Right Truth

Happy Anniversary Hubby!!!

Yes friends, today is my wedding anniversary.  Hubby is my soul mate, my love, my hero!

Happy Anniversary Hubby!

.

America, America, God Shed His Grace On Thee ....

Happy Birthday America !!!   God has indeed shed His grace on the United States of America and we are thankful !!!

Thanks to our military for all they do to keep us safe and preserve our freedoms.

America The Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America!  America!  God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America!  America!  May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
Thine Alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America!  America!  God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

(Rally in Buffalo, NY.  AP photo by David Duprey.)

Below is a reposting of the article  "I AM FREEDOM AND I'M ON FIRE" with, in case you missed it:

I AM FREEDOM, AND I’M ON FIRE!

By R.J. Godlewski

©July 1, 2008, All Rights Reserved

I am freedom. I am the wind that fills the sails of democracy; which propels the vessel of humanity safely through the treacherous waters of tyranny and slavery. I am all-powerful, all-consuming, ever-lasting. I hear my children’s call for I have come well before them and will last long after they are gone. Even absolute evil cannot deny me course of will for the Son of God had died so that I might live amongst His followers. Yes, I am freedom, but even my closest friends dare not call me simply ‘free’ for that is a name that I despise with a passion; for I exist by the grace of God and venture forth through the blood of proud men and women who’ve sacrificed their lives so that I might be known. They are counted amongst my greatest friends and I have granted them an ever-lasting bond because of this.

I must remain steadfast for my enemies are legion. They seek to chain me with liberal platitudes and contriving legislation as if the wind itself could be corralled by mere words alone. Some try to act on my behalf only to subjugate their people through opportunistic laws and profitable regulation. Often, my worst enemies try to emulate my best qualities in the hope that others would not notice. Thus they use my good name to deny the very lives of millions of unborn children or others from protecting themselves. I exist openly for all, but not all deserve my heritage.

I am color blind, for I see people from the very first moments of their creation. I am not agnostic for I know intimately from Whom I hail. I only discriminate against those who deny me from others; for then I simply say “I do not know you!” No one can prevent me from taking root within others – repeat, no one!

I triumphed over King George III, Napoleon, Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini, Stalin, and many others. I will work my magic on those nations brutalized by the likes of Ahmadinejad, Castro, Kim, and Chavez for when I reside within the hearts of men, I am invincible and no power on earth is greater than I. I had led the Israelites from the clutches of the pharaohs and I will guide their nation even today. I upheld the figure of liberty within the New World and today that hemisphere dwarfs all others in the cause for which I exist.

I am like a raging river that cannot be dammed by the best devices of mortal man. So, too, am I like a powerful hurricane that does not come about with the secrecy of a mere tornado, for all know that I am coming even if I might be just beyond the horizon. Most of all, however, I am like a raging firestorm; inextinguishable to all who try to impede my progress. I am the very light that guides civilization forward, the flare that calls aid to the impoverished and hungry, the searing torch that cauterizes the wounds of slavery. I am freedom and I am on fire. Who might you be?

I AM FREEDOM, AND I’M ON FIRE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner is a beautiful song, when sung properly, as it was written and intended to be sung.  This is a pet peeve of my sweet hubby.  He cringes every time some singer puts their own new slant to the song, jazzes it up, 'nigger-fies' if up, makes it sounds like a rap or hip-hop song, rather than the beautiful melody that it was written for.  I have listed the lyrics for the Star Spangled Banner, the real National Anthem, and also for the Black National Anthem, below.

Much to everyone's surprise,  :A singer who was to perform the "Star Spangled Banner" at the presentation of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address yesterday substituted the "Black National Anthem" without notifying anyone, because she says as a black,she just doesn't feel American  "I pulled a switcheroonie on them,"  Rene Marie said in a report in the Denver Post.

Call me uninformed, but I didn't know there was a Black national anthem.  Makes me wonder what else I don't know?  Is there an Irish National Anthem, maybe O Danny Boy perhaps?  Is there a Russian American National Anthem?  Is there an Arab or Islamic American National Anthem?  I'm just asking, wouldn't want to get caught off guard again. 

lyrics: to Black National Anthem:

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.

In a video of the event, Marie had been introduced by city council president Michael Hancock, who said she would sing the national anthem. Instead, she sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also known as the "Black National Anthem," to the tune of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

Some of the strongest reaction, however, came from Denver area residents who were participating in the forum page on the controversy at the Rocky Mountain News.

"Can you imagine what it would be like for whites if we had a 'white national anthem'?" speculated "Jan8." "I heard someone saying this had nothing to do with race? What?"

"Was she asked to sing the Black National Anthem? Obviously her color is more important to her than this country. Is it a 'black pride thing'? Is she trying to tell us she wished the U.S. were a black country?"

The newspaper reports said the singer explained she had decided months ago not to sing the "Star Spangled Banner" anymore.

The Post reported she was being interviewed by a Russian broadcaster who asked her what it was like to be American.

"And I realized I didn't feel like an American, and that bothered me a great deal," the singer said.

She said she feels like a foreigner sometimes.  (WND)

On the Star-Spangled Banner, the real one:

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, a then 35-year-old amateur poet who wrote "Defence of Fort McHenry"^[1] after seeing the bombardment of Fort McHenry at Baltimore, Maryland, by Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812.

The poem was set to the tune of a popular British drinking song, written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society, a London social club. "The Anacreontic Song" (or "To Anacreon in Heaven"), set to various lyrics, was already popular in the United States. Set to Key's poem and renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner", it would soon become a well-known American patriotic song. With a range of one and a half octaves, it is known for being difficult to sing. Although the song has four stanzas, only the first is commonly sung today, with the fourth ("O thus be it ever when free men shall stand ...") added on more formal occasions.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was recognized for official use by the Navy in 1889 and the President in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1508, codified at 36 U.S.C. § 301), which was signed by President Herbert Hoover.  (more)

Mariah Carey - The Star Spangled Banner @ 2002 Superbowl below

Whitney Houston Star Spangled Banner below

Also some comments by someone who heard the Black anthem and his response., below

The Lyrics:

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[8]

I AM FREEDOM, AND I’M ON FIRE!

