My place to put the thoughts of the past for later contemplation and review after all, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Febuary 01, 2003

[04:28 pm]

"Inocciduus ab frustra" Never in Vain

Waking this morn I rose to find the news abuzz with a quite anxiousness as the space shuttle Columbia had lost contact with Huston. As events unfolded it soon became apparent that Columbia wasn’t coming home. And once again the nation wept for fallen hero’s it’s a sorry state of affairs when it takes a tragedy of this magnitude to remind people that this is really something else that we send people to outer space. I’ll be the first to admit that the space program has fallen into the routine it’s stopped being something of wonder and awe and started being something more like going out for milk. And I’m as guilty of it as the next guy or gal. when Challenger blew up we all stopped to take notice when Apollo one Caught fire people stopped to take notice and when Mission 107 designated we all stopped to take notice. But what about the rest of the time how many of us stop to watch when theirs a shuttle launch on the news of do we flip the station? The astronaut corps are among some of our nations best and brightest. And certainly deserve our respect and admiration. Back in NASA’s heyday most school children could tell you the name of each of the astronauts these days you’ll be lucky if an adult can name one of them. Of the advancements we are all so found of from the car you drive to your home pc. Most of these items got their start in the space program or some part of them did. Just a few of the industries that have benefited from our space program over the years include computers, metallurgy, plastics, miniaturization and even medicine. We could show them the respect they deserve and make sure that NASA has the moneys it needs to continue unabated and with all due safety and security measures. It’s the least we can do for these our fallen heroes so that “Inocciduus ab frustra” it truly is never in vain. And now a moment of silence for the honored dead:

Rick D. Husband
William C. McCool
Michael P. Anderson
David M. Brown
Kalpana Chawla
Laurel Clark
Ilan Ramon

Our thoughts and prayers go with you Mission 107 go with God.

- JMS

January 04, 2003

[05:20 am]

Failings and Broken promises

In these wee hours of the morn I am prone to deep thoughts and find that more often than not it is of God and life that my mind turns to. The past can often lend itself well to learning lessons even ones missed at the correct time and place if one is willing to look honestly and with an open mind and of no one is this more true than myself. Indeed I think back on the council I had received from many and at the time I scarcely cared for it any more than I do now but now I think that perhaps I have had a chance to think on it some. Having said that the people who gave me the aforementioned advice I have to wonder about mainly in that I was told that all was lost that I should give up roll over lick my wounds and consider it a lost cause. Thus with ties to personal experience and well meaning consoling they spoke to me of giving up and moving on. I find now that there is two categories these fall into belief in God and disbelief in God. One says you’ve strayed to far you’ve done to much and I did indeed hear just that but to say that is strange to me as it takes God from his position as oimponent ruler and moves him down a notch to ruler over all “when things go right”. I admit there are times when God allows terrible things to happen but the question I find myself asking is was God capable or did the human give up. The tale that comes to mind is of Jacob and Esau and the loss by Esau of his birthright to his brother Jacob of course this is also under the old covenant it wasn’t till Christ that Faith became the player it is today in our lives (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore… Galatians 5:1) Given that I wonder how often we give up on Gods best because it seems hopeless or it’s been so “long”. While I myself would do well to remind myself of this from time to time if you look through the scope of eternity we are all here on this dirtball for little more than a blink of the eye a small time to make are mark for good of for naught and be gone to other places and things. Indeed if one were to look a few pages father in Genesis they would find the tale of Joseph who waited many, many years upon years under the most brutal of conditions until in the very blink of an eye he is changed from Convict and lower than mud to vice president for all intents and purposes (but with more power than any president in this country had ever held sway over). The very power of life and death was his to dispense at will the height of luxury was his for the taking from pauper to prince. How much in this life is due to a lack of faith in the most highs ability to manage his own affairs? He knows the future and we can not surprise him any more than we can make the sun rise or set of our own accord. If we can not surprise him then he knows what we do already even before we do it. And thus if he makes you a promise you make stake everything that he will carry it out if only you will believe and “I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.". So if you are facing something that seems endless and tedious take hope for “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Take heart for the Lord knows your troubles and there is a reason for them even if you are unaware of it. God can no more brake his word than he can stop loving you or being God.

