise & delight, I found a riveting interest commanding my attention. I say, 'surprise & delight' because it wasn't that long ago that I would've had to put out some serious effort to absorb anything on any of those pages! The information contained on them would've seemed distant, dry and unrelated.

But, for me, it's different now.

The timelessness of the Revolutionary spirit, the passion of our Founders' vision has gripped me. Though I am sure it is barely a glimpse, it is enough to change everything.
Having been far more than touched by the selflessness and nobility of our first commanding General and President, George Washington, I remain today and forever in awe of him and that for which he fought and sacrificed. Having been beyond delighted and intrigued by the scintillating mind and personality of the author of our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, I am indelibly marked with his imprint. And having found that for which I did not even know I was looking, for the second time in my life it can be said that, as the Scripture records, "...I am found of them that sought me not..." (Isaiah 65:1 KJV)

And because of these things, when I see the heading 'The United States Department of Justice', or an official Congressional heading, on a website homepage, they come alive. A living dynamic and a continuous, ongoing process shows itself, and through it the heart of our Founding Fathers and all the first Patriots yet beats, strong and true. I see the vision through their eyes, and it remains untarnished.

ooo

Jeremiah & Contradictions

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:20:00 +0000

As I’ve made my way back & forth from the days of Revolution past to today’s revolutionary conflicts and crises, on numerous occasions I have been guilty of promising a Part 2 and not delivering it, or starting a topic and fading away from it. I am definitely aware of that, but, yet again…here I go. Very good chance I may not return to Afghanistan and its revised war strategy, though my interest in that is strong. ‘Out of the blue’ the other day, I had this thought about the taking captive of Jerusalem way back in time, and one thought led to another…Early on in my then newly birthed relationship with God, (and to my dismay I might add!) I found myself identifying with the prophet Jeremiah. Now, if you have even a little knowledge of the man, you know that his was not a joyful mission. His burden was heavy. To me, his way seemed sorrowful, and his responsibility was great. Imagine being “set…over the nations and over the kingdoms”! (Jeremiah 1:10) Authority from the Most High over whole countries! Personally, not wantin’ that kind of power! Especially when it involves bringing bad news! And, as if that wasn’t enough of a buzz-kill, Jeremiah was also called “…to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down… (v.10) He was given the horribly awesome task of proclaiming to Israel the coming invasion of King Nebuchadnezzar, and his 70 year captivity of Jerusalem. In this task he had to persevere for decades. Not an easy life…What appears as a very intriguing twist to this plot is found in Chapter 32. By now the invasion has taken place, and Jerusalem is being besieged by Nebuchadnezzar’s army. Jeremiah is imprisoned for declaring his message from God; frankly, the king of Judah at that time didn’t want to hear it! (As can often be the case, ya do the right thing & end up getting kicked to the curb.) So, the prophet is “shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house.” (I think I see a whole other message right here, in this one sentence! Maybe another time…) And he gets a word from God to buy land (v.7-9, 25). What? Jeremiah has got to be thinking, huh? What am I going to do with land? I’m in prison, and You’ve shown me there will be a 70 year exile for my people!Jeremiah buys the land, which was located just north of the besieged Jerusalem. He has the transaction witnessed & documented, and the evidence sealed for a future time. And herein lies the kernel of hope – ‘for a future time.’ In days to come, though they be yet far off, “houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.” (v.15) Though at this time, “the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans {enemy}” (v.25), there comes a time when, through His processes, God turns it all around. When He does, not just this one field shall be possessed by an Israelite, but “men shall buy fields…in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south.” (v.44)Because, as it is written, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (v.27)Israel made wrong choices, and she crashed & burned. But a plan for a return to health and prosperity was always in place. I am hoping that this same principle holds true for America today. oooAnother interesting aspect to Jeremiah’s story: God’s intention of having the prophet buy land was not hindered by the fact that Jeremiah was incarcerated. In verses 7 & 8, we read how the LORD told Jeremiah that his cousin was going to show up, offering the prophet a real estate opportunity. Which is what happened. It took no effort on Jeremiah’s part to bring God’s word to him to pass. God brought the manifested word to Jeremiah. True, he had to act on the offer (whi[...]

The Bad News is... (Part 1)

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:45:00 +0000

"The point is that the Taliban, who have had a very clear aim and means from the very beginning, have been able slowly and steadily to get better at what they're doing." (Washington Post)This remark was recently made by an unnamed European official, whose country's armed forces are combating the Taliban alongside U.S. troops. Concurring with this statement, top U.S. commander in the AfPak arena General Stanley McChrystal evaluates the situation as 'serious'. The Taliban are fighting smarter. They have shifted their focus of attack to small bases and checkpoints, manned by Afghan forces, isolated and easy to infiltrate, thus obtaining intelligence. Gone are the more large-scale confrontations with American troops, from several years ago, which resulted in large numbers of insurgent fatalities. And the confrontations themselves are more sophisticated in method, observed to be similar in style to U.S. Army Rangers training, which equips soldiers for small scale engagements in 'austere' surroundings. They are considered by one U.S Army general to be developing into a more 'disciplined force'. Among their newly acquired skills - being able to estimate response times for U.S. fighter jets, helicopters, and artillery cannons. "They know exactly how long it takes before . . . they have to break contact and pull back," one Pentagon official said. Sounds like split-second timing in a hair trigger situation... Using our own tactics against us, the Taliban is taking full advantage of the recent restraint (for the purpose of protecting Afghan civilians) ordered on the use of U.S. air power and also night-time attacks. They have increased their night-time operations, and apparently feel much safer gathering in more populated locales now, perhaps blending in like chameleons, knowing air strikes are much less likely to occur.Not only has the Taliban fighting style evolved, their geographical areas of control have expanded as well, providing the insurgency with more training ground, and that ground being closer to the actual combat. It has been considered, as well, that the services of professional fighters from Central Asia & other Arab countries are being used.Opinions differ, though, as to the reason(s) for Taliban ascendancy in the area. The deputy commander of Marines in the Helmand province believes that increased usage of roadside bombs plays more a part in insurgent victories than tactics of any other sort. Playing to their strengths... And the effects of corruption in public office, ethnic tensions, unemployment and the absence of state justice systems in rural regions are strong contributing factors to increased Taliban control, creating unrest & dissatisfaction to which the extremists can offer "solutions'. In neighboring Pakistan, "there is widespread hope that adopting a strict code of law based on the Koran will transform a society where corruption is rampant." (link) The Islamic militants offer a 'Robin Hood' approach, according to Amnesty International, even gaining trust at first, and initially seem to be defending the weak & poor, but that defense soon becomes 'quick...harsh justice', and with the 'defending' comes increased Taliban dominance. Possibly more potent to Taliban victory than any sharpened skill or evolved strategy, however, is the simple fact of morale. Said one senior official, "The number one indicator we have out there now is that they think they're winning (italics mine). That creates an attitude, a positive outlook, and a willingness to sacrifice."(Source)oooSooo....as I was reading my source article, and writing the above, the following statements from my post "Afghanistan - a New Approach?" came to mind."...an intensified military effort to root out corruption among local government officials..." is a large part of its aim... "...considers corruption at local government levels to be as much a threat [...]

