Double Standards and Church Buildings

An AP story out of Bridgeport Connecticut: U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall ruled “two public high schools can’t hold their graduations inside a church because that would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion .”


If each student had to “cross” him/herself as they picked up a diploma on stage from the Reverend Mother, said Hail Mary a couple of times and vowed celibacy until they were legally married then use of a Catholic church building might be an endorsement of religion; however, these folks simply needed a building large enough to accommodate their needs at a reasonable price. Heaven help the country if U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall ever has to attend the Supreme Court where the Ten Commandments are affixed to the building, a clear reference to Judeo-Christian values.


Those easily offended might have serious issues when getting out in the real world, a world with varied and diverse situations. They’ll need to wear blinders or keep a team of lawyers on retainer if they plan to enforce Zero Tolerance Politically Correct values; better yet, stay home where it’s perfectly safe.


Churches have been opening their facilities for weather related emergencies such as blizzards, hurricanes and flooding for as long as I can remember and nobody complained about the building’s primary intended use; either for spiritual salvation or temporal survival. The structures served to fill the needs of the community for the moment and nothing more.


Maybe U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall has interpreted the constitution to suit her likes and dislikes rather than what’s actually written therein. Dare I bring up the phrase Activist Judge? If the shoe fits…


I wonder if anyone complained about using the Cultural Hall at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint buildings in Slidell, Louisiana after Hurricane Ike or Hurricane Katrina as a staging areas for chain saw crews going out to help anyone in need, emergency provisions and temporary shelter for those left homeless? Would the welcome sign in front of the building render such a facility unfit for community use, U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall; just wondering out loud?


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Why Wait for Facts, Israel’s Guilty

I’d planned to write a Memorial Day piece, something to remind Americans that freedom isn’t free. Liberty comes at a heavy price and many have paid with their lives so you and I could enjoy the blessings of freedom. Perhaps you could read an article I wrote previously ; I had other items on my mind today.


One of the top headlines in the news today has to do with Israeli forces killing 10  individuals on board an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. The world court convened via news media and condemned Israel for its actions within hours of the incident; why wait for facts, Israel is guilty.

The same thing happens in other areas where facts are irrelevant, where an agenda is more important than the truth. For example, if you listened to the outrage over Arizona’s illegal immigration law you’d think cops were hauling Mexicans out of ice cream shops . Never mind the facts, Arizona’s law must be racist; president Obama said so, done deal.


I get riled when the news media jumps all over breaking headlines about how some cop shot and killed a motorist during a traffic stop; never mind facts, the cop shot a motorist. Cops laugh about shooting innocent motorists while they sit around the donut shop; you knew that, didn’t you? The next day there’s usually a statement after a preliminary investigation, something about a gun under the front seat, in the suspect’s belt or some other kind of extreme situation which would justify deadly force; but that story ends up on page 17 instead of the front page; a trigger happy cop killed a motorist in the eyes of media coverage.


Getting back to the story on Israeli elite special forces murdering peaceful civilians taking nothing more than bandages, iodine and Tylenol to the war torn Palestinian refugees in Gaza ; Israel should be sanctioned for war crimes. We don’t need an investigation, no facts; Israel is guilty because they are not part of Islam and everybody knows that Islam is a religion of peace.


“Here is the truth, as bitter as it may be: Islam is the culprit. Islam is anything but a religion of peace . Violence is at the very core of Islam.”


I’m guessing there will be some interesting details which were unavailable at the time the original story broke. Even as I write facts are surfacing, something about ties to terrorism; but the story is already out there, Israel was already found guilty by our leftist media.


“Before the ships set sail from waters off the east Mediterranean island of Cyprus on Sunday, Israel had urged the flotilla not to try to breach the blockade and offered to transfer the cargo to Gaza from an Israeli port, following a security inspection.”


I’d have to ask, “Why run the blockade when a reasonable and safe approach was offered?” Were there items on board that would be found in a security inspection, things like rockets, mortar rounds or other ammunitions which have been smuggled in the past under the guise of medical aid?” No, I don’t buy into the half truths given time and time again by militant Hamas, Hezbollah or what ever they wish to call themselves. Hamas has used civilians as shields during battle ; why not use them as cover to smuggle arms as well?


There could not have been any provocation for Israel to stop these ships of mercy; everybody knows Israel is a blood thirsty nation intent on killing innocent lives. Facts, we don’t need no stinkin’ facts.

This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Recognizing Truth

I was watching the movie, Awakenings , based on a true story, and noticed how it verified Gospel principles in a very quiet way. Working in a mental hospital Dr. Sayer observed interesting reactions in catatonic individuals, many who’d been diagnosed with “atypical” brain disorders. Dr. Sayer discovered certain stimuli reached beyond the patients’ respective catatonic states; actions such as catching a ball thrown at them, music or simple human touch.


