(The following was published in the Newsleader on November 6, 2009)
Their blood has been spilled in the mountains and fields of Europe. Their body parts have been scattered over the swamps and jungles of Asia and the deserts of The Middle East and North Africa. Some have found their eternal rest in the watery graves of the North Atlantic and the South Pacific. Boys became men and little girls grew into women in defense of liberty and freedom. Still they answered the call. When this great nation needed them they came. They came by the thousands and tens of thousands. They came not to be heroes but that is the way it turned out. They are the veterans we honor today. Some came home in flag draped coffins. Some came home missing limbs and with bad dreams of the horrors they witnessed and dealt with. Still they answered the call. Some veterans gave their all and some just gave their time. Either way, they gave and continue to give today.
Today we pay tribute to war veterans, but we also pay tribute to those who put their lives on hold to enter the military service in times of peace to stand as a barrier against the evil in the world. Like all veterans, you too answered the call. By your presence you stood as a deterrent to those tyrants and thugs who would seek to destroy our freedom and our way of life. For your service you were paid poor wages and fed questionable food. Often you were required to sacrifice many of the freedoms you enjoyed in civilian life. But still you came.
Some returned from an unpopular war to a less than friendly welcome home. To those who felt they had to get out of their uniforms quickly, we apologize. To those who participated in the unfriendly welcome, shame on you. It may be helpful for you to know soldiers and sailors don't get to choose what orders they obey. They are trained as warriors and they put their lives on the line for your freedom when they are called to do so. Today we honor those among you who suffered such treatment. May we never again be so ungrateful as a people.
To the families who give up so much. You have given this country your sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, as well as neighbors and friends. Today we also honor you. No one could ever understand your fear or the feelings you experience when your loved ones are in harm's way unless they have been in your shoes. But still you stand and wait. Please do so in the knowledge that a grateful nation loves you and appreciates your sacrifice.
America has set aside but one day out of the year to honor our warriors, our military, our veterans, but I say every day should be Veteran's Day. Not a day should go by that we all should not pay tribute to those who answer the call and serve. As has been said so many times, freedom is not free. To those among you who have paid the price and answered the call, we will never forget. A grateful nation honors you this day and every day.
Ron Scarbro Veterans Day 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND THE MILITARY
Just another nut job with a gun? I am talking about the maniac who shot up Ft. Hood and killed, as of this writing, thirteen people. I am going to ask some questions with this column.
When I first heard of the incident my first thought was that this had to be the work of Muslim extremists. Now why would I think that? To me it is obvious. They are the group of people who do this sort of thing. Before you get all excited and yell at me, I know there are other nut jobs in the world and in our own country who commit heinous acts. I am aware of the Oklahoma City bomber as well as so many others who have perpetrated all sorts of mayhem on us in the name of some sort of real or imagined cause. When I first heard of the Oklahoma City bombing I thought that was probably a Muslim act also. When I see a person in Muslim costume or hear of a person with a Middle Eastern surname, I wonder if they are also fanatics. Am I profiling? You bet I am. Is it fair on my part? I think it is. I am automatically suspicious of all things Muslim. Whose fault is that? I'll give you two seconds to come up with an answer. If you answered it is the fault of the Muslims, you get a gold star.
As it turns out, the killer from Ft. Hood was in fact a practicing Muslim. He also had a Middle Eastern surname. The fact that he was a doctor and a Major in the army is superseded by the fact that he was a Muslim. It has been reported that during his shooting spree that he was shouting "Allah Akbar", which I am told is loosely translated as "God is Great". It appears to be the favorite phrase of Muslim crazies who commit suicide bombings and was the phrase used by those same morons during the 9-11 attacks.
Here is a question. How does a Muslim extremist who has clearly expressed his negative opinion on our war against terrorists get to be a Major as well as a doctor in the US Army? Did he escape detection? Or was his insanity ignored because of "political correctness"? After all he was an officer and a gentleman in the US Army. What he did was not the act of an officer or a gentleman however. What he did was the act of a homicidal maniac.
Political correctness is bad enough when it is practiced in the private sector but when it is practiced in the military it can become quite deadly as evidenced by the events of November 5.
It is well past time for this particular leftist concept to be tossed from our lexicon. If some person or group of people is offended by another's definition of them in a free country with free speech, that is just too bad. Taking offense seems to be the latest malady infecting people who under value themselves, and frankly I'm tired of it.
