Reality Check

At the risk of appearing arrogant, I confess, I have much more confidence in my own observations & conclusions than in any messages with which I might be bombarded by the media.  I have read slanted wording on polls and I have studied skewered data that tried to create a trend where none existed. And I have lived through 6 1/2 years of repeated attempts to manufacture scandal.  But mostly, I have observed decades of media  attempts to control our national concensus and so bend it to comply with a liberal agenda.

[Something somewhat similar to Jedi mind tricks: only effective on the weak-minded]

The question we need to be asking and the one presented here is  Could it possibly be that the media is so biased that it can no longer discern what is true and what is desired by those in a position to possibly affect the outcome? 

Somewhere the “Dream” was derailed

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

In American History there are many great examples of powerful rhetoric…The Declaration of Independence, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, FDR’s “Day of Infamy” speech to name some of the obvious.  Martin Luther King Jr.’s ”I Have A Dream” speech will always make the short list.  And while we should be proud of our nation’s progress in egalitarianism, it has become obvious that we have allowed the pendulum to swing too far.  Where once it was necessary to stand for integration, now, in the name of some twisted idea of diversity, we promote segregation.  Instead of becoming color-blind we have become overly color conscience. Denzel Washington recognized this when the media wanted to hype his Best Actor Oscar as being given to an “African-American Actor”.  His request was that he be commended simply as an “actor”.  Which is a higher acclamation as it puts him on equal footing with every actor instead of implying that he was simply the best of his race.

Thomas Sowell  has frequently addressed the negative effects of “diversity programs” such as Affirmative Action. In His book Inside American Education he also reveals the adverse results of ethnic studies and values programs.  Now, he addresses the foolishness of having “African-American Authors” as a designated section of a bookstore.  As always Dr. Sowell, looks beyond the rubric to the results, ignoring conventionality and focusing on consequences.

Bookstore Ghettoes
By Thomas Sowell

the bribe blinds

One thing I have learned in the past two years is that mental health is most definitely not an exact science. I have deep concerns, especially for these kids in therapeutic foster care. Too many are aging out of the system and have been kept reasonably compliant on a potent cocktail of psychotropic medication. When they are 18, or 21 if DHS can convince them to stay in the system, they are cut a check and told to have a nice life. With no family, no support system, no marketable skills, no safety net & in most cases the same problems they’ve had since they entered DHS custody, it shouldn’t be surprising to find, that again, too many ["any" would be too many] end up on the streets.

Ideally, as one psychologist described it, some may need medication to under gird them while they undergo therapy. In reality, with the medication controlling their pain, too many choose not to face their problems, not to take the steps necessary to become whole. They become adepts at denial, deception & avoidance. And this is just looking at the problem from a physical/psychological aspect. In truth, these children are the targets of a much greater evil; a thief who comes to kill, steal & destroy — who, like any predator, naturally prefers the weak, the wounded & the young. Unfortunately too many caretakers are putting their faith in the psychiatrist’s ability to medicate without questioning where this might be leading or what motivation might be behind the particular drugs being chosen.

When God was laying out his blueprint for society, one command was to not accept a bribe because ” a bribe blinds those who see and twist the words of the righteous.” [Exodus 23:8]. I think the definitive word here is “blinds” — it creates a blind spot and those who are accepting the bribe cannot recognize how it twists their judgment.

Another psychiatric blind spot is unrecognized trends in diagnosing. One foster-daughter’s therapist had me attend a seminar with him on Borderline Personality Disorder. A point was made that there are fads in psychiatry and the current one is seeing everything as bi-polar disorder. I’m sure that can vary from doctor to doctor but considering, the powerful medications involved, as a blind-spot it is worrisome. The article below also mentions this increasingly common bi-polar diagnosis.

Disclaimer: Am I anti-medication? Absolutely not! But….and this is a big but….medication isn’t solving the problem, it is simply making the child manageable. It is pruning back the branches, not putting ax to the root of the tree. Without medication, some of these kids would do themselves and/or others serious harm or would be so intractable as to be beyond endurance. But those who are putting their faith in chemicals need to be aware of how little some of these medications are understood, how they are possibly being misused, how pharmaceutical companies may be blinding the eye of the physician and how all of this may be endangering the very children we are trying to save.

From the NYT:

Psychiatrists, Children and Drug Industry’s Role

A tribute

The comparison/contrast between Jimmy Carter’s ineffectual, mismanaged presidency and Reagan’s robust boldness changed my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. The reality check between the rhetoric of the left and their performance record also took it’s toll.

The complaint of many Republicans — and a few liberals who are still playing word games– has been that George W. Bush is no Regan. No he’s not — he’s not anyone but “Dubya” and I like it like that.

George W. Bush — He is who he is, he does what he says and nothing is going to change that. That alone gives me hope for this country, for my children and grandchildren. It is always possible that an appeaser will replace him in 2008 and we will find jihad on our doorstep but I don’t think so. Considering how much of the information we receive comes through an anti-W filter, I think the American people are much less likely to want to invite war to our shores than the Democrats believe. Of course, I don’t believe even Nancy Pelosi really wants what she says she wants. I’m cynical enough to believe that she too knows that W has a backbone and she can pander & preen without fear of actually having to live with the consequences.

I didn’t write this — I wish I could write so well — but it speaks for me. Did any President besides Lincoln, himself, ever accomplished so much while withstanding such an onslaught of personal attack: of such lies, hatred & obstruction.