He and one of the staff nurses stayed up late into the night studying and reviewing patient charts and records only to find dead ends; most of the patients had been previously diagnosed with “atypical” disorders of the brain, some for as long as 25 years. The idea occurred to Dr. Sayer, there must be something “typical” for so many individuals to have similar “atypical” responses. No logical explanation could be found and they went home exhausted unable to secure an answer.


He was sleeping on the sofa, his mind continuing to work through all that he’d been searching and sifting through when he suddenly awakened; having been prompted with a possible answer. He’d done all that he could and the Spirit lent him a hand, a means of helping those in his stewardship. Clarity of thought made it possible for a miracle, restoration of near normal brain function and quality of life, limited in duration; but a miracle no less.


“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.” Doctrine and Covenants 9:8 .


We live in curious times filled with challenges which seem to consume all our best efforts. Many of us are looking for answers; how do we return our nation to those foundational footings necessary for restoring the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? We have been studying and searching through all that is available, history books, commentary by the finest minds in our day as well in times past; have we taken the next step and asked for divine inspiration?


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

…Because Somebody Talked!

I’m continually amazed at the careless reporting of military news, potentially putting our troops in harms way simply to sell a story. Today there’s a second hand story on the Fox website which originated in the New York Times ; why doesn’t that surprise me?


“Anonymous U.S. officials cited by the Times said the order does allow for intelligence-gathering missions in Iran, which could lay the groundwork for possible military action if tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to rise.”


Next week the Times and Fox can list the names of operatives, their next of kin’s addresses and maybe throw in locations where supplies were dropped off. Hell, why not just send them coordinates via Google Earth so the enemy can download it onto their laptops in the field?


I wasn’t around during WWII but the first thoughts that came to mind were the war effort posters reminding everyone to show a little common sense. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Come on folks; learn to keep your big yaps shut!


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Subjects of Texas

This past January members of the Greater Houston Locksmith Association (GHLA) learned of “changes in the works” with regard to continuing education requirements mandated by the DPS/PSB. Since my locksmith license is dependent upon fulfilling the requirements imposed by the DPS/PSB it would seem logical for the requirements and changes to be posted on their website or at the very least have someone available at their office to answer questions. The GHLA has advised members to contact either the DPS/PSB directly or visit the Texas Locksmith Association (TLA) website for updates.


Apparently such reasoning is beyond the ability of the DPS/PSB; our telephone contact was forwarded and we continued to get a recording saying Yolnada Martin was unavailable and to please try again later. We were directed to visit a website for the most current information requested only to find reference to changes were “pending”.


The DPS/PSB has not been able to justify their original mandate of 8 hours of continuing education and yet they believe, since they have unbridled power to impose their will on the locksmith industry; they can add even more hoops, balance beams and rope tricks as requirements to maintain the so called right to work in the State of Texas.


I’ve written on this subject on more than one occasion and sent letters to my State Representative and forwarded copies to the DPS/PSB.


“There should be a provision limiting the DPS/PSB from expanding the (their) powers to implement rules and regulations without an equal input from each individual locksmith; you will note that I didn’t say locksmith associations, from each individual locksmith who falls under the laws, rules and regulations which are to govern his/her livelihood.”


I was contacted by Wesley Hottot, Staff Attorney for the Institute for Justice - Texas Chapter and it was agreed, “it is far more onerous to get an occupational license than a driver’s license” and “fewer people are threatened by whatever danger the state finds in the provision of services than are threatened by locksmiths”. That having been said, the Institute for Justice also stated it would be unable to take the DPS/PSB to task for unreasonably mandating continuing education hours as part of locksmith’s licensing requirements “at this time”.


The DPS/PSB cannot justify its expensive and time consuming requirements, and I might add; requirements which do not serve to protect an unsuspecting public from scoundrels posing as legitimate locksmiths because those individuals who have acquired a locksmith license are not a threat and never were a threat to an unsuspecting public. The DPS/PSB has hijacked a part of the private sector and enslaved them with petty Lilliputian rules and regulations which serve only to guarantee permanent employment for DPS/PSB employees; a typical bureaucracy and drain on an already weak economy.


This morning, May 25, 2010, we contacted yet another employee of the DPS/PSB, Meredith McCall, who advised we could meet the previously mandated criteria of 8 hours continuing education credits, mail them in prior to “pending changes” being adopted and keep our renewal date the same regardless of changes made. This sounded like a reasonable course of action which will carry my business license for an additional two years; however, it does not address the fact that the DPS/PSB continues to act with impunity. They are free to encumber and impose onerous requirements upon any member of the locksmith industry without justification or accountability to those whom they are charged with overseeing.


That still does not address the issue of pending continuing education mandates which are being considered without my input, without my consideration and which will affect my business directly whether I agree with the DPS/PSB or not. They are holding the strings and I am the puppet, a subject of the State rather than a citizen.


Here is the information available from TLA; but listed on GHLA’s website. Notice the updates to be announced will be posted sometime after the PSB meeting in April. It is now the last week in May and we have not being given “ample notice”; you could say we are being given “no notice”.