- JMS

December 25, 2002

[09:18 pm]

Anger

It can cloud judgment unlike any other emotion with the possible exceptions of hate and love. Recently I’ve been watching a friend of mine struggle with anger against family members and I find it altogether unsettling to see a mirror of myself far too often and that troubles me as I have had and sometimes still struggle with anger and the like especially towards certain people who will remain unnamed. I recall once reading a story about a father and his son and the father told the boy that every time he got angry he had to go hammer a nail into the fence out back behind their house. Some time passed and gradually the boy got better but one day he got angry again and the father told him to do something different to go remove all the nails from the fence after a long time the boy finished and the father told him to look at the fence what was left of it was pockmarked and ugly from all the nail holes this he said is what anger dose to you for some reason that’s always stuck with me. Indeed theirs quite a few people I could claim to have slighted or have seriously wronged me in my short time here treading this existence. Having said that I have many things id like to do and be and that old broken pockmarked fence isn’t one of them. Forgiveness it’s a hard thing to get a hold of sometimes especially when whomever’s wronged you was most definitely wrong. Don’t get me wrong there is a time and a place for all things but I am not speaking of righteous indignation as this is if not rare then at least uncommon under normal circumstances. What’s more is God gives us a mighty big stick to prod us along with

“but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15.

It’s a hard lesson especially as I said when you’ve been legitimately wronged. But it doesn’t change the fact that there’s no qualifiers on the above statement (i.e. it dose not say if this happens then you can choose to not forgive the person) having been there myself I can say this that it is a continuous process of waking in the morning and making an effort to forgive whatever, by nature I am not a very humble person nor dose being meek come naturally however Jesus again admonishes us that

“Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

but I’m talking about forgiveness you say so I am for it is very hard indeed nigh on the impossible to be a peacemaker if you harbor resentment and unforgiveness in your heart. It seems its an important thing but one more example in case you don’t believe me.

“one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But for as much as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and sought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me: Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” Matthew 18:24-34

few things can argue with the seriousness of that and the consequences of unforgivness as laid forth there. Just some life observations of my own that bear thinking on.

- JMS

November 14, 2002

[12:01 am]

Not with a bang but a gurgle

Recently the Middle East has been extremely quite it’s been a couple of days since I heard of a car bomb or another so called “martyr” (they aren’t but that’s another issue). But there’s a bigger crisis looming on the horizon for Israel what could be bigger than mad Palestinians blowing them selves up in public places its quite simple water. In the middle of a sever drought all ready the forecasters are predicting an unusually dry rainy season. And with recent events in Turkey's near take over by radical Muslims they are looking as though they may reneging on their 20 year 50 million cubic meters per year fresh water deal. Leaving Israel high and very dry, on top of the fact that Lebanon’ recently diverted the Hatzbani River that flows in turn into Israel’s Sea of Galilee. Lebanon it seems controls upwards of 20% of Israel’s fresh water resources. With the possible lost of the Turkish water and the additional loss of Hatzbani fresh water Israel is looking at an estimated lost of 100 million cubic meters of water (26 billion gallons of water for us westerners). So as Israel’s fresh water supply is circling the drain what are they to do especially in light of recent pushes for land deals on the behalf of the Palestinians which would restrict Israeli control of even more fresh water. Israel is facing a crisis of fresh water should any of the land deals actually occur Palestinians would likely rush to divert all springs and water flows in the newly acquired lands away from Israeli cities further worsening the crisis. As our own southwest and south endures a drought here at home a great many people can sympathize with the Israelis as they prepare to run out of fresh water or are drained dry by there hostile neighbor the question arises will Israel go to war over fresh water rather than slowly die of thirst? Indeed they likely will Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (Israel) as repeatedly warned Lebanon that if they did not re-divert the Hatzbani River Israel would take military action against Lebanon’s fresh water pumping stations. In response Hezbollah reminded him of the similar situation that eventually lead to the 1967 Arab-Israeli (The Six-Day War) war due to Syrian diversion of the Banias River. So it seems the new currency of the Middle East is not oil but fresh water. Now perhaps would be a good time to throw Israel a bone or at least a few desalination plants surly that would be cheaper than war even so my moneys on the Israelis in any armed conflict. It seems that which way the river flows may indeed determine how and where Israel goes.