Don't Wanna Say 'I told you so' but...(OK, Yes,I do!)

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:05:00 +0000

I'm in the middle of working on another post, and have also been offered some blogging help by fellow blogger AndyD, who will be guest-writing in the near future (once we decide on a topic) - BUT - while backtracking this AM to a piece I'd bookmarked back in February, I came across this Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde comparison to our President in a NRO article.
Because it so *totally mirrors & confirms my early-on suspicions, I feel vindicated. Yet, at the same time, sorrow tugs at my heart.

I left this comment on reddit.com over a year ago:

"I am not an Obama supporter, but am not antagonistic towards him. So far, anyway. The media and money aspect certainly do tend to power, but people who will vote for him in Nov. aren't going to necessarily be voting for him b/c of this power. He can, as LanternBearer says, 'wing a speech' very well. His presentation of himself will win voters, in large part, I think."

In 'Dr. Barack and Mr. Obama', Victor Davis Hanson, in National Review Online, writes the following:

"People assumed that his easy rhetoric was not a result of studied preparation or superficial style, but a natural reflection of honesty and sincerity."

and

"Now nearly half the country is not merely distrustful of him, but increasingly viscerally angry at him as well."

"...it took millions of Americans months of fair and judicious examination to conclude that Obama’s real weaknesses were his once-advertised strengths:... The present Mr. Obama looks and sounds like the old Dr. Barack, but he surely does not act anything like the candidate who persuaded America."





Check out the NRO article.

* not necessarily referring to my being 'simpatico' w/every detail in this article by Mr. Hanson - rather the general principle indicated by the details.

Soldier in Transition

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:39:00 +0000

'Support our Troops'...'Honor our Fallen Heroes'...'Thank a Veteran'...these phrases speak for themselves. Instinctively, in our hearts and in our guts, we feel pangs of pride, of sadness or anguish, of gratitude for sacrifices made in the cause of freedom. But unless we have been there, we really cannot know... I have had the inestimable honor of working with an Afghan/Iraqi war vet these last few months. Words cannot adequately describe my response to being in this young man's presence. I have felt that I have been visited from on High, that God has graced me with a word in the flesh, the very topic about which I 've often written, alive, in my space. Often, I've felt stupid, not knowing what to say, or how to help.I went against my better judgment, and asked this young soldier if I could interview him at some point, because I wanted to know, first-hand, how a soldier felt about this war. We all sit over here and expound on this & that, we bloggers, sounding off in posts, forums, etc., but how do they feel? What are a soldier's thoughts on the kind of brutal experiences that most of us will never know? The red flag that was gently waving in the back of my mind, warning me that it might be too soon for Ethan (not his real name) to re-live combat events by speaking of them, proved accurate. Ethan still had trouble sleeping, though he'd been home over a year. He is still trying to fully recover. I backed off, and promised not to mention my request again. And I haven't. But in some of our conversations, I learned bits & pieces about this soldier's life now, and then. I don't feel that I should go into details, but what I want to convey is that, when one of our warriors comes home from the Middle East theatre of war, it isn't that fairytale, balloons-and-parade-with-flag flying! and now everything is OK! that we might mistakenly think. These men and women are forever changed. As a civilian, I was most certainly deluded. But watching and working with one of our nation's heroes has opened my eyes. You don't just ease back into society after fighting jihadists, or having your vehicle blown up by a roadside bomb. You carry it with you, and it can take a long time to regain at least some of your former mentality. On top of that, most people around you are clueless. Nobody gets it. The only reason I got any of 'it' is because God had been at work, expanding my awareness, so that every time I see Ethan, or speak with him, I'm so affected that I feel like a fish out of water. I am humbled, speechless, and, like I said, I feel stupid.Ethan is returning to Afghanistan. Though he served three years already, he will return for at least six more, and may opt for a military career. A soldier is who he is, it seems to me, not what he's done.I will miss him.[...]

Tackling the Economy...