“There has been some confusion across the state regarding the increase of locksmith CEU's from 8hrs per two years to 16hrs per two years. Yes, it is correct that the Private Security Bureau has increased the number of hours required to 16, but the date for the change to take affect has not yet been announced. Past experience with the PSB shows us that they will give us ample notice of the date required. Also, rumors have been floating around about the different requirements of classes we must take, many having no merit whatsoever. Be assured the TLA board is keeping on top of this issue.


We have a PSB meeting later this month of April where I am sure much of the future requirements will be discussed. When we get more information, we will share it with the association in both the Advisor and on the TLA website. This change in education requirements will affect all of us, but before we get upset and start worrying about what ifs, let's take this opportunity to educate ourselves about the CEU change first. Please contact your Board of Directors if you have questions. If we don't know the answers, we will seek out those who do."


Billy Garrett TLA President”


Well thank you for letting us know the TLA and GHLA are working for independent locksmiths, licensed and registered with your respective associations. The bit and bridle the DPS/PSB has us wear fits a little tighter each year than the year before; but I’m sure we’ll figure a way to suck up to the DPS/PSB until the next mandates are imposed. I pay my dues each year; if you at the TLA and GHLA call this representation I’d hate to see your definition of liberty. Bondage is a sorry excuse for liberty and freedom in a nation where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are our foundations.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Support Boy Scouts of America

This past Sunday I was called to work with the 11 year old boys in the scouting program. It is the goal for each of these young scouts to attain the rank of 1st Class prior to their reaching the age of 12; quite a standard and challenge.


I was approached by a member of the Bishopric a week ago; he came by to interview me prior to extending this call. I mentioned how I’d taught that age group in the Primary organization many years ago and that I probably fit in better with 11 year old boys than I do with adults; never having accepted my age.


While being interviewed I remembered my introduction to the Church, my first calling after having been a member only a week or so in September of 1978. Bishop Bruce Nelson asked me to step into his office as he felt around for clues as to how I might fit into what he had in mind.


“Brother Stern, how do you feel about 12 and 13 year old boys?” He asked, probing for a reaction. I pondered his motives only for a few moments, putting my thoughts together on the fly.


“I don’t know what you’ve heard, Bishop; but until they find the body, they can’t prove a thing.” I don’t stay up late thinking these things up; they instantly jump from my tongue and I’m forced to live with what ever leaps out.


Bishop Nelson sat back in his chair taking in what I’d revealed; a broad smile found its way onto his somber face. “You’re going to fit right in.” I was being called as the Deacon’s Quorum advisor with a secondary calling as an Assistant Scoutmaster. I’d never been further than a Cub in the scouting program and had to admit it would be a challenge.


The boys didn’t have much of a scouting program at the time; not much in the way of camping gear either. I managed to obtain items here and there; but they had no reliable means of hauling their stuff around so I began looking for a reasonably priced trailer.


I was assigned to work dayshift as a police officer back then; cruising around town I had the opportunity to be on the look out for the perfect scout trailer. I found a wrecked pickup truck at a salvage yard, one where the front end was a total loss having centered a large tree or light pole at a high rate of speed; but the back half was in excellent condition, perfect for converting into a scout trailer.


The owner of the salvage yard was open to negotiating a fair price. I explained how the group of boys didn’t have much to work with and offered him a hundred dollars.


“A hundred dollars?” He laughed and rolled his eyes upwards for effect, “Heck, (he didn’t use that exact term) I might as well give it to you; a hundred dollars, jezzzzzz! (again, that isn’t exactly what he said)” The man was a poet in vulgarities.


I immediately agreed with him and explained how he could donate the truck to the scouts without charge and write off the donation at almost any reasonable value on his income taxes. Every now and again the old brain kicks in; he agreed and the scouts didn’t have to pay anything for the truck, he even tossed in the use of his wrecker to haul it away so we could get to work on it.


Another church member was a welder and we chopped the front end off, pulled the frame together and welded it to a piece of rectangular steel that also was donated to the scouts. We sold the gas tanks from the wrecked truck along with the front seats which paid for all the other parts we needed. The scout trailer was coming along wonderfully; that is until I went to register it with the State of Texas so we could legally put it on the road.


I took the salvage title that came with the truck with me only to find there was a discrepancy; one number on the title had been recorded improperly as I matched up the only remaining vehicle identification number, the one imprinted on the frame. Long story short; the truck had originally been reported stolen out of Ft. Worth a year earlier, the error in transcription meant the owner never had been advised his truck had been recovered in Houston.


I called the owner and explained what had happened. His insurance company had paid in full and didn’t want the totaled out truck back. I’m sure each of the boys would have been more than willing to serve a portion of the jail sentence for illegally chopping up a stolen vehicle and converting it to a scout trailer had justice been demanded; fair is fair.


I almost forgot, several years after being released from the calling, someone stole the scout trailer from behind the back of the church. All their camping gear, tents, cook stoves and the like were never seen again; I wonder, do these boys need a scout trailer?

This Wednesday will be my first time to meet these young boys, introduce myself and my warped sense of humor as we embark on our journey together; hope they’re ready for it.


