Scrabble Anyone?

This has got to be one of the most clever E-mails I've received in a while
Someone out there either has too muchspare time or is deadly at Scrabble.



DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM


PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER



DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT


GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE




THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS



SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME



ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY



MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER



SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S



A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE



THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE



ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE



Yep! Someone with waaaaaaaaaaay
too much time on their hands!

Senators Need To Act on Priorities

A judge resigns from FISA. Very adolescent behavior if you ask me. President Bush was elected by a majority of the citizens to make the tough decisions necessary to protect our nation. The judge seems to feel he is in a position to second guess the CIC and is therefore more powerful. Since he was not given the opportunity to have the president ask his permission, he now picks up his toys and leaves. I am tired of judges who place themselves above the wishes of the majority whether ruling on a local. state or federal matter. I am more fearful of a runaway judiciary than I am of a chief executive exercising authority over our nation during what is a limited term in office. My right to privacy which may at one time or another be infringed to protect our country is far less fear provoking than knowing the local government could decide they like the location of my home or church and can therefore force me to leave what I hold dear to allow a developer to create a greater tax base. Let the congress get their priorities straight. We are at war and need the provisions of the Patriot Act to protect us. Listening in on a conversation between terrorists and someone in this country is not that important to me. I want protection from terrorists. Our country needs to use every means to achieve that goal.

Liberty to Remain Free and Alive

This is my civil liberty. When terrorism wants to take from me the right to live in freedom, I expect the government to do everything it possibly can to safeguard my life and liberty. Terrorists and those who cooperate with them do not deserve the protection of our laws. If my personal telephone calls or Emails should be listened to or read, this is of no significance to me. Let the government use all of its technologies to protect America first of all. If those who scream the loudest about loss of our civil liberties are so afraid of the government knowing about their reading habits and their communications, I have to wonder what they are hiding. The New York Times has not done any favor to our nation by announcing how the government is able to track down terrorists among us. The NY TIMES is selling out our nation in order to sell a few more papers. The Times is AIDING and ABETTING the terrorists.

For those on the government payroll who are leaking this information which hurts our nation, you deserve to be tried for TREASON and incarcerated in solitary confinement for the rest of your miserable lives. Americans placed their trust in you, paid you well and expected loyalty to our nation. You are worse than the misguided Islamofascists since you at one time pledged loyalty to The USA. Playing political games with our national security angers and disgusts me.

Thankfully, we have some leaders who have done all in their power to safeguard our nation. They deserve our appreciation instead of condemnation.

Americans Can Learn From Iraqis

Mohammed writes, "Me and my friends were sitting discussing 'who's best for Iraq?' and the reasons on which each one of us based his/her opinion. I was seeing a drastic change in the sense of the historic responsibility we shoulder.
I see my friends call their friends and acquaintances encouraging them to vote for this candidate or that list and putting effort in convincing them with this or that idea."

I cannot help but think that if more Americans truly evaluated candidates as to who is best for the USA, we might have more competent people in Congress. We might elect true statesmen instead of voting a party line.

Mohammed goes on to say,"I’ll go and vote tomorrow and I will be adding one more brick to the building.
I’m very proud of my nation for it didn’t surrender in spite of all what it’s been through; this nation is fighting, deciding, challenging, falling and rising and trying to learn."

Read the entire post:

Evacuees Sue To Extend Hotel Plan

Evacuees Sue To Extend Hotel Plan: "Evacuees' attorneys want a temporary order extending the hotel program, which has cost $350 million so far and housed 85,000 families at its peak. They say that FEMA has failed to provide aid to many who qualify and that information on aid has been slow to reach those who need it most."

Perhaps I am a grinch but I wonder just how long the federal government needs to support the victims of Katrina. How many families across the USA have met tragedy of one type or another that left them without a home or money in the bank. Were all of these people housed then by the federal government for four months? I donated to Katrina relief because the plight of the people truly concerned me. I was more than willing to lend a helping hand to meet the needs for food, water and shelter. Millions of people helped and gave services, shelter and money to buy essentials. The federal government gave two thousand dollars to victims along with the shelter and food. Agencies provided shelter, medical care, clothing and helped many in various ways. Now, four months later we see attempts to sue for continued provision of housing. Have they not yet been able to find work or looked for housing if they receive the government payments they lived on before Katrina. I realize this was a devastating storm, but when does self reliance begin and the dependence on others end? The ill and infirm may need continued assistance, but I think those with reasonable health should be able to provide for themselves. Am I a grinch?

Put an End to Architectural Treason

A. M. Siriano has made it easy to let the "powers that be" know that we do not want a memorial to the terrorists who attacked passengers on Flight 93. Click on the link below, fill in your name, email address and click to forward your concerns. Let us honor those patriots who died preventing the terrorists from accomplishing their goal of distruction.


"December 02, 2005 04:32 The tireless Alec Rawls of Error Theory dissects the redesign of the Flight 93 Memorial, which was supposed to remove everyone's concern that it was a shrine to Islam. Alas, those rotten New Left lowlifes at Paul Murdoch Architects are at it again, and it stinks to high heavens. It still is a memorial to our enemies, perhaps even more so. Read the evidence here and get very angry.

It is time for some letter-sending again, so I have set up a new one that will go to


Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, who has the power to stop this nonsense;
Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), who stepped up to the plate when this first came to light;
Christopher Martin, the PR man for the Memorial;
Flight 93 Memorial Superintendent, who must be retarded;
The White House, because the Prez should know;
Vice President Dick Cheney�ditto;
Paula Reed Ward, a journalist following this story;
Paul Murdoch Architects, who should be kicked out of the country;
Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, who will be ill-served by an angry America.

Please add your name and click away. Let these people know that America has had enough! "

A. M. Siriano - amsiriano.com: "

Redesigned Flight 93 memorial still an Islamo-fascist shrine

Alec Rawls writes a very comprhensive critique of the Flight 83 Memorial as redesigned. Read this well thought out post and then consider writing to the National Park Service to demand a memorial worthy of the passengers who fought back.LINK
My own response:

National Park Service
109 West Main Street, Suite 104
Somerset, PA 15501-2035

Dear Sir:

Please, please reconsider the design of the flight 93 memorial.

This new design is not an improvement and continues to honor the terrorists and
demean the sacrifices made by the bravery of the passengers who fought back.

A memorial should not honor the Islamofacists who wanted to destroy Americans and
architecture in Washington. Get rid of the red crescent, arc, circle or whatever term is currently in vogue. Get rid of the red trees.

The memorial is to recognize the bravery of the passengers and will be paid for by Americans. It will be maintained by Americans via our taxes which support the
National Park Service.

Get rid of the designer and select someone who understands American patriotism.

If a memorial cannot be designed to exclude any possible connotation of honor to Islam,
just leave the hole in the ground alone. That will remind visitors of what happened and who the heroes were. I completely reject the right of Islam to be represented since it was the distorted view of Islam that led the terrorists to pursue their goals.


Sincerely,

Pat in NC
also posted at Pawigoview

Immigration

I listened to President Bush speak this afternoon and was pleased. A number of aspects of controlling our borders have been implemented and more improvements sought via Congress. Intercepting illegal aliens and deporting them well within their country is better than simply escorting them over the border. NO AMNESTY for those who have broken our laws by illegally entering our country is needed. We cannot reward those who break our laws. A guest worker program sounds reasonable if there is a mechanism for keeping track of the guests while in our country and ensuring that they leave when the guest status expires. Pehaps one of the best things was that thoses who wish to immigrate need to learn our culture and the English language. Hallelujah! My ancestors learned to speak English as did most of those who came to the US prior to the last fifty years. I for one am tired of seeing TV ads telling me I must become bilingual and buy their Spanish lessons. Let those who choose to leave their homeland and adopt mine learn to speak the language of this nation. Let the immigrant learn English as a condition of citizenship. One thing President Bush did not mention was changing our laws which grant citizenship to anyone born here. I believe to be born into citizenship a baby must have at least one parent who is a citizen of the USA.
Changing this law would prevent pregnant women, near term, from illegally entering the US to gain citizenship for her baby with hopes that citizenship will eventually give the illegal entry status of the mother legal entry as the parent of an American citizen.

