Whirlwind
What a weekend! I need a vacation. And so begins my Monday.
The last four days have flown, as is the case when good times beckon you. My sister and brother in-law had their wedding reception this weekend, so the majority of my family was in town. The baseline for merriment follows as such: The build-up is tremendous, the moment of truth all to brief, and the emotional let down afterward--numbingly blue.
Everything went smashingly well. Of course, my sister was stunningly radiant and the wedding party looked spectacular as a whole. A good time was had by all. It was great to connect with family and old friends--some of which, I haven't seen for over a decade. All-in-all, my children behaved wonderfully, and Marissa was in her element during the dance. It is safe to say that we all awoke on Sunday morning with sore arms and feet!
Dancing is surely no stranger to weddings, and I've enjoyed the mirth of many such occassions; but I must admit, having children amplifies my satisfaction in these instances. Their enthusiasm, boundless energy, and matchless intensity to revel in the moment (with you) captures the heart. Pure magic!
The customary pattern of life beckons once again. Beguiling as such circumstances [with family & friends) can be, it is somewhat comforting to get back into the normal routine. All in all it was a great weekend.
Another Historic Day
Unless judicial intervention occurs, 5pm EST will see the removal of a feeding tube from
Terri Schiavo, leading her to experience the slow death of starvation. This case is no stranger to any of us, considering all of the media attention it has garnered.
The case is a complex one, as Terri Schiavo has been in a vegatative state for nearly 15 years. Second, her husband, Michael Schiavo, is petitioning for the removal of the feeding tube (citing Terri's wishes). He is presently estranged from his wife. In fact, he is living with another woman, with whom he has fathered two children. Schiavo's parents have expressed their desire to be appointed guardians, asking Michael to divorce their daughter.
This case has provoked quite the
debate and
outrage in
our society, as it once again stirs the morality question concerning human life. And once again, it raises many other issues. Are we talking about a right to die or a right to kill? Do such
rights even exist? Are Mr. Schiavo's motives altruistic (love, compassion, dignity) or does he stand to benefit (finanical settlement)? Does Terri have no value, simply because she is now an unwanted inconvenience? If she would not wish to have life saving measures employed, why did she not have a written, legalized health care directive? Is not such a document prudent planning? Especially, in trying to avoid a tense familal struggle such as this? A plethora of information exists concerning these questions, and in particular, the facts pertinent to this particular case; however, the
ultimate answers seem to be contingent on which side of the first question one comes down on. This in turn, leads to a broader and more perilous issue.
In my previous disection of the Groningen Protocol (See December archives-A Winter's Afternoon With Bobby), the point was made that the dialogue has moved from the viability of human life to that of the value of human life. The result of this distinction is unfolding before our very eyes. The most salient of questions remains, what should be our guide regarding grave matters? Do we appeal to the relativism of our own authority, or to a higher standard?
Once again, this oft cited favorite of the Armchair Pundits, has delineated a clear and decisive line between the schools of thought on this issue.
I hope you took the time to read it. Where are you most comfortable? Do you appreciate the precarious nature of such distinctions?
Love Is In The Air--A Valentine's Muse
Cue Barry White.
It was a crisp February evening. The westerly wind felt cool on my face. As I sauntered up my driveway, my eyes were drawn heaven-ward, as the stars twinkled in the northern sky. My nostrils filled with the thick smell of a fire, and I imagined the warmth of it's lovely glow. I felt instantly happy, my senses alight with the moment, so rich and ambient in texture. Certainly, "this is a night for romance," I muttered as I climbed the step.
I entered the home to a lovely meal with my wife, and without the children, who were busily amusing themselves in the living room. Afterward, we put the troops in bed and the wife and I snuggled in with a fire in the hearth. As the night slipped away, the last embers flickered into a smoldering wisp of curling smoke. Our eyes heavy with the fog of sleep, that precious and rare commodity in our household, we found our way upstairs, anticipating the promise of sweet slumber.
Drifting peacefully off to happy land, we were suddenly startled by a baby's cry. Could that be Sweet Baby? Alas, no. For the voice became muted and then strangely joined by another. What is this? "Has someone left a baby on our doorstep?" My wife queried. The mere thought horrified me. I fled to the door and thrust it open, immersing the yard with bright light.
There, in my very driveway, were two star-crossed lovers. They turned and stared at me, indignant at the interruption. It was, in that moment, a reckless flaunting of their wanton ways. The incredulous contempt in their eyes spoke volumes. They seemed to taunt me, as if they were saying, "What? On a night like this, how could you not drink of the sweetness of love? "
"Oh, I beg your pardon," I replied with a weighty stare of my own. I picked up a stone, and with a loud cry, bid adieu to the lovers. Unyielding, in their lack of regard for the convention of restraint, esteemed by polite society; these felines continued their breech of decorum on someone else's property.