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Never, in my wildest dreams, would I have ever imagined myself watching a program about business journalism (if I actually had dreams about such topics!). And not only watching, but watching with interest - avid interest. But such has been the case The paths down which I find myself wandering, all leading back to my Revolutionary War studies, are a constant source of amazement to me, and whole new worlds of learning, from then to now, continue to unfold.oooSteve Pearlstein, business columnist for the Washington Post, 'guess-timates' that Americans have been living about 6% beyond their means (p.12) for some time now. As most of us know, the culprit is credit. It became very easy to spend $1.06 for every $1.00 earned. Taking into account the size of this country, and its vast population, it's easy to see this runaway horse galloping across the land, leaving a wide trail of debt in its wake.Though information was out there, it has been suggested that many Americans were not really aware of our impending economic crisis until later in 2008. I remember hearing radio broadcasts predicting the disaster lasting until the first quarter of 2010, and I still hadn't really felt the pinch of it yet. In fact, it was news to me! It seemed to come out of nowhere. I wasn't that worried, as I've never had alot of money and am used to counting my pennies, tightening my purse strings fairly often. But I wondered, how did this happen? Where did it come from? Why didn't more of us see the signs? Pearlstein compares the apparently sudden manifestation of this financial malady to Wile E. Coyote, when he runs off the cliff, moving so fast that he just keeps going & going, still in mid-air, then suddenly - Whoops!! "That’s the dynamic, because there’s so much built in momentum, that it appears that that which should be happening isn’t,"Pearlstein explains. Looking back, I think my first indication of a coming economic meltdown was a subtle but startling change in the size of my favorite super-large Hershey's chocolate bar. Seriously. The price didn't drop, but the size did. Sometimes, it's in the small stuff...Articles warning of the coming financial crisis appeared in the New York Times, as far back as about seven years ago, according to its senior financial writer Diana Henriques. Newspapers nationwide reported on troubling mortgage industry issues. But not everybody reads the New York Times, or the finance pages. The average American's interests are focused elsewhere, not on high finance. More street level, let's say. As for business moguls, supposedly very knowledgeable in their areas of expertise "...people were buying things in the financial world that they didn’t fully understand, and they were paying a great deal of money for them." (Ali Velshi, chief business correspondent, CNN)Author of Give Me My Money Back: Your Guide to Beating the Financial Crisis, Ali Velshi (quoted above) explains how such an 'overheated' financial environment was initially created by the repeated reselling of mortgages,resulting in a handful of organizations holding multitudes of them. When homeowners couldn't make the payments...down, down, down came the 'house of cards', as Velshi calls them. Now, as we all know, rebuilding is necessary, one way or another, throughout our society.So, I'm thinking, why were homeowners unable to make their mortgage payments? Well, why do any of us not make a payment, for anything? Clearly, not enough cash to go around. (And though there are many reasons this can be true, one of them is buying too much.} So we opt for - credit. (Even as I write this, I must confess that for the first time in many, many years, I was forced to avail myself of a credit card. I am grateful for it. Without this little piece of plastic, I'd be eating even less than I alre[...]

Afghanistan - a New Approach?

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:51:00 +0000

"And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees..." (Luke 3:9. KJV)We continue in our seemingly endless battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan, a force that at present is reported to be gaining ground, a "growing...insurgency" in that area. (I am reminded, as I write, of the Biblical account of Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord, 'til the dawning of a new day, and how he would not let go until he got the blessing. Not to compare the Taliban with the angel of the Lord, rather to emphasize persistence unto victory. A new day dawning...)Last month, the top U.S. commander in this particular theatre of war, General McKiernan, was replaced by General Stanley A. McChrystal, who has espoused a different approach to dealing with the insurgents. Rather than a primarily outward thrust, with the intention of locating, uprooting & capturing Taliban forces from their mountainous strongholds, U.S. and NATO troops would focus more on protecting the more populous locales from enemy invasion. McChrystal's strategy is now becoming even more defined and specific, and will be requiring more troops, both U.S/NATO and Afghan.As a person who almost can't help but analyze, war--time strategy has begun to intrigue me. This particular strategy appears solid, to me. With a dose of genius. "...an intensified military effort to root out corruption among local government officials..." is a large part of its aim, and calls for "more unconventional methods" in its implementation. A strategy assessment team, comprised of expert advisers and national security specialists from Washington 'think tanks', considers corruption at local government levels to be as much a threat to Afghan peace and freedom as any top Taliban commander. Consequently, as stated above, US/NATO involvement in exposing and removing such elements is also to be a prominent aspect of General McChrystal's plan. A writer on FiscalRangers.com, a site dealing with the corruption issue in Iraq and the rest of the world as well, VJtraveler says, "I have reported several times about the lack of serious actions by the State Dept or other donors in fixing fraud and corruption problems before dumping lots of money into "developing or conflict" countries." VJ cites diplomacy not being used "to ensure corruption cases are actually prosecuted, which is a major deterrent." Falling in line with McChrystal's 'inward rather than outward' push, "commanders will be encouraged to increase contact with Afghans", actually living inside the towns, and spending more time on foot patrols, as opposed to in heavily armored vehicles. Climbing out of their trucks and interacting with the locals puts our soldiers in more of a position to identify the tribal "power brokers" and connect with them, influencing policies and decisions. Strong emphasis is being placed on partnership, Afghan and U.S/NATO troops living, training and carrying out missions together, throughout every level of rank.A less than enthusiastic response is expected from the Obama administration regarding the increased troops request.(Source - Washington Post)oooI particularly like the idea of getting to the root of corruption in the local and/or otherwise Afghan government. In the Scripture cited above, I see the concept of 'rooting out the truth'. The 'axe', I believe, represents the Word of God, the One who also identifies Himself as the Way, the Truth, & the Life. I've always understood that verse to be an illustration of the truth of God's Word being applied to any school of thought, teaching, process, practice, etc - you name it! and exposing fallacy & falsehood, that which deceives, corrupts and eventually kills, should it get that far. Having checked out a little bit of FiscalRangers.com, it is becoming clear to me t[...]

Brooks & Dunn meet Isaiah & Co.

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:29:00 +0000

"When the day comes that I don't love youevery star will fall out of the skyevery mountain will tumble downand every river run dry."- Every River (Kim Richey/Angelo/Tom Littlefield)-BMI/ASCAP Listening to Brooks & Dunn perform their heartfelt rendition of this song, earlier today,(Steers & Stripes, Arista-Nashville) (besides being deeply touched by the serious intensity of it), my brain patterns registered a similar expression of eternal commitment. Now where?...oh, right...Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night...If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, the seed of Israel also chall cease from being a nation before me for ever." (Jeremiah 31: 35, 36 ,KJV)"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips."(Psalms 89: 34, KJV)and, lastly, even though those unthinakble and presumably impossible events actually should come to pass -"For the mountains shall depart, and the hills beremoved; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD..." (Isaiah 54: 10, KJV)ooo[...]