A Soldier Writes

"We have all followed the headlines of the vote in congress about a possible pullout of troops here. In my opinion (I want to make this clear, this is only my opinion, and I am only a Soldier, not a policy maker), a pullout at this time would be the most detrimental of all actions that our country could make, not to mention irresponsible. Truth be told, I don’t understand why there was ever a need for congress to even push the issue? What’s to debate? I will admit that I wasn’t completely sold on the war in Iraq in the beginning either, but after a year of witnessing the war for myself, I truly believe in what we are doing here. To me it doesn’t matter why we are, I am a Soldier, and go where I am ordered, but on a personal level, at the beginning, I thought hunting terrorists in Afghanistan was a more worth while fight. I was wrong. There are as many terrorists (not “insurgents”) here. I’m most certainly biased, but I’m certain that the U.S. Armed Forces are the best in the world, and I know for a fact that we are doing the best we can over here. Most of the Soldiers I have talked to feel exactly the same way. LET US DO OUR JOB! If we were to pullout now, everything that my unit has fought for this last year will be for nothing. Not to mention all of the men and women who suffer through severe injuries, and who’ve given their lives. It would be the ultimate of injustices to them to pullout now. Let us see this through to the end. If not for all the other reasons that I have mentioned; then for the simple fact, that it is unquestionably the right thing to do, and that all the people of Iraq, especially the children deserve it. I write this knowing full well, that I face the possibility of another deployment.
Many of us are looking to the future with optimism, both for Iraq, and our own lives. Some of us don’t know what the future holds for them, but will no doubt be just as successful as they were here. Unfortunately, for some, this war has taken a greater toll than just a year of life. Some of us have paid almost as much as the ones who will never again breath life, going home to broken lives due to the stress of being so far apart from their significant others. Personally, I will go back to my civilian job, and my family. I have a great girl that is waiting for me, and I just can’t wait to hold her in my arms again. Since I last wrote, I have re-enlisted in the guard for another 6 years (a sure sign I believe in what I preach), and don’t know if I will have to come back here again. If I do return here, I will hold my head high knowing that all of you great Americans back home are supporting me and have my back!
I just want to let all of you know that during the harder times in Iraq I have re-read some of the e-mails that you all have sent to me, and I still check the account for any new ones that might come my way. This has done wonders to lift my spirits at some very challenging times. Thank you! Please continue your support for us, and say thank you to any service member of any conflict that might come your way. They all deserve it. Maybe someday our lives might cross paths. If not, thank you again.
As I sit here and write this on Thanksgiving, although I have a lot to be thankful for this year, I thought I would share a little with you about what I am thankful for today. I am thankful for my family, they have been there for me, and without their guidance, I would be completely lost. I am thankful for God, that he has seen fit to protect me this last year, that he helps my battalion make it safely back home, that he continues to protect the troops that will still be here, and that he has taken into heaven with open arms, the men and women who have given their lives in this war, who he just couldn’t live without in heaven. I am thankful that I was born in America, and not a country like Iraq. As strange as it may seem, I am thankful that Americans still have the right to voice their opinions about this war (whether I agree with them or not), if America still has the right to voice it’s opinion, that means we’re doing our job over here, and doing it well! Most of all, I am thankful for my fiancé, who has braved one of the most ultimate in hardships this last year, and stuck with me throughout it all. For certain, true love does exist. Finally, I am thankful that there are people back home who understand what we are fighting for, and proud of us.
God Bless!
Sincerely,
Sgt, F
Mosul, Iraq"

Things For Which I Am Thankful

T he good health I have enjoyed and a mind that still works
H enry, the love of my life
A son who has brought me much joy amidst the trials of growing into a man
N ation of my birth, The U.S.A.
K nowledge of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
S alvation and the hope of heaven
G enerous friends who share time and interests with me
I nternet access that allows me to view the world
V acations with my family
I deas and goals
N ecessities available with occasional wishes granted
G ood parental guidance when I was growing up

My Thanksgiving Day would not be complete without acknowledging the bravery of those who have defended our nation since it's birth. The military are responsible for keeping the nation I love free so that I could realize all the many other things for which I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who may read this.

The Fair Tax

In today's post, Dean Reese asks why we are not hearing more about the fair tax. A very good question. Read his post at LINK

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Recognizing a Stroke

----- A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed and getting to the patient within 3 hours which is tough.


RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) i.e. . . It is sunny out today) If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

Zarqawi Threatens Those Who Testify Against Saddam

IRAQ THE MODEL: Mohammed wrote, "In a report published on al-Mada paper yesterday, the paper mentioned that there's a printed threat being distributed in the town of Dujail and carries the signature of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The leaflet warns the residents of Dujail from testifying against Saddam in the upcoming trial on November 28 and threatens to kill the extended families of anyone who would step up to testify.
I thought there was no connection between 'religious' al-Qaeda and 'secular' Saddam! But if that is so, then why is Zarqawi trying to defend Saddam?"

Cord Blood Cells Help MS Patient

INVERNESS, Scotland, November 18, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A British teen who has multiple sclerosis now claims she is walking after umbilical cord stem cell therapy she traveled abroad to receive.

Wheelchair-bound since 2003, 19 year-old Amanda Bryson told The Herald that she has been walking daily since immediately after her treatment from a private clinic in the Netherlands Friday.

Bryson described the procedure: "Stem cells were injected into a solution which was put into my arm," she said, according to a Daily Record report. "Then, two doses were injected into the back of my neck to tackle the damage to my spine and brain. Then, there were three further injections into my belly. I was in the clinic for three to four hours."


Dr. Hollands also disagreed with those who contend there is a great need to continue study of embryonic stem cells. "We should focus our attention on the most readily available and usable type of cells and these are adult and umbilical cord stem cells. Embryonic stem cells at present are largely political rhetoric and scientific hype. Adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells are proven and ready to use. The public needs to know this," he said.

from Life Site News

I know some who would agree with Murtha, but who?

Mohammed of Iraq The Model states "It is really strange when a US representative says something like this few weeks after the elected Iraqi government demanded from the UN to extend the mission of coalition forces for another year; apparently my government (and I) do not think that US military presence is harmful for us and the Arab League also thinks that an immediate withdrawal would be disastrous for Iraq and the region.
And correct me if I’m wrong but I think I heard a few days ago that the US senate rejected a law that demanded setting a timetable for troops withdrawal (58 vs. 40, right?) let alone an immediate one.
However, I agree with Mr. Murtha that some people in Iraq would benefit from an immediate withdrawal but that would be al-Qaeda and there are also countries in the region that would benefit from that too but these would be Syria and Iran!

LINK

Views Of A Palestinian

"Last week's suicide attacks against innocent civilians in Amman shocked us all. It is unclear what message the suicide bombers were conveying and there is no logical cause justifying such insane acts. What could the aim of such attacks be, and what were the mad executioners aiming to achieve? For some time, they have claimed they are defenders and combatants of Islam and the Muslim world. However, Islam has no use for such people and their acts and ideologies - if we believe they have any ideology at all. They promote nothing more than killing and aim only to bring about a state of lawlessness and instability in the Middle East. ">The Daily Star - Opinion Articles - After Amman, pity what Islam has lost: "Last week's suicide attacks against innocent civilians in Amman shocked us all. It is unclear what message the suicide bombers were conveying and there is no logical cause justifying such insane acts. What could the aim of such attacks be, and what were the mad executioners aiming to achieve? For some time, they have claimed they are defenders and combatants of Islam and the Muslim world. However, Islam has no use for such people and their acts and ideologies - if we believe they have any ideology at all. They promote nothing more than killing and aim only to bring about a state of lawlessness and instability in the Middle East. "

As a Palestinian, I also accuse such bombers of damaging our cause and destroying our struggle for freedom. They can't be allowed to take our cause as an excuse for their evil and insane beliefs. No matter where they are acting - in Baghdad or New York, in Istanbul or Paris, in Madrid or Amman, in Cairo or London, in Beirut or Jerusalem - their acts only do us harm; especially at a time when we Palestinians are searching for international support to bring to life to a Palestinian state.

Our condolences are not just for the four senior Palestinians killed in the last suicide attack in Amman; not just for the people we knew or for the families of the innocents whose only crime was attending the weddings of loved ones. Our condolences are for Islam and for what Islam should really represent. Our condolences are for ourselves, who have fallen into the mud of madness."
LINK

Heart Attack Wisdom

Tuck this in the back of your brain, sounds like something we should all be aware of.