From all I can learn at this point, this particular killer was born in my free country, educated in my free schools, wearing the uniform of my country's army, and enjoyed the life of any free American. It is quite apparent however that his loyalty was somewhere else. The time has come and gone for us to root out these morons and deal with them. We have one flag, one country, and one loyalty. If you want to live here, get used to it or get out. If you are offended by these statements, that is just too damned bad.
Ron Scarbro November 6, 2009
When I first heard of the incident my first thought was that this had to be the work of Muslim extremists. Now why would I think that? To me it is obvious. They are the group of people who do this sort of thing. Before you get all excited and yell at me, I know there are other nut jobs in the world and in our own country who commit heinous acts. I am aware of the Oklahoma City bomber as well as so many others who have perpetrated all sorts of mayhem on us in the name of some sort of real or imagined cause. When I first heard of the Oklahoma City bombing I thought that was probably a Muslim act also. When I see a person in Muslim costume or hear of a person with a Middle Eastern surname, I wonder if they are also fanatics. Am I profiling? You bet I am. Is it fair on my part? I think it is. I am automatically suspicious of all things Muslim. Whose fault is that? I'll give you two seconds to come up with an answer. If you answered it is the fault of the Muslims, you get a gold star.
As it turns out, the killer from Ft. Hood was in fact a practicing Muslim. He also had a Middle Eastern surname. The fact that he was a doctor and a Major in the army is superseded by the fact that he was a Muslim. It has been reported that during his shooting spree that he was shouting "Allah Akbar", which I am told is loosely translated as "God is Great". It appears to be the favorite phrase of Muslim crazies who commit suicide bombings and was the phrase used by those same morons during the 9-11 attacks.
Here is a question. How does a Muslim extremist who has clearly expressed his negative opinion on our war against terrorists get to be a Major as well as a doctor in the US Army? Did he escape detection? Or was his insanity ignored because of "political correctness"? After all he was an officer and a gentleman in the US Army. What he did was not the act of an officer or a gentleman however. What he did was the act of a homicidal maniac.
Political correctness is bad enough when it is practiced in the private sector but when it is practiced in the military it can become quite deadly as evidenced by the events of November 5.
It is well past time for this particular leftist concept to be tossed from our lexicon. If some person or group of people is offended by another's definition of them in a free country with free speech, that is just too bad. Taking offense seems to be the latest malady infecting people who under value themselves, and frankly I'm tired of it.
From all I can learn at this point, this particular killer was born in my free country, educated in my free schools, wearing the uniform of my country's army, and enjoyed the life of any free American. It is quite apparent however that his loyalty was somewhere else. The time has come and gone for us to root out these morons and deal with them. We have one flag, one country, and one loyalty. If you want to live here, get used to it or get out. If you are offended by these statements, that is just too damned bad.
Ron Scarbro November 6, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
LIVE LIKE YOU ARE DYING
When I first sat down in front of this computer to write this weeks' blog, it was my intention to write about the moron who decided that he and his honor were offended by none other than his own daughter, and further decided that because of his twisted idea of religion he was required to kill that daughter. Her offense? Becoming too westernized. You have read the story. He ran her and a friend down in his car putting them both in the hospital. As of this writing his daughter is still in critical condition. My mere words could never do justice to the feelings I have about this barbaric act. If I had my way, I would gut shoot him with buckshot and feed him to a herd of feral hogs. But, of course, I am not in charge so I will have to let our judicial system deal with this sub-human idiot.
You, my readers, are far too intelligent to have to hear my thoughts about these third world, ignorant, cave dwelling, freaks. So, today I wish to be more philosophical.
Here's my simple question. If you knew you were living in your last week of life, what, if anything, would you do differently? How would you spend that time? What, if anything, would you change? What would your meals consist of? Would you eat that hot fudge sundae? Who would you spend your time with? What would you worry about? Someone recently told me that the first thing he would do is light up a cigarette. I probably understand that. The questions could run on and on but I think you get my direction.
As for me, I think about this once in a while. I just had my 69th birthday so my age alone should alert me to the fact that time is fleeting. But consider this, being young doesn't necessarily guarantee you a tomorrow or a next week. By the same token, being older doesn't mean that you are living in your last hours either.