The scanned image was from my original scout shirt that’s been tucked away in the closet all these years. I was able to put it on; looked like a green sausage attempting to bust loose as the fabric attempted to cover a slightly older and larger frame. I think a trip to the scout store is in order.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Beware of Cheap Imitations

I read where Obama, while delivering the commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point pressed for a New World Order . “Well, isn’t that special”, forgive my use of an old Saturday Night Live prompting.


“While saying he was “clear-eyed about the shortfalls” of the international system that has led many critics of the United Nations and other institutions to abandon multilateralism, Obama said the United States would move ahead on a policy of “national renewal and global leadership.’”


I wonder why the leader of the United States of America would hope for anything which falls short of the highest ideals ever to be incorporated by any government. We live in a country which was founded under the direction of our Creator, by the hands of wise men raised up unto this very purpose . In short, the United States of America was ordained of God; beware of cheap imitations.


Ever since I was old enough to listen in on adult conversations regarding government and the ways of the world, there was always mention of some kind of New World Order. At one time it was referenced as the Trilateral Commission , a think tank of progressive minded back room power brokers to include Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Walter Mondale, Caspar Weinberger, Michael Blumenthal and David Rockefeller. There was a perception, real or imagined, that such a group of elitists could be plotting to enslave the entire world and so rumors of the Trilateral Commission’s evil underpinnings were placed in the back of my formative mind.


What goes on behind closed doors isn’t inherently evil; but we Americans are a suspicious lot, cooking up conspiracy theories anytime the worlds most powerful folks meet, those who don’t necessarily hold our most sacred values in common. They get together and discuss better ways of running things. I can say this with a fair amount of confidence because I truly believe anything less than or different from America’s original founding principles is a step backwards, not forwards. In short, the United States of America was ordained of God; beware of cheap imitations.


I could say the United Nations falls into the category of progressive minded back room power brokers, similar to the Trilateral Commission; but, for the most part, many UN leaders tend to be nothing more than third world hoodlums with nice looking suits. They meet in a building furnished through America’s benevolence in order to figure out ways to separate our enormous wealth and redistribute that wealth, all the while attempting to destroy the goose that laid the golden egg.


The meaningless UN Charter which binds member nations together has no link to our Creator and falls short of standards set by our Creator, a cheap imitation of our constitution. It claims to permit each nation’s sovereignty and yet each utterance thereafter would lead anyone with half a brain to understand just the opposite; it is a collective based on the idea that each country is no better or worse and all should share alike, the poorest nations granted permission to fleece those with more.


President Obama has indicated through his statements and actions he’s ashamed of America’s superior stature instead of showing pride for our ability to provide military might sufficient to protect liberty and freedom or establish democracies where totalitarian regimes run roughshod over the oppressed at the hands of UN member states run by the very thugs Obama has come to admire. He has apologized for America imposing our ways on the world. Excuse me; imposing? Liberty, freedom and democracy are bad and we should be ashamed for coming to the aid of those in need?


Obama’s Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner recently equated Arizona’s new immigration law with communist China’s worst human rights abuses. I’m sure there’s a provision in Arizona’s immigration law implementing forced abortions on families with more than one child; just that nobody’s read it as yet, must be in there somewhere to be compared with China’s human rights abuses.


Then there are the highly evolved UN member states from the Middle East, the ones under Sharia law where women aren’t much better than chattel; incapable of independent action. These folks have a solid human rights record; just not the kind infidels are comfortable with seeing as it’s perfectly acceptable to cut an infidel’s head off for disagreeing with Sharia.


Are these the equal voting member states which Obama wishes the United States of America to emulate, folks with a better way to peace and security? Are these the folks Obama wants in charge of writing a binding small arms treaty, a treaty which will eventually make it impossible for individuals to own or purchase a weapon for defense against the very hoodlums who are in charge?


No, we’re better off with our constitutional form of government. I’ll go a step further and invite the nations of the world to come here and see how it’s done, learn from the best.


This morning in our quorum meeting we sang, High on a Mountain Top ; the same version performed at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City many years ago and one of my favorites. With a little imagination, not forgetting the intent of the hymn is to invite the world to listen to the Lord’s words and what better place to hear the word of the Lord than Salt Lake City, home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; imagine the banner being unfurled as the Stars and Stripes.


High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled;
Ye nations, now look up;
It waves to all the world;
In Deseret's sweet, peaceful land--
On Zion's mount behold it stand!


You can look atop any flagpole in the United States and see her 50 stars on a field of blue attached to the 13 red and white stripes representing the original founding states of our divinely inspired nation. If you want to be inspired look no further than our flag which represents the dreams of liberty for which men have risked their fortunes and lives to protect.


I’m incapable of separating my religious beliefs from my national pride as they are one and the same foundationally. Ezra Taft Benson explained, in The Proper Role of Government, standards as set out in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 134 if you’d like to look up the source.


