How to change the perception of America’s leadership? It begins with our President. Say you were a film producer looking for someone to play the role, and if it were possible to provide all the potential candidates for President in a lineup standing next to one another the only one that would clearly appear the most “presidential” would be Fred Thompson. If such a lineup were possible to any group that had never seen any of the potential candidates Fred would be the choice of appearing the most presidential. For those of you able to do so try this on your computer and you will quickly see the importance of such “perception,” keeping in mind the whole world is able to do so. And in politics there is much truth to the adage “Perception is everything.”

Fred gives the perception not only of physical size and strength, a large strong man, but looking into his eyes, looking at his face he portrays real strength of character, and you know it goes far deeper than mere perception. Then, once you have taken note of the strength of his physical presence begin looking at his biography, at his experience and numerous achievements and you cannot but conclude here is a man that would be the best choice for President of America. And in my opinion, Fred just received one of the most ringing endorsements possible from James Dobson of “Focus on the Family.” Dobson taking the initiative by making an unsolicited call to U.S. News & World Report senior editor Dan Gilgoff on Tuesday accused Fred of not being a Christian. And for me, that constitutes a ringing endorsement of Fred.

I’ve known James Dobson since his salad days of “circuit riding” before he hit the big time. And I have been a strong supporter of him and his advocacy on behalf of families and children, his various ministries directed to encouraging morality in America. But he should not have interfered with attempts to draft Fred.

Though he was baptized into the Church of Christ, Fred Thompson does not fit Dobson’s definition of a Christian. But Dobson’s choice Newt Gingrich does. Ah, ha! So, out of the lineup I choose Fred and Newt to stand together side by side, and you can guess which impresses me as the most presidential, and even more importantly I would choose Fred as the most trustworthy. One reason being that when it comes to Christian beliefs Newt claims to “know,” but Fred honestly joins those like me that make a distinction between “knowing” and “believing.” And it is a distinction of the gravest importance to America.

No one understands better than I the great debt Western Civilization owes to the Bible and Christianity. Once Christianity became a civilized religion it gave rise to the greatest advances in art and science, the greatest of freedom and liberty for individuals the world has ever known. However, the failure to distinguish between beliefs and knowledge continues to bedevil the whole world when it comes to religion. Islam is a worst case example of this failure, but here in America we have every right to doubt those that would attempt to pass off as knowledge what are only beliefs. And it is on this basis I find Dobson’s accusation a ringing endorsement of Fred Thompson.

The voice of Reason shouts “You cannot know what you cannot know!” And this applies equally to atheist or religious. And while we seem to be born with a disposition to believe, though I want to believe and find believing easier than not believing, it remains you cannot know what you cannot know. I will trust those honest enough to share their doubts rather than any that claim to know what they cannot know. I trust Fred Thompson because among other things he makes no claim of knowing what he cannot know.

So, I am encouraged not only by Dobson’s “endorsement,” but by Tennessee Representative Zach Wamp who has been leading an effort to rally support in Congress for a Thompson bid. GOPUSA: Wamp says “When people are looking for a president, they are looking for ‘strength and trust’ — two things he says Thompson has personified all of his life. ‘I know his record,’ says the Tennessee lawmaker. ‘I am looking for a strong conservative to support — and I think he can win. I think he can compete and win.’ Wamp is not alone in his support for the former senator. ‘You’ve got very strong conservative members of Congress like Gresham Barrett in South Carolina, Lynn Westmoreland in Georgia, Jeff Miller in Florida, John Carter in Texas [who] have already said ‘I’m on board,’ he shares. Regardless of whom you end up supporting in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a Fred Thompson candidacy is good for the Republican Party, and you should encourage him to run.”

The Democrat Party, the Democrat controlled universities, the blatantly left-wing bias of the MSM, all would be gunning for Fred should he choose to run for President. And like Lou Dobbs, perhaps Fred is too smart to run. Both can be forgiven the attitude “Who needs the grief?” But if Fred is persuaded America needs him, as so many of us believe, I hold hope he will be willing to make the sacrifice. And at least in Fred’s case there can be no doubt it would be exactly that: A sacrifice. But whether he does or not, of this much we can be certain: With each passing day the world is becoming increasingly dangerous.

Patrick J. Buchanan: “Interventions without end? ‘Whatever happens in Iraq, retreat from the world is not an option,’ wrote Financial Times columnist Philip Stephens last weekend. Why not? Because a world map highlighting those regions where the West’s vital resources are located would exactly overlap a map highlighting those regions where state power is crumbling, disease and poverty are pandemic and violence rules.”

Pat is correct, but suppose he should use a similar map on America. Let’s use such a map to identify the future of America, our children as the single most vital “natural resource” we have. Let’s map those areas at enmity to the innocence and well-being of children, the areas of ghettos and barrios where “disease and poverty are pandemic and violence rules,” the cities where gangs and violence hold sway, where ignorance and poverty are an entrenched pandemic, and it would quickly be seen we need a leadership that will put America ahead of corporate greed including the kind of greed that refuses to secure our borders for the sake of slave labor even at the risk of nuclear and biological terrorism.

In sum, let those that would put intervention for the sake of America and Americans first declare so openly and prove it before asking for our vote. And if you want Fred to run go to: Grassrootsvoter.com and GOPUSA.com and sign the petitions.

While watching the news last night and the Jim Webb/Phillip Thompson issue was being discussed, I was surprised to hear an attractive young woman, an advocate of right to carry and owns guns herself say “I won’t be with a man that can’t kill another man.” I was so astounded by her frank and open statement, more than just a breath of fresh air but a near gale that it made me wish more women would be allowed to speak so openly. However, that is wishful thinking since the MSM doesn’t get into the stories I read each month in the NRA’s publication “American Rifleman” unless it is to the advantage of those that want to disarm all law-abiding citizens of America.

The young woman’s statement is so astoundingly and refreshingly honest it should give every American pause to think about the increasing violence especially directed at attractive young women in America. They know they are the prey and men are the predators. I know the need women have for men to come to their defense, especially the right to carry for women, a point often made by Sandra S. Froman, President of the NRA. But when an attractive young woman goes out with a man, knowing she is the target of sexual predators, she deserves to know the man she is with can protect her, that if need be he can kill in her defense. And if she finds herself alone, she needs to be prepared to kill in her defense; how many a young woman would be alive today had they been able to do so when attacked by sexual predators.

In the face of escalating violence in America, I’ve also written about the need for the elderly to be armed. Just today a friend called and told me one of his elderly friends, a woman, had called him telling of her concern now that her husband is disabled, that for the first time in her life she was considering buying a gun. He asked me about this and I told him she should be able to get professional advice from any reputable gun store owner.

I’ve dealt with firearms all my life; I’m a certified gunsmith and was handloading since I was twelve years old beginning with a Lyman tong tool. I know the many risks associated with guns and explosives, so much so that I know those unfamiliar with guns need expert training in the use of them. The NRA along with reputable gun stores offers such training.

But “The Armed Citizen” is the bane of most politicians as our Founding Fathers realized, and the Second Amendment was specifically designed for the purpose of the last line of defense against the tyranny of government. More than that, the Second Amendment should be not only the right but the recourse of every law-abiding American citizen in self-defense.

As with judges and politicians that defend child molesters, pedophiles, and rapists it is easy to surmise they must be perverts themselves; and the same thing applies to those that would disarm Americans. The perversion of those that would deny us our Second Amendment right to own guns, that attack “right to carry” suffer the perversion of wanting all power to be held in the hands of a favored few, generally the wealthy, politicians, and judges.

I was delighted at some of the responses I received by email and other to my article “Just a wink and all hell breaks loose!” I expressed my opinion that without Val Kilmer the film would have been nothing but another high budget Hollywood Western. Kilmer in the role of Doc Holliday really made the movie, and I think should have received an Oscar for his performance. It was one of those rare portrayals of raw human honesty, especially where he declares his “hypocrisy” only went so far. I believe we could excuse some politicians if they were so remarkably honest.

Granted “Death Hunt” was a better film, and few would fault Lee Marvin or Charles Bronson. The film was cinematically beautiful, and the performances overall better than “Tombstone” excepting that of Val Kilmer. But most films of this genre find us applauding justice finally triumphing over evil. And that is what We the People hunger and thirst for: Justice triumphing over evil.

Some of you may recall when the 1974 film “Death Wish” opened in theaters some audiences were reported to have stood up and applauded at the scene where Bronson blows away the subway punks. “The film was a huge commercial success and inspired four sequels. Widely denounced by critics for advocating unsanctioned violence against criminals, Death Wish became a metaphor for a rising public tide of anger against unchecked violent crime.”

I well recall those critics at the time, but what these bleeding hearts refused to acknowledge was the fact most Americans want the punks “blown away.” What is this utter nonsense of “unsanctioned violence against criminals” but just another politically correct way of saying law-abiding citizens must continue to be at the mercy of criminals without recourse to justice?

Yes, we are acutely aware of the rule of law being “How much justice can you afford?” But when the President and his U. S. Attorney General among so many others act as though they alone stand for “justice” We the People have every right to begin questioning whether we can any longer afford their interpretation of “justice.” In the meantime I will keep my Beretta handy and my powder dry, I will continue to advocate for “The Armed Citizen,” and encourage women to follow the advice of that young woman “I won’t be with a man that can’t kill another man.”

Folks, our politicians, judges, and gangs don’t own America, and faced with the kind of brutality law-abiding citizens are subjected to every day I advise all of you to have a gun, get proper training in its use, and be prepared to use it. “Death Wish became a metaphor for a rising public tide of anger against unchecked violent crime.” Things have only worsened since 1974, and with no end in sight for gangs terrorizing at will, unchecked violent crime increasingly unchecked, armed citizens would seem to be the only way Americans can protect themselves. We certainly cannot depend on our “leadership” to do it, a leadership that won’t even secure our borders let alone our homes or persons.

The recent flap over an aide to Senator Jim Webb carrying a gun only emphasizes the fact every law-abiding, adult American citizen not mentally or otherwise incapacitated should have the right to carry. “Capitol Police said the arrest was made after an X-ray machine in the Russell Senate Office Building revealed that Phillip Thompson entered the building about 10:50 a.m. with a loaded pistol and two additional fully loaded magazines. He was charged with carrying a pistol without a license and charges related to an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition. Thompson was to appear in D.C. Superior Court today...”

Now really, did this aide have cause to believe it was necessary to carry a loaded gun and two extra clips of ammo into the Senate building? If so, what does he know that We the People don’t? I find that a very disquieting question. Whatever the answer to the question that some feel they have a “special” right to carry is most often associated with those in power that feel they have the right to protect themselves, but that right does not extend to ordinary American citizens. Try telling this to gang members.

Every law-abiding, adult American citizen with the common sense exceptions should have the right to carry. This should not be the sole right of VIPs and gang members. Of course, the argument against right to carry for ordinary citizens is the fear it will turn cities into O. K. Corrals. And while I don’t accept it there is some justification for the argument. It was a gripping scene in the film “Tombstone” where Val Kilmer in the role of Doc Holliday winks at one of the bad guys causing the shooting and killing to start at the O.K. Corral. For those who may have naively missed it the homosexual “suggestion” is all it took for all hell to break loose. “That is so gay” may be a current manner of speech in some circles, but it is usually denounced and not given the imprimatur of free speech.

The barbarians in the gangs across America demand “respect” ever as much as perverts, but what exactly is the basis for such “respect?” In the case of gang members any number of things will occasion shootings and stabbings because one of these barbarians is being “disrespected” and the resulting cowardly drive-by shootings even claim the lives of children as a result. I have no respect for perverts and I have no respect for gang members. But I’m not going to go out of my way to “wink” at any in order to provoke the shooting. However, have Blair and Bush contrived to “wink” at the Iranians?

Were it not for the fact those in government have lied to We the People for so long and in so many ways we could easily dismiss the Machiavellian possibility Blair and Bush conspired to provoke that incident of Iranians kidnapping those British sailors in order to elicit sympathy from us common folks and inflame our passions toward Iran. And one of the Brits being a female and knowing how Muslims consider them not even human on the level of men, considering females in uniform an abomination to Allah certainly lends a high degree of tension to the whole affair.

As farfetched as the idea is I am troubled by the fact the Brits have too much experience with such things to put those sailors in harm’s way. It may in fact be more farfetched to ask us to believe those in command did not anticipate the danger of such a thing happening and being prepared for it, this failure thereby leaving the door open to speculation about dark Machiavellian motives.

We are living with the fiasco of the Warren and 9/11 Commissions, not knowing the truth but knowing we have been lied to with no one in government being held accountable giving credence to conspiracy theories, books, and films. Those in the Justice Department are pleading the Fifth lest the top law enforcement officer in America be proved a liar whose sympathies are more in line with Mexico and slave labor than with America, and those under him be dragged down with him once he is exposed. Talk of impeaching Bush is gaining some momentum; unlikely as it is the very fact of such a thing being spoken an indicator of dangerous times for an America lacking any trustworthy leaders or even a national identity, our nation being torn apart by the growing number of those demanding they be “respected” much as gang members. That many of these gang members profess to be “liberal” is not surprising since they have little else but the label to commend them, but don’t you dare “wink” at any of them or the deep pockets of the bullying ACLU will ruin you with litigation.

Tragically for humankind the wisdom of elders is disrespected by those younger, oftentimes in the speech of young people, even children accusing those older of “not understanding.” Those my age understood the inherent dangers posed by the lowering of standards throughout America, standards of civilized good manners, speech, and dress, the dumbing down of the schools, accommodating perversion in the media and Hollywood and so much more. The universities were cranking out “professionals” telling all of America they knew better than my generation what was good for children and parents, what was good for America, but the reality of what the universities have accomplished is that America has been weakened as a nation on virtually all fronts as a consequence; and we now live in an America hated and despised by much of the world, and certainly not trusted by much of the world.

In “Death Hunt” Lee Marvin plays a crusty old Canadian Mounty. At one point the RAF pilot accuses Marvin of resisting the better ways of the future. Marvin replies if the pilot represents the future he wants no part of it. Of course, the stories glorifying the rugged individualist resisting the “better ways” of modern civilization are legion. The mythic of America is steeped in such stories of heroic figures taming the West, of those who resist becoming supernumeraries of the “establishment.”

