Talk About Injustice!

Can you believe that Albert Snyder -- the Pennsylvania man whose Marine son's funeral was protested by Westboro Baptist Church -- has been ordered to pay over $16,000 to cover the cost of their appeals after he sued them and won? The Supreme Court is going to hear the case.

Wickipedia gives the following definition for the Westboro Baptist Church: The Westboro Baptist Church is an Independent Baptist church and hate group known for its hatred of gays. The organization is known for picketing at public events and funerals, often those related or peripherally related to gay people or soldiers in the military. Does this sound like a church to you?

I don't understand how this "church" can be so hateful. I know of no other church that preaches hatred as it's doctrine. What is worse...most of the protests include children. These kids carry signs and wear T-shirts that say "God hates fags" or "Your Pastor is a whore". It baffles me that this organization is not labeled the same as the KKK or the Skinheads. How can we let them hide behind the safety of a religion?

Thank God for groups like the Patriot Riders who keep these knuckleheads away from the funerals of most service members.

If I were Mr. Snyder, I would sling a few choice words at the judge and thank him as he sends me to prison because I sure wouldn't be paying one red cent to the Westboro Baptist Church!

I wonder if these people have any idea that their ability to be so hateful was provided by that young, dead Marine!!!

Recognize This Picture?

This picture shows the bodies of U.S. citizens hanging from a bridge in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. The mastermind of this atrocity was captured by the Seals. He claims, that while under their control they beat him up, and he had the cut lip to show for it.
I heard on the news again today another story about these Seals. They are from the area I live in and the people here are furious that they are standing trial because an enemy "soldier", claims to have been struck. If they did, in fact, strike him...it cannot be construed as torture. It may have also happened as he was fighting with them or trying to escape.
Let us get something straight. Our enemies in Iraq cannot be considered soldiers (no uniforms, no "state"/country) and therefore do not technically fall under the Geneva Convention and even deserve to be treated as POWs, though we do, because we are a civilized nation. However, have one of our soldiers captured and they are tortured, paraded, humiliated...no where near treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention. So why do we do so? Because it is the right thing to do.
So...this guy gets a boo boo and the ACLU and other organizations start screaming because we are "abusing" the enemy. We need to treat them better so that they see our example and do the same...Ummm, it doesn't work!!!! Remember the decapitations?
Also, why are we allowing our enemies to be protected by the very Constitution they hate and despise? They are not Americans, therefore the Constitution does not apply. Nor do Miranda Rights or anything else. They are enemy combatants...prisoners of war. If they are to be treated by POWs, then according to the Geneva Convention, they cannot be tried for their actions in court...but they can be detained until hostilities cease. A good excuse for keeping Gitmo open!!! Why is our Government trying to make POWs into a class of criminal. Their actions are not criminal, they are done in a war. You capture them, if they are war crimes, a Tribunal takes care of it.
Back to these Seals. So we have taken three professionals at protecting you an me, off the streets. The Iraqi's see how we reacted and can now "say" they were abused and take some more off the street. These Seals should be lauded for their control for not beating the guy to death...he deserved it for what he did to our fellow countrymen on that bridge. If that doesn't make your blood boil...then the next time the Flag goes by you in a parade, look away...for you do NOT deserve to look at it.

Such a Sad Story

I just read a very sad story about the backstreet abortions being done in Kenya. Kenya's abortion laws are much more strict than in the United States.

I don't want to take this blog down the tempting road and most likely heated discussion about the right or wrong of abortions. This could get very ugly and usually gets us nowhere. I think what should be examined is how do these young women get to this place.

I read some of the comments at the end of the story and it was disheartening to see that the comments quickly moved to blame the religious right, or how the churches aren't doing anything for these women. The story was not about what the churches were doing, I am sure they do a lot.

What is truly sad is that this story told of a 14-year-old girl who secretly became a prostitute to support her family, got pregnant, and died from a backstreet abortion. The horror of an abortion aside, what really needs to be looked at is how we can let a country get in such bad shape that people starve and have to do the things this girl did to survive. Then, when she gets pregnant, her only option (to her anyway) was to have an abortion.

I pray that someday, we will eliminate poverty and have situations like this. I also pray for the many babies who are aborted because of these situations and thrown out into the trash. Pro-life is not just being against abortion...that is anti-abortion. Pro-life is also ensuring that these youngsters in Kenya, and other nations like it, can grow up as children should, in a safe, loving environment to go forward in life and do great things. Pro-life is "protecting life"...all life!