“(I) believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, which protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.” (emphasis added)


President Obama held his right arm to the square and swore to uphold the constitution, as have our Representatives, Senators and Supreme Court Judges. Many of our elected and appointed leaders have since begun looking for international law or president to provide safety and security rather than sustaining and upholding our own constitution. I feel betrayed; our constitutional form of government is the one to sustain and uphold.


I believe America to be the land of promise, dedicated and set aside for a righteous people, those who would follow the commandments of God; we are, for better or worse, that light upon a hill for all the world to see. It pains me when we fall short of the expectations of the Lord; even more when the President of our great country looks abroad for that which we have in abundance. Our divinely inspired constitution which, if used as it was intended, provides all the safety and security an individual could desire; how sad that we’d carelessly set aside eternal principles and laws in favor of anything less.


No, for America to be looking outside our own constitution for safety and security; looking for a New World Order is like buying a genuine Rolex watch from a street vendor outside the local bus depot; odds are you’re buying a cheap imitation.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Chill Amigo!

Let’s take a look at how government in these United States is being run into the ground by folks who are in positions of leadership. We keep hearing a similar excuse being espoused, “I haven’t read it”; played back in a variety of ways.


In the case of the Arizona Illegal Alien Mexican Stand Off bill far too many high ranking Obama administration officials have the ‘deer caught in the headlights’ look on their faces as they quietly confess into a microphone during a news conference, “I haven’t read it”. Is it politically correct to have fun with the name of that bill or is that considered a thoughtless and irresponsible racist remark?


Ask yourself this question, if you were head of Homeland Security or the Attorney General preparing for the next day knowing one of your duties would be a press conference having to do with Arizona’s recently passed illegal alien law; would you make more than a feeble attempt to bring yourself up to speed on the facts or would you depend on the limo driver’s opinion, the fellow who dropped you off at the television studio assuming he’d watched CNN the night before?


Did that help clarify the issue or was that a bit over the top? We are being asked to believe, “I haven’t read it”, when logic dictates otherwise. Why not revert to the excuse we all heard back in grade school, “The dog ate my homework”? At least “The dog ate my homework” would get a few well deserved belly laughs.


When I was young a classmate failed to turn in a homework assignment and came up with a lame excuse. He told Mr. K, our teacher, “I accidentally left it on my desk on my way out the door to catch the bus.” We thought it was a great excuse, one the teacher would have to buy into; but it didn’t wash then and it won’t wash now. Mr. K drove him home; having called his parents to let them know the two would arrive momentarily to retrieve the homework that was supposed to be on his desk. I guess that’s when the dog ate his homework; and he didn’t even own a dog.


Getting caught in a lie and being made to look the fool was enough to teach everyone one in our class an important lesson. It’s a shame our Homeland Security Secretary and Attorney General didn’t have Mr. K as a 6th grade teacher or they would have learned that lesson.


Do you really believe the Barbara Streisand answers being handed out? I think the military response is Bravo Sierra; almost acceptable in civilized company and you’re able to get the drift. I could have said it was pure male bovine excrement, a favorite substitute phrase which conjures up a similar image; “I haven’t read it”, yea, right.


When I was a night shift police officer I was given an official reprimand for using the original version of BS in front of a junior police officer which hurt his feelings; not making this up folks, hurt his feelings. I was less than impressed with his decision to make a mountain out of a mole hill and told him so; hurt his feelings, oh well. He’s probably a Captain by now making life miserable for anyone who hasn’t read and memorized the Rules Manual; but I’m getting off topic.


The Obama administration and those in the awkward spotlight at the moment know full well the Arizona illegal immigration bill is patterned after the federal version; so closely as to be indistinguishable with the exception that now local law enforcement can help federal officers do their job more efficiently.


The Obama administration doesn’t want our borders defended or closed. The marching orders, “I haven’t read it” are to cover up outrage which cannot be spoken. Folks in Arizona are concerned for their safety and expect the federal government to protect them from drug dealers, murderers and kidnappers.


Undocumented seasonal workers are the same as you and me; looking for the good life, free medical coverage, free education, assisted housing and every other entitlement under the sun; in other words future registered Democrat voters. The Obama administration is outraged; calling future citizens drug dealers, murderers and kidnappers is hardly neighborly; chill amigo!


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Mama Hobo Kitties Needed a Rest

Lucy’s been watching the fuzz balls, otherwise known as kittens, actively enjoying life. They come out from the brush pile to explore their universe, play with anything that moves, jump on each other and wait for a Mama Kitty to come feed them. We’ve notice they don’t have a preference to any particular Mama Kitty or visa versa; when it comes time they seem to share the duties.

As soon as feeding time is done Mama Kitties get the heck out of Dodge; or maybe that should that read, get the heck to Dodge since they like to relax under the shade of my work truck. Here’s a picture of Silver Bubba and Headbuttr’ taking a time out. The fuzz balls are all safely tucked away under the brush pile while a Mockingbird squawks loudly from a nearby overlooking tree limb.