I AM FREEDOM, AND I’M ON FIRE!

By R.J. Godlewski

©July 1, 2008, All Rights Reserved

I am freedom. I am the wind that fills the sails of democracy; which propels the vessel of humanity safely through the treacherous waters of tyranny and slavery. I am all-powerful, all-consuming, ever-lasting. I hear my children’s call for I have come well before them and will last long after they are gone. Even absolute evil cannot deny me course of will for the Son of God had died so that I might live amongst His followers. Yes, I am freedom, but even my closest friends dare not call me simply ‘free’ for that is a name that I despise with a passion; for I exist by the grace of God and venture forth through the blood of proud men and women who’ve sacrificed their lives so that I might be known. They are counted amongst my greatest friends and I have granted them an ever-lasting bond because of this.

I must remain steadfast for my enemies are legion. They seek to chain me with liberal platitudes and contriving legislation as if the wind itself could be corralled by mere words alone. Some try to act on my behalf only to subjugate their people through opportunistic laws and profitable regulation. Often, my worst enemies try to emulate my best qualities in the hope that others would not notice. Thus they use my good name to deny the very lives of millions of unborn children or others from protecting themselves. I exist openly for all, but not all deserve my heritage.

I am color blind, for I see people from the very first moments of their creation. I am not agnostic for I know intimately from Whom I hail. I only discriminate against those who deny me from others; for then I simply say “I do not know you!” No one can prevent me from taking root within others – repeat, no one!

I triumphed over King George III, Napoleon, Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini, Stalin, and many others. I will work my magic on those nations brutalized by the likes of Ahmadinejad, Castro, Kim, and Chavez for when I reside within the hearts of men, I am invincible and no power on earth is greater than I. I had led the Israelites from the clutches of the pharaohs and I will guide their nation even today. I upheld the figure of liberty within the New World and today that hemisphere dwarfs all others in the cause for which I exist.

I am like a raging river that cannot be dammed by the best devices of mortal man. So, too, am I like a powerful hurricane that does not come about with the secrecy of a mere tornado, for all know that I am coming even if I might be just beyond the horizon. Most of all, however, I am like a raging firestorm; inextinguishable to all who try to impede my progress. I am the very light that guides civilization forward, the flare that calls aid to the impoverished and hungry, the searing torch that cauterizes the wounds of slavery. I am freedom and I am on fire. Who might you be?

I AM FREEDOM, AND I’M ON FIRE!

_____________________________________________________________________________

Trackposted to Pet's Garden Blog, The Virtuous Republic, Allie is Wired, Woman Honor Thyself, 123beta, The World According to Carl, Rosemary's News and Ideas, The Pink Flamingo, Cao's Blog, Leaning Straight Up, Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

THESE COLORS MAY BLEED, BUT THEY NEVER RUN

THESE COLORS MAY BLEED, BUT THEY NEVER RUN
By R.J. Godlewski
©June, 2008. All Rights Reserved

The backdrop for my computer screen represents a very somber image; an honor guard’s sergeant in command extending a precisely folded flag to a grieving widow – my own mother. The flag had covered my father’s casket and represented his dedication and service to the United States of America during the Second World War. It was, as they say, a symbolic ending to the military service that he left so many, many years ago. For this particular Flag Day, I wanted to top the article that I had written last year but events have since persuaded me that sometimes ambitions are simply dwarfed by realities. No mere writer – especially one as limited in talent as I am – could ever adequately capture the significance of the day.

 Flags are, indeed, nothing more than geometric patterns of cloth or nylon. By themselves and without thought, they are no different than a book containing scripture or a circular piece of edible wafer. Yet, for the privileged; a flag becomes so much more than just a piece of fine stitch work – much like how Believers view the Bible or the Eucharist. Upon recognition, a flag becomes something much more than the components of its design and construction. It becomes a part of that person’s life, for they know the intimate details of its history, patterns, and most especially the costs of its endurance. Would anyone understand the inherent treasure of the Bible had they not known about the lengthy history of Israel’s struggle for survival surrounded by interminably hostile neighbors? Could Christians understand the true significance of the Holy Eucharist had not God come down to earth Himself to suffer an unimaginably brutal death for our sins? Could Americans, therefore, or even the world at large, understand the powerful representation of Old Glory’s brilliant red, white, and blue had not millions of Americans given their own lives for their relatively young nation?

Most people distanced from accurate knowledge of American history cannot adequately understand the raw passion and love that we have for this simple symbol represented by thirteen red and white stripes and fifty white stars emblazoned upon a blue field. After all, both the British Union Jack and the French Tri-Color maintain the same colors and yet each looks fairly bland to me. This is because I am fully ignorant of their respective histories and therefore I do not comment on that which I do not understand at least partially. I am quite certain that Britons and French are passionate about their countries and I would commend them for their allegiance. However, it is within modern times that our particular flag – Old Glory – dwarfs the others in achievement (if for no other reason than ours was the first that man planted upon another heavenly body – the Moon).

Americans’ love affair with their flag rests largely on the premise that we’re free to love whatever we choose. That is, our nation was the one that fired the “Shot heard around the world” to signify the impending collapse of tyranny as a form of government. Our nation is also the only one that routinely goes to war with the intention of benefiting other peoples. When we win these wars, our troops ultimately come home to let conquered peoples envision their brightest futures. Any troops that remain overseas are largely there at the request of their host nations. Sometimes inter-cultural conflicts arise, but our people do not wish to conquer for the sake of imperialism but for the concept of democracy and security. Herein lays our nation’s greatest achievement – we will defend ourselves whether at home or abroad.