I’m often accused of being an anachronistic dinosaur that should have gone quietly into extinction long ago. But like the crusty old Mounty too many people purporting to represent the future, to represent the “better ways” of modern civilization have failed to impress me and have not improved on my generation that came together to win WWII. But unlike Marvin in the film, there are no younger Mounties for me to pass on the authority with the admonition “Now, it’s up to you if the killing stops here.”

Two friends in England I have known for years who lived through the Blitz have expressed their concern to me that this recent kidnapping of British sailors and marines by the Iranians not inflame passions. As they shared with me, you must have lived those years of WWII with the bombs dropping on your own nation and losing friends and loved ones to such a barbaric nightmare to really understand what is at stake when things get out of control and leaders take sensible people into harm’s way where they would not choose to go. But my friends are also acutely aware that encroaching Islamization of Europe and England is heading for a dramatic confrontation, and they are acutely aware of how easily things like this recent kidnapping of British sailors and marines can quickly escalate out of control and ignite the growing tinderbox of passions largely brought about by the American military presence in the Middle East.

Since my writing is sent to a personal list of friends, including some VIPs in government and the media, that has grown over the years a few expressed the thought my last column (deleted in the Bakersfield Californian) used a pejorative term for the Muslim kidnappers of those British sailors and marines to see what kind of responses it would elicit? One, an anchor for a cable TV news channel, even asked “Did the Devil make you do it?” While I made no such admission he knows I have a devious mind, and I did mention the need to get the “mule’s” attention and referred him to the following: Time to get real about Islam. By Diana West, Friday, March 23, 2007: Here’s a conundrum: The craziest thing about America’s role in the world is its reliance on logic. As in: Such certitude animates the more naive notions masquerading as grand strategy,... Clearly, the American logic of a “hearts and minds” strategy relies on wishful thinking...

Diana goes on in her column to point out the wishful thinking on the part of those naïve to the threat of Islam to Western Civilization is based on how they see the world as it should be, not the reality of the world as it is; and the real world is dangerous, harsh, and brutal in the extreme. While politicians, the MSM and their dupes preach an insane gospel of appeasement to Muslims, the fact Americans are dieing in Iraq and Afghanistan for the sake of keeping the politicians in power, corporations in business and the oil flowing Cindy Sheehan has a shrill voice, but “Actor Charlie Sheen has joined a growing army of other highly credible public figures in questioning the official story of 9/11 and calling for a new independent investigation of the attack and the circumstances surrounding it.”

If you haven’t done so, read Sheen’s take on 9/11 and you can’t help wondering whether Bush’s secret rush to get Saudi’s safely out of the way may be just as sinister as some suppose. But whatever the truth may be there remain some people sensible of the fact you cannot make nice to Muslims all the while they refer to you as “Infidel!” and will never raise their voices in concert to confront the barbarism of some of their fellow followers of a bloodthirsty Allah and his perverted “prophet.” Even those given to beheadings and using children as human bombs get a free pass in Muslim nations, much as those here in America in the universities and MSM calling themselves “liberal.”

Conspiracy theories originate from the secret dealings of governments. And the tired theme of “national security” no longer works, especially in light of the fact our own politicians refuse to secure our borders despite the obvious harm this is doing to America, despite the obvious fact those wanting us dead find easy access for accomplishing their purpose. Wishful thinking didn’t make Hitler or Tojo go away. And vain attempts at appeasement on the part of the wishful thinkers with their peculiar doctrine of “See how reasonable we are? That’ll fix you,” and “Hearts and minds” are doomed at the very least to disappointment, but it will undoubtedly be a lot worse than that.

Let those not used to using plain language or facing facts consider what is happening in the civilized world. Cosmology, string theory (The Elegant Universe) and mysteries of the universe are getting a lot of deserved attention here of late. But let’s hear of Muslim nations (or those like Mexico) making a contribution to such science. Rather than committing to killing each other and all “infidels,” rather than threatening to wipe Israel off the map how about Muslims bending their efforts to healing their own vast suffering of the countless millions their leaders hold in superstitious ignorance and poverty.

Conventions change; human nature does not. And as Thoreau pointed out the civilized man is only a more knowledgeable savage. It is for this reason I fear all we have accomplished is the feat of being able to exterminate human beings in the millions instead of the hundreds. It remains to be seen which millions, if any, survive the coming conflict of nations. Just to watch what is going on in our own government right now assures the coming conflict.

It was made clear to me that demonizing Jesus is permissible here as “free speech,” but unlike the “Japs” and “Krauts” of WWII no demonizing of Muslims is permissible. I do wonder what name is acceptable for those Muslims using children for human bombs to those that think free speech is only the purview of those attacking Jesus and Christians.

It wouldn’t be heaven without a trout stream. So I wrote at one time and my mind hasn’t changed about this over the years. Heaven on earth is a crystal pure native trout stream in a pristine forest environment, and beginning as a young boy I became quite expert in tying my own flies and trying them out here at Bull Run Creek, a beautiful stream with some lunker trout; my largest being over five pounds. That is a very large fish from a native stream. Of course, the largest I ever hooked got away. It hit at one of the largest pools nearly twenty-feet deep, its run causing the line sawing through the water to make a rooster tail nearly three-feet high across the wide pool before losing the hook. If you have ever experienced such a thing, you know the sinking feeling of your line abruptly going limp on such an occasion while you wonder, just how big was the one that just got away? Even worse, you know it will only be another fish story when you tell anyone about “the one that got away.”

For the truly devout there is nothing like the electric thrill of a good-sized trout striking your lure. I’m not putting down other devout anglers of bass and other types of fish, but the forest environment of wilderness native trout streams is as I said my idea of heaven on earth.

One night while camping alone by the stream and looking up at a canopy of countless brilliant stars overhead shining brightly in the velvet darkness the thought came to me Thoreau had mentioned casting his line upward to the heavens and I wondered if perhaps there may be “celestial fishes” I might catch in some manner provided I had the right bait? What is prayer if not a “fishing expedition?” And perhaps there are gods and goddesses, celestial fishes, to be caught provided one is a skillful enough fisherman. I haven’t thought about this for a very long time, but in sharing with a friend last night the idea of celestial fishes came to me once again and he thought it a great thing for the imagination; and he was right.

Of course, when people pray they never think of prayer being a fishing expedition though in fact much of prayer would fall into this category. And it is unfortunate politicians have resorted to using the phrase as Bush has done while stonewalling attempts to get at the truth of his abuse of office; as though there would ever be an honest attempt on the part of an equally corrupt Congress to really get at the truth of anything involving politicians not excepting Bush.

“The form of government which prevails, is the expression of what cultivation exists in the population which permits it.” Emerson was correct, and looking about America today one can only wonder what this says of the lack of cultivation in our population expressed in our present government, and if not a lack of cultivation just what, exactly, is being cultivated; the manners of Mexico, the manners of ghettos and barrios in America? As gangs terrorize, as our borders remain criminally, even treasonously open to the invasion by Mexico that Bush treasonously refers to as “migration” one can only wonder. That America has become a mongrelized nation forsaking our heritage, culture, language and borders must inevitably lead to increasing violence seems to go unnoticed by politicians and the MSM.

But most politicians and those involved with the MSM were never devout anglers; most have never experienced being alone in a wilderness setting fishing a native trout stream. And lacking this vital experience their manners have become corrupted to that of the masses that are equally ignorant of such a thing.

Along with a few others “Animal Planet” sometimes provides welcome relief from much of what is on TV, and a diversion from so much bad news of ominous proportions threatening on every hand. It takes more than a university education to appreciate how delicate a balance of life there is on our planet; and while I applaud Al Gore for bringing this to the attention of people I deplore his abuse of the facts to his own agenda, which can hardly be said to apply to nations like China that see Gore as a useful fool to their own agendas.

Admittedly only the very elite of humankind, the elect, are permitted into the Holy of Holies, the wild native trout streams where the gods and goddesses find their natural place of communion with mortals. It is here where celestial fishes might be caught provided one brings the necessary credentials and qualifications of devotion, the necessary tackle and lures sanctified by the deities. If politicians and others holding positions of power and authority were required to apprentice first on wild, native trout streams I have no doubt they would find a cultivation of their own manners unequalled in any other setting.

A communion with Nature is a vital experience as Emerson and Thoreau made clear. What those like Al Gore are preaching has little to do with such a communion. Such a thing is not found by going “green,” it is impossible in the cities and becomes increasingly impossible for most to experience as the teeming millions of people worldwide demand food and housing for the drones while workers diminish in numbers. There is no legitimate preaching of any green “gospel” without a corresponding limiting of numbers making demands upon our planet’s diminishing natural resources, the cathedrals of forests and other wild environments.

The point is made in “Soylent Green” and stories like “No Blade of Grass,” that our planet is suffering from the uncontrolled breeding of unproductive mouths, something entirely ignored by those in power for the sake of gaining more power. Leaving off the breeding of animals for slaughter would certainly help, but it isn’t going to happen short of catastrophic events. Nor is it likely humans least likely to contribute to the planet’s well-being are going to leave off the breeding of more unproductive mouths short of catastrophic events.

In the meantime, our own part of the planet, America, is suffering mightily from a lack of attention to what is being done by the greed and avarice of politicians and their corporate masters in despoiling our own environment, the destruction of our educational system, our national forests and parks and so much more. But I don’t hear Al Gore crying out for securing our borders or preaching birth control among those least likely to contribute to any cultivation of quality lives and manners. We the People continue to wait in vain for leadership that will put America and Americans first. What we get are those that hypocritically express their “concern” for world conditions without proving their concern for America.

It’s a whimsical thought, this casting of my line in hope of catching celestial fishes; but I think my chances better than the vain prayers of those who believe the gods are going to intervene for America without our first cultivating a better class of citizens and leaders. Speaking of which, along with politicians those like Bill Gates, Oprah, and other celebrities might turn their attention first to the America that made them wealthy and make our nation their priority.

As the Scripture has it “Faith without works is dead, being alone.” Unlike the causes of global warming, events in America and worldwide seem to be leading to nuclear Armageddon whether by accident or design is beyond dispute. The lack of virtuous leadership throughout the world is self-evident and would seem to guarantee such a thing. But one of the reasons I like Al Sharpton, as I have mentioned in the past, is with Sharpton what you see is what you get. He is an outright and unabashed opportunistic scoundrel of the first water. But he is so open about it, flaunting it, he provides comic relief from the gloom and doom of the pretenders of virtue and sincerity and I can depend on him for a good laugh. Al is the in-your-face pickpocket that tells you he is going to pick your pocket and makes no apologies for doing so.

Al Gore is a totally different kind of person than Al Sharpton. In Gore’s case he is going to pick your pocket without advance warning. I find Al Sharpton a really likable and funny fellow, and I find Al Gore a likable romantic. But Gore does not believe he is a pickpocket, and because of his stature in society as Emerson warned people like Al Gore though they be pickpockets are acceptable due to the very hypocrisy that enables people of good manners to escape coming to blows with one another. Unlike Sharpton, when Gore leaves the room people do not count their spoons. Not because there is no less need of counting your spoons, but because of his position in polite society. And despite rumors it is not true Al Gore told me he opposed my idea for “Muslim Repellant” in spray cans because it would contribute to global warming.

Now it would be exciting should it come to Al Gore and Fred Thompson facing each other in a campaign for the Presidency. While the odds now would be greatly against such a thing, I would not be surprised at it happening. Given so many unfavorable candidates on both sides is a factor, and beyond that here is how I believe such a thing could come about, especially if either can offer a guarantee of secure borders, bringing the troops home, and convince us they will put the interests of America and Americans above that of other nations.

Given the dirtiest, most corrupt and inept administration in America’s history just how likely is it an equally dirty and corrupt Congress is going to follow through forcing the truth out of Bush and his cronies knowing they dare only go so far and no further lest their own evil be exposed. Anyone checking the Vegas odds on this? The Warren and 9/11 Commissions, so many committees and hearings with no one of high authority ever being held accountable for lies and ineptitude, there isn’t anything We the People can put our trust in when it comes to our Triune Federal Dictatorship. What we can depend on is politicians will lie to protect themselves and each other, all will do what they consider to be in their best interest not that of America or We the People.

Admittedly I place no hope in politicians, let alone faith. But I do admit to having hope in a hereafter where I will rejoin my loved ones and friends. However, during all my years of theological studies, the years I spent in the ministry, once I started to allow the legitimate questions of life and death, the two greatest mysteries of all admittance to my thinking it all came down to a simple “I don’t know.” And while I may think it is easier to believe than not to believe, to observe so much suffering and misery of so many millions today and throughout human history does not commend anything like benevolent deities in charge, but quite the contrary. Despite all the “prophets” and writings, all the monuments of stone I don’t know if there is any meaning to life, I don’t know if there is any hereafter, but I do know we all die. And it is this more than even geography which accounted for the longevity of the ancient Egyptian culture; the preparation for one’s certain death and planning for an afterlife. And while world religions continue to work on the same principle, religion continues to be a source of conflict and even barbarous cruelty due to the various cultures that lack the ancient Egyptian cohesiveness. No one doubts, for example, the barbarians of Islam will ever leave off the killing of each other let alone those of other religious beliefs.

What sensible people do know is anyone claiming to speak for God has to be suspect at best. And anyone following such people has to be equally suspect. Those with my background in theology and the churches invariably face the fact of so much hypocrisy abounding in order to make religious institutions work. It can honestly be said that without countenancing some degree of hypocrisy no church could possibly survive. And what is true of Christianity is no less true of the other religions of the world. And what is true of religion is equally true of politics.

I have written at length about the benefits of Christianity once it became a civilized religion as opposed to that of Islam. No civilized person born in America with our Christian heritage and culture would trade places with someone born in Iraq or Iran, any more than an educated person would trade places with an illiterate one. But problems arise when either religion or politics become so hypocritically corrupt and powerful as to threaten the existence of a nation. Every social structure, every personal relationship must engage in some degree of hypocrisy else, as Thoreau pointed out, we would all come to blows. It is when such civilized hypocrisy, often in the form of polite manners, becomes outright barbarism institutions and relationships are set on a course of calamity; it is here where America faces the threat of some kind of Nuremberg Tribunal for our nation as did Germany and Japan should Congress find itself emasculated by the depth of its own corruption from being able to hold a corrupt White House accountable.

Our planet still holds many mysteries, and I delight in meditating on and speculating about our solar system, a never-ending source of intriguing mystery. That our earth and solar system continues to be such places of mystery our galaxy is beyond my capacity to either know or even imagine. I look at our Milky Way in rapt awe, but without comprehension. The unimaginable vastness of our universe with its unimaginable mysteries is far beyond my comprehension.