Heart Attack Procedure: NOT A JOKE

Women should also know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be
the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest
pain during the course of a heart attack.

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have
a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

The pain in the jaw happened to me and woke me from a sound sleep.

I was one of the fortunate ones. Trust me when I tell you it's pain unlike
anything you've ever experienced before.

Given a choice between natural child birth and a heart attack, pain-wise;
it's much easier to have a baby.

Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know..........

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people,
you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this... It could
save your life!!

Let's say it's 6.15pm and you're driving home (alone of course), after an
unusually hard day on the job. You're tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly
you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out
into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the
hospital nearest your home.

Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You
have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell
you how to perform it on yourself.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help,
the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint,
has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these
victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A
deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep
and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up
until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the
heart and keep the blood circulating.

The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In
this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many other
people as possible about this.
It could save their lives!!

from an Email but good information

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER


1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across
the tomb of the Unknowns and why?

21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the
highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.


2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his
return walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1


3. Why are his gloves wet?

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time
and if not, why not?

He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path, he executes an about face
and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?

Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be
between 5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed
30." Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years
of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and
cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.
They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot
disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two
years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on
their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are
only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of
their lives or give up the wreath pin.
The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat
and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend
to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a
halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress
for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor
watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable
people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must
memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the
notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and
Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier
of WWII} of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for
guard duty.



ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching
Washington, DC, our US Senate/House took 2 days off with
anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported
that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members
assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were
given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully
declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the
pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was
not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be
afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled
continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

Free Iraqi

Ali, formerly of Iraq The Model and more recently as Free Iraqi is blogging once again. It is good to have him back.Free Iraqi

Update on Danny

Well, all your prayers and good wishes were heard... Danny had the surgery yesterday and all went well. The doctor said that his heart had enlarged so much that it had very little elasticity left so if he had another heart attack it was unlikely he would survive. His pressures had dropped from 5.9 liters/minute in May to 3.8 liters. The doctor said he's not out of the woods yet, and he'll stay in cardiac thorasic i/c/u until the end of this week and then he'll go to step-down, but it looks promising. What a relief. They took the ventilator off him last night and I got to speak with him a tiny bit. He said he feels lousy - that's to be expected - but at least he's talking!

STANDARDS

While listening to the news, two senators were interviewed regarding the secret prisons for terrorists. One point made which didn't seem to get any traction was that the NY Times and a Washington paper had printed classified information. Leaking only counts if it can embarrass the current executive branch. The point upon which they agreed was that we need to follow the Geneva Convention and condemn torture because we are held to a HIGHER STANDARD. Both of these politicos loved holding America to a HIGHER STANDARD. We dare not torture terrorists to get information to save American lives because we are held to a HIGHER STANDARD. Although we are at war with those who killed thousands on our soil and enjoy televising beheadings, we must be held to a HIGHER STANDARD. Even though CLASSIFIED information was leaked and gleefully printed in the hopes that it would embarrass the current administration. The media is bound by a LOWER STANDARD. Whoever leaked this CLASSIFIED information obviously is bound by a LOWER STANDARD. The HIGHER STANDARD only applies to protect terrorists. It does not apply to having sexual questionnaires in elementary school. It does not apply to teaching morals to children. It does not apply to parental rights. It does not apply to the protection of the unborn. It does not apply to the personal property if some government agency covets it. It does not apply to the manner in which we regard our troops or their mission. It does not apply to pulling together as a nation if political advantage can be gained by promoting the ongoing myth that President Bush lied to the American people. Obviously the LOWER STANDARD is what the Democrat leadership follows in their quest to weaken the administration in a time of war. I am an Independent Voter and have always supported the person elected as President even though I may not have voted for him. I am old and actually remember a time when this nation pulled together when we faced a threat or war. I have come to the conclusion that the only HIGHER STANDARD is whatever the person speaking is willing to hold others to. There is no HIIGHER STANDARD to bind or protect Americans. The HIGHER STANDARD is only so much verbiage to be called upon when someone wishes to impugn other persons' motives.

Wisdom

One evening, an elder Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 'wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Way To Go President Bush

You energized your base by nominating Harriet Miers and then accepting her withdrawal from consideration. Now you have nominated Samuel Alito who interprets rather than makes law. Way to go!

More Prayers Please

Lasr November I requested prayers for Danny, my niece's husband who has end stage heart failure. Prayers have helped him continue to live and if all goes well he will have the Jarvik device implanted on November 7th. L writes, "Well, we finally got the date for Danny's surgery. He'll go in this Thursday to be prep'd and have a swan inserted in his neck to test his pressures, then the actual surgery will be Monday, November 7th. Dr. Jarvik will assist the surgeon and all Danny's prior surgeons (who implanted his valve and defribrillator) have also been invited and accepted the opportunity to view. Danny was told that he could then receive a donor heart as soon as one becomes available and is a match (he's O+ which is a good thing). What a gift that would be!"

Continued prayer will be appreciated.

My Thoughts

As I read the news and consider the multiple problems facing our nation, I am often unable to articulate my fears and uncertainties. I remain totally supportive of our military who have voluntered to do any dangerous job assigned to them in order to protect our nation. Peggy Noonan is a gifted writer that often states the partially formed thoughts I have. At my age, I have seen so many changes in our laws and in the culture as a whole that lead me to fear for the future generations of America.
I encourage you to read this and look forward to any comments you may have.
OpinionJournal - Peggy Noonan

Breaking News

Harriet Miers has withdrawn her nomination as Associate Justice to SCOTUS. I wish her well. It must be a very harrowing experience going through such a hostile process.

Winds of Change

Alaa of THE MESOPOTAMIAN writes, "Rather, Hurricane force 'Winds of Change'; that is what we are experiencing. Do you realize the significance of the results of the constitution referendum? To start with you have the percentages and figures. Of registered voters about 73% turned out to vote. Of these voters 78% voted 'Yes' and 22% voted 'No'. Most of those who voted No were Sunnis. Some of the Sunnis have voted in favor, especially in Mosul. Therefore the percentages really reflect the percentage of Sunnis in Iraq. It is interesting that in Baghdad, roughly the same proportions of Yes & No's as the overall figures, which goes to show that Baghdad has a sectarian mix almost representative of the whole country.

In any case the progress towards democracy is unstoppable and inexorable and total victory is in sight. The enemy is now counting on one and only one forlorn hope, and that is to wear down the resolve of the American and western people, with the help of the MSM, which explains the latest explosions near the Meridien/Palestine hotel, a show staged entirely for the benefit of the MSM cameras that obliged and did their part admirably.

As has been frequently said “defeat and retreat is no option”; and this is truer now than ever with victory in sight, and with a bit of good planning it should not take long, Gods Willing. Personally I haven’t the slightest doubt about it and I am one in the midst of events and one who should know."

Read Alaa's Post THE MESOPOTAMIAN:

Gender

Did you know that many non-living things have a gender; for example...

1) Ziploc Bags -- They are Male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.

2) Copiers -- They are Female, because once turned off, it takes a while to warm them up again. It's an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can wreak havoc if the wrong buttons are pushed.

3) Tire -- Male, because it goes bald and it's often over-inflated.

4) Hot Air Balloon -- Male, because, to get it to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under it, and of course, there's the hot air part.

5) Sponges -- Female, because they're soft, squeezable and retain water.

6) Web Page -- Female, because it's always getting hit on.

7) Subway -- Male, because it uses the same old lines to pick people up.

8) Hourglass -- Female, because over time, the weight shifts to the bottom.

9) Hammer -- Male, because it hasn't changed much over the last 5,000 years, but it's handy to have around.

10) Remote Control -- Female... Ha! You thought it'd be male. But consider this -- it gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know the right buttons to push, he keeps trying.

Author unknown

Patriot Petitions - Petition to Restore Constitutional Integrity

Patriot Petitions - Petition to Restore Constitutional Integrity: "Petition to Restore Constitutional Integrity
To President George Bush, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, House Majority Leader Roy Blunt and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist:"

If you have not signed this, use link to read petition and scroll on down to sign it.

