2012 And The End Of The World (here)
Can Texas Secede From The Union (here)
History Lesson For The History Channel (here)
Gimme A Knife (Written by Gladius Maximus)
Last Sunday the Pastor posed the question of what we would consider to be necessities in today’s life. He gave some statistics from an earlier, time, maybe 50 or so years ago, wherein there were only about 19 things listed whereas in the current time were listed about 98 items. I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but those are close. Wow, 98 items considered necessities for an American.
Well, me being me, when he said “necessities” I immediately began thinking of survival, as opposed to microwave ovens and hand-held devices. The first item on my list was a good knife as I figured with a good knife I could either build or kill my way into most everything else. With some effort, after reaching only about five essential items on my list, I quit the inventory and got back to the sermon. Since then, though, I’ve had a chance to reflect on that question and the meaning of it to our society.
It came to me that our inability as Americans to survive in meager circumstances, or put another way, our dependence on technology, gadgets and the government, is evidence of the decay of character in our society. By that, I mean, our inability to be independent, innovative and willing to put up with hardship reflects how truly weak we have become. Our lack of perseverance in the face of adversity is evidence of our impotence. Unless we are surrounded by what many in the world would consider sumptuousness, we don’t believe we can make it.
If we don’t get our water out of a tap from a government approved water system, where will we get it? If we don’t get our protein from the local mega-store, sliced, diced, shrink-wrapped and priced, how do we get it and process it? If the burners on the range don’t work, or if we at least can’t get charcoal for the grill, how do we cook it? Need vegetables? How do they grow? Where do we get seed? When our shoes wear out, what do we do? When it’s cold outside, how do we stay warm?
I understand that folks growing up in the cities don’t have some of the outdoor opportunities that some of us have, but I am convinced that there are opportunities to develop individuality, independence, self-confidence and other survival skills without having to spend a year in the Rockies on some kind of sabbatical. Survival is more a mind-set than a setting. Attitude is everything.
Being innovative and imaginative is essential whether you’re in downtown Houston or central Nebraska. Skills of observation and patience are not natural talents, but acquired skills; both are essential and both can be acquired through discipline. The ability to reason and employ a rational, decision making process is needed in order to survive and thrive. Again, that is an acquired skill. Determination, grit if you will, is a trait to be cherished, not erased.
Why do I address this idea of necessities and survival in this column? What, you may ask, does that have to do with Taking Back America?
Our nation was founded by independent free-thinkers who were able to craft in their collective imaginations the essence of liberty. That imagination did not come from a dependence on the Crown of England to provide for their every need, but a willingness to be innovative; a willingness to persevere in the face of scarcity; a willingness to survive. The lack of that spirit is at the heart of the troubles we now face in America.
Health care issues; let the government fix them. Poor education in our schools, the government will fix it. Lack of discipline in the schools, we will regulate that by the government, too. Economy is weak; the government will provide for us. Coffee too hot at McDonald’s, let’s file a lawsuit. Offended by someone’s callous comments, get legislation to make that a hate crime. Don’t want to pray in public, make sure nobody else can either through lawsuits and legislation. Too lazy to work, go on welfare. Too lazy to get job training, get welfare. Want to make the stupid decision to quit school; that’s ok, there’s welfare for that, too. Have babies out of wedlock because of dumb decisions; that’s ok, we will give you money, medical care, food stamps and tell you it is a personal decision (even though tax money from productive citizens supports your dumb choices).
Whatever the problems we may face, the government will take care of us; cradle to grave. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the problem.
We have lost our independent spirit. We have lost the ability to innovate. We have lost the desire to stand on our own. We no longer want to be self-sufficient. We no longer teach our children what discipline is and why it is important. In short, we have become a nation of parasites.
Fortunately, not all of us are parasites as there are still enough productive tax payers out there to support the rest who are, but the numbers are dwindling. The decisions being made in congress will continue the crippling of our society until finally, the parasites will be the majority. And, when the parasites are the majority, we will be finished.
As for me, though, I’ll take a good knife.
Filed under American Character, Food for Thought, Gladius Maximus
KT McFarland Analyzes Benghazi Report
Fox news analyst, KT McFarland, warns of a worsening situation in the Mid-East and paints a pretty grim picture of the Obama foreign policy failures (here)
Filed under Foreign Policy
A Few Blog Notes
I’m slowly learning how to get posts up on this blog, so please be patient and feel free to offer technical advice and suggestions. My friend, Gladius Maximus, has many great ideas and I’m going to post them here. I figured out how to do the drop-down category menu and I’ve added Gladius Maximus, where I’ll group all his posts. I’m hoping he’ll give me permission to post a great piece he wrote on a knife (hint, hint).