While we humans seem hardwired with an instinct to believe as evidenced by the universality of prayer, especially in extremis, and the various religions throughout history I give no credence to those that speak of God or a hereafter as though they had certain knowledge of these, least of all those that speak of such things as though they enjoyed a monopoly on the subjects. I hope to rejoin loved ones and friends in a hereafter, but it remains a hope rather than certain knowledge. I delight in stories of the supernatural and UFOs, in studying the various mythologies and legends, I enjoy the wonder of the pyramids and Sphinx, stories of Atlantis and so much more.

But when religion and politics become the systematic organization of hatreds they have left off the mere civilized hypocrisies and superstitions that enable us to socialize and cope with life. And while I hope to rejoin loved ones and friends in a hereafter where there will be no evil, is it any more than just hope that America is going to survive the liars and hypocrites whose only interests are to continue making religion and politics systematic organizations of hatreds?

Sam Clemens had good reason for declaring death to be the only pure and unalloyed gift of God. There is good reason for believing love to be a curse since it is inevitably betrayed by death or infidelity. But we humans are not just physical beings, we are spiritual beings as well; and in the end we live by hope which some misconstrue as “faith.” Because of this “fire of life” we carry about in our mortal bodies I live in hope of many things but I have faith in none, least of all in poor mortals like myself. However, being human I will continue to love and hope, but not being a fool I will also continue to advocate for our Second Amendment and keep my powder dry.

If you haven’t signed a “Draft Fred” petition yet you are definitely out of the loop. From The Chattanoogan: “Rep. Zach Wamp said Monday that former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson is very likely to run for president. The Third District congressman told the Chattanooga Pachyderm Club, ‘I had a follow-up conversation with Fred Thompson, and there is a real, real strong possibility that he will run.’ He said Thompson ‘has to meet some obligations’ with the ‘Law and Order’ TV show and with broadcaster Paul Harvey.”

The prospect that Fred Thompson may in fact become a candidate for President is sending a sub-zero chill through the Democrat camp, and isn’t exactly making Republican contenders warm and cozy. And while I very early endorsed Fred, it would be a mistake to characterize him as the Republican hope of another Reagan. Not only is this not true, but I would say “God forbid!” America does not need another Reagan, our nation needs a leader that as I have said knows both Hollywood and politics and can tell the difference. Fred Thompson is that man. I am convinced he not only knows how to act presidential with consummate and inspiring confidence, but would in fact be a genuine person and strong leader of real and trustworthy values as the President in fact and I will do all in my power to support him.

Even those most opposed to a Fred Thompson candidacy are having great difficulty finding any real fault with him. Most of such attempts have already proven one thing; those opposed are downright afraid of him! Imagine a President of the United States that would use that bully pulpit to confront the enemies of America both without and within! Even his enemies know he is not a man to trifle with; he has the strength of honest convictions We the People need and his enemies are well aware of this.

America suffers mightily from an image problem because of the Clintons followed by Bush. As I wrote some time ago we need a strong man as a leader and projects the image of real strength, not someone like Bush who is not strong but projects the image of a fool believing himself to be strong because of intransigence, a fool that by his own admission needs no advisors because he “speaks to God and God speaks to him.” Fred Thompson not only makes no such claim, but will select the best and the brightest who will automatically be attracted to him as an honest man who will encourage these to speak their minds and will listen to them. If you haven’t signed a “Draft Fred” petition, please do so now. There are several circulating but if you have difficulty one can be found at GOPUSA.com

It’s undoubtedly only my imagination, but I could swear the figure of Sam Clemens on my desk, the gift of my friend Byron, is winking at me as I write about this today. Among the responses to my article suggesting using pig grease as a weapon against Muslim terrorism some knew about the historical use of pork and pig grease against Muslims in this manner. A very few even confirmed its present use in Afghanistan and Iraq as I already knew, though it is not publicized. And given the sensitivity of such a thing quite understandably if you ask any of our troops about “oinkers” you will get a puzzled look. However, when you hear of “progress” being made by our troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan perhaps those pig grease coated bullets just might have something to do with this as word gets around to the enemy. What you will not hear about, though it is a passing thought, is whether any progress with Iran may depend on threats of pig grease laden bombs being used against that rogue Muslim nation.

Bad enough politicians and judges, jails and prisons, even some businesses are going to insane extremes to accommodate Muslims in America, but for my part I applaud such a method as pork and pig grease used against the terrorists, and what if the prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Gitmo had been made to play football with the ‘ol pigskin? Hey, whatever works; whatever terrorizes the terrorists and saves our troops, though undoubtedly the ACLU will sue if they can for such a thing being used against terrorists; you know, “cruel and unusual.” To which I have only one word in reply: Oink!

Perhaps it may be possible to correct sexual orientation in the womb, but why isn’t science bending its efforts to find a Moslem gene so it can be corrected in the womb? I just know anyone born to believe in such a fairytale as Islam has to have a genetic disorder; how else account for those with a predisposition of approving the murder of anyone not sharing their religious beliefs?

Those despicable anti-American Imams that purposely made themselves targets of suspicion on US Airways are salivating at the prospects of the lawsuits; their intention being not just money, but more importantly using the courts to enable terrorists. These execrable creatures are also threatening to sue passengers that reported their suspicious activities with the obvious intention of making all of us fearful to report anyone acting suspiciously. I have a suggestion for the airlines: I once owned a vehicle, an East German manufactured Wartburg with pigskin covered seats. While this would be far too expensive for the airlines, perhaps just a small patch of pigskin added for décor in the seats of all airliners including the seats of the pilots. Do you suppose if this had been done in airliners before 9/11; well, it’s a thought. Another thought: How about making pigskin a part of all the cells in jails and prisons throughout America, even offering pigskin covered copies of the Koran to the “faithful?”

One of my high school students of many years ago was a gifted artist; his cartoons were especially well done. But being a Christian fundamentalist he did one illustrating people using “Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness Repellant Spray” to rid such people from knocking on your door. While he outgrew such “humor” and went on to become a very successful illustrator, the idea did come to me how about those in danger of Muslim kidnappers instead of cans of pepper spray or Mace they equip themselves with cans of pig grease spray? What if Jessica Lynch and others had been so equipped with “Muslim Repellant?” And what if airline passengers begin to carry such repellant, how many would-be terrorists would risk being sprayed? Listen up folks, when the terrorists begin eyeballing school buses as a way to attack America using one of the most distinguishable symbols of children for the purpose (though our government “assures” us this isn’t true) I say “Whatever it takes!”

If only there was such an effective thing as pigskin or pig grease we could use against the ACLU, judges, and politicians. Unfortunately, as a species politicians are addicted to pork and have become immune to the efficacious remedy of such a thing as pig grease being applied to them. However, being vampires sucking the blood of We the People they are not immune to the bright light of the sun if that could only be made to shine upon them fully exposing their dark deeds.

While he is usually correct, columnist Erik Rush got it wrong about the most dangerous organizations in America. The first is our federal government, second is the ACLU, and the third may be the one Erik names second, the Washington-based “Progressive Majority.” Alas, if politicians, the fanatics of Islam, and the fanatical ACLU have their way together with the invasion of America by Mexico it will come down to the old fashioned “Kill ‘em all and let God sort out the dead.”

It’s undoubtedly only a rumor those in charge at the Pentagon are planning to issue bullets coated with pig grease to all our troops (some of whom are already using such bullets). It is further rumored this will be announced with great fanfare through world media so the Muslim enemies of civilization will know what’s coming their way. Another rumor has it attack planes equipped with crop-dusting apparatus will be loaded with a mixture containing pig grease to be used on sites including mosques where suspected terrorists are hiding. Grenades, anti-personnel mines, bombs and artillery shells are also being devised to include pig grease with the explosives. Further, the makers of plastic explosives for the military will be required to include pig grease with the other ingredients. That this will undoubtedly create difficulties with Muslims serving in our armed forces was debated since “Don’t ask, don’t tell” would not apply, but according to the rumors circulating such personnel will be assigned duties where they will not be exposed to pig grease.

Knowing my high regard for Sam Clemens, yesterday my old friend Byron brought me a beautifully crafted porcelain figurine of America’s greatest humorist and one of its greatest philosophers. It has Sam dressed in his favorite white suit sitting in a rocking chair with a few books at his feet. For me, Sam Clemens and George Washington represent America in the very best sense, and I heartily resent iconoclastic attempts to denigrate either one of them. Both were rare human beings of great talents and genius; and both are men of whom Americans are justifiably proud. And I believe it is the lack of such genuine Americans of such talents and genius that is hurting our nation the most. When actually looking for such people today America appears a virtually barren landscape. Suicide is oftentimes a “silent killer;” but Americans have no excuse for not recognizing and speaking out against this barren landscape and its resulting course of national suicide politicians are taking us on.

For example, despite Time Magazine’s use of Reagan on the cover I don’t believe he cried over Iran/Contra or giving amnesty to millions of illegal aliens thereby opening the floodgates for the invasion of America by Mexico of millions more of its unwanted citizens to serve as slave labor benefiting only the wealthy of both nations. “How the right went wrong” could start with that story rather than any portrayal of Reagan as a paragon of conservatism, or even as a man morally capable of making the right choices and decisions for America. When it comes right down to it, Reagan was a politician and his choices and decisions were made on what he considered politically expedient with only an occasional sop to conservatism to retain his credentials. Far from being the “great communicator,” what he communicated was his betrayal of America and that is his real “legacy!”

Of this we can be certain; lacking proper leadership, appearing a nation of fools led of fools, America is facing threats that cannot possibly be met and overcome. And one of these threats is common to all nuclear nations, not just ours.

“Fail-Safe” continues to be by far the greatest of nuclear threats. My eldest son Daniel served in the nuclear military, and while he cannot discuss some of the particulars he is knowledgeable of the potential of a Fail-Safe scenario and has shared his concern about this with me; enough so we both believe it is not a matter of if, but of when. It is highly unlikely we will ever be told the truth about this “nuclear accident,” for such it is in fact:

Navy submarine goes missing overnight: Tuesday, March 13. “The concern was so high that Defense Secretary Robert Gates was notified of the situation overnight, as was White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley, who was preparing to brief President Bush with the news when communications were re-established with the missing submarine.” WAVY-TV: The Navy launched an investigation after losing, then finding, a nuclear submarine overnight Tuesday. For several hours the Navy did not know where the U.S.S. San Juan was. But the crew, Navy officials believe, did not know they were missing. According to Lieutenant Mark Jones, a Navy public affairs officer for Submarine Group Two, “They were not aware at all of what was going on? From my understanding they were not, no.”... Commander Michael Martin runs the sub and now he and his crew will be answering questions as to why the San Juan did not check in when it was supposed to. “We’re looking into what happened in that process, whether it was human error, whether it was technical error, whether there was no error at all,” Jones said. (End)

As I was discussing this with Daniel, we both know there are certain “absolutes” when it comes to the nuclear military. And because of these absolutes the situation surrounding the San Juan cannot happen. But as with Kubrick’s film, it did! And if something so fundamentally absolute fails, the door is wide open to speculation as to what other “absolutes” may be at risk of failing as well, things that may well lead to a military nuclear accident by any nuclear nation in the world. It won’t require a mad man with his finger on the button, it will only require the failure of lower echelon personnel or some glitch built into the system of design and manufacture as happened with our space shuttle disasters. It’s the old story of no chain being stronger than its weakest link, and in this case it is a nuclear chain.

“Must we not suppose somewhere in the universe a slight treachery and derision? Are we not engaged to a serious resentment of this use that is made of us?” While Emerson expresses the thought of all who seriously speculate about so much suffering and misery caused by the wars of men, of so much cruelty throughout human history, of nature red in tooth and claw, we can easily be excused for thinking the very thing Emerson phrased so well.

But my most immediate resentment of this use that is made of us is for those in power here in America, that our own leadership is the cause for so much misery caused by politicians that have earned not only the scorn of We the People but that of the entire world! In the meantime, since our own leadership thrives on pork why not pig grease as a weapon against Muslim terrorism?

It is doubtful Caesar Bush has the intellectual capacity to recognize his tyrannical abuse of office is setting a course for national suicide. But history is replete with such examples of the madness of rulers. And while many, both conservatives and liberals decry any comparison between Bush and Hitler legitimate comparisons remain for objective analysis.

Erwin Rommel was permitted an honorable suicide with the promise his family would not suffer harm. Others besides Hitler have eliminated those with prestige in opposition by this method. This has happened not only in imperial Rome but in various other societies throughout history. Politicians and the media have corrupted many historical phrases one of which is “falling on their sword.” The historical fact has been sanitized to the point of irrelevancy since no politician in American history has ever done so literally, and it is doubtful any have the courage to do so. It would be quite laughable to think of anyone literally doing so out of loyalty to Caesar Bush.

In respect to a path of national suicide no one doubts, for example, Caesar Bush’s use of the word “migration” while in Mexico was calculated, as many like Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck have made clear, to legitimize the invasion of America by Mexico in an undeclared war on American citizens who as with Caesar’s other wars are expected to keep paying the bills for this one to further enrich the wealthy on both sides of the border. But will Caesar be able to pull this “migration” stunt off while ignoring the dangers posed by a suicidal refusal to secure our open borders including the continued mongrelizing of America betraying any claim to a national identity, something suicidal to our nation in so many ways.

But “Doublespeak” is alive and well in both the White House and Congress. The Democrats are threatening to “clean out the refrigerator” while making noise over the obvious toadying of Alberto Gonzales whose “pedigree” fit Caesar’s continued mad dreams of empire while Caesar is oblivious to the fact historians will undoubtedly refer to his administration as the dirtiest and most corrupt in our nation’s history, something several besides me began to point out over two years ago.

Recently a friend was asking me since corruption is so obviously rampant throughout government why nothing has been done about it? The brief answer is all politicians leave a trail of slime leading to being elected and staying elected, the result being none dare bring any of the others to justice. And it was while discussing this issue I asked my friend if he had ever thought of the risk to their families should any of those in Congress, for example, attempt to be thoroughly honest?