'War and Peace'

Whenever I tried to forget all about the past and focus on the future, I hear a story that brings the past right in front of my eyes. What happened was so brutal and hard to forget.
We should make the world realize that, not to gain some pity or compassion, but to make sure that it will not happen again anywhere in the world.
I can't keep the story in my heart, for I can't bear the pain all by myself and I wish the whole world could share it with me.
This story is dedicated to all those who oppose what's happening in Iraq, that's to say; the Arab and Muslim world and the (peace activists) in the hope that it will make them pause for a while and reconsider their (noble stand).
This is one example that may help them imagine the (peace) we lived in."

As we celebrate with the Iraqi people who have apparently voted in sufficient numbers to ratify the constitution, it is good to reflect on one of the reasons this war in Iraq was justified. To free these people who suffered so greatly is a just cause.

War and Peace:

Off The Blogroll

I must have done somthing bad. I paid my dues and I don't think my posts have been out of line but I still cannot update on the blogroll. I didn't see Ogre all of yesterday and yet I know he posted. This morning I again find Neo Progressive updated with the January 31 post and Rooftop blog with 10/6 post. I enjoy those blogs but I was really looking for something a little more timely.

Don't Believe Everything You Read

Success! Your ping has been recorded and your site has been added to the update list.

For some reason, I am no longer able to have my site updated on the blogroll. I posted yesterday and completed the updating form. I then read blogs on the blogroll.
When my blog was not mentioned, I went back to the blogroll update and reposted. I again recieved the same message. Late afternoon, I wrote to Tom asking if there were technical problems since some blogs listed were several days old and one was even from January. Refreshing, changing between Mozilla and IE did not solve the problem.
My last attempt was made at 8;45 pm. Again the same message as above and again I never made the blogroll. Still no Pawigoview on the blogroll at 9:30pm.

The post was not important, just my personal take on Madonna and her new role as an ourstanding mother after being so successful corrupting other peoples children.

Update 9:40 am
The blogroll still refuses to update my blog while including the unmentionables blog with a June 27,2005 post.I give up!

Other People's Children Don't Matter

Madonna Says: “TV is trash . . . My kids don’t watch TV”

LONDON, October 13, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – "Media icon and pop star Madonna said she does not allow her children to watch television because “TV is trash.”

“My kids don't watch TV,” she said. “We have televisions but they're not hooked up to anything but movies.”

An unlikely moralizer on matters of media – Madonna is famous for quite "trashy" performances and productions, including an explicit pornographic book, Sex, published in 1992 – Madonna has obvious sense when it comes to what her children should be exposed to.

“TV is trash,” she added, according to a This is London report. “I was raised without it. We don't have magazines or newspapers in the house either.”

A study published last fall revealed that teens who view television programs containing a lot of sexual content were twice as likely to become involved sexually at a younger age as teens who watched less."

This is good for Madonna's children AFTER making millions of dollars corrupting the minds of other people's children.

Conversation-GWB and Troops

"You could just feel how badly the media wanted to believe the President's videoconference with 10 U.S. soldiers was 'staged.' And dammit, if the media wanted it to be staged, then staged it will be."
Read the whole post:

Media on the War Front

I have been critical of the lack of accurate news reporting both from Afghanistan and Iraq. My news comes from reading milblogs and Iraqi and Afghani blogs. One of the newsiest and best media reports is written by Michael Yon. He was in Mosul with Deuce Four before taking a break. He has a new, rather lengthy post describing the process he went through to again embed in Iraq. I highly recommend it as a very worthwhile read.LINK

Iraqis Reach Deal on the Constitution

Mohammed at Iraq The Model wrote of the agreement to allow changes to the constitution after the December election. He is pleased by the change and feels he can now vote yes since the elections give Iraqis the opportunity to revisit some of the provisions that have concerned not only the Sunni but other minority groups of differing religious or secular leanings. Reading the comments regarding his post reveal many non Iraqis are happy to read this while the naysayers harp on the lack of following the law in making this change. Over half of the parliment evidently gave a voice vote in support of allowing the changes in hopes of increasing the chance for 'Yes' votes. Copies of the constition are being distributed throughout Iraq and I am certain the media in Iraq will announce and exzplain the post printing changes. I for one am glad that the Iraqi people will have a chance to vote for the initial constitution knowing that it's provisions have a chance of being modified to reflect the peoples views.

Iraqis Reach Deal on the Constitution
: "BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi leaders reached a breakthrough deal on last minute changes in the constitution Tuesday, and at least one Sunni Arab party said it would reverse its rejection of the document and urge its supporters to approve it in next weekend's referendum."
"Sunni Arabs are hoping to have a stronger representation in the next parliament and want to make major amendments to the constitution, particularly to water down the provisions for federalism, which Shiites and Kurds strongly support.

The other additions include a statement stressing Iraqi unity and another states that the Arabic language should be used in the Kurdistan region, along with Kurdish — issues important to the Sunni Arabs. The fourth underlines that former members of Saddam Hussein's ousted, Sunni-led Baath Party will only be prosecuted if they committed crimes."

Something To Think About

All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism .

ScrappleFace: Specter: Senators Not Qualified to Question Miers

ScrappleFace: Specter: Senators Not Qualified to Question Miers: "Specter: Senators Not Qualified to Question Miers
by Scott Ott

"(2005-10-11) -- Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-PA, announced today he will delay confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers until he can locate some Senators who are intellectually qualified to question her on the finer points of Constitutional law."

Scott Ott is in his usual rare form. He obviously read George Will.

Blogger Eats Posts

This is the third post I have written today. I used blogger for one on the South Korean Catholics funding Adult stem cell research which made me happy. The second I composed. The first I saved as a draft, the second I posted and was told 100% file completed. Where they went is beyond my comprhension.

Are We Intelligent?

When the founding fathers wrote the Constitution of the United States, they were intelligent men from diverse backgrounds. They met often and reasoned together. The wording was reworked until it met with general approval of all involved in the writing/signing. I believe they approached this as a straightforward task. Rewording when needed to make the meaning clear to all who read it. I first read it as a pre high school subject for discussion in a history class. I was capable of understanding it as were my classmates. It was pretty clear and not difficult to understand. The constitution and the amendments were written in clear English without nuance.

Evidently they changed the Constitution without notifying the ordinary citizens since according to George Will it is so complex that even the President is unable to truly understand it. Will states "opposition to Miers's confirmation flows from the fact that constitutional reasoning is a talent -- a skill acquired, as intellectual skills are, by years of practice sustained by intense interest. It is not usually acquired in the normal course of even a fine lawyer's career."

The intellectual skill acquired through years of study evidently is to find the nuance not written in the original and to change the meanings of well established and long held understanding on such things as eminent domain. This great intellectual skill found that any government agency can seize property to give to another individual to increase the tax base. It is through the years of practice that lawyers find they know more than the founding fathers and can find new meanings, loop holes and increased power of the judiciary to justify any change they wish to make from the original.

This intellectual skill is beyond what the average lawyer has, beyond the president's comprehension and most certainly far beyond the grasp of the citizenry. It is all a myth that "we the people" can understand the depths of meaning of the constitution and the amendments that our forefathers were asked to ratify by vote. How have we been misled all these years to believe that the constitution was clear.? How could we all be so blind to the hidden meanings so cleverly hidden from plain view? Perhaps President Bush should have nominated George Will or a Senator instead of a woman who is not a constitutional scholar. By all means, we dumb Americans can only benefit from Will's or a hard working, honest Senator filled with integrity. We may need another grand ego that is capable of reading all that fine print that is invisible to us.

When the Judiciary Committee hearings take place, I may find I really am not impressed with Harriet Miers. I am however willing to believe she is competent, with sufficient intellect, until she displays that she is not competent and is in fact lacking intellect needed to read the constitution as written.

Source

The Anchoress Writes

The Anchoress has written her thoughts on Miers' nomination and President Bush's plan. She believes that Bush supporters need to stand firm and trust his first hand knowlege of this woman's view of the constitution. I can only add that unless this woman is a flat out deceiver, she could not have accepted the nomination if she did not agree with GWB's criteria to select someone in the Scalia/Thomas mode. She has been handling the selection process so she must be pretty clear on what GWB is looking for. Maybe I am naive to believe that a truly honest person would not accept
a nomination if the criteria being ascribed to her by the president is untrue. I have also read questions regarding her strength to hold to her views against those who have shown their activist leanings. She would not be the only conservative or are we to fear that a woman will want to please the only other woman on the bench and therefore compromise her own values. Let us learn a little more about her before we forget why we wanted Bush to win.