Who is my Brother?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Around the world, peoples of all ages and from all walks of life, have taken up a hue and a cry against governmental oppression of Iranian activist citizens. Protesting the outcome of Iran's recent election, which once again placed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power, these people have been beaten and arrested, and in at least twenty cases, death was the result of police crackdown. In London, a reported 600 protesters gathered outside the Iranian embassy. Several hundred people demonstrated near Times Square in New York City, and a small group of Iranians living in New York have formed protests outside the U.N."to call on the world body to investigate human rights abuses in Iran." In Brussels, Amsterdam, and Geneva people carrying placards, listening to speakers or wearing green headbands symbolic of this protest movement have gathered for the cause of freedom. The Eiffel Tower bore silent witness to several hundred rallying at Trocadero Square in Paris. Vienna, Rome, Norway, Copenhagen...near 3000 demonstrators showed up in Stockholm. The list goes on, people - and is this giving anyone else chills? In smaller yet nonetheless potent groupings, the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne and others hosted the voices of protest, as well as Tokyo and Seoul. Activists outside the Iranian embassy in Prague denounced the brutal treatment of Iranian dissenters of the election results.I have never, in my lifetime, been aware of such an international gathering & outpouring of public support for oppressed citizens of another country. (Although it is true, not that long ago I wouldn't have been paying attention to events on a larger scale...so I may have missed it.)Here is what I'm seeing - because the world has witnessed the liberation of Iraq from the tyranny of a Saddam Hussein, and the inception of a democracy, and because the world is now witnessing a powerful helping hand being extended to the people of Afghanistan, that their lives may be freed from the threat of Taliban control, citizens around the globe have taken heart. The cause of freedom is just, and they know it. Some will not be silent. "...Iranian Nobel Peace prize laureate Shirin Ebadi urged the international community to reject the outcome of the Iranian election and called for a new vote monitored by the United Nations." (USAToday) To Shirin Ebadi, I say, "Rock ON!!!" The Iranian people and their com padres worldwide are crying out against killing, imprisonment, mistreatments and abuse of rights, against dictatorship and injustice. Thomas Jefferson's prediction of over 200 years ago (link) that "this ball of liberty...is now so well in motion that it will roll around the globe..." stands true yet today.It has not stopped rolling.(Source)[...]

They wanted a King !....or, The Evils of Monarchy

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:32:00 +0000

"And ye have this day rejected your God...ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us." (1 Samuel 10: 19, KJV)It almost breaks my heart to read through the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament. It was so not in the heart of the LORD to place an earthly king over the people of Israel. He could not have been any more clear, nor more specific, in His warnings to the people regarding such a form of 'leadership'. But "Nevertheless the people refused...and they said, Nay, but we will have a king over us:" (1 Samuel 8: 19, KJV) Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible (p.235) points out that, in those days (and I point out, in days yet to come!) "having a king mean{t} conscription, forced labour, taxation, and loss of personal liberty. But even this does not deter them."Now wouldn't you think such dire consequences as outlined in 1 Samuel would stop Israel dead-in-their-tracks, so to speak, as concerns demanding a king? Plus, the LORD spoke his warning through the prophet Samuel, a man of God well-known by all, and a force to be reckoned with. If the people would've listened to any human, it surely would've been Samuel. But Biblical history tells us otherwise. The elders of Israel "said unto him, Behold...make us a king to judge us like all the nations." (1Samuel 8: 5, KJV)ooo We see here the tendency of man to progress towards 'kingly government'. It may surprise you to learn that this concept was expressed by Benjamin Franklin, during Revolutionary times! His concerns for American liberty seem to mirror those of the ancient prophet of Israel. "I am apprehensive, therefore...that the Government of these States may in future times end in a monarchy." (Albert H. Smythe, ed.,The Writings of Benjamin Franklin) Franklin believed that the American citizenry might eventually fall under the illusion of 'kingly government' providing equality among all. (W. Cleon Skousen, The 5000 Year Leap) In a word, security? Which engenders survival, promotes happiness and makes possible liberty and its enjoyment. (Another way of phrasing "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"?) Author Michael Novak writes "liberty needs the sunny warmth of culture and ideas and the nourishing rain of favorable institutions of politics and economics." (The Universal Hunger for Liberty) Conditions must be right, as with the blossoming of any planted seed. Franklin and other Founders shared with the prophet Samuel a great concern for the manner in which those conditions were courted.In this lure towards 'kingly government' which so troubled Ben Franklin, and the clamor of ancient Israel for the same, I see the deceitfulness of law (as opposed to grace) wreaking its havoc. I see in the physical world the demonstration of a spiritual dynamic. Many people seek a structured formula (Old Testament law, or just plain law, period!) which, by adhering to it, will let them rest assured that, before God, they are 'okay'. In similar manner, 'kingly government' will guarantee 'security', or equality. Everything will be 'okay'.Wrong. On both counts.In God's realm, "...by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight." (Romans 3:20, KJV). Doesn't work. Not gonna happen. Worse than a waste of time, because "the letter {of the Law} killeth." (2 Corinthians 3:6, KJV). Conditions are not only NOT 'okay', they deteriorate into destruction. In the earthly realm, government by a 'king', or monarch, has never worked, either. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to George Washington ( from Paris in 1788), wrote this: " I was much an enemy to monarchies before I came to Europe. I am ten thousand times more so so since I have seen what they are. There is scarcely an evil known in these [...]

on a more Personal Note...