Think about it, everyone of prominence in politics and the judiciary not only has their own skeletons to worry about but has family of some kind. And while it receives no notoriety any attempt to expose and bring scoundrels in politics and the judiciary to justice also brings risk to the families of those exposing the scoundrels and pursuing justice. The questions surrounding JFK, of the Clintons, Vincent Foster and Ron Brown, the obvious whitewash of the Warren and 9/11 Commissions and so much more are a telling indictment against our government ever exposing the guilty and pursuing a course of justice. One might poke fun at the government covering up UFOs, but there is nothing funny about the course of a government that has so much to hide from We the People for the sake of “national security;” as though an uninformed electorate could ever make for a secure America.

We certainly do not expect people like Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, or Alberto Gonzales to literally give their lives for our contemporary Caesar; but they don’t mind being complicit in Caesar’s mad dreams of empire while leading America on a path to national suicide for the sake of personal power and wealth. There are many examples from Hitler’s administration and that of Bush’s of those like Rove, Cheney, and Gonzales. But most have a far better intellectual grasp of Bush’s mad plan of an empire including Mexico and Canada as well as his ambitious plans for the Middle East. Of this we can be certain, using that word “migration” did not originate in Bush’s addled brain any more than did his mad “No Child Left Behind.” But who dares confront Caesar in his madness? After all, he sits on the throne and wields the power of the sword. It is one thing to be complicit in Caesar’s madness sending Americans to die for Oil and mad dreams of empire but quite another for Caesar’s cronies to put their own lives in jeopardy. But the leaders of other nations like Russia and China are not feeble-minded, are not blind to what is happening here in America, a seeming nation of fools led of fools.

Those who take their own lives do not always give any hints of such a thing; in fact, some are spur of the moment decisions seemingly without motive. About a year ago a friend called to tell me his closest friend, a man he had served with in Vietnam had just shot himself. My friend was beside himself with grief. All the time this other man had been his closest friend and there hadn’t been the slightest hint he was planning to do such a thing. I’ve known some personally who have done such a thing without any hints they were even thinking of taking their lives.

But some of those who take their lives do provide clues to their dark thoughts. Before he committed suicide my friend Nelson had left the signs of desperation in his life everywhere. He had no family, he was an alcoholic and his life had been ruined by his addiction. The signs he was giving up on life were everywhere; trash and garbage building up in his house, no attempt at personal hygiene or eating properly. The pills and booze were all he had, and he chose these as his “final friends.”

When I look at the “leadership” of America, when I look about America today I’m reminded of the final stages of Nelson’s life. The trash and garbage is piling up everywhere, the “hygiene” of foreign nations gets more consideration than does that of America, and when politicians make noise over things like Valerie Plame and Alberto Gonzales, when politicians claim they are going to “bring the guilty to justice” the only thing We the People have reason to expect is simply more trash and garbage accumulating, a tell-tale sign anticipating suicide.

What I really resent about the whole business of Deborah Jeane Palfrey and her list of some 15,000 “clients” is that I’m not on that list. I resent being denied the perks of the typical politician in many ways, and this is just one of them. I can only hope Fred Thompson isn’t on that list, though I personally wouldn’t hold it against him. I would simply envy him.

But Ms. Palfrey’s list aside, I favor Fred Thompson running for President not just because he stands out in a field of less than inspiring candidates and would offer a real choice, but America is in desperate need of someone who can at the very least act presidential. In that Thompson obviously fills the bill even if he was not qualified otherwise.

America suffers a tremendous image problem because Bush and his administration come off as something less than heroic of mythic proportions. As an undergraduate I attended a Greek play being put on by the college theater arts department. At one point a beautiful girl peering stage right says, “Who is approaching; he cannot be a mortal man; he appears to be a god.” As the audience anxiously awaited the appearance of this god, what should come onstage but some scrawny beanpole! The entire audience broke out laughing, and what was supposed to have been a serious production was ruined with most of us walking out of the auditorium. We weren’t buying the scrawny beanpole playing the role of someone of heroic and mythic stature.

Audie Murphy was heroic as a soldier, but he was painfully out of place as a “Hollywood hero” despite being credible in “The Red Badge of Courage.” But when attempting roles in which his small stature was matched against big guys, the old maxim of boxing “A good big guy will always beat a good small guy” was painfully obvious, and audiences weren’t buying Audie Murphy beating big guys with his fists.

Nothing dooms a play or film more quickly than having someone playing a part who is painfully miscast in an important role; and when such a thing happens the audience is aware someone exerted influence in order to procure the part for the actor; which explains some of the sawed-off runts being cast in romantic and heroic roles. But whatever the source of such influence, and we even see this in TV advertising, when the person is badly miscast no amount of expertise or talent on the part of the other players can save the situation. This pretty well describes our federal government; a painful example being AG Alberto Gonzales and his boss, both of whom favor and go to extraordinary efforts to encourage slave labor from Mexico over America’s sovereignty and secure borders.

There is that line from “The American President” of which politicians seem oblivious that when it comes to politics “perception is everything.” And when it comes to perception when I see Gonzales I see a Mexican, not an American; and to read his bio is to understand this. When I see Bush I see a fool not the “leader” of the free world. Both would like to “move on” after admitting “mistakes.” Sorry, but there is no way of getting past perception no matter how many admissions of “mistakes.” These two are horribly miscast in the roles they are “playing.” Unfortunately for We the People, we can’t simply leave the auditorium.

And speaking of mistakes “No Child Left Behind” was the act of a fool. But Bush had his favorite education toady Rod Paige of Texas schools infamy and played such a prominent role in Bush’s political success to rely on for this fiasco. Trading on Affirmative Action rather than genuine academic qualifications Rod Paige could cook the education books with the best, his one claim to “qualification” for the office Bush appointed him to. And the schools of America are suffering accordingly. I wrote about this during that period of time when all this was transpiring, pointing out the obvious reasons such a plan for the schools was the act of those that knew nothing of the realities in the schools, that knew nothing of real education in the real world. Both Bush and Paige personified a large part of the reason the schools of America are failing; but no one in authority dared face Bush with the realities in education anymore than they dared face him with the lies and subterfuges leading to the present quagmire in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Facing those like Bush with the truth is risky business. But what if General Pace had used the “F” word as did Ann Coulter; would he be facing a court martial? Well, he didn’t and he didn’t even use “Girlie-men.” Give him credit for that; though Arnold certainly made his point by using it. Sometimes you simply need to watch your phraseology, and sometimes you simply need to tell the truth without any caveats or blandishment. I give the general due credit for speaking the truth about the harm of sexual perversion in our military. But it is pretty late in the game for politicians admitting of “mistakes” all the while nothing changes for the better in either the White House or Congress and the perception of America is a nation of fools led of fools.

“This business will get out of control… it’ll get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it!” If Fred Thompson decides to run for President I would advise him to use that unforgettable line he delivered in “The Hunt for Red October.” It pretty well describes the situation facing America and the rest of the world today. With all of the posturing by politicians concerning dealing with gangs, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation, Iran, China, Russia, our own porous borders, problems that are obviously getting out of control because politicians don’t dare address them in reality it cannot but remind me of that line from the film. But would Fred have the courage to deliver that line in a campaign?

Fred Thompson is a likeable fellow and I just answered a survey about possible presidential candidates indicating as much. Like many others I know him better as an actor than a politician though I’m quite familiar with his voting record; but given the “acting” on the part of all politicians who of us knows where the reality is for those in the White House and Congress anyway? Since they are all only playing a part, I’m for a man I believe knows the difference between Hollywood and politics. And Fred inspired my confidence from the role he played in The Hunt for Red October, especially his succinct grasp of the dangers threatening. Now, if Fred is able to bring that message from the film to real life and articulate it in a campaign for President he just might strike a responsive chord with the electorate. By now I’m certain most of us realize this “business” is getting out of control and most of us have an uneasy feeling we will be lucky to live through it.

A substantial part of this business getting out of control is our porous borders. It is destructive of any confidence that apart from being the political lapdog of Bush under color of authority AG Alberto Gonzales favors Mexico and illegal aliens; his name and background declares it and Bush wanted someone he could depend on to “carry the water from Mexico” along with supporting Bush’s version of “transparency” in the White House. The Bush Dynasty has profited mightily by slave labor from Mexico as have many of those in power, and our borders remain criminally, even treasonously unsecured because of this addiction to slave labor.

Here in California there is nothing to be expected from our state legislature about the problems of crime and prisons, there is far too much truth in the book “Mexifornia.” If the legislature isn’t being run by the Mexican Mafia out of Los Angeles there is always San Francisco saying everything would be just fine with our legislature the way it is if only the governor and other Republicans would stop trying to interfere.

Lately the problem of gangs here in Kern County has been getting a lot of attention, but whether here or elsewhere in America you cannot miss a substantial part of the problem being in evidence. When interviews are conducted by TV reporters, most people being interviewed in the various communities harboring gangs can’t speak proper English, and some only speak Spanish. You cannot help getting the impression most of the people in such neighborhoods are on welfare, are largely ignorant if not in fact illiterate. And the politicians posturing for interviews have the usual solution to the problem: More taxpayer money. But you will not hear politicians offering real solutions for the problem; they don’t dare. There is the ACLU ready to pounce and sue howling “Racism!” And when you cannot address the real issues with the truth of the matter money is not going to solve the problem, as countless vain attempts have proven.

It isn’t that the solution to the problem of gangs in America is not self-evident: Strong families with both a mother and a father in the home, a good education for children emphasizing reading, writing, and arithmetic, and good job prospects for them when they graduate from high school. Now, all our leadership has to do is make sure these are made possible; but fearful of being tarred with the racist brush they don’t dare speak openly of why these things are not made possible due to refusing to secure our borders and expel illegal aliens, refusing to deal with the rampant corruption in our own government, selling out and betraying America on every hand that tells even the most illiterate and ignorant our own leadership does not have to obey the very laws they insist others obey. There is an obvious double standard between the privileged and the Great Unwashed, and this double standard prevents all attempts to make the “concern” of politicians believable.

I would urge Fred Thompson to run for President and use that line from the film. “This business will get out of control… it’ll get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it!” If he preaches that sermon he will hear many voices of Americans coming from the “Amen corner.”

However, suppose neither Fred or any others offer real solutions to the real problems threatening America? There is another memorable part of the film at the end where Sean Connery says, “A little revolution, now and then, is a healthy thing don’t you think?”

Very few people find Emerson worth reading in today. Yet I would call your attention to his following remarks:

My friends (in England) asked whether there were any Americans? - any with an American idea, - any theory of the right future of that country?

Thus challenged, I bethought myself neither of caucuses nor congress, neither of presidents nor of cabinet-ministers, nor of such as would make America another Europe. I thought only of the simplest and purest minds; I said, Certainly yes; - but those who hold it are fanatics of a dream which I would hardly care to relate to your English ears, to which it might be only ridiculous, - and yet it is the only true. So I opened the dogma of no-government and non-resistance, and anticipated the objections and the fun, and procured a kind of hearing for it.

I said, it is true that I have never seen in any country a man of sufficient valor to stand for this truth, and yet it is plain to me that no less valor than this can command my respect. I can easily see the bankruptcy of the vulgar musket-worship, - though great men be musket-worshipers; - and ‘tis certain, as God liveth, the gun that does not need another gun, the law of love and justice alone, can effect a clean revolution.

Emerson repeats, understandably given his divinity training and time spent in the pulpit, the statement of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul that love is the fulfillment of the Law of God. The law of love and justice alone can effect a clean revolution. Even Napoleon, the preeminent musket-worshiper, dreamed of a clean revolution, one that did not require the spilling of blood. The League of Nations, our present United Nations and those many Utopian experiments of the past have been rooted in the hope of clean revolution.

However, there are none in politics that dare speak the truth about the issues threatening children, threatening America. It isn’t that the solutions for things like gangs terrorizing neighborhoods and our failing schools are not easily understood. What is lacking is virtuous leadership willing to tell the truth and work toward those solutions. You only need ask yourself why should America be forced to accept the importation of crime and violence from foreign nations like Mexico and others, extorting We the People through taxation without representation to support these other nations without holding them to account for their own citizens? But wait; maybe Halliburton will move America to Dubai?

That revolution is needed is not disputed. The world has always been in need of revolution as Sean Connery pointed out in the film. But our Founding Fathers knew this and it was even echoed by men of peace like Henry Thoreau. Ban violence. Good. But we must start with our children. We must start with a guarantee of their being raised in all innocence without fear of sexual abuse, encouraging their natural modesty and innocence, encouraging their sense of self-worth, self-esteem, encouraging their sense of individual value, persons in their own right to carry into adulthood intact and entire! However, unless we have a leadership that is willing to put the interests of America and our own children, our own citizens first there is no hope of preventing the “business” getting out of control.

Charles Schulz had it right with his marvelous sense of humor. The Great Pumpkin and the Easter Beagle were to my liking; not the fanaticism on either side of Christmas and Easter between defenders and detractors.

Any time now I expect scientists to declare they have found a “stupid” gene. It will account for things otherwise normal people do making them not only contenders for the Darwin awards, but trying to rename the Easter Bunny. Some people really believe this will fly? Certainly the schools can get away with “Winter” and “Spring” breaks, but what to do with Easter eggs, Peeps, and the multi-billion dollar industry built around the Easter Bunny? People aren’t going to go for something called “Spring Eggs.” Take away the word Easter and you have nothing to qualify that time of year as anything significant to set it apart from any other time of year. Shoot the Easter Bunny and a multi-billion dollar industry dies with him. Defenders of the Easter Bunny can take more comfort in his being protected by the symbol of a dollar than anything symbolic of religion.

The same rule applies to Christmas. There is nothing to make this time of year significant apart from celebrating the birth of Jesus. Take Jesus out of the equation and you have no Christmas. Calling it a “Holiday Season” isn’t going to support the multi-billion dollar industry built around celebrating Jesus’ birthday, and without him Santa would go the way of the Easter Bunny; neither Santa or the Bunny have any relevance apart from Jesus. And while an argument can be made for the Bunny not being a religious symbol, calling him anything but the Easter Bunny just won’t work anymore than trying to rename Santa; no Jesus, no saints, no Santa.

Certainly some Jews would like to equate the Menorah with a Christmas tree, but no one is fooled by such a thing. Each celebrates something totally distinct to the symbol; and worldwide the Christmas tree is symbolic of the birth of Jesus and Christians while the Menorah, as with the Star of David, remains a Jewish symbol; period! But if Easter and Christmas weren’t promoted for economic reasons and real money-makers, just how would America as a whole be celebrating the seasons? One thing is certain; two hundred million people in America don’t go out and buy Menorah trees or Menorah presents.