A Theory of W
By James Lewis

The President’s Thanksgiving proclamation

The President in question is George Washington. The proclamation is beautifully elegant. It is well worth reading especially when you stop and think about what the people had recently gone through to establish this new nation. What caused me to look it up, however, is a History Professor is threatened with losing his job over this proclamation.

On Nov. 22, 2006, the day before Thanksgiving, Walter Kehowski, a tenured professor in mathematics in the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) sent the e-mail containing Washington’s message to all MCCCD employees, using a district-wide service designated for “announcements.” [MCCCD employees commonly use the "announcements" service to send out unsolicited information. Recent e-mails sent out using this service include an advertisement for purchasing goats for orphans in Uganda, quotes about Women's History Month, and a reminder about the health benefits of eating bananas.]

Within weeks, five MCCCD employees filed harassment charges against Kehowski, claiming his message was “hostile” and “derogatory.”

You be the judge.

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~ THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION OF 1798 ~
President George Washington
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to “recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the Service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks, for His kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the single and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, of the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have to acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humble offering our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other  transgressions, to enable us all, whether
in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all people, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns  and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone know to be best.

The Bottom Line

One line says it all — there is a difference between feeling safe and being safe.

My Driver’s Ed teacher, eons ago, made an excellent point about driving laws. He said that the purpose of driving laws was so that when there was a wreck and you had two drivers lying there dead, a policeman could come and point to one and declare that one at fault. It’s pretty much the same with gun laws. They only restrain law-abiders , their only other use is to assign guilt after the fact. Since Cho Seung-Hui was already committed to murder, who would be foolish enough to assume a “gun safe zone” would hinder him — in hindsight it is obvious that it enabled him. It is also pointless to rail against the legality of the weapon…..crack cocaine is illegal and you can buy it practically everywhere.

The smartest [and safest] option would be to allow people to defend themselves. A common denominator in most mass shootings is that the perpetrator with the gun shoots his gun until someone else with a gun shows up. If that means waiting for the police to arrive, a lot of people can die. The study done by Lott & Lande found that states that allowed citizens to carry concealed handguns reduced multiple-shooting attacks by 60 percent and reduced the death and injury from these attacks by nearly 80 percent.Last year, Virginia Tech disciplined a student for carrying a gun on campus, despite his lawful concealed-carry permit. If just such a student had been in Norris Hall on Monday, the massacre could have been ended a lot sooner.

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Virginia Tech’s Gun-Free Zone Left Cho Seung-Hui’s Victims Defenseless

Because they hate

It’s hard to know what box to put Rosie O’Donnell in. Stupid might be a good one — since unbeknownst to Samurai swordsmiths, 9/11 was the first time fire has ever melted steel. Is that unkind? Meanspirited? Is there a “nice” word that means totally ignorant of minimal facts?

Is she a leftist extremist? There are those who are considered “right wing” extremist but no thinking conservative aligns themselves with them. Do any liberals shun Rosie? Has one leftist called her, even once, to account? I haven’t seen evidence of it, and I would think that such an occasion would be considered such momentous news as to make the headline of the The Drudge Report.

Right up there with her knowledge of metallurgy is her cognizance of comparative religions. However, it is really doubtful whether Rosie has any personal knowledge of or relationship with a true Christian or a terrorist. Like her pronouncements on metal, one has to question her conclusions on the dangers of Christianity.

Unlike the officious Ms. O’Donnell, Brigitte Gabriel as a Lebanese Christian knows the dangers posed by radical Islam.

addressing the double-standard

To avoid misunderstanding, let me preface by state categorically that I find Don Imus statements concerning Rutger’s University female basketball team highly offensive…..just as offensive as hearing the same types of racial slurs blaring from automobiles under the charade of rap “music”.

My question is why hasn’t Jesse Jackson called for a boycott of all rap music containing racial slurs?  Of course that begs the question of the good Reverend’s own racial slurs in referring to NYC as Heinie town a few years ago.

Why hasn’t Sharpton demanded an accounting, bringing these “artists” on his show to answer for their extreme attitude & lyrics?

Why aren’t feminist  rising up against music that glorifies violence towards women?

And while I’m on this particular rant,  Why was putting a crucifix in a jar of urine not only protected by appeals to “healthy” free speech but touted as art?  Where was the outrage?

My argument is not that Don Imus is protecting our civil liberties by his boorishness. — he’s simply doing his part to lower our standards of common decency.  My contention is the double-standard.  Especially ironic is the flap over the use of the word ho’ inasmuch as it appears to be a  term created by rappers to describe women in the contemptuous terms …..and why women of any color would tolerate it is absolutely unfathomable.

Personally I wouldn’t shed a tear if Imus is run out of town on a rail, that’s what public outrage & boycotts are for, to enforce the public will.  However, as Don is running for the door, I think all those who are using the same language and espousing the same attitude [and making a great deal of money doing it] should be running right behind.

a small measure of justice

There should be some sort of penalty/consequence for all member of Duke Faculty and the hysterical media who jumped on the bandwagon of guilty until proven innocent.

It is to be hoped that this might start a new trend of reason & fairness concerning sexual allegations.  Especially if Nifong pays a hefty price for his part in this travesty.

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Prosecutor Drops Charges in Duke Case

He is worthy

Luke 24 1-8

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

Revelation 1: 10-18

On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me..When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 5:6-14

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne…And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

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Now, go and do thou likewise.

Blessed Resurrection Day

me