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Now that the Fourth of July has come and gone, I'm thinking it's time to get back to my writing here...well, I'm vacillating as to what direction to take. I'd 'scheduled' myself to publish a follow-up post to my Israel piece, one focusing on the Palestinian perspective. I just can't seem to muster up the focus & discipline needed to actually do that! Here's what happened:After being immersed in such topics as slavery, Guantanamo, terrorism & counter-terrorism, and diving into other topics such as Presidential issues, earmarks, the Middle East wars, U.S torture policy...and so on and so forth...I needed a break from it all. I needed a break from serious reading and research of any kind, on any topic!! So I did something I haven't done in awhile: I rummaged through my piles on never-read fiction novels, with only one goal in mind, finding something all light and fluff! No serious reading for me, not for awhile. Nothing current events-y, no Revolutionary fare, either. Maybe some Patricia Cornwell, some kind of murder mystery or perhaps a romance with a suspenseful twist...So that's where my head has been lately.But as it turned out, I did come across a 'twist'. Just not a suspenseful one - and I found, for me, there really is no escape! Any of my readers familiar with C.S.Lewis will perhaps recall that Lewis referred to God as the great Hound of Heaven, may I say 'doggedly' (?) pursuing him, unrelenting in His quest. Well, in a rather humorous version of such Divine determination, I found myself most surprisingly confronted with the very thing I was (so I thought) escaping - and smack dab in the middle of my escape route too!I'd unearthed a novel I'd completely forgotten I had, about a subject I rarely read. Its title was two-fold, a kind of lead-in mini novel called "Enchantment", followed by the meatier "Bridge of Dreams". Long story short, we're talking two hundred year-old ill-fated loves & unsolved murders, an ancestral English manor, and its guardian ghost. Not my customary fare. believe me, but I was looking for something different, and let me tell you, this was it! Set in Kent, England, I found the tale most absorbing. The scenarios switch back and forth, from the late 1700's to the present day. So, the tale is weaving its magic, and I'm ensconced in it, when unbelievably...seriously, folks, unbelievably ! who do you think steps into the room? (the 'room' being Adrian Draycott's study, in 18th. century England) Let me give it to you verbatim - "...From now on I trust no one." (Adrian speaking.)"Not even me, Lord Ashton?" The fluid, cultured male voice had something foreign about it as it drifted from the doorway. The speaker was a tall man, with a high, arched nose and eyes of keen, cutting blue.Gabriel stared at the American statesman who had already made a name for himself in England and France. "Is that you, Jefferson?..."Just knock me over with a feather at this point! For the next two pages, and sprinkled here and there after that, our Founding Father briefly engaged with the hero and heroine of the novel, racing against time, flying through the night in a horse-drawn carriage, desperately trying to reach safety and save the heroine's life!Despite my 'need for a break from it all', I was delighted! The story plot actually involved an element of the French Revolution, and that was in part how Thomas Jefferson made his appearance. I didn't see it coming, though! What a treat! Jefferson's time 'on stage' was well-handled, and actually very believable. So now, I have no gumption at all to pursue Palestinian issues, yet am also loathe to not do so. I don't want to leave the subject unfinished.Compoundi[...]

Independence Day, 2009....by His grace!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:09:00 +0000

"...My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1: 46,47, KJV)

As Americans across the nation, from purple mountains' majesty to the congested streets of New York City, celebrate the Fourth of July, as indeed peoples from countries worldwide know of this our great commemoration of freedom, I find myself moved by this freedom as never before in my life.


How precious is our liberty.


How can that which is purchased by blood be anything less? What can compare to freedom?

How great our God, He who designed this plan and He who also brought it to pass. He, the firstfruits, and now we, the favored ones who daily partake of that which has been provided for us. It is true, we yet fight for freedom on foreign soil. But we did not have to fight in that unprecedented American revolution that necessitated the drafting and signing of our Declaration of Independence on this day, two hundred and thirty-three years ago. We, my friends, are the heirs to Liberty! We have been born with that silver spoon in our mouths!

Are we worthy? Only because He has so declared it. More and more, I marvel, why did God place me in the great United States of America? Who am I, or, as King David so eloquently wrote in the Psalms, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? It is essentially the same question I ask. My only answer dwells in God's sovereignty, and His Word. He hath done, and He hath said, Amen.

Israel's Rights vs. "Cast Out the Bondwoman" ?

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:52:00 +0000

In recent days, we've learned that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to a limited Palestinian state. (I myself was taken aback somewhat when I read this, as Mr. Netanyahu has been repeatedly described as 'hawkish'. I'm assuming that his reversal of position here was a result of United States influence/pressure (?) experienced in his latest meeting with President Obama.) One of the conditions is that the Palestinians agree to remain un-armed. Not surprisingly, this is not going over too well on the Palestinian front, last I heard.Having recently posted on viewing a situation from the opposing side (see article), thus getting a differing perspective from my earlier one, I'm more prone to attempt that same approach in other matters now. I can't say I enjoy doing this, and I believe real caution is in order when so attempting, but in search of truth and justice, such investigations become mandatory. Issues can weigh heavy with me, even if I myself am not immediately involved. Or ever involved ! But sometimes I am compelled, as the apostle Paul wrote in Acts, to "search these things out for yourselves".President Obama's Cairo address included the topic of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I believe. In posting about that speech, therefore, my thoughts turned in this direction. As a Bible-believing Christian, I pretty much had the basics down pat, I thought, regarding Israel's right to its land. Numbers 34 opens with a clear and definite description of the boundaries of the land (Canaan) promised to the Israelites by God. It's right there, in black and white. In fact, if you back up to Genesis 12, we see that Abraham (called Abram at the time) and his posse "went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came." And at that point the LORD informed him that "...Unto thy seed will I give this land..." All you Bible students out there know the simple math of Abraham, Isaac, then Jacob - whose name was changed to Israel. Biblically, it was in the Divine cards, so to speak, for specific lands to belong to the Israeli people. And if you check out a basic map of this clearly-outlined-by-God territory and overlay it on a map of the Middle East today...do I really need to tell you where we find ourselves? (map) About two years ago, I was thrown a curve. Reading an article entitled "American Apocalypse" , I was presented with a perspective on 'Biblical prophesy' and 'end-time events' that seriously contradicted anything I'd ever heard, or been taught. The thing of it was, the article made sense to me. Still, I would've balked, kicked and screamed my way out of it, if relevant Scripture hadn't been included. But it was. Now, I can't quite accept the cut-and-dry version of evangelical, mainstream Bible teaching concerning certain events anymore. And one of those events is the outcome of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.It took a little doing to backtrack and locate this article, but I've done so, and am re-reading it. I'd forgotten the whole thrust of dispensationalism factoring into my newly-considered end-times position. I used to work in a Bible bookstore, and I remember seeing that volume (by Clarence Larkin, was it?) about dispensationalism. Never got into it, though. All things are summed up in Christ, and I've always felt that it's all about Him. Other areas of Scriptural study just have never really appealed to me all that much. Too many charts or something, in this one. Plus, don't call me a dispensationalist, or a Methodist, or a Baptist, or any other 'ist', thank you, I believe in Jesus, and Him alone. When it comes to Christ, why do we nee[...]