Filed under Blog Notes
Gladius Maximus on President Obama and Psy
President Obama greets Psy
Unless you’ve been down with the flu in an isolation ward for two weeks you may have heard about the public rants made by the entertainer (loose description) from Korea named Psy. Basically, he publicly proclaimed a while back that all in the US military were baby-killers and that they, their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers should be killed, mutilated and scorned. Not exactly pro-American, especially during two active wars. You can go to YouTube and find out what all he said and where.
Enter BHO for the annual Christmas bash in DC. Hail to the Chief! Whatever left-wing radical, liberal nut-job producer was in charge of the program, they put Psy on it. BHO had an opportunity to be busy and not attend. But, no he decided he should attend. That was bad enough. But for the low-life, scum-sucking mule of a person we call president to actually go gripping and grinning with someone who should be charged under federal law with a hate crime is criminal in and of itself. See the picture. Its a wonder he didn’t bow.
How long, liberals, will you continue to put up with having our nation’s face rubbed in the manure pile by that guy? Have you no national pride? Have you no concern for our military. I have to tell you, if you still support that man I am seriously in doubt of your being a patriot. OK, respect the office and all that. But support the man as he continues to demean every principle on which this country stands? You like ObamaCare; well I think you’re wrong but that is opinion. You want to raise my taxes; I disagree but won’t disown you for it. But to continue to put up with this kind of reprehensible action, I don’t get it. Not now, never will.
Filed under Gladius Maximus
Pet Peeves Post #1
Hi everyone! Since this topic is sure to warrant many additional posts, I’ve decided to designate this post #1. In the past decade it’s become socially acceptable to wander about in public in pajamas. I’ve seen this same customer meandering in our local big box store numerous times wearing a long flowing nightgown that trails on the floor by about a foot on her 5-foot tall frame. The hem of this nightgown has more holes than Swiss cheese, and needless to say, from about her knees down the gown is filthy. Oblivious to the stares, she prances along, head held high, as if she were a beauty pageant contestant.
This afternoon my husband and I were eating at an Olive Garden when I beheld the sight of a lady at a nearby table. This rather large woman decided her bright pink Mickey Mouse pajamas were appropriate attire to go out to lunch. What are people thinking??? At first this trend seemed to be lazy college students and other young people, but now I see people of all ages, out and about, in public wearing sleepwear as outerwear.
Judging by my views on this subject, maybe, I’m out of date. Here is a Slate piece championing pajamas in public. And apparently wearing pajamas in public (here) has been in vogue in China for years and under attack by many public officials trying to burnish the Chinese image globally. Now, I’m not for banning pajamas in public and considering the state of American culture, pajamas rank pretty low on the offensive meter. Still let’s hope this fad passes quickly. It ranks right up there with my disgust of tattoos, earlobe stretching, sagging britches and flip flops worn as dress shoes/sandals with dresses. I’ll console myself that at least this bright pink Mickey Mouse eyesore wore a bra, so at least we were spared a more jarring image. Understandably, this carbon dates my fashion sense to almost antique status. I grew-up having my mother drill it into my head that a slip was a must under every dress or skirt. Now, I often see slips worn in lieu of dresses and bras worn as tops, which is a whole other topic. So, in the spirit of bad taste, I’ll post one more link (here). Smile, despite this minor annoyance, it’s still great to live in America!
Filed under Pet Peeves
Judge Bork Dies
Steven Calabresi at National Review penned a remembrance on the passing of Judge Robert Bork, one the finest legal minds in America, here. The thing I remember about Judge Bork was that during his many TV appearances and interviews he possessed that rare ability to turn complex constitutional issues into elegant, simple terms, that even a layperson on the law could understand. I was a long-time fan.
Filed under Politics
Must See Video
I came across this video on the 2nd Amendment last night on another blog. Definitely one of the most eloquent explanations of the gun control issue I’ve ever come across.
Filed under Gun Control
Another Viewpoint from Gladius Maximus
My friend, Gladius Maximus emailed me some thoughts on gun control. I agree with him and like I told my sons. I sure wouldn’t want to be tasked with confiscating guns, lol. Here are Gladius Maximus’ comments:
In the Army I learned to never give an order I did not expect to be obeyed. I wonder if the gun control advocates have thought about how to enforce an order to confiscate about a hundred million firearms (out of about 300 million). I rather doubt it. The logistics would be unbelievable and labor intensive. Virtually all other law enforcement would have to cease for a considerable period of time in order to do it. Even it took only an hour a weapons, that’s a lot of time. There would undoubtedly be resistance — from me for just one — which would create confrontations throughout the land. More time. Then, of course, we have to consider the 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution dealing with unreasonable searches and seizures. Or do we just want to dump that part of the Constitution since we would be in the process of getting rid of the 2nd Amendment already? How about those who have a vocal protest against such state actions as covered by the 1st Amendment. Oh, wait, we have to suspend that Amendment as well. Rather than come up with practical, affordable solutions to secure school campuses, it is so much easier to rail against “The Gun” as if it has a life of its own. Our once great country was founded on one principle that well-informed, well-trained and armed citizens could and would protect themselves and their property. We have now reached a point where there are many uninformed, untrained and unarmed sheep in our society open to the predatory actions of wolves. In biblical times, the sheep were kept secure in closed pens or guarded by sheep dogs. I suggest that our baby lambs be kept secure in closed schools and guarded by sheep dogs as well. And, I’m a sheep dog. There are many like me.