Here is what it gets down to. How am I spending my time? Is it being wasted? Tim McGraw recently released a song entitled "Live like you are dying". That is the message of this writing today. We don't know what tomorrow may bring. We have all lost friends and relatives and felt the sorrow of that loss. Our friends and relatives will feel that same sorrow when we are gone. But this message is not about dying. It is instead about living. It is about enjoying our time on this earth whether that time is measured in hours, days, or decades. It is simple enough to be distracted by the idiots in this world who do vile and vicious things to each other. My challenge to you and to me is to live our lives as if we were dying. Here is a simple task. Consider what you would order for your last meal on earth, then go out and have it. How easy is that?
Don't get me wrong. It's okay to be aware of things going on in the world, but, there is nothing gained by dwelling on them. Priorities, priorities, that is my message. Do you have debts? I am not talking about monetary debts. No, I am talking about emotional debts. Do you owe any "I love yous"? Do you owe any "I am glad to have you as my friend"? Have you told your kids how proud you are of them? Have you told your mate how your life has been made whole by his or her being in it? That is the living I am talking about.
My final point is this. If you were about to draw your last breath, is there anything you have left unsaid? If so, say it now.
Ron Scarbro November 1, 2009
You, my readers, are far too intelligent to have to hear my thoughts about these third world, ignorant, cave dwelling, freaks. So, today I wish to be more philosophical.
Here's my simple question. If you knew you were living in your last week of life, what, if anything, would you do differently? How would you spend that time? What, if anything, would you change? What would your meals consist of? Would you eat that hot fudge sundae? Who would you spend your time with? What would you worry about? Someone recently told me that the first thing he would do is light up a cigarette. I probably understand that. The questions could run on and on but I think you get my direction.
As for me, I think about this once in a while. I just had my 69th birthday so my age alone should alert me to the fact that time is fleeting. But consider this, being young doesn't necessarily guarantee you a tomorrow or a next week. By the same token, being older doesn't mean that you are living in your last hours either.
Here is what it gets down to. How am I spending my time? Is it being wasted? Tim McGraw recently released a song entitled "Live like you are dying". That is the message of this writing today. We don't know what tomorrow may bring. We have all lost friends and relatives and felt the sorrow of that loss. Our friends and relatives will feel that same sorrow when we are gone. But this message is not about dying. It is instead about living. It is about enjoying our time on this earth whether that time is measured in hours, days, or decades. It is simple enough to be distracted by the idiots in this world who do vile and vicious things to each other. My challenge to you and to me is to live our lives as if we were dying. Here is a simple task. Consider what you would order for your last meal on earth, then go out and have it. How easy is that?
Don't get me wrong. It's okay to be aware of things going on in the world, but, there is nothing gained by dwelling on them. Priorities, priorities, that is my message. Do you have debts? I am not talking about monetary debts. No, I am talking about emotional debts. Do you owe any "I love yous"? Do you owe any "I am glad to have you as my friend"? Have you told your kids how proud you are of them? Have you told your mate how your life has been made whole by his or her being in it? That is the living I am talking about.
My final point is this. If you were about to draw your last breath, is there anything you have left unsaid? If so, say it now.
Ron Scarbro November 1, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
OBAMA AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT
I hope you have been aware of the latest shenanigans from the Obama Administration. Apparently they have decided to declare war on Fox News. Last Sunday their minions were out spreading the word that Fox News was not a legitimate news organization. Why? Could it be that Fox doesn't give the Obama Administration the coverage that Obama believes they should? It would seem that the only news the President would have us receive is positive pro-Obama coverage. Any criticism of the current administration should be outlawed. The latest threat was last night when Obama himself said that his administration would continue to monitor Fox for their compliance. Well guess what? There is an old adage that goes like this, "never pick a fight with anybody who buys ink by the gallon." When the Administration recently decided to offer a news event for reporters but to exclude Fox, fortunately for this country and our Constitution, the other news organizations declined to cover the event. This rebuff by the news media should be sufficient to let the Administration know that that is not the way it is done here in America. No elected official, not even the President, gets to choose who covers the news or the content of that coverage.
The reason for this latest attempt by Obama to try and control the news media and their access is very simple to understand. The Obama Administration is afraid. They and their proposals are in free fall and have been for some time. Obama's poll numbers are now at the lowest of any President on record at this point in their term. There are now rumblings that Obama will not survive a full term let alone win a second term. Some have said that the Democrats have the goods necessary to ask for his resignation at any time they choose to do so. If the Democrats, as expected, suffer huge losses at the mid term elections, it will not be pretty for Obama or his administration. I, however, do not believe we as a country need this type of Constitutional crisis.