Men Who Quell The Storm & Ride The Thunder
To the
Betio Bastards and our normal readers,
I have chosen to title this post after the remarks of President Roosevelt, as quoted by Lieutenant Colonel T.S. Mundy in the
address to his command. Very soon the Third Battalion Second Marines will be leaving the comfort of their loving families, and these hallowed shores for the dust of Iraq. They will place themselves in harms way, so that my children can play in the park without fear. They will do so, that I may go to the market with impugnity. They will do so to bring the light of freedom to a place that until recently, only knew darkness.
Let me say to you courageous Marines, thank you. You have the love of your nation, the respect of your countrymen, and the honor you so richly deserve.
Lt. John Anderson, a.k.a., Chappy, or Chaps, (formerly known as
Tassle Boy) is the recently assigned Chaplain to the 3/2. A man of the utmost integrity, Lt. Anderson, is proud to serve the 3/2 as he is passionate about the Corps, and the brave souls that are her mighty throng. I am fortunate and proud to call him my friend. I am confident that you will find great resolve and admiration in his steady leadership, while you are away. Furthermore, I have great trust that you Marines will take good care of him in this earthly war as I know he will be warring on your behalf in the spiritual realm. He will not be alone in this task however; as you are A
lways Faitful in the discharge of your duty, so will we be here at home. We will be faithful in bringing our petitions before Almighty God, the source of your protection and strength, that you may be blessed, and brought home to us safely.
Semper Fi!
A Grateful Citizen
A Great Day for Minnesota
Today was a great day for Minnesota. Today was a great day for the nation.
Senator Mark Dayton announced that he will not be seeking re-election. That is the best news that I have heard in a long time. His performance on the armed services committee was embarrassing for our state. He was downright rude to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His ramblings were incoherent. Then came his pre-election "duck-and-cover." He closed his office for fear that some terrorist might attack the Capitol. He sided with the lunatic fringe during the "Boxer Rebellion."
But, those days are over are soon to be gone. If we can just survive for two more years, we will be rid of Senator Dayton for good. I had often said that I would do everything in my power to make sure that Senator Dayton did not get re-elected. But it looks like the Senator has done my work for me.
What a great day.
Screed!
Recently came across
this. All I can say is
you go girl!
Cavuto on Social Security
Many of you know of Neil Cavuto, business reporter and host of "Your World" on Fox News Channel. I have been reading his "Common Sense" for almost a year. I like his point of view and his no-nonsense attitude. I also like his emphasis on kindness and not being egotistical.
He had a very interesting comment the other day on
Social Security Reform that I thought you might like to read.
Behind the Scenes
I received this email the other week about some of the work that was going on behind the scenes in this past year’s election.
Fighting Lawyers with Lawyers Pays Off for GOP
Amid the inaugural celebrations in Washington, a quiet luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton stood out. The Republican National Lawyers Association may well have contributed as much as anyone to making sure it was George Bush, not John Kerry, who took the oath of office yesterday.
Democrats, backed up by trial lawyer muscle, fielded the biggest legal contingents in November's battleground states. But they clearly met their match in the RNLA. Democrats filed 65 separate lawsuits demanding everything from the counting if improperly cast provisional ballots to the blocking of GOP poll watchers. Yet state or federal judges ruled against them in every single contest, thanks to persuasive legal counterarguments by the RNLA.
At the RNLA lunch this week, former Solicitor General Ted Olson, who as a private lawyer argued George W. Bush's Florida recount case before the Supreme Court in 2000, told the group: "The strategy of delegitimizing election results didn't work in 2000 and it didn't work in 2004. Anyone who says lawyers don't make a difference in politics doesn't know what the people in this room did."
The Circle Is Complete
One of Texas readers sent me the following article (which incidentally was sent to her by another Minnesotan--hence the title). I liked the article so much, I decided to include the full text of it as a post. Thanks D for the article. And now....Drumroll.....Fanfare.....
Matthias Dapfner, Chief Executive of the huge German publisher Axel Springer AG, has written a blistering attack in DIE WELT, Germany's largest daily newspaper, against the timid reaction of Europe in the face of the Islamic threat.
EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE (Commentary by Mathias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer, AG)
A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, "Europe - your family name is appeasement." It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true.
Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements.
Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe where for decades, inhuman, suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities. Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us.
Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East, European appeasement,camouflaged behind the fuzzy word "equidistance," now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians.
Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace-movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush... Even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U. N. Oil-for-Food program.
And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement...How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a "Muslim Holiday" in Germany.
I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our (German) Government, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State "Muslim Holiday" will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists.
One cannot help but recall Britain's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolf Hitler, and declaring European "Peace in our time". What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction.