To be considered great, a nation must offer its people three treasures. 1.) A nation must exist for its citizens and not a privileged few of rank or honor; 2.) A nation must permit competitive ideas to flourish so that its citizenry can make an honest and unchallenged decision as to which idea best suits their particular needs; and 3.) A nation must defend its population from attack and protect them wherever they travel or reside. You will note that only the United States of America has the power, the decency, and the history for offering all three. Other nations fail miserably in comparison.

For example, neither the current administrations of Iran or Venezuela allow their people a chance to embrace competitive ideas without government interference. Similarly, neither Great Britain, Australia, nor Spain will fight radical Islamists on behalf of their own people’s heritage – capitulating instead of defeating, negotiating instead of attacking. No nation within the Middle East outside of Israel is run as a true democracy; most are governed by an elite class. Again, only America offers a democracy “of the people and by the people”; constitutionally protected free speech and assembly; and protects its citizenry with both a strong military and a constitutional guarantee of gun ownership. This latter “right to bear arms” is unheard of within global civilization.

The national ensign of the United States of America thus serves two mechanical functions: first, it serves as a trawl net, collecting all beneficial new ideas and people for the common good; second, it serves as something of a flyswatter to deal harshly with all pests who seek to annoy us through their infiltration of our home, their desire to spread diseased ideas amongst our neighborhood, or want to contaminate our food and industries. In the first capacity, America has always been a land of opportunity for immigrants. Some of our greatest accomplishments have been from those who weren’t born within our boundaries. Yet, each one of them understood the perils of the journey to success and they abided by the laws they found in their new home and not those they left behind.

For the second capacity, the American flag becomes a very powerful shield to uphold our democracy and the rights of not only our citizens but those imperiled around the world. It is America that came to the aid of England and France during two world wars, Korea during its brutal invasion from the north, and Kuwait during Saddam’s invasion – just to name a few. The American people are, by far, the most generous and compassionate on the planet – bar none – and give of themselves to people who would, in the blink of an eye, attack them in return. The U.S. dollar may be in decline but American compassion and generosity exceeds its gold equivalent – for it is written in blood.

If I was forced to write but a single sentence about my beloved country, it would go something like: “America, the most loving nation that you never want to piss off!” Theodore Roosevelt said it more eloquently with his “speak softly but carry a big stick.” Each statement underscores American attitude, courage, and commitment. For those unaccustomed to dealing with the English language we have, of course, Old Glory itself. Volumes could be written about the two foregoing sentiments but only one flag was needed. If I never learn another language within my life, all that I have to do is to fly the Stars and Stripes and everyone will understand that I mean business; that I will aid you, comfort you, protect you, even pray for you but if you so much as blink an eye at me the wrong way I will come after you and defeat you no matter where you hide. This is what the American flag stands for and Flag Day merely showcases our pride to the world: Old Glory is only threatening if you happen to gaze upon it from the wrong side.

Operation Love From Home for the Troops

"Operation Love From Home"  from Kat in GA and The Thunder Run

4TH OF JULY CARD DRIVE FOR DEPLOYED TROOPS

The Mission: To collect at least 5,000 "thank you" cards for troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The majority of the cards collected will go to a unit currently stationed in an extremely harsh and remote area of Afghanistan.

The Reason: Being away from home and living in harsh conditions with combat & constant danger is difficult ~ our troops need to know we have not forgotten them!!! Mail from home helps to keep our troops' morale strong, making a very real difference in their lives. It keeps them motivated and focused when they know we care about them!

The Address: Send your signed, unsealed thank-you cards to the following address:

Mrs. Kathy Orr
OPERATION: LOVE FROM HOME
P.O. Box 1660
Loganville, Georgia, 30052

ALL CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2008.

The Guidelines

• The cards can be handmade or store-bought (letters are just fine, too). This is a great opportunity to get your Scout troop, school, church and other civic organizations involved in doing something to show support for our troops.
• Please do not write the date on your cards
• Please, no glitter on the cards. Because of the intended destination of the cards, nothing "shiny" should be sent for safety & security reasons.

For those of you that have been deployed you can attest to the power that receiving mail from home can do for one's moral so I'm asking you can you please read the following email and then send her your cards and letters for the troops, it really does mean a lot to them to receive mail. 

 If you are a blogger, can you please help promote this drive on your blog over the next week? I can't let Kat down, she has done so much for so many, and I hope you all will assist us in making this card drive a big success.

 Thank you
David M
Editor: The Thunder Run

Why Memorial Day is so important

As we celebrate Memorial Day and honor those who put their lives on the line for our freedoms, I think it is important to look at the world situation and take stock of what must be dealt with in our future. We presently have one Democrat United States presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama, who makes gaffe after gaffe, his latest gaff was stating that "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez came to power while George W. Bush was in the White House." (video here) Do we really want a president who is so green, so uninformed, that he doesn't know current events, recent history or even know where the heck he is? He's presently reading the top-selling current events book of the season (by an immigrant from Mumbai named Fareed Zakaria) called The Post-American World...... (wishful thinking on his part?)

... the junior senator from Illinois several times referred to the city of Sunrise as "Sunshine." This comes a week after calling Sioux Falls, South Dakota, "Sioux City," and two weeks after saying that America has 57 states. (NewsBusters)

Don't forget about Obama's Lobbyist Connections (more here) Democrat Congressman Kanjorski admitted that the Democratic Party stretched the facts (and people ate it up) about ending the war and they did this just so they could win back Congress. They will say or do anything to get elected. The truth is, "The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region says the hasty withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq would be catastrophic for the country and the region." And then there's this:

The campaign of Barack Obama is all about hope, and no one exemplifies this better than the Daily Kos Kidz, who are hoping for the gruesome death and/or mutilation of anyone who won’t vote for the Messiah: Daily Kos: Won’t vote for Obama? Then it’s time to enlist.