Being the kind and helpful individual that I am, let me offer some thoughts to this administration. How about some study material? Number one, I recommend reading and committing to memory the first amendment to the Constitution. For edification I'll spell it out. "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances." I don't know about you, but that seems pretty clear to me. Secondly, perhaps a study of the Nixon White House might be helpful. Nixon had his enemies list and it ultimately led in part to his complete down fall as President. Some, including me, thought that Nixon saw himself as something of an Emperor. That turned out to be a fatal mistake. Any good that Nixon could have done was compromised by his arrogance and his phobias. His legacy is clear and it is not very flattering. There is helpful information here for the Obama Administration. Please note there is a difference between governing and ruling.
On this final note I offer this. Our President is not our Emperor. He is elected by the people and he can be removed by the people. If Obama is to have any success, he would do well to come back down to earth and face the facts. He doesn't make law. He doesn't rule. He is not above the law. To be successful, he must have the people with him. A little humility is definitely in order. He may well have some good ideas and changes that would be good for the country, but it is not going to happen if he refuses to obey the law and tries to circumvent the Constitution.
Ron Scarbro October 23, 2009
The reason for this latest attempt by Obama to try and control the news media and their access is very simple to understand. The Obama Administration is afraid. They and their proposals are in free fall and have been for some time. Obama's poll numbers are now at the lowest of any President on record at this point in their term. There are now rumblings that Obama will not survive a full term let alone win a second term. Some have said that the Democrats have the goods necessary to ask for his resignation at any time they choose to do so. If the Democrats, as expected, suffer huge losses at the mid term elections, it will not be pretty for Obama or his administration. I, however, do not believe we as a country need this type of Constitutional crisis.
Being the kind and helpful individual that I am, let me offer some thoughts to this administration. How about some study material? Number one, I recommend reading and committing to memory the first amendment to the Constitution. For edification I'll spell it out. "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances." I don't know about you, but that seems pretty clear to me. Secondly, perhaps a study of the Nixon White House might be helpful. Nixon had his enemies list and it ultimately led in part to his complete down fall as President. Some, including me, thought that Nixon saw himself as something of an Emperor. That turned out to be a fatal mistake. Any good that Nixon could have done was compromised by his arrogance and his phobias. His legacy is clear and it is not very flattering. There is helpful information here for the Obama Administration. Please note there is a difference between governing and ruling.
On this final note I offer this. Our President is not our Emperor. He is elected by the people and he can be removed by the people. If Obama is to have any success, he would do well to come back down to earth and face the facts. He doesn't make law. He doesn't rule. He is not above the law. To be successful, he must have the people with him. A little humility is definitely in order. He may well have some good ideas and changes that would be good for the country, but it is not going to happen if he refuses to obey the law and tries to circumvent the Constitution.
Ron Scarbro October 23, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
WHAT ARE YOUR POLITICS???
(The following was published in the Newsleader on October 9, 2009)
Regardless of your politics, you are probably not in the majority. Does that surprise you? This is the way it breaks down. At any given time approximately forty percent of Americans consider themselves Republican or conservative types with more traditional thinking, and another forty percent deem themselves Democrat with more liberal or progressive thinking. That leaves about twenty percent of Americans who might be considered independent or even apathetic. Some may see themselves as not political at all with no concern for the way government is run or by whom. Many of these do not even know where they are on the political scale. Many are Democrat or Republican because their parents are. Some continue the tradition of their families thinking. I am convinced that many many people, who profess a particular preference politically speaking, do not truly know what that party stands for.
Why is this important? What does it all mean to us? Consider this. When an individual decides to run for a partisan political office, they assume a forty percent support from their "base". That means if they are to be elected, they must pick up approximately eleven percent of the independent or apathetic others. In the vast majority of elections, those who are voted in are elected by a bare fifty percent of the electorate or less. The so called mandate some consider having is no mandate at all. Rarely do elections generate more than a fifty percent turnout.
Here is another thing to consider. When one of our political representatives says something like, "This is what the American people want", or "This is the way America sees this issue", what they are really saying is "This is what I think and probably the less than fifty percent of people who elected me think". As you can see from the numbers, no particular individual is in the majority. There are probably very few things on which a vast majority of Americans would agree. It also follows that when a politician offers a partisan opinion, he or she should count on up to sixty percent opposition to that opinion.