Please read this story and educate yourself...then give to a charity that helps these people.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/03/23/kenya.abortions/index.html?hpt=Mid

Still Strong After More Than 2000 Years!!

I had planned to write today on the Health Care bill that was passed last night, but I decided to write about something more positive and inspiring.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon, as a sponsor for my girlfriend, at a retreat for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) class. This was a group of over 20 candidates from three local churches who will be brought into the Catholic Church Easter weekend. It was a hugely inspiring few hours and helped to rekindle my own faith.

At one point we sat in small groups and listened to the letters each candidate had written, telling of their journey and decision to become Catholic. Some of them were very touching and all were inspirational. You could tell, that when each of these people needed God the most, He was there for them. They also knew that when they turned away from Him, He was still there.

Some had never been much into any church, but most were converts of some sort. They had experienced the "feel good" churches, the entertainment value wearing thin quickly. They had partaken it the "buffet style" so many churches offer, picking the parts you like and ignoring the ones you don't. They found true substance in the Catholic church, an authority traced back to Jesus himself, not to some guy who got is pastoralship off the Internet for a tax write-off.

They were also given the opportunity to go through their first Confession, Catholic style. You don't think that confessing to a "man" who is sitting in as Christ's repesentative is powerful? Ask the young lady who came out of her first Confession with tears streaming down her face and said how wonderful she felt. She knew that huge weight was now off her shoulders. To actually hear someone say..."your sins are forgiven you" is much better than hoping they are.

The desire to learn more by one of the young ladies was exhilarating. She wants to read and find out more. Yes, she will encounter some of the ugly parts of the Church's history, but we have never run from that. All the candidates know it is hard to be Catholic. They will be questioned, criticized, and ridiculed for being Catholic. Armed with Christ's words and as discussed yesterday afternoon as we talked about the Eight Beatitudes: Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. They know the stories in the news about priests who have abused children. Yet they also know that these are men...sinners like us all...and that the Church is God's church and will NOT fall to the sins of men.

Watching these new candidates, their hunger and thirst for more (another Beatitude: Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill ) caused me to reflect on my own relationship with God and realize that I too, have a lot of work to do. As a cradle-Catholic, I want my hunger and thirst for God to be as strong as these candidates.

I hope this was less controversial than the Health Care bill...may God help us with that one too!

Final Flight

A friend of mine from my Knight's of Columbus Council lost his son last Sunday after a 12-year battle with cancer. Chris was a retired Air Force Tech Sergeant and his body was to be flown from San Antonio, TX to Norfolk, Va for internment at the National Cemetery in Hampton.

His flag-draped casket was escorted by two service members as is customary. They went down on the tarmac to ensure a respectful load and send-off, then boarded the plane themselves. In Atlanta, there was a stop and a crew change. Apparently, at this time, the important information that a deceased retiree was on board was not passed along.

When the plane landed in Norfolk, VA, the two escorts were not allowed to go down on the tarmac to supervise the unloading of Chris's body as is normally done. As they and the father of Chris (my friend) watched from their vantage point, they witnessed his flag-draped coffin be loaded on a baggage cart and luggage from the flight thrown on top of it. This disgusts me, that they would not only desecrate the body of someone, but especially one that is draped with a flag. The gentleman who had been taking care of Chris for several years had to be restrained and removed from the baggage area...he was ready to go ballistic on someone.

When my friend called the "Delta Cares" number, he was told that it was impossible that happened. After calling the person on the phone the "son of a female dog", he explained that he had witnessed it himself. No apology was given and he was told that the workers were contractors, not employed by the airline.

My friend told them he will settle for nothing less than the firing of the people who treated his son's body as they did. Worst of all...the airline's reaction was despicable. I, for one, will NEVER fly Delta again if at all within my power.

ACLU Sues Government Over Drones

The following article appeared on Politico.com on March 16, 2010:

By Jen DiMascio
The American Civil Liberties Union sued the federal government Tuesday to learn the use of unmanned drones for targeted killings by the military and CIA.
“In particular, the lawsuit asks for information on when, where and against whom drone strikes can be authorized, the number and rate of civilian casualties and other basic information essential for assessing the wisdom and legality of using armed drones to conduct targeted killings,” the ACLU said in a statement, announcing its action.
The nonprofit civil liberties group filed initial Freedom of Information Act requests with the Defense, Justice and State departments and with the Central Intelligence Agency on Jan. 13. Only the CIA responded, and the ACLU is pursuing that request with an appeal to the agency.
The military and intelligence communities have increasingly relied on Predator and Reaper unmanned drones to capture video imagery and launch deadly missile strikes, particularly lately in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. The Pentagon, especially, continues to purchase more and more drones each year.
A New American Foundation study, cited in Jane Mayer’s October 2009 New Yorker piece that drew attention to the CIA’s use of killer drones, found the number of attacks has continued to grow under the Obama administration – from 34 in 2008 to 43 by October of 2009.
“The government's use of drones to conduct targeted killings raises complicated questions – not only legal questions, but policy and moral questions as well,” said Jameel Jaffer, director of the ACLU National Security Project. “These kinds of questions ought to be discussed and debated publicly, not resolved secretly behind closed doors. While the Obama administration may legitimately withhold intelligence information as well as sensitive information about military strategy, it should disclose basic information about the scope of the drone program, the legal basis for the program and the civilian casualties that have resulted from the program.”
Charles Miller, a spokesman for the Justice Department, which is a defendant in the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, said he had not yet seen the complaint.
“The bottom line is that we will review the compliant once we receive it and make a determination as to how we'll respond in court,” he said.
The Defense Department, another defendant, had no immediate comment.

My thoughts: Here is another case of the ACLU getting involved in something they should not be. First of all, it is not there place to worry about the civil liberties of another country's people...they screw up our just fine! Secondly, what business do they have getting into military affairs and how we wage war? This organization seems to me, to be very un-American, very much out there doing a lot of no good for the American people. 9 times out of 10, they are messing up a situation instead of helping it. Over the past few years they have done everything they can to protect the enemy and ensure that OUR Constitution is used to protect THEM. I think the organization should be brought up on charges of treason. This is an organization that has, in my opinion, worn out its welcome on the American landscape.

Democracy Without a Vote...Part of Obama's Change?

The Democrats are doing it again. Once again, legislation the American people do not want is going to be thrust upon us and railroaded through Congress. President Obama has been thumping his chest, telling Congress to get health care reform done without even listening to the people he is supposed to "lead". Instead he is acting like a ruler! Several of the Democratic Congressmen who are still on the fence are from states who overwhelmingly do NOT want this bill passed, yet they may do so anyway. Aren't they supposed to do what WE want?

Now, Pelosi also may try to help unhappy House Democrats by allowing them to avoid a direct up-or-down vote on the Senate bill. She may call for a vote on a rule that would simply "deem" the Senate bill to be passed. The House then would proceed to a separate vote on the more popular changes to the Senate bill. How convenient that names would then not be able to be placed on the blame line come election time!

Now, let's ignore the whole Democrat vs. Republican, Liberal vs. Conservative part of this argument and look at the process. Health care does need to be looked at and fixed, everyone agrees to that. But shouldn't it be done so that it is acceptable to the people who will be affect and will have to pay for it? There are several areas that cause concern for all sides...the abortion issue, the raising of insurance rates, taxing higher-end insurance. Congress needs to take the time to do this right, the way the people governed want it, and not be forced to be hasty by a president hell-bent on getting an accomplishment under his belt.

Come on Congress...remember that this is a democracy...you are supposed to vote the way your constituents want it, not the way you want it.

Argument or Discussion?

When does a topic meant as an innocent observation turn into an argument? Why does it not become a simple discussion? Let's look at a recent posting by a friend on Facebook on the topic of the young girl dismissed from a Catholic school because her parents were lesbian (on the surface at least, that was the reason given). As soon as posts were added that were on opposite sides of whether this was right or wrong, the gloves came off and it was war!

Why did this go to an argument, with some fairly harsh and biting words, instead of being a topic ripe for discussion?

My first theory is the fact that it is such an emotionally charged topic...that of gay parents, or gay rights, or what have you. Does the level of emotion associated with a topic affect its ability to be discussed without it turning into an all out fight? In the case of this posting, it would seem so. It was as if neither side wanted to hear the other's reason for their view. It seemed necessary that one side or the other had to be right, and the other wrong. Their view was unimportant.

My other theory is that of the "pot stirrer", or maybe in this case...the "bear poker". We place a topic out there, fully aware that it is going to raise much contention, just to see what happens. Sometimes this is done by people who see a hot topic that they really have no interest in, but they know it will get the ball rolling. Other times it is one they are fully vested in but they are looking for a scrap.

I now fully understand why they say that the two topics that should never be discussed at a party or gathering of some sort are politics and religion. Bring up a topic that touches both and you have the makings of WWIII! Abortion, gay marriage, and God in the schools will start the bullets flying!