The ACLU and its supporters don’t really want “equality” for any religious symbols in America; they don’t really want a Menorah equated with a Christmas tree, they would rather abolish every symbol of religion like the Decalogue, a cross, crèche, Christmas tree, Easter and Christmas, but what would America be without such Christian symbols? Muslim nations have no such enemies of their “sacred” symbols; and such symbols are a continuing unifying force among Muslims against “infidels” no matter the amount of internecine blood-letting.

But speaking of those undoubtedly possessed of a stupid gene and wanting to rename the Easter Bunny, what can we say of Bush for his claiming to have looked into the soul of Putin and pronouncing that old KGB stalwart “a good man.” By now we should all be aware Putin read Bush far better, and that old KGB stalwart saw someone not to be trusted, if not in fact a fool, and perhaps a dangerous one at that, and is acting accordingly. The result being Russians have a leader acting in the best interests of Russia, but America is without such a leader as our porous borders if nothing else proves. If Putin wants to cut our throat he is counting on the White House and Congress providing him the knife.

The prodigality of life throughout the earth is evidenced by the many examples from nature in the wild of planting thousands of seeds the great majority having no chance of surviving, but the profligate casting of thousands of seeds insures that a small number will survive, and among this small number an even smaller number will grow to maturity and have offspring. That the greater part will die is of no concern to nature, and this same prodigality of life is seen to be the case in the animal world as well. Unfortunately for humans, while nature will dispose of plants and animals possessed of a stupid gene the same cannot be said for us humans.

For example, PETA has a legitimate complaint against Al Gore. Animals raised for slaughter do produce the very gases in enormous abundance those like Al would eliminate by having humans cooperating in limiting the pollution caused by us humans. But how likely is it people worldwide are going to become vegetarians; about as likely as China stopping building coal-fired electric generating plants. And there is no EPA oversight in China. However, maybe that stupid gene among humans will sort all this out; how else account for politicians and those wanting to rename the Easter Bunny? No wonder so many are hoping ET may come to our rescue.

That is the title of an article I wrote last September, but it came to me the subject needed a broader emphasis in light of things like increasing gang violence in America. Considering all that has happened since I was a kid shooting marbles and the world children live in today, children have lost much more than the simple games using marbles I recall as a child.

It isn’t that a marble used in a slingshot can’t do a lot of damage as some of you may be old enough to remember, but that was not their intended purpose to children of a bygone Norman Rockwell era. After all, you didn’t waste marbles in such a fashion back then when a penny was real money and your marble collection was real wealth. Adding to the real value of marbles during that era was the sheer beauty of some of these wonders of the glassmaker’s artistry, and any kid of stature among their peers was a connoisseur of marbles.

In my reverie of a kinder and gentler America I used to know, I recall the love I had for shooting marbles and I wonder why kids don’t play marbles any more? As a child in Little Oklahoma (Southeast Bakersfield) I lived for shooting marbles. Any child worth his salt, to be acceptable in our company, had to have a good collection of aggies, glassies, puries, boulders, and stripies. A couple of steelies had to be included as well. One had to be on the lookout for doughies, only used by unscrupulous cheaters.

How many of you remember the incantation while playing rings: “Here’s the river ‘n’ here’s the snake; here’s where y’ make y’r big mistake” while kneeling in the dirt, drawing the appropriate symbols to foil your opponent’s shot? We never knew if such incantations really worked, but if you wanted to keep your credentials as a serious marble player you had to make the effort. Like, do any of you remember throwing a marble over your left shoulder in order to find a lost one? Losing a marble was one of the hazards of playing chase. And perhaps you are old enough to remember parents or other adults telling you playing for “keeps” was wrong if not downright sinful, a form of gambling; which, of course, made playing keeps all the more enticing.

In order to give you an idea of how accomplished I was playing marbles, I came in second in the Bakersfield Championship of 1943. Yes, there really was a citywide championship for playing marbles. Such was the innocence of the times that a city could have a marble-playing championship for children while the world was plunged into war. But it is the purview of us oldsters to be the raconteurs of once upon a time in America, though the stories may often sound to children today like they took place in a galaxy far, far away.

This championship was held early on a Saturday morning, and my grandfather drove me over to where the games were to take place. I don’t recall why grandad knew I was a contender for such a championship, but that just goes to show grownups are often aware of things children don’t think they know anything about, or don’t value some of the things children do (I know it doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes grownups are smarter than kids think they are). However, upon arrival one thing that suddenly struck me about this being serious business rather than just an event for kids playing marbles was the principal of my school, Mt. Vernon Elementary, was there. This was astounding to me since kids my age at the time didn’t think of teachers, let alone a principal, being real people. They were kind of like alien creatures one saw only at school, never in real life. And when the last bell sounded for the school day they disappeared to some nether region only to reappear once more during regular school hours.

But here was the principal of my school on a Saturday morning in real life as opposed to school life. Suddenly this was not going to be a game for children to enjoy, but some kind of really serious business I couldn’t comprehend. With over a hundred other children in attendance, glancing around I gathered most of them were having the same problem I was having grasping the significance of the event.

Addressing all us children, the principal explained the rules to be followed. They were rather complex compared to what we were used to, since we all understood the rules such as no fudging by which we played marbles. But grownups had made up these rules we were to follow; and they were quite strict as well as complex. Using large dividers made of wood lathes the adults drew big rings in the earth, perfect circles four-feet in diameter. In the center of the large rings a number of marbles were arranged in two very precise rows the shape of a plus sign. Also, unlike being the diverse mixture we kids used all these marbles for this event were the same dark, nearly black color. We were used to such marbles being used for Chinese checkers, but not playing marbles.

The rules required us to knock out all the marbles until only one marble was left in the center of the ring. But the rules also required both the shooter and last remaining target marble being knocked out of the ring together. Finally, after about two hours of eliminating contenders only one other boy and I were left to compete. By this time we were both so tired it was becoming more of an endurance contest, and it was only a matter of who made the last shot without their shooter being left in the ring after knocking the remaining target marble out of the center of the ring. My last shot was good knocking the last marble out of the ring, but my shooter didn’t exit the ring with the target marble and the other boy won.

While I was much too young to understand at the time, there was something that bothered me about the whole affair of this event. There was the matter of it taking on such serious dimensions by the presence of the principal of the school and other adults standing over us doing the officiating. Then there were those large, perfect circles being drawn in the earth using a mechanical device for precision. There were the strict rules, many of which were foreign to us as children. When we played rings we simply drew a circle in the dirt with a stick, and the circles were nowhere near as large as those at this event. We never arranged marbles in any formal geometric design, but usually only a few in a group to be shot out of the circle. In short, we children knew what our rules of the game were and didn’t need grownups to make the rules or officiate for us.

There was something else I came to realize long after this event. I wasn’t disappointed about losing to the other boy; I wasn’t disappointed about coming in number two in the Bakersfield marble championship. No matter the seriousness imparted by the adults to the whole affair, we children still understood we were only playing a game. But despite this, the adults with their strict and numerous rules and large perfect circles made with a mechanical device, all the marbles being the same color placed with geometric precision and adults standing over and watching us so carefully all the while had made it serious business rather than just a game to be enjoyed. Adults had made playing a game something else than what we as children engaged in left to ourselves.

We know the stories today, how adults have become so demanding of children that they excel in various games. The Little League has become “business” rather than kids being able to enjoy playing baseball, the kids now have adults demanding games be taken seriously rather than being played for fun. Winning is the name of the game today. It’s too bad I couldn’t explain to grandad what bothered me about the marble championship event; but he seemed to understand and was proud of me coming in second. And maybe this is one of many reasons kids are now shooting each other rather than shooting marbles. Just as it takes adults to teach kids how to hate others simply because they are “different,” it takes adults to take the fun out of games children should enjoy as nothing more than games.

Sure, there is a whole lot more to the story, things like what made a marble collection and shooting marbles important to kids back then rather than the games children play and the things they value today. But what has not changed is the need of children for people like my grandfather who seemed to understand what was bothering me without my being able to explain it to him, who was proud of me coming in second. I have no doubt grandad understood the need of competition, the need to compete in the serious affairs of life. But he also understood the difference between games children should be able to enjoy and the serious affairs of life that all too soon make their impact and demands upon children.

Why in any nation considering itself civilized should any convicted child predator ever be set free to continue preying on children? The ready answer that comes to my mind is America is not a civilized nation. It doesn’t take the corruption rampant in our government to tell me this, all it takes is the refusal on the part of our politicians and judges to make sure child predators once caught and convicted ever again be allowed to continue their monstrous acts against children. By that standard how do the Roman Church, the Mormon Church, and Jehovah’s Witnesses fare any better? The refusal to permanently remove child predators from civilized society is to acknowledge the fact of an uncivilized nation.

Then there is the matter of America becoming a violent and uncivilized nation by reason of our unsecured borders for the sake of slave labor benefiting politicians and their corporate masters whereby not only child predators but thousands of other violent criminals are coming into our nation in an undeclared war on the law-abiding citizens of America. But if you shoot back at those threatening your life, you are more likely to wind up like those two border patrol agents than not. At that, even for the law-abiding using a gun is not the easy thing much of the anti-gun propaganda would have you believe.

While James Jones didn’t mention it in his Pulitzer-winning book “WWII,” shortly after the war I read an interesting study concluding half of our soldiers in battle did not fire their guns. The reasons given were many and varied, but generally came down to men not wanting to kill other men, though some admitted they were too busy trying to stay alive with all the shooting going on to bother risking firing at the enemy. Jones did make a point of referencing the most sensible thing to do when people are shooting at you is do your best to get the hell out of harm’s way! Stephen Crane while never having fought in the war did a remarkable job of describing this in his classic Civil War novel “The Red Badge of Courage.”

Years ago in a conversation with the police chief of a southern California city he told me one of the questions asked of those applying for a position on the force was “Would you be willing to shoot someone?” It occurred to me this was a pretty silly question. After all, unless you are actually confronted by the situation how would you know the answer? The chief concurred with me, and went on to say interviewers were looking for “body language” in response to the question; that the hope was if the interviewers were convinced in the affirmative later training at the police academy would weed out those that would not shoot. He sighed and continued to share with me this was too often not the case. It all came down to that moment when the event occurred.

Over the years since I have learned from personal experience the enormous difficulty police departments have in not only preventing those who are “gun happy” from wearing a badge, but finding people who are willing to shoot. It comes down to that classic observation by John Wayne in “The Shootist” whether a man is “willin’.”

Hollywood would have us believe the military is filled with men anxious to get a gun in their hands and shoot at every possible opportunity whereas the opposite may be closer to the truth. And while field commanders could easily disabuse the makers of war movies, it wouldn’t make for the image of warriors the entertainment industry likes to project in action-packed dramas. Just to watch some of the old war movies of WWII like “Sands of Iwo Jima” gives the impression our soldiers were all bravely shooting it out with the enemy, there are the films like “Apocalypse Now” and “The Green Berets,” and Clint Eastwood has done yeoman’s work in “Flags of our Fathers” and “Letters from Iwo Jima,” but the fact that when the shooting is actually going on the sensible thing to do is try to stay alive.

Not surprisingly “Doc” Bradley, one of those in that iconic picture of the second flag raising on Iwo Jima, “never regarded himself as a hero, telling anyone who asked, ‘The only heroes were the ones who didn’t come back.’ “ If the status of hero is defined in this way who would argue Bradley’s observation; though the medals are given Alvin York and Audie Murphy. But war movies as propaganda were needed during WWII and continue to serve the same purpose, though with the introduction of the anti-hero real heroes of the iconic status of WWI and WWII are hard to come by. There really was no excuse for Patton slapping that soldier; not everyone loved war as did Patton though we need men like him in time of war.

Western films promote the image of the gunslinger whereas the truth isn’t even close to the actual events. Most so-called “gunfighters” were more likely to shoot from ambush than the stand-up face-off in “Shane” and other films of this genre. And if you have ever experienced being shot at and shooting back you know exactly what I’m talking about.

You won’t find much material about the police and military having difficulty with finding personnel that are “willin’.” We don’t see war news on TV showing any of our troops that are not “willin’.” What we always see are film clips of those doing the shooting. Which makes sense; there is nothing exciting about showing soldiers not shooting but doing the sensible thing trying to avoid being shot. But there is that study I mentioned following WWII that gives pause, and even though films made about wars from our own War for Independence on showing so many shooting at each other there is still that sensible thing of soldiers doing their best in many cases of trying to avoid getting shot. This is not cowardice in most cases, but only sensible.

But as to actual cowardice, as the violence increases here in America and entire cities are being terrorized by gangs one of the more common tactics by the barbarians is the “drive-by shooting.” These are the cowardly acts by which gang members are identified for what they are: utterly uncivilized and cowardly barbarians without conscience. Unlike actual warfare where men are facing either shooting or getting shot, here in America the cowards shoot from ambush without fear of being shot in return. Small wonder we applaud the vigilante that in turn metes out justice when our laws do more to protect the criminals than the victims. Small wonder there are so few witnesses willing to step forward when gang murders occur when neighborhoods are ruled by gangs and retaliation is far more certain than justice.

We don’t hear anything about soldiers being tried for cowardice in the face of enemy fire. One reason, I’m sure, is that the military cannot afford to let it be known how many soldiers are not firing their weapons in time of battle. And I certainly understand this; I don’t fault the military for not wanting such a thing publicized (and speaking of not wanting publicity, wasn’t it obvious that Iraqi that made the news about being detained when airport security at LAX discovered items he had concealed in his rectum was a test for smuggling bomb materials aboard a plane).

However, here on the Home Front our police are facing an actual war where to use their guns is to invariably face the threat of lawsuits, being fired or imprisoned. The case of those two border patrol agents being imprisoned for shooting at a drug smuggler from Mexico sends the message to all our border patrol agents: Don’t shoot! Bush may well pardon his friend Libby, but he sits on his hands over those two border patrol agents.

Government corruption, child predators and gangs continue to terrorize America, the result being our nation is losing credibility as a civilized nation. When the highest in government are protected and allowed to continue with their corruption, when Ted Kennedy is still in power after Chappaquiddick and Ann Coulter is vilified for the use of a word, when the laws favor the criminals over their victims, when the police are afraid to shoot even when “willin’” there is little to give hope we will ever be a truly civilized nation. Our enemies realize this even if our leadership does not.