October 29, 2002

[10:38 pm]

Order in the Court(s)

19 senators
1 liberal agenda
68 Judicial Vacancies
41 Emergency Judicial Vacancies
1 President
Stir in one large helping of Liberal bias and three cups of politics and mix for a year
Yield 12 appointments out of 109

Politics one of the most debated subjects in the country whether its environmental controls or gun rights. Few would argue with the fact that at any time politics can be divisive and utterly partisan. Having said that there areas of our government that can not afford any kind of partisan politics, namely the Senate Judiciary Committee. There are currently a large number of judicial appointments that have not seen the light of day because the liberal democrats have been playing politics with our courts. Why you might ask? Its simple President Bush has been appointing judges who exercise judicial restraint not those who legislate from the bench. During the Clinton years Mr. Daschle considered 75 vacancies a “Judicial Emergency” apparently he can’t count as there are now 109 vacancies largely due to his party’s agenda of legating from the bench. Never was this Bench Legislating move obvious than this summer with the ruling of Judges Stephan Reinhardt and Alfred Goodwin members of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals when they tried to legislate that the “under God” portion of the pledge of allegiance was unconstitutional. The public outcry against this utterly transparent attempt to further erode our nation’s history and heritage didn’t work because the public stood up and said NO. But this is but one example of how legislating from the bench is NOT a good thing. Indeed Mr. Daschle working in conjunction with chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee Mr. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) has gone so far as to implement four new questions for the judicial appointees along with discloser of all political contributions. What possible concern can contributions of a political nature be to a committee that’s supposed to seek out judges in a bi-partisan manner? Regardless of what politics the democrats on the Judiciary Committee are playing with our judges our day to decide is coming up very shortly perhaps its time to show them we don’t care for them playing politics with our judges by standing up at our voting booths and once again saying NO.

- JMS

October 29, 2002

[10:38 pm]

The New Crusade

Recently especially in the wake of 9-11 Islam has been touted as the religion of peace and while here in the states that may be partially true outside of the US it rings hollow and void. The latest in examples are Nigeria, Bangladesh and Indonesia few I’m sure missed the headlines a couple of weeks ago when a nightclub in Bali Indonesia was bombed. Leaving hundreds dead were this a limited incident it could be written off as a plot carried out by a bunch of kooks and crazies but its far from the exception the bombing in Bali is becoming the norm every where from Turkey to Germany Islam is on the rise. As the Islamic radicals declare a holy war against all things western, indeed it’s hardly something to joke about. But then this is not a new thing it’s an old goat in sheep’s clothing. Nearly all of the nations run by Islamic regimes are no place you’d want to live especially if you’re of the female persuasion. According to Islamic Supreme Council of America section 2.2 follows:

Prophet Muhammad freely propagated the message of Islam, yet gave all people the freedom to choose any other religion. Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians were contractual members of the Muslim community. The Quran states, “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” [8] Accordingly, Muslim jurists have concluded that while Islam is the preferred belief and way of life, it cannot be imposed on anyone. In fifteen centuries of Islamic rule throughout the globe, there are no incidents in which Islam was imposed by force according to Islamic law. When non-Muslims became members of a Muslim nation, either through capture of territory or through migration, they were free to practice their beliefs. Furthermore, special consideration was given to believers in heavenly revealed religions: the Jews, Christians (known “People of the Book”) Zoroastrians, and later, other faiths. They were afforded not only freedom of religious belief, but were allowed to maintain their own religious law and practices, even when these conflicted with the teachings of Islam.
Islamic civilization is firmly founded on the concept of ‘rule of law.’ For that reason, the law is published and known, and citizens and courts are expected to uphold it. In addition, Muslim citizens must adhere to Islamic law. If a Muslim citizen commits a religious violation, he is judged according to Islamic law. A non-Muslim citizen is judged in religious issues by the laws of his own faith.
Further, it was deemed unlawful in Islam to desecrate or destroy non-Muslim houses of worship. At first restricted to certain faiths, this category was later extended to include the Hindus of India and other beliefs. A traveler in Muslim lands should not be surprised to see in them churches, synagogues and temples of other faiths, often erected in places of prominence.

While this may be true in the U.S. the remainder of the world it seems is behind the times indeed the New York Post reports that in Indonesia:

Sulawesi, Islamists have deployed roadblocks, armored bulldozers and rocket launchers, thereby isolating the indigenous Christian community. They have also systematically targeted Christians, forcing them to convert, circumcising their children, burning churches and other buildings.

Even as in Bangladesh even worse autocracies are taking place:

Meanwhile, members of minority religions have suffered from ghastly violence, including collective terror. The Nation reports that some Buddhists and Christians were blinded, had fingers cut off or had hands amputated, while "others had iron rods nailed through their legs or abdomen." Women and children have "been gang-raped, often in front of their fathers or husbands." In addition, hundreds of temples were desecrated and statues destroyed; thousands of homes and businesses looted or burned.

Again that is taken from the New York Post. I shudder to think of the things happening to those poor people and my hackles rise against those who would commit such autocracies. These events are not the first of there kind that have come to my attention from news sources across the world. It seems to this writer that there’s a new crusade taking place all around us in the world one where the radical Muslims are taking either through force or attempting to do the same through elections (Turkey’s upcoming elections). A religious war against both the west and non Muslims but more specifically those who are considered infidels (Christian, Buddhists, and other large mainline religions). All religions have there radicals and Christianity and Buddhism are the same there but the difference is that when the radicals get out of line the mainline conservatism pull them back in line. While this doesn’t seem to be happening in the world today as even the traditionally more moderate Saudis have at the very least turned a blind eye to terrorism and at best are funding it under the guise of being more liberal than there cousins in other nations. Islam a peaceful religion the evidence seems to refute this claim at the same time I’ve not seen any of these things here in the states however I highly doubt that or law enforcement would tolerate such events within our boarders so what’s a red blooded American to believe when the evidence refutes the facts... ?

- JMS

October 26, 2002

[01:29 am]

Russian Roulette

Vladimir Putin Russian president and ex-KGB Colonel is in quite a fix as a group of Chechen terrorists have taken some 600 hostages at a crowded Russian theater. The Chechen’s have put Putin in a no win situation. Unless he can overwhelm the Chechens before they manage to set their bomb’s off which according to a teen that was released from the theater are strapped to the terrorists (in classic suicide bomber fashion) as well as to parts of the theater. There will likely be foreign (non-Russian) casualties or at least injuries. The teen is one of the few that have been released or escaped those released were mostly children and Muslims however one French diplomat also was released. Several actors who hid in there dressing rooms managed to escape the theater as well. If Putin acquiesces to the demands of the Chechen’s “the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya” he will not only lose a vital Russian interest he will open the door for more of the same all over the Russian sphere of influence as well as the world. What’s more the loss of Chechnya would open Russia directly to radical Islam movements around the globe and would likely be seen as a great Islamic victory. It can not be overlooked that these Chechens have been trained by and have extremely strong ties to al Qaeda in fact the 9/11 hijackers from Mohammad Atta's Hamburg cell initially joined al Qaeda to fight in Chechnya. According to German court testimony this week by Mounir Motassadeq, a Moroccan who was apparently Atta's moneyman, Atta came to the attention of al Qaeda's inner leadership while training for the Chechnyan jihad. This can hardly be a good thing that these Chechens are on the offensive with the recent warnings here stateside of eminent attacks once again very close attention should be paid to the Russian resolution it could very well set the stage for more of these events around the world including here in the states if it should end badly for the Russians. My prayers go out to those 600 hostages as like it or not Putin can’t give them what they want and I wouldn’t give you a wooden nickel for any of there lives if the Russians go in to the theater to get the hostages out. The leader of the Chechens is a nephew of the infamous “Terminator” warlord Arbi Barayev thus named for 170 people, including three British citizens and a New Zealander who were executed in 1998, supposedly in return for funding from Osama bin Laden. for the next few days at least Russia is going to be in a tight spot and this is one person who hopes they find a way out before the lead starts flying.