This Moment in Time: Obama in Cairo

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Tomorrow, President Obama will touch down in Cairo, Egypt, to meet with the Egyptian president and address the issue of U.S.-Muslim relations. (By the time you are reading this, the 'tomorrow' of which I speak will be at least yesterday, or the day before...) I had an entirely different set of plans for today, but as I read an online article in USA Today, reporting on Obama's four-nation Middle East tour, a sense of profound import weighed upon me. I have never experienced anything quite like it before. History in the making, and far more than many, involved in the daily business of life and survival, are cognizant. This moment in time is engaging me in a way such as I have never been. Though I did not vote for him, from the moment of President Obama's victory, I knew something was different, for me personally, as concerned this new Commander-in-Chief. Though supporting our former President George W. Bush, and though that President was in my heart, I was not engaged with him in the way that I realized immediately I was and would be with Barack Obama. Something has changed. Perhaps it is the man himself, but I tend to think it is just as much, the times. "To everything there is a season, and a time..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1. KJV) We, as Americans, as people, and as a world community are standing at a threshold, about to step over it. We are at a moment when anything, when all things are possible.***"What's new here is that people are listening to this president," said Shibley Telhami, a professor at the University of Maryland. "They heard him empathize with their issues. They heard him express an understanding not only of their religion and culture, but their issues." (source)***We, too, must be willing to listen. Not carelessly, nor without caution. Not forsaking the call of our heart, nor our God, but I tell you, I read once that the attitude of the Savior is a listening attitude, and New Testament Scripture tells us as well, through the words of the apostle James, "...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath..." (James 1:19, KJV). This Greek word translated into the English 'hear' involves the element of understanding. (Strong's Concordance, Greek #191). Listening in order to understand, while we hold our tongue and let anger take a hike for quite awhile. These instructions are presented to us in connection with the 'word of truth', from God the Father of lights, the Giver of "Every good gift and every perfect gift..." (v.17). He may have something to say to us, something other than what we expect. We may need to be willing to reconsider previous attitudes and approaches.President Obama's approach to the Muslim world has spoken to me. I was surprised to learn that "people in Egypt and across the Islamic world want a better relationship with the United States", according to vice provost Ali Hadi of the American University in Cairo. Hadi said that"the entire world, including the Arab and Muslim worlds, was very sympathetic," after the September 11 attacks on the United States. And 76% of the respondents to a recent Gallup Poll indicate the importance to Americans of US-Muslim relations. (The monkey-wrench-in-the works here may be that too many Americans think 'extremist' when they hear the word 'Muslim', and don't realize that only 2-3% of the Muslim population fall into that category. Though the carnage wrought by this percentage is and has been great, the numbers of such violent men and women are relatively small, and we as Americans need to make it a point to remember that.) With American standing improving somewhat in [...]

Depending on your Point of View...

Sat, 30 May 2009 12:59:00 +0000

In my reading and studies of our nation's beginnings, I am frequently struck by an angle or viewpoint that may not be the one usually pursued.It is said that there are two sides to every story, right? (Personally, I maintain there are at least three...!) Have you ever considered viewing the American rebellion years leading to the events of 1776 from the perspective of the English monarchy? Not, of course, that England was in the right - it just makes for, may I say, an interesting approach. From our viewpoint, perhaps 'absurd' would be a better word, in light of where America stands today... I just find it intriguing how a situation, or an individual, can be perceived so very differently by those involved, or by on-lookers, based on...based on what? Needs? Desires? Duty? How we can be so absolutely certain of a thing, but time may soon tell us that we were mistaken...Of course, we want to be sure, we want to be certain...it can be uncomfortable and unsettling, if not down-right hard, to be unsure of what one believes, or what one should do. Decisions eventually must be made, action must be taken at some point. One cannot waffle forever. So how do we know? Often, we don't. Then it becomes, whether minute or major, a risk. Risk can be scary. To move forward, risking, invites bolstering one's self with the certainty of the belief motivating the risk. So we're back at Square One! Do we refuse doubt? That can be foolhardy...but if we don't...can we move forward? At that point, I might dig into my mental pocket and pull out Scriptures, a favorite being "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5, KJV) This can be difficult to do, though! And when the building still falls down around you, then what? That's where the business of your own "understanding" needs to be re-evaluated. Your and my idea of loss, defeat or even disaster, and our reactions to these things, are probably not the way God is looking at it. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8, KJV) George III, King of England during those early Revolutionary years, believed God was on his side. He believed this with all his heart. Consequently, it only made sense that England should and would triumph. How wrong was that assumption! Conversely, Americans came to see George III's rule as being any number of cruel, unjust and tyrannical elements, deliberately being applied to deprive them of the freedoms and the life which they wanted. There could be no justification for being bowed down by them, enslaved to them...yet the King could see no justification for the colonies not being subjected to him and his rule. On July 5, 1775, one year plus one day before the signing of our Declaration of Independence, King George III made his own declaration, in a letter to his Prime Minister, that "no consideration" would cause him to "depart from the present path which I think myself in duty-bound to follow." ( John Fortescue, ed., Correspondence of King George III ) He would "trust to Providence" as he followed this course, "compelling obedience" from the colonists. (David McCullough, 1776)The English monarch did not want to war against his own subjects. Addressing Parliament at the Palace of Westminster, in October of 1775, the King explained that he had hoped to prevent the bloodshed and calamity "inseparable from a state of war", and expressed his desire for the people in America to recognize that being a member of British society, being his subject, was to be t[...]

announcing, one more time...Guantanamo!