The conviction of Libby caused me to wonder what Custer had planned for an encore; more Indians? Such seems the “plan” of the Bush administration. Custer may not have said “Bring it on!” or put out posters for Sitting Bull “Wanted Dead or Alive!” but the overall picture begins to take on an uncomfortable similarity to the present White House. Knowing of Custer’s ego it isn’t difficult to imagine before his last stand having already prepared a banner “Mission Accomplished,” which would at the very least have proved as premature as that of the present occupant of the Oval Office.

Of course, there is nothing of humor about those who died with Custer. The best that can be said of the battle is that their leader died with them, paying the ultimate price for his arrogance and seeking for glory. But Bush sits comfortably in the White House protected from taking any risks to his own hide or that of his friends while ordering others placed in harm’s way. Certainly we don’t expect generals to be on the front lines of battles, but we do have a right to expect generals to at least be concerned about casualties. This has not been in evidence with our “general” sending troops into battle unprepared and with no real plan for either protracted war or any exit strategy together with the debacle of Walter Reed.

Brilliant people, even those of great genius can make stupid mistakes and stupid statements. The time would fail in producing a list of examples. I can easily believe Ann Coulter had a “psychotic episode” in her remark about Edwards causing such harm to the very people, conservatives, she has long championed. I don’t doubt Howard Dean wishes he could take back his scream and Hillary wishes she hadn’t succumbed to a similar episode with that shrill, tin ear attempt to be “one of the people.”

But some stupid mistakes by leaders, brilliant or not, often cost actual lives. As to Custer, like so many battles and prominent people involved, historians continue debating these things often having to depend on secondary rather than primary sources. However, one would think in our modern technological world with computers and instant communications it would be easier to nail the guilty; but this has not proven to be the case, as the Libby fiasco makes so indelibly and painfully clear; and We the People are left once more wondering if truth and justice have any chance at all in America? We still wonder about JFK, the Warren and 9/11 Commissions, and there is simply too much corruption in government to take any politician’s word as the truth about anything.

The passing of time and the lack of primary source material lends an ephemeral and azure tint to things like “Remember the Alamo” and such things are easily romanticized. But there is nothing about our present leadership Republican or Democrat that lends itself to romanticizing. On the contrary the actions on the part of our leaders seems so very tawdry, none of them lending themselves to anything heroic, anything by which history will recall of any of them that is not tarred by the brush of corruption throughout.

One of the things, and a very essential thing that helped us during WWII was our heroes. Those my age recall we had real heroes during that era. That so many would prove to have had feet of clay has no bearing on what we believed of our heroes during that period of time when we needed such heroes to fight a world war against the Axis foes. Just as some neuroscientists think we are genetically disposed to religious beliefs, reflecting my own thoughts and writing about an “instinct to believe,” so there would seem to be a need for heroes in order to gather people to a cause. But without that all-important element of romance you cannot possibly have heroes. There has to be something to give the substance to words like glory and heroism, there have to be leaders who gather others to them on this basis to have any hope of success against the foe.

The painfully obvious vacuum of leadership in America today, the lack of any of real virtue who are convincing in the role of “hero,” cries out to be filled. Not to even suggest any invidious comparison but I have no doubt Bush cast himself in a romantic role relishing the cowboy mystique, that he sees himself much like that famous painting of Hitler in shining armor. But just as things turned out disastrously for Hitler, so things are proving disastrous for Bush. We can only hope our entire nation does not fall prey to such a dark romanticism as that of Hitler. But the dark side should not be ignored. Hitler presumed an expertise he did not possess and became blind to the obvious, refusing the counsel of all opposed to him because of filling a position of such immense power. It is an old story filled with much grief, that leaders too often presume wisdom and expertise on the basis of position rather than actual ability. Our own leadership throughout seems to suffer this affliction.

An historical axiom has it power destroys those that do not use it wisely. Our hope as Americans is that our whole nation does not have to pay the price Germany did for the lack of wisdom among those holding power. It would serve us well to remember the history of nations that have fallen due to the lack of virtue in their leaders and act accordingly as we are subjected to a parade of those who would presume to lead without virtue, and without virtue being without wisdom. Of this much we can be assured, though it is an uncomfortable assurance: No nation can survive without a national identity based on heritage, culture, language, and secure borders. That we do not have a leadership dedicated to this inescapable imperative of history and nations, that there is no such prospective leadership being offered bodes ill for America.

Sam Clemens believed his friend Bret Harte the only writer who had truly mastered the art of dialect. It is without question one of the most difficult things for any writer that makes such an attempt, but no less so when it comes to making speeches as Ms. Clinton not only embarrassed herself in attempting, but gave another painful example of the lengths politicians will go in pandering and patronizing. And when it comes to making jokes, Ann Coulter should have paid heed to John Kerry’s fiasco.

But there is no denying things said by conservatives are pounced on while liberals get a pass, and the controversy over Jesus is a case in point. The problem in this case is one of confusing beliefs with knowledge, but regardless of the claims made by the religious for Jesus this is too often obfuscated by those with a pronounced prejudice against Christianity. For my part I would as soon have a Christianity based on the very goodness of the precepts of morality Jesus taught without all the trappings of religion. The very basis of the ministry of Jesus was, according to his own words, to love God and your neighbor. He did not set out to start a religious movement, but as a reformer confronting the abuses of religion which had resulted in an unholy mix of the laws of God and the laws of men.

Whether the abuses arising from religion or politics and while each lends itself to the accusation, few would disagree the mix of the two often results in a systematic organization of hatreds and things like fanatical Islam where the extremes of barbarism are not to be compared with present day Christianity— A reflection of the difference found in the freedom in Christian nations to engage in controversy about Jesus as opposed to Muslim nations where no debate about Mohammad is allowed.

However, when it comes to controversy the question of global warming continues unabated as well. UK: The Independent Online Edition; published 04 March 2007: Global warming: An inconvenient truth or hot air? Everyone agrees global warming is a terrible fact of life. Right? Wrong. A film to be screened this week ridicules the Al Gore orthodoxy. Geoffrey Lean reports on the green war: After two decades, the long scientific and political debate over whether human activities are warming up the Earth is finally over. Or is it? The world scientific community says so. Even the most recalcitrant governments, including the Bush administration, reluctantly agree. But the British media is characteristically unwilling to let an old row simply fade away. On Thursday, Channel 4 will screen what it calls a “polemical and thought-provoking documentary” - The Great Global Warming Swindle - by one of the environmentalists’ favourite hate figures, film-maker Martin Durkin...

While I have defended Al Gore as a romantic, a likable fellow and one that reads books, I have not subscribed to his theories about global warming. Nor do I believe he should be granted “sainthood” on the basis of his concern for our environment. There are too many other issues of ominous importance demanding immediate attention right here in America he chooses to ignore like the near total lack of security on our borders.

The recent police checkpoint in Bakersfield that netted so many driving without licenses or insurance came as no surprise in a state where such a thing is becoming a pandemic; due in large part to California having such a preponderance of illegal aliens. But the police were not allowed to check the citizenship status of those caught in this recent checkpoint; however if you have ever had your car totaled or a loved one killed by an illegal alien driver you quickly discover you have no legal recourse against them. Just try, for example, as I have done, to get a police report involving such accidents and you quickly discover the magnitude of the problems you face legally. The result is staggering insurance costs for legitimate citizen drivers in California and elsewhere, which is preventing many of America’s working poor from carrying insurance. Add to this the cost of keeping a vehicle properly smogged and maintained and the problem grows exponentially.

There may be a rock out there with earth’s name on it, but we are told NASA “cannot afford to look for killer asteroids.” Not to worry; it seems there are enough “killer asteroids” to do the job without any threats from space. Here is one that goes by the name of “Nancy Pelosi.” I just received this as an email from someone concerning the Speaker of the House responding to questions about her ideas for a restructuring of taxation: “She has condemned the new record highs of the stock market as ‘just another example of Bush policies helping the rich get richer.’ When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied ‘We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed, and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long ways to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as ‘Americans’.”

The obvious that Pelosi not only does not use the correct phrase “illegal aliens” for those in America illegally but calls them “illegal immigrants” and lumps them into the category of “Americans” is an obscenity in and of itself. But the political ploy is obvious; make those millions of illegal aliens the equivalent of the poor who are legitimate citizens of America. But whether Democrat or Republican none are giving any attention to securing our porous borders that are inviting nuclear terrorism against America. And the obvious answer to the question of why this is not done is slave labor to benefit the wealthy in both parties. Nor do we hear any politicians calling attention to the need of birth control among the poor, and the need to expel illegal aliens from America in order to address the issues of things like education and health care for the legitimate citizens of America. There is the stubborn fact of medical care denied for the millions of legitimate citizens without insurance; something illegal aliens are impacting by the very fact of so many millions of them being given the care denied legitimate citizens.

Few would deny the tragic Katrina debacle would not have occurred had that hurricane hit San Francisco. Few would deny the poor suffer from such things far out of proportion to those that are well off. But whether Republican or Democrat there are hard issues like illegal aliens and concomitant rise in crime and violence and the lack of birth control among the poor confronting America that will not go away just by a wringing of the hands and making speeches filled with glittering generalities and utterly without any substance. And the Pelosi “cure” is worse than the disease she refuses to confront. At that, she is no different than those of the opposite political label refusing to address the real issues like our porous borders and the invasion from Mexico, which is nothing short of lunacy if not treason being allowed to threaten America.

Catastrophic events order priorities, and I suppose the only thing that will get the attention of politicians concerning the many things like our porous borders threatening America is something like that terrorist nuclear bomb going off at LAX. Quite candidly I don’t hold any hope for anything of lesser magnitude that will do it. Well, maybe if China attacks us; and should that happen it will be for the same reason politicians refuse to secure our borders. And if that bomb does go off where will the cries of “Racism!” and “Xenophobia!” find willing ears? Who and for what reason wants to make the use of the judicially and grammatically correct phrase “illegal alien” the equivalent of Ann Coulter’s remark? If Democrats like Pelosi want to play Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving to the poor, let them remove themselves from the stock market and the very things that allow them to live so sumptuously on the backs of taxpayers and address the real issues threatening America, not an obscene smokescreen of “caring for the poor” all the while lumping illegal aliens together with legitimate American citizens.

GOPUSA has a lead today expressing the thought Ann Coulter may have had a Britney Spears moment at the CPAC meeting, or that Ann’s “faggot” comment may lead some to believe she is actually a liberal infiltrator attempting to give conservatives a bad name. Bill Maher says in effect if not in so many words he wishes Cheney was dead. Well, so do a lot of people including me, but as I have already written I’d rather he was “recuperating” at Walter Reed, suffering from wounds decisions based on his lust for power and wealth have inflicted on Americans he and Bush sent ill-prepared into harm’s way. But Ann Coulter uses the word faggot in remarks concerning John Edwards and some respond by saying she needs to go into rehab, though no one is saying this of Maher for his remarks about Cheney.

It may be the Devil owns the MSM as well as the universities and Hollywood and this is what makes the distinction where so-called “liberals” get away with most things conservatives would be vilified for. By now only the most purblind can miss the fact organizations supporting minorities and homosexuals get a pass in the universities, the schools, the media and Hollywood, but anyone speaking up for or demanding the same rights for Caucasians and sexually normal people are labeled “racist” or “homophobic.”

As to Ann’s use of the word faggot I think she has become a victim of her own press, and being surrounded by friends simply gave way to the emotion of the moment, something any of us who have had the experience of speaking before large audiences know is an inherent danger in such an environment. It calls to mind a comment made by Jimmy Swaggart in his heyday telling a TV audience of millions in his “Fields White Unto Harvest” sermon that God had told Swaggart he was the only man God could use to save the world. Other TV evangelists were not amused. But Swaggart retrenched and was forgiven because others who took exception to his self-aggrandizement continued to accept him as one of their own, and I suppose the same will be done with Ann Coulter.

Readers know I like Ann though she does not like me. I don’t hold this against her because I understand many of the positions I hold are not those of conservatives. But as to her intemperate use of the word faggot Ann should have paid heed to what I wrote of her on January 25: In “The Music Man” the mayor says “You watch your phraseology” when hearing anything he thinks bordering on blue speech. I wonder how he would respond to Ann Coulter’s column “I am woman, hear me bore: Speaking of which, the horny hick’s wife finally ended the breathless anticipation by announcing that she is running for president. I studied tapes of Hillary feigning surprise at hearing about Monica to help me look surprised upon learning that she’s running.”

Now, I know Bill and Hillary are white trash just putting on airs, I have written about them being in Mammy’s words “nothing but mules in horse’s harness,” but without any of the redeeming virtues of Rhett and Scarlett; however, “horny hick’s wife?” Lordy! Ann; “watch your phraseology.” We all know Bill is a horny hick, but goodness gracious certain proprieties should be observed, and few things are so detrimental to making a point than to skewer yourself with improper phraseology in the public forum.

It is true a couple of years ago Ann sent me a brief note. She had been on the mailing list for The Weedpatch Gazette and the note very succinctly read: “Remove Immediately!” Well, rather than taking umbrage being the gentleman I am I did as requested, and I sure didn’t want to invite Ann’s verbal skills being practiced on me. But it did occur to me it must have been something I said, and being a gentleman I knew it couldn’t have been my phraseology. However, given Ann’s continued support of Caesar Bush and my outspoken criticism of him I don’t doubt she just didn’t want to hear it. But Ann’s rebuff has not prevented me continuing to read her column by which I find useful information about the thinking of right wing conservatism. And this is the way you not only keep informed, but you allow differing points of view to your own perspective of issues and people. (End)

Alas for Ann, having demanded she be removed from the mailing list of The Weedpatch Gazette she did not have the benefit of my wise counsel. Let that be a warning to others. However, Ann’s supreme gaffe also called to mind something concerning vocabulary I wrote for my personal website on October 16, 2001 titled “Tyranny of Religion.”

Last night I found myself thinking that perhaps science lacks the vocabulary of literature and poetry since there are many scientists and physicists who are obviously of a poetic nature though seemingly unable to express themselves in such a way. But, then, poets and writers need the knowledge of science in order to make the best of their most sensitive insights into nature and human behavior.

Admittedly it is not a new thought and much has been written on the theme, so why did it come to me as a new thought? Knowing myself as well as I do, the only explanation was that some unconscious item of information, perhaps some not quite conscious but new insight, was causing me to look at the problem. This often happens when I have read something, some book or article, something in the news that percolates in my mind, perhaps even while asleep.