October 25, 2002

[10:57 am]

Britt's, Saudis and the Mid-East
Recent events in Qatar, the miniscule nation that boarders Saudi Arabia to the west and to the south the United Arab Emirates, have put some question as to whether or not we will be able to use Qatar as an airbase and support center in the coming war with Iraq. An attempted coup there brings their government to a shaky point of where they may or may not continue to allow US forces to use the massive al-Udeid airbase. The Saudis’ continue to show their true colors towards the US with a recent censorship of an editorial letter in the London based newspaper, al Hayat. Due in large part to this line, "We ask you sincerely to reconsider the tendency . . . to blame everyone but your own leaders and your own society for the problems that your society faces." (i.e. the US) This being too much for the Saudis, they censored it from that paper. But that is hardly the end of it. In the past years (minus the Clinton era), we Americans have struggled to uphold the status quo in the Mid East especially in regards to Israel and their struggle against terrorism. Sept. 11th changed that. US foreign policy reflects that change as we hunt down the varying threads of terrorism. We are unearthing far more than we thought from these dark crevices and finding out who our true friends are in the world. Britain has long been an ally and with recent events seems to be the only like-minded nation in the European theater. These results are not surprising on the continent itself. Again Europe shrugs its’ shoulders and looks for the next Neville Chamberlain. Some people it seems never learn their lessons about history. The Arab world on the other hand is shrieking in protest over the US shift in foreign policy. This mainly due to the Arab worlds ties, both large and small, to terrorism that are just now beginning to surface. On the back drop of all these events is a surprising resurgence globally of radical Islam but that is for another article. It seems that once again lines are being drawn in the sand as to where the world stands. Once again most of Europe sits on the sidelines and the US stands on the frontlines. Well, as we have come to say since Sept. 11th with or without our allies, “Let’s roll!”
-JMS

07-01-02

12:51 pm

Politics it seems has reared its ugly head yet again with the new international court and I thank God for President Bush and his stance on this issue. As someone who is fairly well traveled though only rarely outside of the US, it is not lost on me that the US's Criminal Justice System while not perfect is a far cry better than most other nations. Due to our founding fathers and their foresight in protection of the RIGHTS that the government has. And how it goes about its business in general. Needless to say MOST other nations even some of our allies are no where near as strict with innocent until proven guilty. And while Bush and Annan play a game of point the finger most everyone’s missed the whole point of this why Bush is so strongly opposed to this. We are the last Superpower here in the US and we are also the world’s policemen. And we have more than our share of enemy’s abroad the fear is that for political reasons US citizens and Troops abroad will be charged with things they didn’t do. Furthermore its also an issue that frankly not much of the world understands any more in our increasingly global society National Sovereignty if Europe, Africa and Asia want to throw away theirs more power to them but the God Blessed United States of America is its own country! It’s about time the UN remembered who put them in power it wasn’t one of those third world countries we’ve got OUR troops in to keep the peace if we want to pull them out that’s our prerogative get over it!