It is unfortunate that it has to be this way...or so it would seem. Some of these topics would be so interesting to debate in an organized fashion. Not trying to prove one side or the other right or wrong, but to honestly try to see where the each side is coming from. Maybe that is why so little seems to get done in the Congress. They always have to have it their way only.

I know that I don't always want to hear what the other side has to say, but I hope to get better. I just find it hard to when the other side of the issue gets stuck on stupid and takes it immediately to an argument. Let's meet in the middle and have some adult conversation about those topics that affect us all.

Sparky 1995-2010

Today my children and I said good-bye to a loving friend. Sparky had been in our family for almost 13 years. We found him in the pound in Fargo, ND. A strange place to find a pure-bred Pomeranian...we fell in love with him immediately. Sparky had many friends around the neighborhood. He would bark at everyone and spin around in circles in excitement. People were constantly telling me how beautiful his coat was and how it must be a lot of work to maintain. I would just smile and say, "Nope, he is naturally beautiful".

As today approached I tried to tell myself that he was "just a dog". I shouldn't get so emotional. He wasn't just a dog. He was a dear friend to my kids and to me. He was every bit a part of the family. Why is it that we fall in love so hard with our pets, yet have a hard time loving other humans the same way? Is it the unconditional love they give you back? Sparky never wanted anything more than a belly rub once in awhile.

Even with our other six animals, this house seems a bit emptier now. Sparky will never be forgotten in our hearts.

Just What Is the Nuclear Option?

First of all, a definition of the Nuclear Option as defined in Wikipedia:

In U.S. politics, the nuclear option is an attempt by a majority of the United States Senate to end a filibuster by invoking a point of order to essentially declare the filibuster unconstitutional which can be decided by a simple majority, rather than seeking formal closure with a supermajority of 60 senators. Although it is not provided for in the formal rules of the Senate, the procedure is the subject of a 1957 parliamentary opinion and has been used on several occasions since.

The maneuver was brought to prominence in 2005 when then-Majority Leader Bill Frist (Republican of Tennessee) threatened its use to end Democratic-led filibusters of judicial nominees submitted by President George W. Bush. In response to this threat, Democrats threatened to shut down the Senate and prevent consideration of all routine and legislative Senate business. The ultimate confrontation was prevented by the Gang of 14, a group of seven Democratic and seven Republican Senators, all of whom agreed to oppose the nuclear option and oppose filibusters of judicial nominees, except in extraordinary circumstances.

In 2005, then Senators Obama, Biden, and Clinton, all spoke out against the use of the Nuclear Option, with Senator Biden using the strongest language. (Listen to them here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjdbjrXiobQ ) Now...all three are threatening to use this as the only way to force a new policy upon America which the country's people do NOT want. How is that democratic? When did the Congress stop listening to what the people want and just do what THEY want to do? Must have been when their self-interests and re-elections became more important than the people they serve.

We need health care reform, but not the kind that destroys what is working in the interest of change. We need to fix what we have, not start over. Get the lawyers off the doctor's backs and prices can go down. Regulate a little if necessary, but don't ruin my health care so that the person too lazy to work can go have their 4th free child! My health care and that of my military brethren is directly threatened by the President's idea of "change". I can't wait for my medical care to be put on hold so we can let the military hospital take care of the the "lower end" of the population on the "Obama Medical Plan".

Let's do this thing right. That means not rushing it...and not jamming it down the American peoples' throat.

It Was Bound to Happen

Looks like email, Twitter, Facebook and texting has finally caught up to the Postal Service. The cost of doing business is getting too great for the USPS and they will propose today, as part of their cost-saving efforts, to end Saturday service. It has been a long time coming. We are one of the few nations that has Saturday delivery.

From my point of view, it was a mistake to require the USPS to be self-sufficient. Tax-payer money should be used to fund them, then we would be able to maintain all the services we have become accustomed to.

As a stamp collector, I have watched my hobby take a beating from the cutbacks. Where there used to be Philatelic windows at some post offices, they are now shuttered or perhaps manned minimally. Interestingly, many clerks do not like giving stamp collectors the time to look at the available stamps and make a purchase, even though a purchase by a collector is 100% profit as no letter gets delivered. A few, and I do mean "few", post offices have retail stores where you can shop for postal items, including packaged stamps, as if in a store. More of those would be nice and could make money for the Post Office.

It is hard to watch the Post Office fight of this illness caused by technology, but don't fret...junk mail will keep the Post Office from dying.