It might have been the result of conversations I have been having with those who, like me, are searching for answers to the how and the why of the universe, of what actually lies beyond the “veil” when we pass on? I’ve written so much on this theme, I am always searching for new thoughts, new speculations with which to expand on this subject that consumes so many minds and results in so many books being written about it. Among the religious, it is a consuming thing leading to so many books about angels, for example. The entire field of theology, once known as the “Queen of the Sciences,” came into being about the subject.

I often think of Einstein’s phrase “Spooky communication at a distance” in reference to the ability of some of the smaller parts of the atom, tachyons, instantly communicating with each other across a relative universe of distance. How do they do this seemingly impossible thing? I think of it in terms of the speed of thought or imagination. In this respect, on a much smaller scale, what if I had a loved one or friend in China with whom I could instantly, mentally communicate by way of our minds, telepathic communication if you will? If these small atomic particles can do such a thing, why can’t we? There are many instances of such things seeming to happen, particularly in the animal kingdom, the whole field of Psi is dedicated to such research.

Perhaps there are other dimensions to the universe than length, breadth, and height? The universe is composed of and exists on the basis of Time, Space, and Matter. But within these there are anomalies, things without an explanation at present, things like Einstein’s Spooky Communication at a Distance.

Have some actually seen ghosts? Are there things that “go bump in the night?” Have some of us experienced other planes of existence? Are there further planes of existence ahead for us? All grounds of fascinating speculation, the very “stuff” of books on metaphysics, angels; the nature of God or Gods.

Perhaps it is a step-by-step process, further planes of existence, to know and understand God? I can frame the question: How did God or Gods come to be? But it is a question impossible of an answer in my present plane of existence. Given other states of matter, other characteristics of the universe that are for the present anomalies, some of which we presently characterize as Psi, it may require these other planes of existence for us to grow into understanding. It may be that we “metamorphose” not unlike the caterpillar into the butterfly. The question that comes to my mind in such a case is what the butterfly may recall of its former existence, if anything? I like to think my loved ones and friends gone on before me will be there to receive me… that I, in turn, will be there to greet those like my children and grandchildren.

We seem to be religious by nature, using that term in a behavioral sense of it being natural to think of God and a hereafter by whatever definitions; it seems natural to pray, in whatever manner, to call out to God especially in extremis. Even the most hardened skeptic seems to realize the sense of intelligence behind the creation and order of the universe. The very longings of immortality seem to reside within us, this refusal to accept physical death as the end of our being. Nihilistic philosophies are very unwelcome, even abhorred with fright by most people.

However, even the most pure of heart cannot escape the vile thoughts that are engendered by our present lives and intrude themselves into the mind, those legions of demons so common to this present existence no matter how carefully we guard our behavior. Even the most loving relationships have elements of things needing forgiveness, and perhaps will need to be utterly forgotten in a higher plane of existence. Because of this, I find it sensible to entertain the thought within the realm of philosophical speculation that another plane of existence is needed in which evil cannot find a place, where evil is thoroughly banished and all the ideals of this life are at last realized and love and peace are finally triumphant.

But if we call such an existence “Heaven” or “Paradise” it could hardly be such without the challenges and learning that make our present existence meaningful, without those things that presently add so much meaning to our lives. This higher plane may require our learning things in this life that will be of importance to us then. It may be that evil will never be vanquished in this world, but must wait upon that to come?

The present world crisis engendered by religion gives me pause and does make me wonder if peace is possible before we destroy ourselves? Perhaps, as Nobel-winning physicist Michio Kaku and others have theorized, if there had been other civilizations in other worlds throughout the universe, they destroyed themselves for the same reasons, particularly after reaching that plateau of atomic energy that makes such self-destruction possible, perhaps even probable?

Does our present existence have such importance as to prepare us for a better, to become as “gods” entering into a plane where we ourselves will have the power of creation and take part in some kind of plan of on-going creation? Will my present delight in the charm of nature find fulfillment in being able to, myself, create such things of beauty as that of the wings of a butterfly or a creature like a hummingbird or the flowers and trees that presently delight my eyes, or being able to bring a new snow or rains on another planet given into my care that presently delight my senses when fallen fresh upon the grass?

There is that within many of us as human beings that feels a need to love, to do and build, even create, which I believe might be of divinity that enables us to love even sacrificially and gives us pleasure in nature and human companionship. It is in the writing of such things that I have come to wonder if God(s) needs a voice based on the progress of civilization, rather than the cacophony of voices purporting to speak for Him/Them on the basis of so-called “scriptures” and “prophets?”

Like Clara Bow in respect to God and the “hereafter” I have the same question: “Why can’t we know?” I smile at the question Clara Bow in her interview with Liberty Magazine phrased so succinctly and eloquently, so seemingly ingenuously, the haunting question from time immemorial. No philosopher or theologian has ever phrased it better or more honestly.

While being quite knowledgeable of science and according it all due respect, Emerson quite rightly confronted the limitations of science with the question of metaphysicians regarding the mechanics of the universe “Could you not prevail to know the genesis of projection, as well as the continuation of it?” But, alas, it seems neither science nor metaphysics has solved the two greatest mysteries of all: Life and Death. Nor has either answered Clara Bow’s reasonable question.

However, We the People do have every reason for asking those in power “Why can’t we know?” when it comes to the prevailing secrecy in government at all levels, local, state, federal, a secrecy not for the sake of national security or any worthy reason but for the purpose of shielding corrupt politicians from being exposed and prosecuted. But it seems we are as unlikely to have our legitimate question answered by politicians as Clara Bow’s of God. And while I don’t believe God took offense at Clara Bow’s question, it is obvious politicians do take offense; and for good reason: The corruption throughout government at all levels is a stench throughout the whole world and reaching up to heaven!

Back in October, 2001 recalling WWII I wrote President Bush telling him that if this is a real war our leadership had better make the case for it before making the demands that were made on us during those years of ’41 through ’45! While I thoroughly enjoy the world of subtle ideas found in philosophical exploration, there are pragmatic questions requiring equally pragmatic answers facing us as a nation. I wanted to believe Americans were never going to be gulled by a lying scoundrel like Lyndon Johnson again; but here we are, though I don’t think there will ever be room for any more Clintons (of either sex) in this present crisis.

Americans, the whole civilized world, need leadership they can trust to fight this war to win. Now, it is up to the present leadership to make its case to us, a case that cannot look to the Ivory Tower, Hollywood or Madison Avenue to make such a case. Like Phil Harris, no matter what brand the candidates wear, Republican or Democrat, I want to hear the leadership talking “American” without hiding behind the flag or either the University or God thing obfuscating the real issues at stake for my children and grandchildren.

The International Red Cross says that killing Osama bin Laden is against humanitarian law. I am quite certain that I am not the only one who appreciates the philosophical difficulties encountered when struggling with the issues raised while trying to be civilized in the face of such a thing as the barbarism of Muslim fanatics. Does justice have anything to do with this? What does justice demand in the case of an Osama bin Laden? Was the issue settled in Nuremberg? I think not.

First Lady Laura Bush was certainly correct in pointing out that the issue of equal rights for women was crucial to any government in Afghanistan. What she neglected to point out was that this is an issue that needs to be addressed in all Moslem nations. It could take a few decades to happen, provided there are decades left to address the problem, but it’s a good thing the First Lady didn’t say “equal value” for women since America and most of the world is still working on this problem with no end in sight.

However, apart from politics being the dirty thing it has always been inviting corrupt scoundrels into its ranks, as controversy over Jesus continues to swirl unabated grabbing headlines I’m reminded none of us are going to get out of this alive. We all die. It may be that those loved ones and friends gone on before me that I believe are now the experts in things about which I can only guess are lending their knowledge to my speculation about such things. Still, as per the “IT” girl of silent film stardom, her legitimate question remains unanswered: Why can’t we know? My guess so far is that our not being able to know was intentional, and with the intention of separating the children of God from the children of the Devil by whatever definitions, those sincerely wanting to know, seeking for an answer and living their lives accordingly believing there must be an answer and those caring nothing about a hereafter and possible judgment to come that believe living only for themselves like the monsters in human guise preying on women and children, corrupt politicians, tyrants and despots, is all that matters.

But the caterpillar has no idea of where it came from or where it is going; and neither do we. I don’t believe there is anything wrong in our questioning such things as where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going; such questioning may in fact be evidence of divinity within us as we strive for answers to these questions, and like Clara Bow ask the question Why can’t we know? But despite the claims of many we seem no closer to answers than the most ancient of our ancestors.

Religion and its varied monuments, artifacts and methods of worship and the King of Disciplines, Philosophy, do not provide us any certain knowledge of where we came from or where we are going. They do not answer Clara Bow’s honest question. But it does seem that we are possessed of an instinct that drives us in a direction that death is not the end, that life does have purpose, that by whatever form of a “butterfly” we emerge, that purpose will be fulfilled. There is an instinct of self-preservation and for procreation in all life forms. Perhaps we human beings even have an instinct for love? Why shouldn’t there be an instinct for a belief in God, for a belief in purpose in our lives and that death is not the end?

Religion and the biases and prejudices in our lives are most often matters of choice based on what we have been taught to believe. Such things do not seem to be “instinctive” but depend on such things as others and how they impact our lives, of things like the circumstances of geography, environment, and what we are taught. But could it be that we have an “instinct” to believe in God? Certainly prayer and calling out to God in extremis seem to come naturally to all.

It may be that Clara Bow’s question cannot be answered while we remain in our present form? It may be that as the caterpillar may not know or recall anything of its larval stage, and the butterfly may not recall its previous stage of existence, such “knowing” isn’t possible for us at this time; that such things progress on the basis of an unconscious knowing we call “instinct.”

Like the caterpillar, we may believe in God(s) by instinct, and by that instinct attempt to live our lives in preparation for the hereafter, our instinct in most cases being to emerge the most beautiful butterfly possible at the next stage of life. We may believe in God, Gods, or Mother and Father God by instinct and by that instinct, in most cases since the majority of people are for the better part good and decent, attempt to live our lives decently and morally in preparation for the hereafter, to emerge the most beautiful butterfly possible.

Though answers to such questions may in fact not be possible at this stage of life, the pursuit of answers, the curiosity that drives people to search for answers continue. It seems that the quest for answers to these questions is just as natural (instinctive?) as that of the caterpillar preparing for its next stage of development. But the caterpillar, while having the instinct for survival and preparation for becoming a butterfly, has no sense of impending death… and it does not die, but metamorphose.

The quest for answers has much to do with a great deal more than just curiosity. Humankind has the knowledge of death, something the caterpillar may not have. The butterfly? It lays its eggs and dies and that is the end of the cycle of nature for it… but human beings? This is a great distinction between a lower life form and human beings, self-awareness, the image of God, the children of God? If so, perhaps an instinctual knowing resulting in a search for answers and the refusal to accept death as the end of the cycle of nature for humankind, but rather a rebirth on a higher plane of existence. Theoretical physics offers such a possibility, so why not a natural, instinctive belief in such a thing? For my part, I don’t think some of the greatest minds in history have held such a belief without good and sufficient reason, though it be no more than instinct; and it would be good to bear in mind the genius of those like Newton and Einstein remains without any other explanation than “instinct” to offer by way of explaining the results of their genius.

Not many people have had the experience of picking a gold nugget out of a wild mountain stream. Many years ago I took a friend of mine fishing to such a stream and had told him I would also teach him to pan for gold. He knew I was experienced in this and could hardly wait to find riches in the stream instead of trout. But my mind was on the fishing, and after a brief period of instruction leaving him to do the panning I took off upstream. Several hours later I returned and he was still panning the stream, his fishing gear forgotten; he had become a victim of “gold fever.”

But just what is it that people see while holding a gold nugget in their fingers; the beauty of the gold or the wealth it represents? Is there yet to be found any who would rather have a beautiful America than the wealth it represents? I fear we have a leadership like my friend; victims of gold fever panning the stream while ignoring all the surrounding beauty that shames the gold. Too romantic a notion? Well, not to the real romantic.

Now honestly folks, which would you really rather have; facts or legends? Depends, doesn’t it. How many having deeply held religious or political beliefs want such things debunked? It just isn’t human nature to let go of deeply held beliefs no matter how the facts are presented. In the “Life of Riley” he had an expression that always drew laughter: “My head is made up!” In far too many cases the expression is appropriate for otherwise sensible people when their prejudices and beliefs are confronted by uncomfortable facts.

Those calling themselves conservatives are drawing attention to a most uncomfortable fact of Hillary’s senior thesis and her pedigree as a thoroughgoing Marxist. I think this is at least somewhat unfair since both Bill and Hilary are nothing more than opportunistic political animals; not idealists. And conservatives are having a difficult time promoting their own candidates that don’t fall into the same category.

Then there is the latest controversy over Jesus. Following so much controversy about whether Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had children now there is this matter about ossuaries with some declaring them to be evidence of such claims. Whether true or not, objectively the early churches began to trouble themselves with attempts to get around things like the Scriptures pointing out Jesus had brothers and sisters, denying Joseph and Mary had a normal marriage and other children besides Jesus. No matter the number of Biblical commentaries one refers to in order to justify a point of view, from such obfuscation and controversy arose many superstitions some of which defied any attempts at credibility.

Such continuing controversy over Jesus should point out a most disturbing and dangerous fact, one that politicians don’t have the courage to confront and debate. Imagine if you can such a controversy over Mohammad in Muslim nations. This, more than anything else, separates the civilized nations of Christianity from the barbarian nations of Islam. Even the so-called “moderate” Muslims in civilized nations including those here in America would be shouting “Death to the Infidel” should the attacks on Mohammad come anywhere close let alone equal those on Jesus. The difference as I have said many times is Christianity eventually became a civilized religion, and one that gave rise to the greatest advances in the arts and sciences, of human freedom and liberty the world had ever known. Islam shows no sign of ever becoming a civilized religion, and few would trade the benefits of Christianity for those of Islam.

But there are no greater critics than me of the abuses to be found among those calling themselves “Christian,” the abuse of children predominating to an infamous degree. Americans enjoy a freedom of religious expression above the other nations of the world, but such freedom has too many times become a cloak to hide the dark things done to children particularly among Catholics, Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. While controversy continues to swirl about the various doctrines concerning Jesus, there is no controversy about what Jesus would think of those harming children, especially those hiding behind his name in order to commit atrocities against children.