Violence is down in Iraq, al-Qaeda is pretty much defeated, reconciliation is spreading, the government is passing legislation, ... but this is bad news for the Democrats and liberal media. In Iran (and other Islamic countries), fathers or male relatives continue to brutally kill their young daughters in Honor Killings, with permission of Iranian law:

Article 220 of the Iranian Criminal Code states: “If a father –or his male ancestors– kill their children, they will not be prosecuted for murder." Likewise, article 1179 of the Civil Code states, “Parents have the right to punish their children within the limits prescribed by law.” (Stop Fundamentalism)

In Egypt, an Egyptian farmer hangs and decapitates his 16 year old daughter in ‘honour’ killing. Iran's defense minister hailed his country's "strategic ties" with Syria on Sunday, just days after Israel called on Damascus to distance itself from Tehran, while Syrian Israeli peace talks are in progress and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wants to give away the Golan Heights.

Families moving to Netivot from Sderot to escape the daily barrage of rockets raining down from the terrorists in Gaza, are now watching missiles and rockets fall near Netivot, while Olmert bargains...

 Lebanon’s parliament Sunday duly elected army chief General Michel Suleiman as the country’s 12th president. This is the same man who laid down his weapons and would not fight the Hezbollah terrorists in the recent violence. Hyscience says, "The Fall of Lebanon: May 21, 2008 A Date Like December 7, 1941 And September 11, 2001 That Should Now Live In Infamy"

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Sunday accused the United States of political interference and threatened to expel its ambassador, as his party began its campaign for next month's election run-off.

Hundreds of Colombians huddled in makeshift shelters on Sunday afraid to go home a day after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake damaged scores of homes and triggered landslides killing at least 11 people. This comes on the heals of natural disasters in China and Burma.

Right Wing Nut House "BLOG SERIES ON “WHAT AILS CONSERVATISM?” STARTS TOMORROW". Don't miss it.

All of the above are just a few reasons we need to teach our young people the reason for Memorial Day and why our troops are so important.

Of What Price, Memorial Day?

Of What Price, Memorial Day?*

 

By R.J. Godlewski

©May 23, 2008, All Rights Reserved

 

 

           

This Monday will be a uniquely special one for me and my family; my father, who passed away last month, will have his name read as part of the conclusion to the local Memorial Day parade in honor of his service during the Second World War along with all other veterans who had died during the past year. In a way, it will be a rather somber acknowledgement of something so remote as to catch most of the younger generation quite unprepared; that a simple retired autoworker, who never made more than $9/hour in his entire life, dying quietly in a tiny rental home near mansions owned by such luminaries as Mitch Ryder (of the Detroit Wheels fame), would be so honored more than sixty years after service that seemed quite commonplace at the time of his involvement.

           

No, my father did not earn notoriety through his service; he did not even leave the United States during the entire course of the war (other than to visit Mexico on occasion). It did not matter. Uncle Sam called him to service and he proudly – and honorably – served wherever his government deemed necessary. It is what good soldiers do – he did his duty and he did it well even if it seemed so inconsequential at the time. That he will be remembered during a day with all veterans who had passed away – particularly those who gave their lives in service to their country – is testament to the value of that service. It’s what good nations do – honor their heroes and honor them well. Yes, my dad will be missed and missed deeply; but not on this particular Monday for his spirit will soar amongst us along with everyone else’s who had served this great nation proudly.

           

My only fear is that those quite detached from the merits of service will consider this weekend to be just the start of a long summer period. The “official kickoff to the season” as it is so readily termed. Many Americans have already begun complaining about the cost of a gallon of gas, wondering whether they will be able to take their families on long-awaited vacations. Others have complained about the rising cost of milk, beef, and other farm products; wondering whether they will be able to afford picnics and the like.

           

As I write these very words, I’ve been watching through my window an endless supply of Gulfstream 550s and other multi-million-dollar business jets make their landing approach to Oakland-Pontiac Airport several miles in the distance. I suspect that many of them are arriving to bring their passengers in for the start of the Detroit Red Wings’ Stanley Cup bid or the Detroit Pistons’ final round before the NBA Finals. It must be nice; for I feel that if I had a spare sixty-five million to blow on a luxury jet I might be able to afford tickets to either series. Still, I am immensely proud of every jet that does fly overhead for they represent opportunity here within the United States of America and, someday, I too will have a fleet of just such aircraft. That is the right of every living American citizen – to dream, to work hard at what they do best, and to never be ridiculed for their thoughts and ambitions.

           

It is a very remarkable – and powerful – gift that we have here within this country. No matter how seemingly impossible our dreams and goals are, there are plenty examples of people who have achieved them – even from our particular background. That’s what makes America special. What makes this nation great is thateven if nobody had accomplished our particular dream there is still enough supporting evidence to suggest that we may very well be the first person to achieve them from our particular background. Simply put, if we want to achieve something bad enough we’ll find a way of accomplishing that dream.

           

As for me, I’ll achieve my personal goals with a mixed heart. As always, I’ll work hard towards my objectives, accept my setbacks, and proudly use whatever talent God has bestowed upon me to accomplish my particular mission in life. It won’t be easy; I was never given a ‘head start’ in anything. Being a ‘popular’ figure doesn’t help matters any – for every person who enjoys my work there are others quite prepared to criticize my writing, lambaste me for being a ‘right wing fanatic’, or print nasty things about my family. It simply does not matter. Being a Godlewski will ensure that I’ll never quit in my life. Being an American ensures that I will never lose an opportunity to better myself. In comparison with those who have died well before us, however, any ‘cost’ that I have to endure within my life is pretty tame to be sure.

           

You will therefore not find me complaining about paying for $4/gallon gasoline on this weekend. You will not find me worrying about paying $8.75 just to see the latest Indiana Jones installment. Neither will you hear me complain about all of those hundred million dollar jets flying high above my head or even of the $7 million homes right down the street that make my mouth water with their creative appeal. This weekend is far more than just the official start to summer – it is a singular day in which all Americans should thank their lucky stars that there have been people who proudly served before them and which are no longer amongst us.

