At his Restoring Honor rally at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday, Glenn Beck said, “America today begins to turn back to God.” That scares me. It’s because people who say America should “turn back to God” usually don’t like the way I turn to God. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for category Current Affairs
“At ease…”
May 28
It’s Memorial Day weekend in the United States where we get to enjoy a three-day weekend. And I plan to enjoy mine after several busy months. I plan to get caught up on long-standing paperwork and yardwork and perhaps enjoy a relaxing day in the spa.
But I also plan to stop and remember those who made this weekend of leisure possible, the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.
I’ve never served in the Armed Forces or experienced combat, but I know from history and art how horrific war is. I know about the terrible things weapons can do to a person, and how they can rip apart body and mind. I know about the relentless terror and loneliness that courses through a soldier. I’ve also seen what war can do to ordinary citizens caught in its crossfire. We Americans should consider ourselves fortunate that we escaped foreign invasion and occupation as countries in Europe did in twentieth century. We are lucky that we were spared persistent enemy attacks as London suffered during the Blitz in World War II.
It is because of our brave men and women in uniform that we’ve been protected from the horrors of war. They’re why Pearl Harbor and 9/11, though terrible, were one-time attacks and not a continuous state of terror. They risk their lives far away from home so we can sleep comfortably and peacefully in bed at night.
So, as you enjoy your weekend, take a moment and thank those who made it possible.
The price we pay
Apr 15
Today is April 15. It’s the date we Americans must submit our income taxes and complain about doing so.
Here’s the truth about taxes: Nobody likes paying them. Nobody. You don’t like paying them. I don’t like paying them. I’m sure that even Rachel Maddow doesn’t like paying them.
But everyone likes the things government can do for them. Even the lady pictured on the left.
You want to be safe, don’t you? You don’t want the North Koreans, Iranians, or Visigoths ransacking our cities, burning our crops, and selling our women and children into slavery. Nor do you want some moron stealing your HD television to buy more crystal meth. So, we like the national military and local police who protect us.
You want to be able to drive on safe and paved roads, right? And while you’re driving, you want to be able to listen to Rush Limbaugh without other radio stations or CB radios interfering with the signal. So, we like the local goverments that build and pave our roads and the FCC that regulates the airwaves. Read the rest of this entry »
One of the things that makes democracy possible is the free and respectful exchange of ideas. This is why I’m appalled by disruptions of town hall meetings.
My disgust has nothing to do with my opinion about health care reform, although I don’t see why having a public option for health insurance is “tyranny.” Tyranny is one group of people try to impose their views on others through force and intimidation. I also don’t see why President Obama is a “fascist” for proposing changes in health care. Fascists in 1930s Germany stormed opposition party meetings and shouted down political opponents. They usually followed this with physical violence. Fortunately, these town hall disruptions haven’t denegrated to this level, but we’re getting dangerously close to that.
And don’t blow off my concerns by calling me a “liberal”. Liberal and conservative have nothing to do with this. What’s at stake is our Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and assembly. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve been reading I Don’t Believe in Atheists by Chris Hedges. I wanted to find out if his premise, the current generation of atheists like Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens is no better than the most extreme religious fundamentalists, is correct. So, I listened to freethoughtradio.com. They played a show that gushed praise on Thomas Jefferson for his rational thinking and Enlightenment values. This was followed by an interview with a leader of the “National Socialist Workers’ Party of America” on how he wants to “defend our proud Aryan race.” You win, Chris.