Thank You Congressman McClintock

Having observed Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s tongue lashing of America while addressing Congress as an invited guest, I found it hard to put my disgust into words. A number of Democrats rose ceremoniously to applaud Calderon’s displeasure with Arizona’s illegal immigration law, a law which mirrors US law. I wasn’t sure who angered me more, a pompous jerk from Mexico or those who stood to cheer his words.


Then Congressman McClintock stood and spoke. His response was a well measured rebuke citing Calderon’s lack of respect for America; but included a stinging censure for members of Congress who stood and applauded Calderon’s remarks.


I cut through to the heart of McClintock’s articulated disgust and have placed only a portion here; please use the supplied link to read the entire reproof .

“But there is now an element in our political structure that seeks to undermine that concept of “E Pluribus Unum.” It seeks to hyphenate Americans, to develop linguistic divisions, to assign rights and preferences based on race and ethnicity, and to elevate devotion to foreign ideologies and traditions, while at the same time denigrating American culture, American values and American founding principles.


In order to do so, they know that they have to stop the process of assimilation. In order to do that, they must undermine our immigration laws.


It is an outrage that a foreign head of state would appear in this chamber and actively seek to do so. And it is a disgrace that he would be cheered on from the left wing of the White House and by many Democrats in this Congress.”

Thank You, Congressman McClintock for defining my contempt for those who fail to support America while purporting to represent our great nation. Is there a petition we can sign, a formal request for earmark funding; tar & feathers, enough to include a rail to run these dolts out of town come November?


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Park Service Opts to Validate Criminal Activity

The United States Park Service, a representative of ‘We The People’ has sided with criminal activity over law abiding citizens this week. You might recall the hullabaloo over a cross which had been standing at the Mojave National Preserve since 1934 . A law suit was filed claiming the Christian religious symbol violated separation of church and state on federal property; however, the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of permitting the cross to remain.


Thieves and/or vandals, call them what you will, cut down and removed the cross after the Supreme Court ruling. This week workers noticed a replacement cross had been erected, at considerable effort due to the rugged terrain involved. Linda Slater, a spokeswoman for the Park Service stated, “the new cross isn’t covered by the ruling and will be taken down”.


I’ve a question for Linda Slater, how did the Parks Service come to decide the new cross isn’t covered by the Supreme Court ruling? Did instructions to deny the replacement cross come from superiors and if so, who? It’s fairly clear somebody in the administration doesn’t want to follow the decision of the Supreme Court; wonder who that might be, other than the thieves and/or vandals who destroyed and carted away the first one.


Perhaps the Supreme Court did a metallurgical study of the old cross prior to expressing their decision that the cross could remain on federal property. They had scientifically identified the type of iron or steel which was used in making the original cross in order to keep anyone from fabricating a fraudulent cross. The shape of the cross might have been a bit different as well; can never tell when replacing one that has been destroyed or stolen, get out those micrometers.


Taking sides with the thieves and/or vandals, folks who could not handle being set in their place by a court of law, one which reached the highest court in the land, is imprudent at best. It has the effect of giving pardon to a criminal act; but far worse, it sends a message that the decision of our highest court has no weight or bearing on our society. Sitting on the fence and saying “the case is still under litigation” relegates the same answer; the case was closed the moment the Supreme Court decided in favor of the cross remaining where it has stood all these years.


I’m reminded of burial sites, American owned and managed land where American Soldiers have been laid to rest, a religious symbol above most graves; but none touches my heart more than the poem, In Flanders Fields.

In Flanders Fields


By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)


In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.


I’m sure there’s litigation somewhere in the system to have religious markers removed from all federal property. Memorial Day is just around the corner; let’s start pulling grave stones from the burial sites in our national cemeteries right away. There are thousands of Christian Crosses, Jewish Star of David and so on; tear them all down until the earth shakes out from under us for desecrating all that has been fought for by our brave and honored dead. Linda Slater or who ever decided to pursue such a course, enough is enough; crawl back under the rock you crept out from and spare America further disgrace in the sight of God.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Technical Foul Against the Suns

There’s a story out of Phoenix by Alex Pappas of the Daily Caller about a couple of Sun’s fans who wore shirts with the ‘wrong’ political statement while watching the game on the front row of the basketball game. Sitting on the front row wearing a shirt that clearly supports Arizona’s tough stance on illegal immigration didn’t go unnoticed as they were escorted out of the stadium.


“Two fans at a Phoenix Suns basketball game were ejected from their first row seats and removed from the arena last week after refusing orders from security guards to take off their shirts in support of Arizona’s recently passed law against illegal immigration.”


Any way you slice it there can be no justification for the actions taken by the security guards. It had been implied that TNT broadcasting didn’t like the political message displayed on the shirts because the fans were sitting on the first row. Who get’s to decide what political statements are acceptable ?


“I’d also like to know how a Supreme Court Justice Kagan would react to those in the Obama administration who urge more “media diversity” – their poorly disguised attempt to return to the Fairness Doctrine, whereby the Federal Communications Commission could revoke the license of a radio or TV station that was not being “fair” in its distribution of balanced views in its programming of political speech. Last year, the Obama FCC set up an Advisory Committee for Communications on the Digital Age.”