It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by "tolerance" and "accommodation" but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always betaken by the Islamists for signs of weakness.
Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush.
His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery. And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed.
In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.
On the contrary - we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those"arrogant Americans", as the World Champions of "tolerance", which even (Germany's Interior Minister) Otto Schily justifiably criticizes. Why? Because we're so moral? I fear it's more because we're so materialistic, so devoid of a moral compass.
For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy - because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything.
While we criticize the "capitalistic robber barons" of America because they seem too sure of their priorities, we timidly defend our Social Welfare systems. Stay out of it! It could get expensive! We'd rather discuss reducing our 35-hour workweek or our dental coverage, or our 4 weeks of paid vacation... Or listen to TV pastors preach about the need to "reach out to terrorists. To understand and forgive".
These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robberbreaking into a neighbor's house.
Appeasement? Europe, thy name is Cowardice.
The Governor's Gamble
There is an evil afoot at the state capital. Namely, the partnering of the state with the gambling industry in expanding [the states participation in] casino operations. Specifically, the
governor has proposed to several Native American bands, "presumably the Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth bands" (as reported in the
January 31st issue of the Star Tribune), a new casino operation whereby the bands would operate the casinos and the state would garner an estimated annual revenue in excess of $100 million, by owning the slot machines. The attitude among our legislators in St. Paul, reflects a pragmatism that will be ruinous for families and future generations of Minnesotans.
In the late eighties, several Native American Bands gained the opportunity to build the casinos currently operating in our state. At that time, the state made a crucial error in negotiating the agreement, one that has cost the state a billion + dollars of potential revenue over the past 15 years. I am referring to the tribal gaming compact. It is not uncommon in states with tribal gaming, to negotiate a "profit sharing" agreement so-to-speak. As mentioned, the state of Minnesota did a lousy job negotiating this compact previously; thus, Minnesota
enjoys one of the lowest annual revenues from gaming comparitively. It comes as no surprise that lawmakers now want to rethink this agreement. While tantalizing in it's promise as a remedy, the state's budget woes will not be ameliorated through gambling profits. Rather, it will compound problems by increasing costs to social services.
I have been against the gaming industry in our state since inception. Whether casinos or lotteries, such a system preys on the poor and weak-minded. Consider the cost.
The National Gambling Impact Commission of 1999 found "a direct link between problem and pathological gambling and divorce, child abuse, domestic violence, bankruptcy, crime and suicide. More than 15.4 million adults and adolescents meet the technical criteria of those disorders." Click on the above link for the full text. As the commissioner of this study,
Dr. Dobson indicated that the above figure, is a number larger than any city in America. Government profiteering at the expense of it's citizenry, is a civic injustice, criminal, and morally reprehensible.
Some have exhorted (and I agree) that government participation in such an enterprise, makes it all the more hopeless for those caught in gambling's grip.
There was a time in our society when we used terms like virtue and vice. Chief on the list of vices was gambling. It was considered such for the ruin it caused in lives and the denigration of hard work inherent to its nature.
A local pastor and author, decried the effects of this vice in an open letter to his church. Go and read it in it's entirety. This is a sobering reminder to the faith community. Consider the following:
"The American exploitation of the poor with lotteries muddies the conscience of many legislators. Statistics abound that "the government-sponsored lottery continues its shameless exploitation of the poor" (James Dobson, April, 1999 Newsletter). This exploitation is explicit in some of the advertising bought by the $400 million spent annually by states to promote lotteries. For example, in Chicago one sign read: "This could be your ticket out." That is shameless. Other promotions mock the virtues of hard work and serious study as a way to make a living. Plan A: Study hard, save money, get old. Plan B: Play the lottery.
Only a few, it seems, are willing to say how far and how manifold are the corrupting effects of the lottery. How many have pondered this insight from Richard Neuhaus, "In a democracy, the need for popular consent to tax is a powerful check on government growth and irresponsibility. A government that raises money by encouraging and exploiting the weaknesses of its citizens escapes that democratic mechanism of accountability. As important, state-sponsored gambling undercuts the civic virtue upon which democratic governance depends" (First Things, Sept., 1991, p. 12)."
This is devastating. The pragmatism that lends to profiting from gambling is a not so distant cry from profiting from drugs or prostitution. Also, old world vices. You may scoff and think that such a thing couldn't happen in the USA, but look at the condition of Europe. Look and see what they are
doing in Germany these days!
Mike and I were discussing this recently, and part of that discussion yielded the notion that perhaps the governor is blufffing through all of this. If that is the case, he has gotten himself in over his head. I hope you'll pardon the expression here, but
his hand has been called. I really don't know what Governor Pawlenty is thinking, but either way, such pragmatism is akin to walking a fine line over the abyss.