However, as I’ve said in the past the real character and virtue of America is to be found in the rural churches of our nation. It is in these you find the spirit of community lacking in the large denominations with their cathedrals of “worship.” Small towns, rural towns have the advantage of everybody knowing everybody which enhances that spirit of community lacking in the large cities with large churches. When you have five ministers on staff and a dozen deacons there is room to hide a lot of sin. But the large cities are easier in which to hide crime and violence, political corruption as well.

Admittedly it is fun to pick on the many foibles to be found in small towns, many of them resembling Peyton Place and Harper Valley. But it is also easier to find the romance of life in small towns rather than large cities. Here in the Kern River Valley for example I can still see the stars at night and sometimes the moon shines with such brilliance you can literally read by it. I can hear the whisper of the wind soughing through the needles of this old pine tree, making a kind of music you won’t hear in the cities. This is a part of the real romance of life, and good books play their part in that romance.

My generation of WWII antecedent to TV was not forced to read books. We were born to read, we were readers, and books were a natural and quite normal way of life to us. I was fortunate to be born to a family of avid readers, therefore from earliest memory I was surrounded by and immersed in good books and magazines, an encyclopedia and dictionary, newspapers, learning to read and write from early childhood. And there was radio with a multiplicity of programming; that like good books and before the advent of TV required the constant exercising of ones imagination as well as the intellect.

Among the books of my childhood were the novels not only of those like Scott, Cooper, Clemens and so many others, but those by women as well. One of my favorite woman authors was Geneva Grace Stratton-Porter. Sharing a like love of nature, Geneva’s life at the Limberlost from which she drew so much of her writing had much in common with that of Henry’s at Walden. In many ways Geneva’s writing prepared me for my life as a boy in the Sequoia National Forest, and for the later friendship and kinship I would find with Henry.

Of all her several novels, “Freckles” and “A Girl of the Limberlost” stand out most in my mind. There is one incident about the young forester in Freckles that remains vividly to me; his coming across a footprint in the forest made by his Swamp Angel. After pressing his lips to her imprint, the young man uses a piece of bark from a tree to carefully cover and protect this precious evidence of “his angel.” This kind of romance is lost to most people today, and America is the poorer for the loss.

In the second novel Elnora was the girl counterpart of me as a boy. Her evident love of nature, her courage, and sense of exploration and adventure made us soul mates from the moment I started reading the book. It was not so much Sheena of the Jungle with whom I related, but Elnora of the Limberlost. Tom Sawyer had Becky Thatcher; I had Elnora Comstock to whom I wanted to be a hero just like the young forester to his angel.

Few today could read either Emerson or Thoreau without yawning or becoming glassy-eyed, few today could read Geneva without thinking her writing altruistic, simplistic, or at the best “quaint.” But we seek in vain for any marked advance of civilized good manners and morality that has supplanted these works of the past. Too romantic a notion? Not to the real romantic. But I fear all we have left in America’s leadership are those without any of the attributes of romance in the best sense of that word, but are, rather, afflicted with gold fever and would rather have the gold than a beautiful America. The stock market does not reflect a beautiful America, it does not reflect the real romance of America or of life; it reflects the gold fever, the greed on the part of a few destroying America.

And the hits just keep on coming. Follow the money to the shameful disgrace of Walter Reed. And just think; the name “Halliburton” has cropped up as more than a slogan by anti-war protestors as the trail leads to lucrative government contracts better known as “Friends of Cheney.” Hear the chants from Congress “Something must be done” as those including Pelosi make sure they take care of their friends no matter how corrupt. Then, maybe, the wounded troops.

An odd story fell into my lap today; one would say even a serendipitous story. I chanced to drop by and visit an old friend I hadn’t seen for quite a while. He lives in small house behind his store, but is often in the store at the time of day I came by. I rang the bell a few times, and when he didn’t answer I walked around back only to find him sitting on the ground. His face was bloody and he was dazed and confused, but he recognized me. I helped him up and managed to get him inside his house. As it turned out, he wasn’t badly injured and beyond using a washcloth, some antiseptic and Band-Aids he was ok. But what had happened to him?

Like me, he is an old fellow living alone and I assumed he had been beaten up by someone trying to rob him. Not so. Gradually coming out of his confused state of mind he related a very peculiar story to me. As he explained it he had returned from a coffee shop he frequents, and as he was fumbling for the keys to his house he remembered starting to bang his face repeatedly against the side of the house next to the door and couldn’t seem to stop. He couldn’t recall anything further until I showed up and found him sitting on the ground.

I’ve had occasion to question my friend’s state of mind; a recovering alcoholic of many years duration he claimed to be delivered from his addiction by the appearance of three angels and hadn’t had a drink since for over twenty years. Well, I never questioned the story and relegated it to the category of “whatever works.” And despite his reputation for being a little crazy I hadn’t really thought him so until today. But he has been alone for years and is so irascible few want anything to do with him. However, we go back many years and enjoy each other’s company as long as the visits are seldom and of short duration. I know him well enough not to have wasted my time telling him he better see a doctor and I didn’t. Whatever occasioned his beating his face against his house, it was mental and there was no one to call on for help even had he been willing for someone to help. Cleaning up his face and a visit, listening to his story was all I or anyone else could do for him. At any time I may hear he has shot himself, and there is nothing to be done about that either.

My Ph. D. is in Human Behavior so I know the drill. Old people alone for too long, without family or close friends many lose their faculties. And old people lacking in the “social graces” are not welcome anywhere; in fact old people without family are not welcome most places and society often treats them as an embarrassment. So if my friend has lunatic moments it is not surprising, and without family there is virtually nothing to be done for such people. If he starts shooting up his place instead of himself the cops will take a hand and from that he might be committed to an institution.

As to serendipity, yes I had just happened along and found my old friend in such a sorry case, but more than that I had been thinking that very morning how We the People surrounded by so much corruption in government and the sheer ineptitude of politicians it does make me feel like pounding my head against the wall. That I have not done so may only be the degree of sanity I continue to possess as opposed to my old friend; though I did suggest to him it would be good if he did not watch the news for a while on TV. That, by the way, I meant in dead earnestness.

Apart from that earnest suggestion to my old friend, if you participate in a V.I.P. survey about MSM news channels you know how frustrating it is that they just don’t seem to get the message most of us want real news, not what the channels dedicated to celebrities offer. If I want non-stop gossip about celebrities, dead or alive, there is a plethora of such media to choose from. Ok, so I know politicians and celebrities are unabashed groupies, but there are really important issues to be addressed and it does seem far too much attention is paid to the inane and not enough to things of real moment affecting our lives.

But speaking of pounding your head against the wall, just recently a dear lady friend had the following Letter to the Editor published in a large metropolitan newspaper:

“Mexican sewage cleanup a boondoggle.” Gentlemen: How do you like the idea of paying almost $72 million to rid U.S. beaches of the Mexican sewage that has infested them, even though the government already has a contract with a politically-connected company to do the work? This information is paraphrased from the 2/7/07 Corruption Chronicles entitled Americans Pay Millions to Clean Mexican Sewage. Apparently it is a jarring truth that the U.S. Government already granted a company a lucrative no-bid contract to treat the waste, but it has missed crucial deadlines spelled out in the deal estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The company Bajagua spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying government officials and politicians to secure a 20-year contract worth about $600 million. An organization claims that taxpayer money will be wasted because the company cannot solve the persistent and long-standing waste water problems that affect the Tijuana Estuary. Whether Bajagua delivers on its contract or the U.S. Government uses the president’s recently allocated funds, one thing is for sure: Americans will pay millions to clean up Mexican waste. Now ask anyone: With the mess we make of our environment all by ourselves, is it necessary to add to the problem by hiring some incompetent company to do sewage clean-up work that apparently by its own account it cannot do? (End)

The question is on all our minds whether our government is in such a shambles due to decades of corruption it can no longer function, whether things like Walter Reed and contracts to benefit only political cronies has come to the point where the decisions on the part of politicians amount to my friend simply pounding his face mindlessly against the side of his house. Lunacy!

Our hearts go out to those being hammered by dreadful killer storms. A friend in Maine just sent me some pictures of the blizzard conditions where she lives and they reminded me of being stranded for nearly two weeks in Lake Tahoe when it got hit by five-feet of snow. No one was going anywhere.

Though I have lived in various parts of America, I continued to call California home. And even though I have lived in some beautiful parts of California, north, central, and south, the Kern River Valley in my opinion cannot be beat for overall quality of life. But accessibility is one of the things that keep this area from becoming overpopulated; few people want to make the commute using the dangerous Kern Canyon Road. This together with the small amount of private property actually available since the valley is surrounded by the Sequoia National Forest and BLM land and some tough building restrictions helps as well. Our air and water are clean and unpolluted due to low housing density and being without industries that pollute.

Confessedly I do miss some of the enchantment of San Francisco and the bay area of SoCal. But with things going to hell in a handbasket I think I’ll just stay where I am. And considering what I just experienced with my old friend maybe I’ll just stop watching so much of the news on TV.

I’ve already called attention to our treasonously porous borders being like that asteroid in the film “Armageddon,” threatening us, coming straight at us. But in the film “Deep Impact” when the reporter discovers “Ellie” was really E.L.E. she is dumbfounded! Ellie wasn’t hanky panky involving a government official, but a comet heading toward earth; an Extinction Level Event was threatening the planet, one that would go beyond the gods being angry in Genesis bringing about the Deluge. This comet would literally destroy all life on earth, and not even a Noah and his family would be spared.

An objective analysis of the world today would lead one to believe if there be gods they are crazy, or if not humans are crazy. Either way we are in big trouble. Some of you will recall a SciFi story I read some fifty years ago where travel back to the age of dinosaurs is made possible, but travelers are warned to stay on a certain path and not deviate. One fellow got off the track and returning to the present found everything in the world had changed, and for the worse. The cause: A dead butterfly found stuck on the bottom of one of his boots.

If you are not familiar with the organization, here is a good one to check out: ATCA: “The Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance is a philanthropic expert initiative founded in 2001 to understand and to address complex global challenges. Adhering to the doctrine of non-violence, ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats arising from climate chaos, radical poverty, organized crime, extremism, informatics, nanotechnology, robotics, genetics, artificial intelligence and financial systems.”

Recently ATCA received a letter expressing concern about the unusual die-off of bees which prompted this reply: We are grateful to Richard Thomas Gerber, based in Michigan, USA, for his seminal submission to ATCA, “Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) -- Mysterious, Massive Death of Bees in the US—Are bees the Canary in the mineshaft? Albert Einstein made the statement ‘If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left to live.’ He was speaking in regard to the symbiotic relationship of all life on the planet; all part of a huge interconnected ecosystem, each element playing a role dependant on many other elements all working in concert creating the symphony of life. Should any part of the global body suffer, so does the whole body.”

Gerber’s letter was posted in full by a blogger to the Bakersfield Californian, and knowing the person well I thanked him for doing so. I was already quite familiar with the work of ATCA and credit the organization for paying attention to matters of grave concern affecting our world; and if the organization is concerned about the thus far inexplicable die-off of bees attention should be paid.

But with so many doomsday scenarios threatening our world in general and America in particular it is difficult to prioritize the many threats. In the case of the bees, perhaps they have become stressed to the point of possible extinction because there are too many drones and not enough workers. Sound familiar? It ought to. This is becoming the case here in America where it seems everyone is either feeding at Caesar’s table or attempting to do so, thereby becoming Caesar’s dogs. The resulting problem is too many drones and not enough workers. What to do? Of course: Slave labor from Mexico. And here they come by the millions! The result: Press one for English. But this is fast becoming an E.L.E. for America!

Now I have not yet submitted this to the ATCA; I have come to know those in the organization well enough to realize it is primarily a liberal organization in the worst sense of that label. But I encourage people to turn to it as a valuable information resource because there are some topnotch people involved, and they address some very important issues in a very intelligent way, the concern about bees being a case in point.

Those who know me well know I often treat of politics and politicians in a whimsical fashion because there is little anyone can do to make the leopard change its spots. Politicians lie to get elected and lie to stay elected; and I continue to maintain the position that good people, virtuous people do not want power and authority over others. As to doomsday scenarios, I once wrote a tongue in cheek article about the extinction of dinosaurs being due to their becoming homosexual, much as Paul describes of perverts in the first chapter of Romans. Perverts were not amused by my homosexual dinosaur “hypothesis.” But the sober issue of perverts demanding “respect” on the basis of perversion was not lost to those who bothered to think the matter through. And while I am all for equality and human rights, there is no mistaking the homosexual agenda being one of far more than merely equality and human rights, just as there is no mistaking illegal aliens want to remain Mexicans, not Americans. And for thinking people my calling Press one for English an E.L.E. for America deserves attention.

No matter the illiterate, ignorant, uncivilized and barbaric world of gang bangers in America they demand “respect” at the point of a gun; just so with perverts and illegal aliens, the latter predominantly Mexicans. That perverts and illegal aliens utilize organizations like the ACLU and La Raza as their “guns” does not lessen the barbaric bullying involved. It still comes down to “Give me respect or else!” In this manner such organizations differ from the KKK and the Aryan Brotherhood only in degree, not in kind.

The Roman Church is becoming increasingly infamous for protecting child molesters, the Mormons won’t denounce polygamous child predators, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will bully all members into submission to its peculiar doctrines including covering for child molesters ever as much as the pope, the once respected Episcopalians are debating perversion being acceptable in its ranks and throughout these organizations you will find the politicians, lawyers and courts siding with perversion in too many cases, most often to the detriment of children and handing the propaganda advantage to the Muslim enemies of civilization in general and America in particular. But to my knowledge no one to date has made the connection between this assault on children and morality, the increasing threat of gangs and demands for “respect” on the part of perverts and barbarians to Press one for English.

While you may not be a member of MENSA, you may not be a member of some think tank, it doesn’t take much smarts to figure out how I came to the conclusion Press one for English is an E.L.E. for America. Unlike the problem of trying to determine the exact cause of the bee die-off this one is easy. All you have to do is go back and trace the history of Press one for English to understand the problem and why it plays into the hands of the enemies of America including corporate masters and is threatening our very existence as a nation.

Whether of bees or climate change, world famine of Biblical proportion is threatening; and the question is being raised what would a world without America be like; after all, the drones in the hundreds of millions depend on America for food for unproductive mouths. If the advocates of Press one for English have their way we are going to find out. One needn’t be a Christian to be uncomfortably aware of the uncanny resemblance of the last book of the Bible describing “Babylon” and America today. To use an Old Testament illustration, no nation can survive a “babble” of tongues, whether on the streets of America, telephones, ballot boxes, or in Congress.