From the saber rattling coming out of the Oval Office, the Fairness Doctrine and Net Neutrality; the 1st Amendment only covers those who support the current administration. If you did little bit of homework you’d find the main purpose of the 1st Amendment was to guarantee that government could not encroach on the right to express POLITICALY diverse opinions; all the rest was secondary, important but secondary to protecting POLITICAL SPEECH. Elena Kagan argued before the Supreme Court that corporations are not protected by the 1st Amendment .


“Kagan’s argument that the government could prohibit political speech by corporations was rejected by a 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion in that case, and in a scathing concurrence Chief Justice John Roberts took direct aim at Kagan’s argument that the government could ban political pamphlets.”


Here’s a great opportunity to ask, What If? What if the guys sitting in the front row of the Sun’s game wearing political statements on a shirt started a small corporation in order to protect their business interests, would Elena Kagan support their individual right to political free speech or would that fall under her “interesting interpretation” of a corporation that should be denied that 1st Amendment right? Who gets to decide?


Do you see the can of worms and the dangers of having Kagan as a Supreme Court justice?


“A spokeswoman for the Spurs did not immediately return a request for comment, but a TNT spokesman said the company had nothing to do with the incident. “We covered the events in Phoenix that night as they unfolded and forwarded the story throughout the night. No one from Turner’s staff made such a request,” said spokesman Jeff Pomeroy.”


Given the furor over Arizona’s illegal immigration law I’d have to give these two businessmen a ‘thumbs up’ for getting some free advertising out of the whole mess. They also got free tickets to the next ten games; more televised coverage either to solidify their political stance in a very public way or kick start their new business.


“Clark says he has since printed 500 “Viva Los 1070” shirts that he plans to sell to fans on a soon-to-be launched website.”


It may have started out as a political statement or perhaps it was simply a chance to get some free media attention in order to sell a bunch of shirts; either way I’d have to give them a couple shots from the free throw line; the Suns got pulled in on a technical foul.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Newspapers as a History Source

There’s an AP article out of London explaining the daunting task of digitalizing 40 million pages of newspapers going back three and a half centuries.


“Newspapers are designed to be read once and thrown away, so they’re very fragile,” said library spokesman Ben Sanderson. “This will be the largest mass digitization of historic newspapers the U.K. has ever seen.”


I have a wonderful old desk; my folks gave it to us when they moved from Houston to Florida, not having a place for it in their new home. One of the drawers contained old newspapers going back to WWII, V-E Day, V-J Day, Man Lands on Moon and JFK’s Assassination were among the front sections turning yellow from age. We’ve added to that collection; NASA’s Challenger disaster, Terrorists Attack World Trade Center Buildings and Houston’s Flood.


The pages on some are so fragile as to make them very difficult to turn without flakes of dried paper cracking off. One of them had stories about the end of the war which continued further inside; spreading the huge pages onto the dining room table to accommodate the task and carefully unfolding the pressed pages to read the rest of the article.


There was a short piece about four SS war criminals going on trial dated August 14, 1945 which caught my eye. You might recall I wrote a piece this last week, Progressive Tolerance , which mentioned how some folks would deny the Holocaust ever took place if a definitive record wasn’t kept; nothing like an old newspaper article to sharpen your memory.


“The prosecution charged that the victims were in a group of 1600 Jewish prisoners who were being moved from the Engerau camp when the Russian army neared the Danube.”


“Unable to keep up with the marching column, the 102 Jews were said to have been shot, clubbed and stabbed to death by the four guards.” (click on image to enlarge)


I’m grateful for old newspapers, a chance to hold their crumbling pages in my hands and be reminded of important events in history, events which should horrify and shock us into sober reflection. We can never let these atrocities happen again on our watch. Reporters and journalists have been given the responsibility of documenting history one day at a time; may they do a proper and accurate job without distorting facts merely to satisfy a given agenda and be deserving of 1st Amendment rights which protect their time honored position in society.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Hillary Signed U.N. Confiscatory Gun Treaty

Bet you hadn’t heard how the Obama administration had sidestepped the 2nd Amendment this past Wednesday by having Hillary Clinton sign the U.N. small arms treaty . All I’ve heard was how BP’s oil was going to destroy the Florida Keys as it meandered its way out of the Gulf of Mexico, a steady assault on Arizona’s border legislation, Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court or how a Suni Muslim won the Miss America pageant. All these stories are newsworthy and deserve a nod; but why wasn’t Hillary’s signing off on a treaty with the U.N. mentioned, a treaty that will eventually lead to total disarmament of civilians?


“Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments.”


I learned of this treaty signing through an ‘email forward’; you know, that medium which overloads the average person with too much information as Obama has warned . It would be a mistake to rely on the ‘drive by media’, as they have come to be called, since they seem to be in the back pocket of Obama; reporting only stories which have been approved for general release.