Gladius Maximus
Filed under Gladius Maximus
Benghazi: A Fading Memory
Well, after rattling on about gun control for a few days, I thought I’d do a flashback to Benghazi. The President wants to protect Americans from guns, but he couldn’t even be bothered to protect his own ambassador in Libya. So, let’s face the hypocrisy straight on, what the heck was Ambassador Stevens doing in Benghazi? All clues lead me to believe that President Obama had Ambassador Stevens engaged in gun-running for the Syrian opposition. What are the odds these guns turn out to be more of those infamous “assault weapons”? So, this administration wanted to do a end run around Congress and funnel weapons to some rebels, no problem. The press suffered collective amnesia and didn’t bother to investigate or question. I must have missed their calls for an Iran/Contra type investigation. Why didn’t the State Department do a better job protecting the ambassador? Why didn’t the White House or anyone in our national security chain lift a finger to help the ambassador and those former Special Forces operators who begged for help when they were attacked by Al Qaeda thugs? The press never wanted to touch this story and they kept burying this shameful display of dereliction of duty. Now, with the media ready to whip up the public sentiment about gun-control, the mainstream media will avoid the Benghazi story.
The Washington Post reports (here) that the commission Hillary Clinton appointed to investigate Benghazi presented it’s report to lawmakers today. Serendipitously, Hillary faints, suffers a concussion and dodges appearing before Congress Thursday. What amazingly convenient timing……. She can make her exit, reputation intact, and dust off any lingering specks of Benghazi desert sand from her coattails. Expect more tightly scripted responses, a’la Susan Rice’s “there’s no terrorism here” style, from the minions who will testify in Hillary’s place.
This President’s administration has let guns walk into the hands of Mexican drug cartels. He let his own ambassador die at the hands of terrorists while said ambassador appears to have been engaged in arranging arms transfers to Syrian bands of rebel (some of who are Al Qaeda affiliated). Now, when a radical Islamist opened fire on innocents at Fort Hood, well, his administration did nothing about that. They insist on calling that act of terrorism, simply “workplace violence”. Funny thing, I don’t know off-hand what type of weapon MAJ Hasan used and I am sure if the press had emphasized that detail, I would remember. I’m wondering if it was an “assault weapon”. I found this ( a hand gun and another weapon) from The New York Times. A quick search and alas, here’s the UK Telegraph report. I must have missed the President’s concern about that mass shooting in the barrage of wailing about how our troops needed to not use this incident to denigrate Islam. And in the wake of that our military launched, not an investigation into radical Islamist activity within our military, but instead they rammed into place Islamic sensitivity training for the military. So, our troops will know that when Islamic radicals try to kill them in the name of Allah, never fear, Islam means peace and it’s our troops failure at sensitivity and that instigated the murder…. They’ve hired on Islamic “experts”, many with dubious backgrounds, to re-educate our troops about Islam…….. I recall the many reports about how in Afghanistan this President insisted on very restrictive rules of engagement, placing more concern on Afghan sensitivities than on our soldiers’ lives. Yes, President Obama likes battlefield gun control too. No talk of victory or neutralizing the enemy – no, no, none of that. We were on a mission to win the hearts and minds…. Even when it became obvious our troops faced a serious threat from the very Afghan recruits they were training and arming, this administration still downplayed this and emphasized that our troops lacked enough awareness of Afghan sensitivities. No word about the dangers of placing “assault weapons” into the hands of people with a culture decidedly geared toward barbarism. Nope, it was our troops fault for angering them.
So, putting guns into the hands of Al Qaeda affiliated rebels in Libya and Syria is okay. Putting guns into the hands of Mexican criminals is okay too. Putting guns into the hands of Afghan recruits, with an alarming propensity to turn them on our troops was okay too. But this President wants to make sure he limits access to guns by law-abiding American citizens??? What is wrong with this picture??? Oops, I detoured back to gun control again. I promise tomorrow I’ll talk about something different.
On a more serious note here are links to very thoughtful pieces on the school shooting. The first piece, by Pat Buchanen will make you think about evil. The second piece offers a straight-forward take on this tragedy by Thomas Sowell.
Filed under Gun Control