           

It is so easy to thank a soldier, or sailor, or airman when we come across their uniform for they tend to stick out within our shabbily-dressed culture. As our nation is currently at war on several fronts, we are reminded everyday of those whose lives are in peril at any given moment. Memorial Day serves to remind us of those veterans whose exploits – both fantastic and mediocre – have faded into the past within the eyes of a nation whose general populace has the attention span of a two-year-old. Without their service, we would have no rights with which to dream – or to bitch. Let’s not worry about ourselves on this particular weekend – thousands of deceased veterans had already worried enough about us to have served.

 

 

This article is dedicated to all who had served at Carlsbad (NM) Army Air Field during November, 1942 to December, 1944, particularly those who had served within the Medical Detachment.

 

And….

 

To all who have worn a uniform of the United States of America and are no longer around to regale us with their tales…

 

*Also check out R.J. Godlewski’s inspirational Of What Price, Heaven?

Do you see what I see?

As I gradually woke up this morning, I could hear sounds in the distance.  Soon I realized what the sounds were...  I could hear speed boats zipping up and down the river, fishing boats tootling along,  jet skies revving their motors.  I could also hear the sounds of 4-wheelers, golf carts, and automobiles going up and down the roads near our house.  There were sounds of adults and children outside getting ready for a day at the park or out on the river.  I heard birds chirping and other critters outside.

When I got up and opened the drapes, I saw a crystal clear blue sky, bright golden sunshine, birds at the feeders and in the bird baths, a fat squirrel sitting on the railing fussing at me to supply him with more food.

We have people here in America who jump at any opportunity to talk negatively about this country.  They seem to get a thrill when there is anything they can distort to make us look bad on the world scene.  They will say or do anything to promote themselves, even try to tear down the best country in the world.

They must be looking out a different window than I am, because I see people working hard.  I see people who love this country.  I see people who are out with their families enjoying life, enjoying their freedom.  I see people who work hard and play hard. 

In my neighborhood, there are people who love this country, who are thankful for the military and thankful for all they do.  Outside my window flags are waving, men and women in uniform get thanked and get their meals paid for, -- they don't get spit on or ridiculed.

I think Washington insiders have a different view of this country than I do.  Personally, I'm inviting them to get out of Washington and visit the REAL AMERICA -- an America where people are proud, where they love God, where they pray, where they attend church, where they believe life is sacred, where the military are heroes that keep us safe and protect the rest of the world from the bad guys.  Do the politicians ever see what I see???

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVERYBODY!   GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY !

Are you sorry?

Via email:

Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman ,  Semper Fi!

This 'Letter of Apology' was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, US Marine Corps, Retired: For good and ill, the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an issue.

On the one hand, right thinking Americans will abhor the stupidity of the actions while on the other hand, political glee will take control and fashion this minor event into some modern day massacre. I humbly offer my opinion here:

I am sorry that the last seven times we Americans took up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth; it was in the defense of Muslims (Bosnia , Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait , etc.)

I am sorry that no such call for an apology upon the extremists came after 9/11. I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11 were Islamic Arabs. I am sorry that most Arabs and Muslims have to live in squalor under savage dictatorships.

 I am sorry that their leaders squander their wealth. I am sorry that their governments breed hate for the US in their religious schools, mosques, and government-controlled media. I am sorry that Yasser Arafat was kicked out of every Arab country and high-jacked the Palestinian 'cause.'

I am sorry that no other Arab country will take in or offer more than a token amount of financial help to those same Palestinians. I am sorry that the U. S. A. has to step in and be the biggest financial supporter of poverty stricken Arabs while the insanely wealthy Arabs blame the USA for all their problems.

I am sorry that our own left wing, our media, and our own brainwashed liberal masses do not understand any of this (from the misleading vocal elements of our society like radical liberal professors, CNN and the NY TIMES).

I am sorry the United Nations scammed the poor people of Iraq out of the 'food for oil' money so they could get rich while the common folk suffered. I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families of homicide bombers upon their death

I am sorry that those same bombers are brainwashed thinking they will receive 72 virgins in 'paradise.'

I am sorry that the homicide bombers think pregnant women, babies, children, the elderly and other noncombatant civilians are legitimate targets.

I am sorry that our troops die to free more Arabs from the gang rape rooms and the filling of mass graves of dissidents of their own making.

I am sorry that Muslim extremists have killed more Arabs than any other group.

I am sorry that foreign trained terrorists are trying to seize control of Iraq and return it to a terrorist state.

I am sorry we don't drop a few dozen Daisy cutters on Fallujah. I am sorry every time terrorists hide they find a convenient 'Holy Site.'

 I am sorry they didn't apologize for driving a jet into the World Trade Center that collapsed and severely damaged Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - one of our Holy Sites.

I am sorry they didn't apologize for flight 93 and 175, the USS Cole, the embassy bombings, the murders and beheadings of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, etc....etc!

I am sorry Michael Moore is American; he could feed a medium sized village in Africa. America will get past this latest absurdity. We will punish those responsible because that is what we do.

I am sorry that voters on the liberal left don't understand the frightening changes that are taking place in the Muslim world and what these changes will do to this world in which we live.

I am sorry that the Democratic Party has been high-jacked by Socialists and Communists right under the very noses of those who take pride in calling themselves democrats. We hang out our dirty laundry for the entire world to see.

We move on. That's one of the reasons we are hated so much. We don't hide this stuff like all those Arab countries that are now demanding an apology.

Deep down inside, when most Americans saw this reported in the news, we were like - so what? We lost hundreds and made fun of a few prisoners. Sure, it was wrong, sure, it dramatically hurts our cause, but until captured we were trying to kill these same prisoners. Now we're supposed to wring our hands because a few were humiliated?