- Jms

10:30 am

Had a ruff night last night as I woke up inexplicably around 3 am. Sure something was in the room with me I’m not one to jump at shadows I’m quite convinced that something was indeed in there with me. Especially after I turned the light on and as soon as I did it seemed to physically grow less bright rather like a brown out but it was not that as I leave my computer on and it would have complained should there have been a brown out. Scratch the fact that something had my hackles up and a feeling of being something’s next meal isn’t a pleasant one in the least. It’s worked in the past for me so I tried praising God for a bit and found that while it did work it worked only so long as I was praising as soon as I stopped the feeling of the only way I can aptly describe it is terror returned. Unable to sleep even though I was physically exhausted and could barley keep my eyes open it was to say the least a strange experience and an altogether unpleasant one at that. I got up and got on the net for a bit more to distract myself than anything else since I couldn’t seem to make it leave long enough to get back to sleep. A friend of Jenny was up (in fairness she lives outside the US and it was the middle of the day there. I think, time zones give me fits) basically I asked her to pray for me she volunteered to pray ceaselessly for me so I could fall back asleep. Was frankly a very kind gesture. I lay back down and quickly fell asleep it was indeed a strange and unpleasant experience and not something I care to repeat anytime soon.

- Jms

06-28-02

8:03 am

Thank God Its Friday

Work continues on this site as well as several writeing projects I have going. Stayed up too late last night working on this page I feel like I have a hangover becuse of it oh well the prices that we pay lol.

on a differnt note Vidio games they can be a useful distraction or just a way to relax or an addction ive seen all three heck ive done all three but i donno is there any real value to them? pherhaps perhaps not either way tho i suspect its better than sitting around watching the idot box so i guess they do have at least one redeaming quality if none other the require you to think at least in some form even if it is where is your next target coming from still some of the more dark games well they dont exeactly leave a plesent taste in ones mouth after youve played them for a bit two i am thinking of are Max Pain a visualy stunning FPS (thats First Person Shooter for those illiterate to gaming Jargon) and Deiblo 2 an addtively fun RPG that deals with deamons mainly the killing of them. a very fun if too dark game. I suppose that frankly it all comes down too is the amount of time you spend on them and if they take anyting away from your other realtionships (ie God, Girlfrend {Pers}...ect) still they have their pluses as well they kill time and most are at least marginaly enjoyable in some respect. and can sever as an outlet for energys that might be wasted elsewhere. i guess its a blance of how much and what your as my econimcs proffessor would say opertunity cost for playing around is if nothing else that should give you an idea of whta the costs of playing a game are.

- Jms

06-27-02

3:20 pm

Fasting its a fascinating subject and indeed a powerful one though a recent article on Crosswalk asks and answers some fairly interesting and in-depth questions for as benignly short as the article is it says quite a bit and is very much food for thought. Isaiah (58:6-7, 10) says a lot about fasting and most of it is things that frankly go against the norm. Deny yourself but in doing so raise someone else up that’s a hard one. Or at least much more difficult than simply denying oneself, certainly I can think of many ways to deny myself things but very few indeed I can’t think of any off the top of my head that would raise someone else up at the same time. This is definitely something I shall have to think on.

- Jms

11:45 am

So this is my first entry lets see how it goes. This is a little something I found very interesting especially for the date on it and in light of the recent events with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

""I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?" I -- me, an individual, a committee of one. Pledge -- dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity. Allegiance -- my love and my devotion. To the flag -- our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job! United -- that means that we have all come together. States -- individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country. And to the republic -- a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people. For which it stands, one nation -- one nation, meaning "so blessed by God" Indivisible -- incapable of being divided. With liberty -- which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation. And Justice -- the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others. For all -- which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine. Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance...

UNDER GOD

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said

that is a prayer

and that would be eliminated from schools too?

God Bless America!"

- Red Skelton (1969)

It seems that even all those years ago that Red Skeleton called it where we are told to tolerate everything but Traditional Christian values that this nation despite spin-doctoring, revisionist history, and outright Lies was founded on. Some say our problems started when we took God out of our schools and there can be no doubt that that did indeed exacerbate problems but I would descent in saying no, it started when we took God out of government!

- Jms