Wed, 20 May 2009 19:07:00 +0000

The Senate has rejected the funding requested by the Obama administration for shutting down Gitmo. Until the fate of its 240 prisoners is clearly and in detail determined, nobody, no how, is getting any money for it. Is anyone else beginning to suspect that the Guantanamo prison may end up not being closed down?Well, I am.I'm so excited about that prospect that I'm almost giddy. I would probably be dancing around the room right now if I wasn't sitting at my computer typing this post. Time will tell, of course, and there's that whole not-counting-your-chicks-'til-the-eggs-have-hatched thing...But -behold the following excerpts from an article in today's Washington Post...- "he {FBI Director Robert S. Mueller} said he was generally concerned that released detainees could "support" terrorism, provide financing, radicalize others or even participate in attacks in the United States." - "Democrats under no circumstances will move forward without a comprehensive, responsible plan from the president." He added, "We will never allow terrorists to be released into the United States." (Senate Majority leader Harry Reid-D)- "But their {Senate Democrats hoping to get at least part of Obama's $80 million request to close Gitmo} resolve crumbled in the face of a concerted Republican campaign warning of dire consequences if some detainees ended up in prisons or other facilities in the United States, a possibility that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has acknowledged. - "Republicans said they will continue to press for even tougher language aimed at forcing the military to keep the Guantanamo site in operation.- "The bottom line is, there are things down there {Guantanamo} that we can't replicate anywhere else," said Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) ...Keeping the facility open and operating within U.S. legal norms, "is by far the best option." - "...some {Senate Dems} are even echoing the GOP assertion that the state-of-the-art facility should remain open."It seems that, as the actual event of releasing hard-core, America-hating terrorists/suspects moves closer, people are getting nervous. The Democrats who want to close Gitmo are getting nervous. NOBODY wants these detainees in this country. Who in their right mind would? They are dangerous. Whether people are for or against the Afghan-Iraqi war, for or against torture, for or against Obama or Bush, I think it's a pretty safe bet to repeat: NOBODY wants anyone with even the scent of terrorism clinging to them, in a prison in this country, or released and roaming free in this country. It is incredibly, incredibly, and I repeat for the third time incredibly stupid to release these detainees into this country. "We, the people" do not want them here. Reading this piece in the Post, I had this ludicrous impression of the big, bad Wolf (actually, the Republicans) huffing & puffing & blowing the House down! (Dems trying to close Gitmo). Me having mental images of a political caricature is in and of itself...well, a first! But that's how it looks to me...[...]

Returning to Things Jeffersonian...

Thu, 14 May 2009 23:00:00 +0000

It was a close call. The recent release of the CIA memos was pulling me in the direction of 'commentary', but while eating, I leaned down & picked up a book lying on the floor nearby, to read & stir up my mind a bit. Get some creative juices flowing! Picking up where I'd left off in "American Sphinx: the Character of Thomas Jefferson" proved to be...well, stimulating is a good word, but not the one I'm looking for. As I read about the Windsor chair in which Jefferson sat, and the specially-made desk on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence, in a brick building on the corner of 7th. & Market Streets, in Philadelphia, I actually sat up straighter, almost thrilled, & started to cry joyful tears. I don't know if that building is still standing, but if it is, I'm heading there on my upcoming vacation.And, just like that...it's back to Thomas Jefferson!oooI had been writing about Jefferson's background of learning, where and when he was exposed to the ideas and roots of ideas that were, ultimately, so powerfully instrumental in the shaping of America and its systems of law and government. And I want to continue in that vein. But, while reading about him last night, several other topics presented themselves, I took notes, and while these ideas are still fresh, I want to expound on them a bit. So, let me get those notes...First, let me just say - I am almost bedazzled by the mind and personality of this man. I found myself grinning inwardly, (if that's possible) and I'm talkin' BIG grin here, as I watched Thomas Jefferson's mental prowess unfold, through the words of author Joseph J. Ellis. And I suppose I should admit some of that 'warm fuzzy' I was feeling was because I could understand what Jefferson was doing, and how he operated. I almost feel as if I've met a kindred spirit...my heart goes out to his thin-skinned touchiness towards, and jealousy of his literary endeavours. Jefferson didn't take kindly to its criticisms. He nourished & cherished his works, he birthed them in solitude and they were his, not to be picked on, tampered with, or re-adjusted by others. As Ellis puts it "he regarded all critical suggestions as unwelcome and misguided corruptions." Jefferson had to endure a certain amount of it, but he did not have to like it.(At this point, I've realized those notes are, so to speak, history! Can't find 'em! So, until and if I do, let's get back to business...) I don't want to neglect emphasizing the early-years' learning influence on Jefferson's thinking. Seeds planted back then, in a fertile, active mind, produced much more than just concepts and formulas. And Jefferson's seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge factors into the equation as well...in today's society, he may well have been labeled a 'nerd', considering the amount of time he actually preferred to spend with his books, instead his friends! A close college chum has reported that during his two years at William & Mary College, Jefferson would "fly to his studies", leaving friends in the dust, and family tradition indicates those studies often took up fifteen hours of his day! (Wikipedia, Thomas Jefferson, Section 1.2 - Education) Fast-forwarding, from the vantage point of a major player in the creation of the new nation of America, Jefferson was the embodiment of the kinds of knowledge needed for such a monumental endeavour. All of the amazing men whom today we call a Founding Father, (or who, though we may not recognize their names, took part in our b[...]