Our compassion is tempered with the vivid memories of our own people killed, mutilated and burnt amongst a joyous crowd of celebrating Fallujahans.

If you want an apology from this American, you're going to have a long wait! You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.

Chuck Pitman Lieutenant General, USMC Pass this on to your friends if you agree.

Happy Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day, the day most children honor their mothers in some special way. To each mother and grandmother out there, I wish you a wonderful day, surrounded by your family, flowers, cards, phone calls, emails, and ... love.

To anyone who might be celebrating a birthday today, like me, be thankful for another year, for your good health, for your loved-ones. I wish you a beautiful rendition of "Happy Birthday to You", I wish you presents, kisses, cake (even if it's a cupcake), candles, entertainment, and another year that's even better than the last. May all your wishes come true.

Have some chocolate and enjoy your day.

Scientists Harness Kinetic Energy from Keyboards

Thanks to Bob McCarty Writes:

Scientists Harness Kinetic Energy from Keyboards

Researchers at the American Petroleum Research Institute's Laboratory for Fuels announced today they have developed an economical means via which they can use the kinetic energy generated by users of computer keyboards to make a dent in the nation's energy bill.

"The fact that many Americans spend eight hours or more per day typing on computer keyboards caused us to explore the feasibility of harnessing the energy being expended by computer users as they type," said Dr. Isaac M. Postor, CEO at the St. Louis-based institute which receives a majority of its funding from DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

"What we found is that the typical American office worker executes an average of 20,000 keystrokes per day," Postor continued. "When harnessed using the nanotechnology we've developed, that number of keystrokes can power a 60-watt light bulb for one hour."

Not yet named, that nanotechnology device appears similar in size and dimensions to a typical USB flash drive and, in fact, plugs into a computer's USB port, Postor explained. The difference, however, is that this flash drive features a thin cord protruding from one end which plugs into any standard 110-volt electrical outlet.

"In essence, small nanogenerators inside this device enable computer users to send electricity back to their utility provider and thereby reduce their power consumption by several dollars per month," Postor added. "Since more than half of Americans use computer on a regular — if not daily — basis, this device promises to make a significant dent in the ever-increasing energy costs."

Postor expects to be able to market the device at a suggested retail price under $30, meaning that most users will realize returns on investment within one to two years, depending upon the amount of time spent at the keyboard.

For more information, click here to visit the institute's web site.

Duty and the Responsibility of Citizenship -- The Basis for a Strong Nation part 4

THE BASIS FOR A STRONG NATION By R.J. Godlewski © March 21, 2008, All Rights Reserved 4. Duty and the Responsibility of Citizenship

Occasionally I write a piece for which I am quite proud, believing that I have used just the right combination of personal experience, practical insight, and even challenging humor to get my point across. Such is the case with this particular installment of the Basis for a Strong Nation series; I had begun my narrative with profound reflection upon an episode in which a young sailor and his Navy buddy were deployed to the Philippines for the first time and were embarking upon a tour of one of that nation’s rather colorful and infamous cities when the buddy’s wallet was stolen and a plainclothes police officer shot the perpetrator – a small boy – after inquiring whether the wallet needed to be recovered or not. I wanted to draw a parallel between our desire for instant justice and the implications involving the death of a young offender who merely wanted to support his family in a climate of abject poverty as the basis for responsibility of our actions. However, I soon found that I just could not release that particular writing and quickly actuated that technological miracle known as “deleting.” As I am the only person on this planet that knows what those words were, I feel a strong sense of absolute power over my peers. Yet, as this is a piece exclusively about duty and responsibility, I found that I must explain my actions even if the world will never be able to judge my efforts in their original context.

I write these words – the ones that you are permitted to read – as we reach Easter weekend, the climax of a religious season known simply as Holy Week. When confronted with Christ’s own death for our sins, I find that any other semblance to duty and responsibility pales very much in comparison. My Lord died for what I – we – have done. God knows that I have many transgressions for which a lifetime of “cruel and unusual punishment” would be quite apropos. Instead, my God decided that we humans were worth the effort to come down here and literally sacrifice Himself in order that we might ‘live’. Now I understand why the Bible came to be because “God moved the human authors of the Scriptures to understand and freely will to write precisely what He wished them to write.” We’d be in very much trouble if I myself had to explain what this weekend is all about.

There’s another reason that I had chosen to delete my original piece. At the present, I am authoring these words very early in the morning hours – it is 4 A.M. – because I have taken a month away from my literary and business duties to provide care for my parents. My dad is in his ninetieth year and there is very little reason to expect that he’ll actually witness his birthday in November. He suffers from Alzheimer’s and, today, his condition is quickly deteriorating wherein he recognizes very little of his family and spends his nights conversing in Polish – a language that hasn’t been required since his childhood. My mother is eighty years old herself and cannot possibly handle him twenty-four hours per day so I basically take the ‘midnight shift’ so that she can sleep. I find that I am quite prepared to handle this particular crisis because it was just a ‘short’ four years ago that I lost my own wife to cancer after a multi-year battle that saw me emerge as her primary caregiver. To be perfectly honest, I’d have to admit that I’d rather be anywhere else at the present than within their cramped little house and aiding my father in his “call of nature” duties every twenty minutes or so but, hey, the rest of my siblings have families of their own to attend to.

So, for my part, my writing is largely on hold, my business activities (such as they are) are on auto-pilot, and even my counterterrorism activities are strained. I have only one mother and father and they trump everything else in existence save for our Creator. Call it duty if you want; for me it’s simply being responsible as a loving son. Therefore, you have the two primary reasons that I have chosen to trash my original writing. First, Easter simply shatters any comparison. Even a hardcore atheist could not find a better description of duty than the story of a God “who created everything in Heaven and on Earth” becoming man in order to die to save us from our own sins. Trust me, we novelists aren’t good enough to envision a storyline such as that. Secondly, despite my patriotism, my lifelong desire to defeat the Islamists, and my many business pursuits I find that I must drop all and care for my parents – each representing the first “native-born Americans” within my family. Rather, I should say that it is specifically because of my family that I am a proud patriot, a defender of the faith, and an entrepreneur.