Read More

SCOTUS

I will wait and see how Harriet Miers proceeds throughout the hearings. I do not know enough about this lady to make a judgement about her. One thing I see as a positive is the fact that she has been an active lawyer mingling with the common people. Someone who is an academic or a currently sitting judge seems to be the choice of many. As a non-lawyer, the idea of someone who has rubbed shoulders with average people, worked in Legal Aid and encouraged other lawyers to work pro bono for persons lacking the finances needed to hire a lawyer may be one of the best
recommendations for her nomination and confirmation. I look forward to the hearings.
I also think the hard won confirmation of Brown and Owens has given us some people of wisdom who will be in a position to serve the districts well. We need qualified people at all levels.

Reflections on Iraq

Tigerhawk covered the speech by General Petraeus' talk at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School For Public and International Affairs. This was not covered by the mainstream media.

The advertised topic of General Petraeus' talk was "A Soldier's Reflections on Iraq,"

"General Patraeus said that they have given the media an enormous amount of information, including countless important metrics for measuring progress, but that it is largely ignored. He observed that the enemy �On many days it is impossible to break through the steady drumbeat of sensational attacks occurring in Baghdad throughout the country. The opening of the new military academy got no coverage at all, even though it was a big event with the whole Iraqi government in attendance.'"

Read More:

Howdy's BLOG-The Bad Body Armor Lie

I hae read about the troops having to buy their own armor. Read this blog from one who has served in Iraq.Howdy's BLOG: "The Bad Body Armor Lie
I usually try and not re-print drivel, but this one lie needs to be framed in the correct context There is nothing more of a lie than the notion that poor defenseless American boys and girls are poorly protected as they serve in Iraq. I re-printed this picture at left showing a wounded Marine being evacuated from a house in Fallujah. He's alive because of the armor he is wearing. They are removing a Marine from the fighting who lived because of the armor he had on; armor issued to him from the Marine Corps, not armor he bought.
Nothing goes more direct to the heart than the notion that Secretary Rumsfeld, Vice President Cheney or President Bush are defiantly trying to get Americans killed to save a buck.
That is an absolute lie."

LA Can Learn From Fla

Gov. Jeb Bush writes about the successdful response to a disaster such as a hurricane. His article makes a lot of sense. Think Locally On Relief: "Florida learned many lessons from Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and we have continued to improve our response system after each storm. One of the biggest lessons is that local and state governments that fail to prepare are preparing to fail. In Florida, we plan for the worst, hope for the best and expect the unexpected. We understand that critical response components are best administered at the local and state levels."
I hope the national leadership reads this article before they decide that Daddy (read federal) will asume the major responsibility for all of America. This will lead to bankrupting the federal funds while irresponsible communities or states will fail to plan, fail to insure and fail to keep the local infrastructure in good repair.

Stem Cell Research

Have You Heard the Good News . . .: "For all the propaganda and hype boosting embryonic stem-cell research, ESCs are far from ready for prime time. Meanwhile, adult and umbilical cord blood stem-cell therapies keep quietly chugging along with continual advances in animal studies and the bringing of effective and safe treatments to a growing variety of suffering human patients. Maybe someday the media establishment will catch on to this real news, instead of focusing so myopically on the embryonic stem-cell story they want to tell. "

A Different Path After 9/11

Born in Egypt in 1967, Mona Eltahawy was a correspondent for the Reuters News Agency in Cairo. She writes of two young Muslim men. One goes on a quest to prove Bin Laden is not an American myth, the second a cab driver who listens to the fiery speeches of long past battles. Interesting contrasts between the two men.



"Bin Laden and his terrorist cohorts did us a favour because they shook us free of the defensiveness and denial that for decades had overshadowed an essential conversation about our religion and what had become of it."
Two years ago, when he was just 19, Fouad Gehad went to an Afghan refugee camp. He was not looking for directions to al-Qaeda but to speak to Afghan refugees who had seen al-Qaeda’s leader.

“My mission in life is to prove Osama Bin Laden exists,” Fouad, told me. To that end, he shot video tape of refugees recounting their stories of Bin Laden and on his return to Egypt paid out of his own pocket to hire an auditorium and a projection screen to show fellow Egyptians his footage.

Fouad was fed up of the conspiracy theories that painted Bin Laden as an American invention. Even after al-Qaeda released a video tape celebrating the attacks, some Muslims thought Bin Laden was an American agent who shot his videos in an American studio with a poster of the Afghan mountains as a backdrop.

The more Muslims ask the questions, lead the debates and hold the mirror up to ourselves, the more you will hear about young men like Fouad, who do not tread the tired and bloody jihad path but forge their own trails toward telling the truth to the Muslim world."

Asharq Alawsat Newspaper (English):

A Soldier's Letter From Iraq

As a member of a writing team of Soldier's Angels, I write to two new soldiers each week. I always tell them I am willing to write again if they send me a brief note or Email. One young soldier wrote the following letter and I think it is important to share his thoughts.


Dear Pat,

Thank you for your letter. It's so nice to know that people are thinking of us over here. I feel that it's unfortunate that there
are those wishing for us to lose this war to achieve political victories and possibly shame the current administration

Since when did it become a crime to love your country. Since when is dethroning a murderous dictator war mongering. As much as I dislike being here away from my family, the more I am here I realize the great thing that America is doing, not just for Iraq but for the whole world.

Unfortunately, these days it's more important to be right than to support your country. Thus the liberal 'know it alls' who can't stand it when America succeeds. I personally feel that there are 3 controversial arguments that the liberals are on the wrong side of'
Issues that lost them the election
1-Abortion-honestly most Americans oppose it
2-Gay marriage, and though we shouldn't judge, marriage is fine the way it is
3-Bush Bashing/The War on Terror - I have never seen a campaign run without a platform before. Popularity built on spite and diven by anger, can the devil's influence be more apparent.

Sincerely,

Rally To Support Our Troops

Cspan is currently broadcasting the rally until 3 pm.

Federal Funds Misused

"The funding New Orleans did receive was often diverted by the city's Levee Board to other projects. For example, the Board spent $2.4 million of levee funding on a Mardi Gras fountain near Lake Pontchartrain, and $15 million more on overpasses to riverboat casinos. All the while, a big storm was on the horizon.

On Monday, 29 August, after a few days of evacuation flip-flops, tens of thousands of New Orleans residents emerged midday to the realization that Katrina's worst winds had landed to the east. Although Katrina was now tearing into Mississippi and Alabama, New Orleans had—or so it thought—dodged the bullet.

As waters continued to rise against levees holding back Lake Pontchartrain, there was some concern that Katrina's massive rainfall might yet overtop the levees. However, it appears now that the levees were not overtopped. In fact, there is compelling evidence that the floodwalls failed structurally in two locations—which would not have happened if they had been built to specifications. (Contrary to assertions by Nation of Islam agitator Louis Farrakhan, the levees were not "blown up" in order to divert flood waters from "white" to "black" parts of the city.)

Simply put, somewhere there is a contractor, and a whole cadre of well-grafted inspectors, who are accountable for the structural failure of the levees. Finding that contractor will be one of many serious tasks facing congressional investigators in the coming months.

As you recall, in the immediate aftermath of the levee failure, Democrats were waving accusatory fingers and demanding an "inquisition commission." They were hoping for colorful headlines blaming the Bush administration and, by extension, anyone on a Republican ticket in the upcoming election year. Then, when Republicans joined in the call for investigations, Democrats quickly backed down and, indeed, refused to take part altogether. Upon reflection, they determined that an inquiry into factual communication, material distribution and evacuation failures after Katrina would instead bury Louisiana Democrats—from buck-passing New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to lachrymose Governor Kathleen Blanco to hysterical Senator Mary Landrieu."

from the The Federalist Patriot 9/23/2005

Precious Lives

Just saw the first advertisement on TV by the Gold Star Mothers. The ad is well done and I sympathize with those who have lost loved ones. The young widow with the baby her husband never held is especially sad. That said, I wonder how these bereaved people can be so blind about the very real threat of terrorism. Do these women realize who the groups are that are funding and managing the PR campaign? What do they think of the bereaved from previous wars who defended our nation to protect their freedom of speech? Do they really feel Americans are the only people in this world that deserve freedom from dictators? Should we really pull our troops out and leave the Iraqi people to the fate that befell those left behind when we pulled out of Vietnam? Are American lives more precious than any other? I understand that they have lost precious people but the heroes gave their lives to give other precious lives a better future.