Swine Flu got You Scared?

Mon, 04 May 2009 11:40:00 +0000

"It is... likely that it will fade away in a couple of weeks, because the flu season is nearly over, and there is no evidence that there is anything unusual about the way this virus behaves."



Read this excellent article, written by medical sociologist Bart Laws, posted on AlterNet this morning, & be encouraged...

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/139588/much_ado_about_the_flu:_is_the_media_frenzy_justified/

No Easy Answers....(revisited & revised)

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:25:00 +0000

"And for me, this war, it's more about preserving our American principles than it is about defeating al-Qaida. We can't become our enemies in trying to defeat them." (former US interrogator Matthew Alexander)In the process of writing my next Jefferson post, (which ironically begins with "It was a close call. The recent release of the CIA memos was pulling me in the direction of 'commentary' but..." {and here I explain how I resisted getting side-tracked} ) when I could no longer resist getting side-tracked. Re-reading the recent Washington Post updates I've received, I am profoundly impacted by the interrogations information, the 'intense debate' over its release, and the choke-hold struggle over possible prosecution of the involved parties.Initially, I was pro-torture. (Not for the sake of revenge - such actions only perpetuate the hatred cycle. Nobody wins that one.) My 'pro' orientation rather was produced by goal-specific effectiveness. I saw the core issue as being summed up in the following statements: "The most aggressive interrogation techniques conducted by CIA personnel were applied only to a handful of the worst terrorists on the planet, including people who had planned the 9/11 attacks. ... Information from these interrogations helped disrupt plots aimed at locations in the U.S.,..." (as well as the UK, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia ) - former Director of Central Intelligence for the CIA, 1997-2004, George Tenet, from his memoir At the Center of the Storm. "... al Qaeda's toughest prisoner, Khalid Sheik Mohammed... was able to last between two and two-and-a-half minutes before begging to confess." (CIA's Harsh Interrogation Techniques Described) The New York Times reported this, written in an internal memo by Admiral Dennis Blair, the national intelligence director for President Obama : "High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al-Qaeda organization that was attacking this country." ( 'Meet the Press' transcript, pg.1) Lastly, former CIA Director Michael Hayden says enhanced interrogation techniques yielded critical, actionable intelligence. (source)Approaching from the other direction: "...civilian and military intelligence professionals have also gone on record ...with respect to how torture tactics are not only ineffective in terms of getting reliable, actionable intelligence but have fueled recruitment by Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups to the point that, arguably, more U.S. troops have been killed by terrorists bent on revenge for torture than the 3,000 civilians killed on 9/11..." -Larry Johnson, A Memo for ObamaWhite House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, as well as others, has stated that such information as indicated in the opening quotes above may well have been gained using other, less radical means. Admittedly, this is a possibility. Larry Johnson, former CIA officer and deputy director of the State Department's office of counter-terrorism in 2005 stated: "What real CIA field officers know firsthand is that it is better to build a relationship of trust" when seeking to gain information from detainees. It would seem to me that in the aftermath of 9/11, time was of the essence, and employing less radical, more 'psychologically-based' methods would most likely have taken more, maybe much more time to acquire crucial information. Time to 'build trust' may have been time that the United St[...]

Re-Visiting pre-Election Concerns

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:27:00 +0000

"There’s growing concern that under President Obama, the United States of America will turn into the United States of Europe. " - Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel, American Center for Law & Justice, "Is Our Sovereignty at Risk?"Please, please, God, let me be wrong...Reading the above article recently, I saw exactly what, during the 2008 election campaign, I had feared might become true being put into words by Jay Sekulow. Then Senator Obama's charisma concerned me. Hitler was charismatic. Jim Jones was charismatic. Jesus gets your attention, He can be riveting - but I doubt that He would be called charismatic. Charismatic people have a magnetism that can draw you...in the wrong direction. Too late, you realize you were duped. People love to be caught up in the swell of emotion, passion, purpose. It feels good and offers {false?} hope. It is almost a resurrection. From despair or just plain same-old, same-old, we are thrust into the apparent promise of a new tomorrow...but I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the truth - the hidden agenda, hidden perhaps even from the one enacting it, (at first, anyway...) If you know the Lord, and look to the Spirit of truth to guide you into all truth (John 16:13), then you need to be doing that now. Reading Bible prophecy, it is often commented that the United States of America does not appear to be represented. Prophetic studies are not my strong suite, but even I have noticed that. It has been suggested that America becomes absorbed into the European Union, and I fear this may be so. I cannot bear to believe it, but I can see how it could happen. Please, please, God, let me be wrong..." President Obama is embarking on a new and troubling direction for our nation. Many are calling it the “Selling of America” – surrendering our national sovereignty – our constitutional framework – all in the interest of international cooperation." - Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel, American Center for Law & Justice, "Is Our Sovereignty at Risk?"In recent days and weeks, watching broadcasts of our new President speaking, I experienced the first flicker - barely a flicker, even - of my pre-election concerns reviving. I thought, It's just me. But it isnt't just me, I see now, after reading the transcript of Sekulow's interview with Glenn Beck. There is not always a place for a spirit of 'co-operation'. Sometimes open-minded, boundary-blurring initiatives can allow for the swallowing up of that which should not be swallowed up. So, while "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12: 18) is godly counsel for sure, there are apparently times when it is not possible. There are times when what seems to be a blessing is not that at all, but a curse in disguise.We who see things in this light are in stellar company. Consider the following -"...believe me, fellow-citizens...history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government." - George Washington, from his Farewell Address, 1796Upon leaving his second term in office as President, coupled with years of military strategic and combat experience, Washington counseled retaining always national sovereignty. He counseled avoiding permanent alliances, partnering with 'favourite nations', which he believed would lead to "...concessions to the favourite nation" which ultimately would prove injurious to the one concedin[...]

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