My father, for example, is a colorful if not an overly achieving individual. If there was a simple statement that would magically recall his ninety years of existence, it would have to be “hard work.” He grew up in Hamtramck, Michigan – Pole Town then; Islam Town now – and worked his way through a notorious street gang emerging to witness the early evolution of American Unionism. Jimmy Hoffa himself once bailed my father out of jail when his group was arrested on charges of illegally picketing an unscrupulous employer. My dad also served proudly as a medic in the Army Air Corps during World War II and though he remained stateside his many stories of famous compatriots or events make for great conversation. Regardless of these experiences, perhaps my father’s greatest claim to fame is simply rearing his five children (my parents lost a sixth and a seventh).

My dad put in his hours, often in horribly brutal automotive factories, simply so that my mother could remain at home and take care of us. We had very few possessions and deplorable living conditions – the seven of us shared a bathroom where you could literally sit on the commode, brush your teeth, and check the bath water (dad installed a shower later on) simultaneously. Regardless, we had each other and my parents still managed to work in a trip to California and one to Florida before my thirteenth birthday at which time I found that I could earn enough from a paper route to finance my own trip to California with an older sister. We also learned to swim, to hunt, to fish, and to camp – things remarkably ancient when compared with their more contemporary distractions. If it weren’t for the fact that I often embarked upon “UDT” missions down our canal to shoot frogs or egg the neighborhood villain’s house during Devil’s Night (day before Halloween for you deprived types. ;o) ) while as a youngster, I doubt very much that I could work with my counterterrorism ambitions today. They haven’t invented a videogame yet that can take the place of working your way through neck deep mud, filth, and snapping turtles the size of manhole covers!

In reflection upon both Easter and my father’s slow demise, I find that it is nearly impossible to write about duty and responsibility in the context of being a human individual. However, both of these situations do offer some suggestions as to what the duties and responsibilities are for citizens – particularly here within America. The greatest obligation is, of course, that each one of us must live to serve our fellow citizens. We may not be the cause of their sins, but we are responsible for their care and conduct by virtue of our commonality. We simply cannot ignore their existence anymore than God could ignore ours. Servitude to our fellow man is the shoulder on which our nation rests.

The second greatest obligation concerns our families – without which we could never exist as terrestrial beings. My own parents have instilled upon me the foundations for what I consider to be the perfect working model: a father that makes every sacrifice imaginable to ensure that his family is fed, clothed, sheltered, and healthy even if it means living the better part of a century with no other recognizable achievements; and a mother who eliminates personal desires of her own to ensure that her children are never left to the care of strangers, or to the state, or beyond earshot of a cry for help. Because of their unified commitment towards their family, both of my parents further served to introduce us children to a lifelong devotion to our Creator which is, quite appropriate, because His greatest gift to us is our earthly lives in the care of these very same parents. That we had nothing else – my parents could never afford anything near a comparative lifestyle as to what exists in ‘modern culture’ today – never became a concern of ours because we had each other and none of us are more than a fifteen-minute drive or a telephone call away today. And that goes for our nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews too.

Another demanding obligation rests with the duties of being Americans period. My father’s parents came from Poland and my mother’s from Austria and it would therefore be relatively easy to expect our family to be based upon either the Polish or German languages. No. My grandparents believed in America – which is why they left their native lands in the first place – and were deeply proud of their heritage, but they knew that being in America meant observing the English language and so my siblings and I – being only a single generation removed from the Old Country – had to go out of our way to learn the very little of the ‘old’ languages that we do understand.

Hard work is also a duty and a grave responsibility for citizens. Aside from social security – which was paid for through five decades of personal effort on their part – neither of my parents drew upon the state for their existence. My father was unemployed on several occasions, including once in which my sister was severely injured and though there were benefits to pay for her care my parents did not demand one penny for their own care without working for it. My father left high school at sixteen to aid his parents and did not retire until damaged lungs and feet (one from poor factory ventilation and the other from poor safety standards) forced him to quit. Maybe this is why I write these words from their home instead of mine.

Military duty – leastways service to our nation – is another facet of life that I inherited from my father. Someone has to ‘pay’ for our blessings just as much as my father had to struggle in a dark and dirty automotive forging plant (nothing like the clean, automated examples from today) to keep us kids fed and sheltered. Again, my father achieved very little stature but that wasn’t the point; his country had been attacked, his people at war, and there was no protest over what had to be accomplished: victory at all costs, even if his particular role was merely serving as a lowly medic while his more famous compatriots – such as Gene Autry and Red Skeleton – were catered to. Every generation demands a soldier and as this ex-sailor sits here caring for his slowly dying soldier father, we both know that we did our part so that I could type these words freely and that he could slowly pass away within the comforts of his own home.

Regardless of generational differences, there is one underlying characteristic that encapsulates both my father and me and that is our deep love for our nation. He the eternal “worker” and lifelong-until-very-much-recently Democrat who sacrificed his body so that his family could eat and me the obsessive if not extraordinarily successful entrepreneur and Republican who is glad to sacrifice both mind and body so that I might be able to have a family someday. That he is soldiering on through his end times and that I am sailing on through what might become the equivalent of his second half of life – he is now for the first time, in what is most probably his very last year, twice as old as his son – makes no never mind. We’ve expressed concerns about our nation and its citizens. We have even held a gripe or two that our nation was “going to the dogs.” Yet, neither one of us has ever held the notion that America was inherently evil or expressed the thought that we preferred to live anywhere else. We aren’t simply an aging Democrat soldier who spent his life eking out a living in a factory or a middle-aged Republican sailor who’s sacrificed peace of mind to ensure that he could provide future employment to others at his expense. We’re Americans first and foremost and both of us are damn proud of that fact. Maybe that’s the ultimate responsibility for any citizen – simply being true to who we really are.