Kudos To The National Weather Service

I read all of the condemnation of the response to Katina. This has become so politicized and so expensive in human costs as well as rebuilding. I have not read much about how fortunate we are that the weather officials have done such a terrific job of forecasting and tracking of these many storms. Considering the historical human costs when storms happened without fore knowledge I am so thankful we now have such capability in weather forecasts. It is my hope that people will begin to take these warnings seriously. The local, state and federal government surely have a responsibility to assist those who cannot evacuate without assistance to help them. For the able bodied it is their personal responsibility to remove themselves from danger be it by private or public transportation. I have little sympathy for those who defy the orders to evacuate or those who fail to plan ahead with emergency supplies. Where government failure to provide transportation to safe sanctuary is at fault, we need to assist the people. When people, who have the capability, fail to evacuate I lose sympathy.

Some Interesting Sites

I spent some time today looking at sites which were new to me and found three I would recommend. Two are milblogs which I enjoy reading to gain some sense of what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. The third caught my eye because of a link to the "fair tax" proposal. Why not pay them a visit.


A Storm In Afghanistan: "My wife passed along this little tidbit.

Seems my daughter, Marissa, showed up with her pooh bear backpack, and declared it was time to go.

Go where, she was asked.

'I go to Anananatan to go get my Daddy!!'"


Mach Polistew Merry discusses the "fair tax"

I am not certain from reading the blog whether or not Dkelsmith is in Iraq, Afganistan or stateside.
DKelSmith: Weblog Afficionado

Freedom Fighters

"Colonel H.R. McMaster offers some details about Cindy's freedom fighters:

But it was his description of how the enemy occupied their safe haven that got the most attention. Col. McMaster told of beheadings, gunshot killings, a booby-trapped dead child and kidnappings. 'This is the worst of the worst in terms of people in the world,' he said. 'To protect themselves here, what the enemy did is they waged the most brutal and murderous campaign against the people of Tal Afar. ... The enemy here did just the most horrible things you can imagine, in one case murdering a child, placing a booby trap within the child's body and waiting for the parent to come recover the body of their child and exploding it to kill the parents.'
Col. McMaster said his men killed scores of the enemy in a series of firefights up and down the tight streets of the crossroads between Syria, where insurgents train, and the critical northern Iraqi city of Mosul. �
Col. McMaster said soldiers captured some associates of lead terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi. 'They are some of the worst human beings on the face of the Earth,' he said. 'There is no really greater pleasure for us than to kill or capture these particular individuals.'"
LINK:

A Day of Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I come to you today to ask that you will preserve and protect those who have lost so much in the great storm. May they trust in you and have faith in their future. I pray that the leaders of the nation and those in the states affected will have the strength and wisdom to assist your people to rebuild their lives. Our nation has been blessed with many material things and comfortable living and our greatest blessing has been the willingness to care for our brothers and sisters in need. I thank you for the lives you have spared and pray that those who lost loved ones will be comforted.May we continue to serve you by helping in the many ways that will be needed. May the plans to promote development of skills to provide employment, new small businesses that lead to greater prosperity for the downtrodden and give renewed hope that they can have positive changes in their lives. May we learn lessons from this disaster so that we may be better prepared in future emergencies. May good come out of this disaster as we recognize not only the faults of this great nation but the many characteristics that helped build this nation. May self reliance of individuals increase and divisiveness decrease. May our people recognize that it is only though you that we may achieve these things. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen

Senate Committee on John Roberts

I watched quite a bit of the senate hearings on John Roberts. I have been impressed with John Roberts answers in that he explains things so well. I noted the rudeness of Biden and Kennedy as they interupted his answers. Today, 30 individuals, half Democrts and half Republicans, either condemned r\Roberts or expressed wholehearted support for him. The greatest fear is that Roe will be overturned and that civil rights will disappear. I did not find their arguments reasonable but merely the usual partisan line. It will be interesting to see how the senate votes.

One Nation Under God

This is not a prayer. This does not promote a specific religion. Our nation has been blessed by God and if we remove Him from all things public we will reap the consequences as all of the moral laws upon which our constitution was based will fail.
Those of us with a faith in a higher power will not give up our beliefs but the erosion of decency in the United States will continue.

Disaster Plans

Having read the reports of the doctor who overmedicated patients with morphine because they would not be evacuated and the discovery of the many nursing home patients left to drown I am bewildered by the evident lack of preparation for a disaster (bomb scare, fire, flood, hurricane, etc.)

I was an RN who was educated in Minnesota and New York. I worked in large and small hospitals there and in Florida and North Carolina. Common to all the hospitals I have worked in there was always a disaster plan which was practiced and critiqued to improve performance. It is generally understood that all employees and medical staff were expected to report to the hospital in case of local disaster. Plans for evacuation, triage etc. were developed. Are the professionals in Louisiana not prepared for disasters. Was there no plan to get the maximum number of staff into the hospital? Was there no protocol for use of ambulances, vans and private cars to get the patients out of harms way? Were the administrators not on the premises leading the disaster plan? Were there no helicopter pads for air evacuation? Buildings in the flood plain have the generators in the lower levels where they would potentially flood. What building codes are in place?

I understand that New Orleans is a party town but surely there must be someone who has some foresight other than the Picayune?

Four Years

Remember This! 

A Piece of My Mind

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Hat Tip: PJ

Iraqi Soldiers Donate To Katrina Relief

IRAQ THE MODEL: "Iraqi soldiers donate to Katrina victims:
(Hat tip:ITM reader).


'On behalf of myself and all the People of Tadji Military Base; I would like to console the American People and Government for getting this horrible disaster. So we would like to donate 1.000.000 Iraqi Dinars to help the government and the People also I would like to console all the ASTs who helped us rebuilding our country and our Army. We appreciate the American's help and support. Thank you.'

These were the words of Colonel Abbas Fadhil, commander of the Taji military base.
The donated money is little, less than 700 $ and it can do practically nothing but the spirit and and words mean quite a lot."

Oil Resources in the USA

Linda Seebach is an editorial writes that Shell's ingenious approach to oil shale is pretty slickRocky Mountain News: Columnists:

"Since 1981, Shell researchers at the company's division of 'unconventional resources' have been spending their own money trying to figure out how to get usable energy out of oil shale. Judging by the presentation the Rocky Mountain News heard this week, they think they've got it.
Shell's method, which it calls 'in situ conversion,' is simplicity itself in concept but exquisitely ingenious in execution. Terry O'Connor, a vice president for external and regulatory affairs at Shell Exploration and Production, explained how it's done (and they have done it, in several test projects):
Drill shafts into the oil-bearing rock. Drop heaters down the shaft. Cook the rock until the hydrocarbons boil off, the lightest and most desirable first. Collect them.
Please note, you don't have to go looking for oil fields when you're brewing your own.
On one small test plot about 20 feet by 35 feet, on land Shell owns, they started heating the rock in early 2004. 'Product' - about one-third natural gas, two-thirds light crude - began to appear in September 2004. They turned the heaters off about a month ago, after harvesting about 1,500 barrels of oil.
While we were trying to do the math, O'Connor told us the answers. Upwards of a million barrels an acre, a billion barrels a square mile. And the oil shale formation in the Green River Basin, most of which is in Colorado, covers more than a thousand square miles - the largest fossil fuel deposits in the world.
Wow.
They don't need subsidies; the process should be commercially feasible with world oil prices at $30 a barrel. The energy balance is favorable; under a conservative life-cycle analysis, it should yield 3.5 units of energy for every 1 unit used in production. The process recovers about 10 times as much oil as mining the rock and crushing and cooking it at the surface, and it's a more desirable grade. Reclamation is easier because the only thing that comes to the surface is the oil you want.

And we've hardly gotten to the really ingenious part yet. While the rock is cooking, at about 650 or 750 degrees Fahrenheit, how do you keep the hydrocarbons from contaminating ground water? Why, you build an ice wall around the whole thing. As O'Connor said, it's counterintuitive.

But ice is impermeable to water. So around the perimeter of the productive site, you drill lots more shafts, only 8 to 12 feet apart, put in piping, and pump refrigerants through it. The water in the ground around the shafts freezes, and eventually forms a 20- to 30-foot ice barrier around the site.