“Speaking at Hampton University in Virginia, the president raised alarms when he said “information becomes a distraction, a diversion” that is putting “pressure on our country and on our democracy.’”


It has been determined by the Obama administration that the citizenry might be better off not knowing about the U.N. treaty signing. It might be more than our little minds can take; show them some more pictures of water foul covered with slime or plumes of oil spewing from 5,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf; but for heaven’s sake don’t mention anything about taking away guns; American’s take offense to the very thought.


The first step to taking away private ownership of guns has been taken. In a few short years the next step, registration of all guns; followed by a period of time when citizens will be asked to turn in their guns; all this to make the world a safer place. The final step is confiscation of guns not previously relinquished voluntarily. A citizenry without guns is the easiest to control.


“Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.” -- James Madison, The Federalist Papers


Obama has been a steady advocate of Americans joining with the rest of the world, our exceptional nation being something to be ashamed of. Obama apologized for our military forces being superior; he apologized for all our past transgressions and has bowed to heads of state in several countries. He would now have us bow, as a nation, to the U.N. as we uneventfully turn over our God given right to bear arms.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Grandkittens

Okay, there’s no such word as grandkittens; made it up to suit my needs. Our Hobo Kitties have had kittens so this it third generation Hobo Kittens, grandkittens. We’re not sure which kittens belong to which Hobo Kitty; to be honest, don’t think they know either.


Before continuing I should include a brief history of the Hobo Kitty saga, starting with our first encounter with Nefertiti , the original Hobo Kitty followed by her offspring . We have never been certain of their ‘family history’, calling some of the kittens ‘Cousin’ since they appear to be a week or so younger than the others; the challenges of parenthood. Brother , Other Brother and Princess may have been from Nefertiti; but as I said, we never knew for sure. We haven’t seen the Brother kitties for quite some time; they disappeared about the time the neighborhood Toms were assaulting the fertile young sisters and cousin kitties. Princess was hit by a car not long after adopting us as I wrote back in January; the only Hobo Kitty to cross the invisible barrier from feral to domesticated so far.


All three female Hobo Kitties had their kittens about the same time; one day they were swollen and could hardly make it between the bars of our wrought iron fence and the next day they were thinned down. They didn’t act like ‘Mama kitties’ as they lazed around as if nothing had changed. We were concerned that perhaps their litters had been still-born or abandoned; their being not much more than kittens themselves.


A friend of ours explained how feral cats would eventually bring their kittens out into the open; for us not to worry. Headbuttr’ gave every appearance of having nursed, her belly swollen with milk one moment and then empty a while later. Silver Bubba and Afraid of Own Shadow (Shadow) were less obvious; but no doubt thin again.


Last week Lucy was out putting something in the compost pile and heard a noise on the back side of the garage. We have some junk lumber and strips of Hardy Plank piled up next to the fence. A sorry excuse for a tree juts up between the garbage lumber, one which needs to be cut down as it will be nothing but trouble where it has decided to grow.

There’s a hollowed out spot where the tree comes up and Lucy spotted an orange fuzz ball of a kitten dart down into the hollow. All excited and full of energy Lucy came running into the house, “I found one of the kittens!” I followed Lucy back out; but instead of one kitten there were two nearly identical orange fuzz balls sitting on the stack of wood, turns out there are three orange fuzz balls. They were about four weeks old and immediately ran for safety, an awkward reverse climb into the hole; more falling than climbing. There was no keeping Lucy out of the back yard from that point on; grandmother instincts had taken over, her grandkittens needed her.


We heard a second set of kitten type noises in the garage coming from the hole over the freezer, the hole our Hobo Kitties used to gain entrance to the crawl space during the winter months to keep warm. Add that to the list of jobs; fix the hole in sheet rock, get rid of junk lumber, spay and neuter any and all creatures.


Lucy heard a ‘thud’ and noticed a dark colored fuzz ball had fallen from the hole onto a shelf next to the freezer. I went out to see and found a second dark fuzz ball hiding behind the boxed up Christmas tree. We later found a black fuzz ball that has little white streaks, almost like whiskers, along its flanks.


Lucy put the soft green cat bed up on the shelf after clearing a spot for it. Later in the afternoon the grandkittens were sleeping in the soft bed and I brought them down to ground level where they were reunited with a ‘Mama kitty’; as mentioned before, we’re not sure which ‘Mama’ kitty is responsible for any particular fuzz ball. I guess it’s true; it takes a village to raise a kitty.


The two dark fuzz balls followed Headbuttr’ to a pile of tree limbs, another chore that will be added to the never ending list of things to get rid of. There’s a considerable amount of activity going on in there; grandkittens and Mama Kittens getting together for feeding time and attention. Once in awhile we catch a glimpse of them as they stray outside the safety of the branches.


I surprised these two with the digital camera this morning, two dark grey fuzz balls in between the wrought iron fence and our back door neighbor’s wooden fence. If you want a free kitten I know where you can obtain one or two; get a matched set it you like.