NEXT WEEK: Political Warfare and the Proliferation of the Vote.

(The above article is the 4th in a series by R. J. Godlewski, exclusively for Right Truth. A new installment will be published each Monday. Please leave your comments or questions for Mr. Godlewski here in the comments section and he will respond.)

This is the 4th article in the series, THE BASIS FOR A STRONG NATION. Chapter One in the series, "A Return to American basics" is found here and Chapter Two, "What is an American?" can be found here and Chapter Three, "One Nation Without God?" can be found here.

Be sure to check out Mr. R.J. Godlewski's website here and the Independent Counterterrorist Training Program written by Mr. Godlewski for Right Truth.
___________________________________________________________________-
Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, A Blog For All, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, 123beta, The World According to Carl, Miss Beth's Victory Dance, Blue Star Chronicles, Stuck On Stupid, The Pink Flamingo, Big Dog's Weblog, The Amboy Times, Phastidio.net, Wolf Pangloss, and ARISTO_GATTA, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Happy Valentines Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.  It's a beautiful day to  let your sweetie know how you feel.  Hubby presented me with a beautiful card and gift this morning.  I had a musical card that played, "You're Still the One", which he IS, and a gift for him.  There's a song by Vince Gill that describes how people think of our marriage,  it's called "Look At Us". 

Look At Us,  by Vince Gill

Look at us
After all these years together
Look at us
After all that we've been through
Look at us
Still leaning on each other

If you want to see
How true love should be
Then just look at us

Look at you
Still pretty as a picture
Look at me
Still crazy over you
Look at us
Still believ'in in forever

Chorus

In a hundred years from now
I know without a doubt
They'll all look back and wonder how
We made it all work out

Chances are
Well go down in history
When they want to see
How true love should be
They'll just look at us

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY HUBBY! 

Love you more today than yesterday!

And happy valentine's day to all my blog friends.

Happy New Year

Say good bye to 2007 and give a big wet kiss to 2008. We should all have high hopes for the new year. All things are possible, everything is new, fresh and full of possibilities. Well, that's how I like to see it. I wish happiness, health, safety and God's blessings to all my friends. Hubby and I will be celebrating tonight at the 412 Grill, his band Show Time will be playing all night. If you are in the area come join us. Yes, champagne will be involved!

We have so many unsolved problems in the world and we have much work to do. What is your biggest concern for the New Year? What resolutions are you making? What advice for politicians do you have?

From the Friday Lunch Club:

Reza Aslan writes in the WaPo,

Every time I hear about how Sen. Barack Obama is going to "re-brand" America's image in the Middle East, I can't help but think about Jimmy Carter's toast. [snip]

"... The next president will have to try to build a successful, economically viable Palestinian state while protecting the safety and sovereignty of Israel. He or she will have to slowly and responsibly withdraw forces from Iraq without allowing the country to implode. He or she will have to bring Iraq's neighbors, Syria and Iran, to the negotiating table while simultaneously reining in Iran's nuclear ambitions, keeping Syria out of Lebanon, reassuring Washington's Sunni Arab allies that they have not been abandoned, coaxing Russia into becoming part of the solution (rather than part of the problem) in the region, saving an independent and democratic Afghanistan from the resurgent Taliban, preparing for an inevitable succession of leadership in Saudi Arabia, persuading China to play a more constructive role in the Middle East and keeping a nuclear-armed Pakistan from self-destructing in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination..."
(Read more, here)

What is Muslim Land? asks Smooth Stone. But one might ask 'What is Israeli Land?' And who decides? The PA says they want peace, but continue with terror attacks. Actions speak louder than words.

There will be no peace until Hamas is out, but at least one writer suggests that pushing Hamas out will help al-Qaeda. The terror groups can't even get along.

Yoni the Blogger says:

This makes me so mad, we now see a whole new low in the Palestinians. The new ploy it seems is after they murder you, they will claim it was a business dispute rather than terrorism in an effort to keep Condi Rice happy.

From Elder of Ziyon:

What the news media is refusing to mention is that by Egypt acquiescing to Hamas demands to open Rafah, it is a slap in the face of not only Israel but also of the PA, which nominally is supposed to control the Gaza crossings. By Egypt allowing Hamas to dictate how Rafah operates, Egypt is giving de facto recognition of the Hamas government of Gaza as being legitimate.

And what about American land and who has the right to cross our borders and live here? Illegal aliens continue to flow into the country with little fear of deportation, some kill and injure Americans. Most of the 2008 presidential candidates on both sides are too soft on illegal immigration.

What about all the groups raising funds for terrorists and courts let them off?

Osama's still out there. Osama Bin Laden From the Cave--- Al Qaeda Leader Releases Tape After 75% of Forces Annihilated in Iraq. Osama admits al-Qaeda is losing badly. And Osama promises to attack Israel.

What about Saudi Arabia? Jushua Pundit says:

The Saudis have their own jihad going on, involving the subversion of the west and the radicalization of its Muslims using petrodollars, as well as the new Saudi arrangement with Iran. And if al-Qaeda hadn't attacked them and had been content to respect the established order of things, Osama and the Saudis would still be on quite good terms. (continue reading)

Might we see a vindication of neo-conservative ideas in 2008? See "Preventive Strike? Declaring War on Neoconservative Foreign Policy" at American Power. A comprehensive article.

We have problems around the globe, the Middle East has it's own special problems; then China; Russia; Iran in particular.

I believe the greatest threat we face is Islamic terror AND those who don't understand that threat, whoever they may be.

Other reading:
Turkey arrests five suspected misunderstanders of Islam
____________________________________________________________________
Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Is It Just Me?, Rosemary's Thoughts, Ad