Next you take the water out of the ground inside the ice wall, turn up the heat, and then sit back and harvest the oil until it stops coming in useful quantities. When production drops, it falls off rather quickly.

That's an advantage over ordinary wells, which very gradually get less productive as they age.

Then you pump the water back in. (Well, not necessarily the same water, which has moved on to other uses.) It's hot down there so the water flashes into steam, picking up loose chemicals in the process. Collect the steam, strip the gunk out of it, repeat until the water comes out clean. Then you can turn off the heaters and the chillers and move on to the next plot (even saving one or two of the sides of the ice wall, if you want to be thrifty about it).

Most of the best territory for this astonishing process is on land under the control of the Bureau of Land Management. Shell has applied for a research and development lease on 160 acres of BLM land, which could be approved by February. That project would be on a large enough scale so design of a commercial facility could begin.

The 2005 energy bill altered some provisions of the 1920 Minerals Leasing Act that were a deterrent to large-scale development, and also laid out a 30-month timetable for establishing federal regulations governing commercial leasing.

Shell has been deliberately low-key about their R&D, wanting to avoid the hype, and the disappointment, that surrounded the last oil-shale boom. But O'Connor said the results have been sufficiently encouraging they are gradually getting more open. Starting next week, they will be holding public hearings in northwest Colorado.

hat tip NY girl got me looking
Crossposted at Love America First

Letter To Mayor Nagin

Dear Mr Mayor,

I have been stressed reading about and watching the mayhem unleashed in New Orleans and feel the need of a few days with my family. Please let me know how I apply for the city funds of New Orleans so that I too may regain a more relaxed emotional state. Since the city funds will undoubtedly be replaced with federal dollars if any other need arises, I am certain you can understand and will approve my request. Thank you in advance for the funding of my family vacation during this distressing
experience.

Sincerely,

Pat in NC

Kofi Annan's record with despotic dictators is just getting better!

Kofi Annan's record with despotic dictators is just getting better!


Iran's Khatami appointed as member of 'Alliance of Civilizations'



TEHRAN, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami was appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday as a member of 'Alliance of Civilizations', the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

'Alliance of Civilizations' is a high-level UN organization consisting of 18 members with a task to promote communication and alliance among civilizations, especially between the West and the Islamic world.

Khatami is therefore one of the two cultural figures selected from the Middle East region. The other one is Chairman of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development SheikhaMozah Bint Nasser al-Missned, the report said.

Khatami became Iran's president in May 1997 and was reelected inJune 2001. His second term of office ended on Aug. 2, 2005.

Khatami, also a religious as well as philosophical scholar, has been active in exploiting ways to a harmonious co-existence among peoples and civilizations.

He is well-known for what he called 'Dialogue among Civilizations', which he put forward in 2000 to stand against the US scholar Samuel P. Huntington's theory of 'the Clash of civilizations'.

In May 2005, Khatami made another proposal that all Muslims should work for what he called 'Great Islamic Middle East" initiative to counter the US "Great Middle East" plan, which Iran sharply criticized as "serving its own interests".

Source http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/03/content_3439688.htm

Justice Rehnquist Dies

Fox news has just reported that Chief Justice Rehnquist has passed away. He was surrounded by his family. My sympathy to his family and friends.

My Thoughts

Watching the news, reading blogs and online news articles is to say the least, depressing. I do not understand why in national emergency be it war or disaster that so many criticize and play politics. Undoubtedly there will be reviews of how this emergency has been handled and faults in the planning or lack thereof will be identified and hopefully corrected. Again, Texas leads the way in that they had plans as to how to respond to a disaster. They set up the Astrodome with speed and had cots, blankets and personal care articles ready for the survivors arriving from New Orleans. This is an example of good planning along with the willingness to help out the people of another state when there is a need.

I read the many hateful comments about the response of our federal services and in particualr President Bush. They seem to forget he declared a state of emergency before the hurricane hit. I do not see that those of us who believe in states rights expect that the federal government would take the lead until notified of specific needs by the local and state officials who have the primary responsibility for their citizens. The National Guard is available when called up by a governor, and any request for Coast Guard, Army and Navy resources could be deployed since a state of emergency had already been called. It seems that no matter what President Bush does or does not do is wrong by some people. At one time he is a dictator who controls everything and then he is a wimp who is unable to control anything.

The criminals who are raping, mugging and killing need to be stopped. The survivors of the devestation need to be cared for until they can find housing and work. We need to pull together as Americans and help instead of trying to assert the great wisdom of hindsight.

The Best and Worst of America

First the good. Americans are responding with donations of money for the various and worthwhile agencies to provide relief to those who are now homeless due to the hurricane. While I am not well to do, my contribution will join with the large and small donations to alleviate much of the suffering. The State of Texas is leading the nation in reaching out to provide housing, schooling etc. I have never been to Texas but it surely makes me believe in the goodness of the people of Texas.

The worst encompasses all those who have nothing to do but criticize. It is the fault of President Bush, governors, or anyone who believes this nation is made up of basically good people. The American bashers are out in full force whether their gripes are that they hate our current leaders, despise our military who risk their lives and leave the comforts of home and family to protect us or those malcontents who despise those with moral or religious convictions that guide their lives and judgements. Law breakers were released from jails to avoid death in facilities that would flood. Those with a weak grasp on their mental health have been stressed beyond any sense of reasonable behavior and joinedd the criminal element so now we have armed looters/terrorists who are shooting at the very people striving to help those in desperate need.

Undoubtedly the emergency disaster planning will be revisited. Plans will be developed to hopefully prevent this from happening again, BUT FOR NOW can we just
do whatever we can to help ease the human suffering and stop bashing the leaders, the planners, the citizens who did not heed the evacuation alert. Please contribute what you are able to help our fellow citizens.

Parliamentary Election and Women's Greater Interests

Afghan Warrior: "People of Afghanistan show a great interest to participate and vote for the upcoming parliamentary election. They know it is a great step towards democracy after almost three decades of war in the country."

An Iraqi Message To Our Troops

This message to your brave Soldiers who are fighting in Iraq,is from the heart of an Iraqi who can write in (bad) English sometimes.

SOLDIERS

You have come to Iraq voluntarily to represent the best and finest human face currently on this earth and the moral clarity and courage, from your Countries, to advance the march of Freedom, Human Rights , The Rule of Law, and Democracy in Iraq.

We ( the silent majority of Iraqis who are often unable to speak with you to express our true feelings and respect in your language) wish to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and thank your God ( whatever you conceive him to be) for guiding you to willingly accept your presence on our land and its oppressed (for centuries), destroyed and impoverish majority of its people.

Your courage, devotion to your duties, your respect to the traditions and customs of your hosts, your bravery and valour and above all your sacrifices away from your loved ones, should be something to be proud of by yourselves, your families, friends and realtives back home, wherever you have come from.

You have come to us to free us from our own Tyrants, Despots Individuals and Groups who tortured, killed, maimed, imprisoned, and disbursed us and did untold horrible things to us sometimes for no reason other than our thoughts and dreams.

We are proud to have you with us mending our Schools and Hospitals, the Courts, the Police Stations, guarding our borders and skies, and the Fire Stations and the orphanages, the Roads, Waterways, the Electricity plants, the telphone exchanges, the oil installations, the bridges, the railways, and much more and helping us rebuilding our personalities to think positively in hope and in anticipation of the good for our beloved Country,Iraq.

We thank you deeply for your being with us supporting and helping us and helping our future peace loving children and grand children to live FREE like the rest of the civilised world, with intgerity honour,and grace.

Soldiers in Iraq. Your countries should be proud of you.

May God protect you and bring you back safely home as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Hameed Abid


Hameed wrote this comment on Iraq The Model 8/28/05

View from the ground

"Because I have been serving for nearly 18 months in Iraq, I have a greater sensitivity to the debate in the media about the war.


Iraqis work on a new water treatment plant for the Sadr City section of Baghdad, which has become a bright spot in U.S. security efforts. It seems it is an obligation that I should share a different perspective from what the media focus on. My views are not those of someone who has 'visited' Baghdad for a few days, as some pundits have. I serve in the day-to-day, sometimes monotonous battle for freedom. As a simple grunt colonel, I don't have the power of the press, but I certainly have the power and responsibility to express my perspective and opinion.
I'm concerned by the recent wave of attacks on President Bush, Congress and others for going to war and, now, for pursuing it to a successful conclusion. Several factors seem to be contributing to the criticism, including the political motivation of the critics and the 'instant news' in this shake-and-bake, ever-flattening world. "

read more at Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Viewpoints registration is free

Hurricane Katrina

Heavenly Father, You rule the winds and care for the sparrows. I pray that you will protect the people in the path of this mighty storm. Spare the lives of people in it's path and watch over the workers who are trying to protect the people that their work is successful and that they remain safe. In Jesus name, Amen

Katrina

This is a nice Katrina!

An Encounter in Mosul, Iraq

Michael Yon : Online Magazine: "Combat comes unexpectedly, even in war."Michael Yon writes another breathtaking acount of a battle in Mosul.

Skin Cells Converted to Stem Cells

Skin Cells Converted to Stem Cells: "Scientists for the first time have turned ordinary skin cells into what appear to be embryonic stem cells -- without having to use human eggs or make new human embryos in the process, as has always been required in the past, a Harvard research team announced yesterday.
The technique uses laboratory-grown human embryonic stem cells -- such as the ones that President Bush has already approved for use by federally funded researchers -- to 'reprogram' the genes in a person's skin cell, turning that skin cell into an embryonic stem cell itself.
The approach -- details of which are to be published this week in the journal Science but were made public on the journal's Web site yesterday -- is still in an early stage of development. But if further studies confirm its usefulness, it could offer an end run around the heated social and religious debate that has for years overshadowed the field of human embryonic stem cell research."

The Ten Commandments

Months ago, Najma of a Star in Mosul wrote about Jonah and Moses indicating their burial sites were the location of mosques. I asked, since they honor Moses, if the Koran included the Ten Commandments. This is a copy of her post in response.
The Ten Commandments0) (Exodus 12: 1-17 & Deuteronomy 5: 6-21)0) Confirmation in the Quran (Chapter: Verse)
1. Thou shall not take any God except one God.
1. "There is no God except one God" (47:19)
2. Thou shall make no image of God.
2. "There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him" (42:11)
3. Thou shall not use God's name in vain.
3. "Make not God's name an excuse to your oaths" (2:224)
4. Thou shall honor thy mother and father.
4. "Be kind to your parents if one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not a word of contempt nor repel them but address them in terms of honor." (17:23)
5. Thou shall not steal.
5. "As for the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands, but those who repent After a crime and reform shall beforgiven by God for God is forgiving and kind." (5:38 - 39)
6. Thou shall not lie or give false testimony.
6. "They invoke a curse of God if they lie." (24:7) "Hide not the testimony" (2:283)
7. Thou shall not kill.
7. "If anyone has killed one person it is as if he had killed the whole mankind" (5:32)
8. Thou shall not commit adultery.
8. "Do not come near adultery. It is an indecent deed and a way for otherevils." (17:32)
9. Thou shall not covet thy neighbors wife or possessions.
9, "Do good to your parents, relatives and neighbors." (4:36) Saying of the Prophet Muhammad (P) "One of the greatest sins is to have illicit sex with your neighbors wife".
10. Thou shall keep the Sabbath holy.
10. "When the call for the Friday Prayer is made, hasten to the remembrance of God and leave off your business." (62:9

Interesting that we have so much in common and yet the 'martyrs' do not seem to pay attention to their holy book.

SOLDIER LIFE: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER

"SOLDIER LIFE: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
New Book Detailing the Everyday Life of an American Soldier's Experience with The War on Terror from LBF Books

PITTSBURGH, PA , Aug. 18 - LBF Books to publish Soldier Life: A Day in the Life of an American Soldier (ISBN 1-885093-44-6 ). The book details the author's experiences while deployed and back home, weaving a gut-wrenching, heartfelt tapestry of experiences and emotions unique to soldiers' living and dying in this war. American Soldier's work comprised of elements drawn from his critically acclaimed and widely read weblog ( www.soldierlife.com), aims to bring the grim, yet human face of war to readers everywhere.

The author, writing under a pseudonym to protect his identity, delivers a first-person account of the constantly changing world of an American Soldier attempting to balance both family and responsibility while enduring the reality of war. Soldier Life: A Day in the Life of an American Soldier chronicles the events engulfing modern day patriots, and the hardships he willingly endured to ensure safety and security of family and country left behind.

Soldier Life: A Day in the Life of an American Soldier is required reading for those looking for an intimate insight into the minds of fathers, husbands, and warriors serving in this war.

LBF Books plans to release Soldier Life: A Day in the Life of an American Soldier in December, 2005."

Contact: LeeAnn Lessard

LBF Books, Public Relations

Pittsburgh , PA

613-797-7578

leeann.lessard@sympatico.ca

www.lbfbooks.com

LAUS DEO

Something Worth Remembering

"Laus Deo....Praise be to God!"

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington DC, are displayed two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter,probably couldn't care less. Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want to share this with everyone you know. I do. But these words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America. Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, un-noticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world. So, what do those two words, in Latin, comprised of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise be to God!" Laus is Praise be and Deo means God. Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, "Laus Deo....Praise be to God!" From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with it's division into four major segments. From that vantage point. one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant...a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on... How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who notice. Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore, on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God! When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy ..."One Nation, Under God." I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it? Well now is your unique opportunity, so read on! "Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United states at large." And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Laus Deo! As you probably guessed, over 92 percent of Americans like the idea that our Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase "under God." It is clear when one studies the history of our great nation, that Washington's America was one of the few countries in all the world established under the guidance, direction and banner of Almighty God, to whom was given all praise, honor and worship by the great men who formed and fashioned her pivotal foundations. When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. Though many try to disprove and reason, their arguments are weak and easily proven without basis. Their efforts will forever be in vain; God assures us of that. Have you noticed as of late, how many more people are coming together, affirming the fact that this nation was, from the beginning, built on God? Any nation that is not built upon God will fail. The truth is...We have always been one nation under God! Laus Deo! Praise be to God! You may forget the width and height of "Laus Deo", it's vocation, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget it's meaning, or these words: "Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1) Let us remember to do our part, through prayers and sacrifice,to be the watchmen who stand their guard. It is hoped you will send this to every child you know; to every sister, brother, father, mother or friend. They will not find offense, because you have given them a lesson in history that they probably never learned in school. With that, be not ashamed, or afraid, but have pity on those who will never see. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 author unknown Laus Deo: "

Why I Write To The Troops

I am a member of the Sodier's Angels writing team. I get two new names each week and offer continued correspondence if they send me a brief indication that they appreciate mail. I include my email address. Today one medic wrote:
"You and your family have a great deal to be thankful for! Sometimes we go through life picking out the bad instead of the good. As an eye-witness to some of the world’s atrocities, let me say, you have so much to be thankful for! There are people that live in the Middle East that are suffering in ways you’ll never understand. You have your Freedom and you know when you’re going to have your next meal. Some of the people in this part of the world have neither, and I have seen this for my own eyes. I have a better understanding of what it means to be an American, and I think you do too!

As I depart my duty from Operation Iraqi Freedom, I want to say that I hope you continue to spread your love and appreciation to the next rotation of troops. They will be here during our American holidays and it will be more depressing than you can imagine. They will need the same sort of letters, cards, and care packages that I received in order to make it through their tour successfully. Remember, not all troops have families. Some do, but they may not have a great relationship with their family. I ask of you during the upcoming holidays, “Will you be someone’s family?”

A SAD EXODUS

I will not second guess the leaders of Israel as to the wisdom of the withdrawal from Gaza. It is my hope that it will be a positive step toward the establishment of peace in the area. I have many doubts in view of Palestinian terrorist groups pronouncements and the United Nations funding of Palestinian terror propaganda.
The only thing I am certain of is the tragedy for the 8000 people who are being forced from their homes. Watching the scenes on TV of these families leaving homes they have lived in for thirty plus years, the homes where their babies first joined the family and where loved ones died from age, illness or even terror attacks. These are material possessions which can be replaced but the memories of home, the breakup of community and seperation from the synagogue that has been a main part of their lives is heartbreaking. A positive is the relative freedom from violence during this eviction. Americans are upset about the Supreme Court Kelo decision and rightly so since it denies the Constitutional protection we once had. Multiply this by the number of persons forced from their homes by their own government and it is truly tragic.