Today we are seeing partisanship being practiced to the detriment of our country as a whole. One party cannot stand the other party being successful because it might give them an advantage in the next election. It becomes clear then that most politicians want what is best for them, not necessarily what is best for the country.
Throughout the history of this great Republic we have made choices at elections and for the most part have made good decisions. On those few occasions when we have made less than stellar picks, we have corrected that decision in the next election. America is not going to disappear just because one particular party or another is in power regardless of their politics. We the people are in charge even though some politicians don't like it. Time and again in our history we have seen long time so called powerful politicians defeated at the polls when it is in the best interest of the country.
What remains a constant in America is this, there will be another election soon. If you are dissatisfied with the way things are, work to elect someone who will more reflect your thinking. If you are pleased with the direction of the country, work to retain those who govern as you desire. We all should let our elected representatives know what we think. Tell them when they do well and criticize them when they mess up. Another constant is this, the majority of Americans truly love their country regardless of their politics.
Ron Scarbro September 21, 2009
Regardless of your politics, you are probably not in the majority. Does that surprise you? This is the way it breaks down. At any given time approximately forty percent of Americans consider themselves Republican or conservative types with more traditional thinking, and another forty percent deem themselves Democrat with more liberal or progressive thinking. That leaves about twenty percent of Americans who might be considered independent or even apathetic. Some may see themselves as not political at all with no concern for the way government is run or by whom. Many of these do not even know where they are on the political scale. Many are Democrat or Republican because their parents are. Some continue the tradition of their families thinking. I am convinced that many many people, who profess a particular preference politically speaking, do not truly know what that party stands for.
Why is this important? What does it all mean to us? Consider this. When an individual decides to run for a partisan political office, they assume a forty percent support from their "base". That means if they are to be elected, they must pick up approximately eleven percent of the independent or apathetic others. In the vast majority of elections, those who are voted in are elected by a bare fifty percent of the electorate or less. The so called mandate some consider having is no mandate at all. Rarely do elections generate more than a fifty percent turnout.
Here is another thing to consider. When one of our political representatives says something like, "This is what the American people want", or "This is the way America sees this issue", what they are really saying is "This is what I think and probably the less than fifty percent of people who elected me think". As you can see from the numbers, no particular individual is in the majority. There are probably very few things on which a vast majority of Americans would agree. It also follows that when a politician offers a partisan opinion, he or she should count on up to sixty percent opposition to that opinion.
Today we are seeing partisanship being practiced to the detriment of our country as a whole. One party cannot stand the other party being successful because it might give them an advantage in the next election. It becomes clear then that most politicians want what is best for them, not necessarily what is best for the country.
Throughout the history of this great Republic we have made choices at elections and for the most part have made good decisions. On those few occasions when we have made less than stellar picks, we have corrected that decision in the next election. America is not going to disappear just because one particular party or another is in power regardless of their politics. We the people are in charge even though some politicians don't like it. Time and again in our history we have seen long time so called powerful politicians defeated at the polls when it is in the best interest of the country.
What remains a constant in America is this, there will be another election soon. If you are dissatisfied with the way things are, work to elect someone who will more reflect your thinking. If you are pleased with the direction of the country, work to retain those who govern as you desire. We all should let our elected representatives know what we think. Tell them when they do well and criticize them when they mess up. Another constant is this, the majority of Americans truly love their country regardless of their politics.
Ron Scarbro September 21, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
OCTOBER MORON OF THE MONTH
From time to time I think I will stop this particular column. I have in the past received criticism for use of the word "moron", and have also suffered some criticism for being so "judgmental". I considered these issues, I thought about them, but I decided to continue the columns anyway. After all somebody has to keep the morons in line. Why not me?
Today's choice is a no brainer. The honor goes this month to that bastion of integrity, that arbiter of all things pure and proper, none other than the Nobel Committee. Now I know they have really messed up things in the past, for example, Yassar Arafat, Al Gore, or Jimmie Carter, but this time Alfred Nobel has to be turning in his grave. Selecting Barak Obama as this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has even the most liberal thinkers of the world scratching their heads not to mention the recipient himself.
This column however is not a criticism of Obama. He had nothing to do with this I don't think. For all I know he may well prove to be a prime candidate for this award some day. That might occur some time in the future when he has had an opportunity to grow up, learn his job, perform his duties, and become the statesman he probably thinks he already is. For your information his name was placed in nomination for the peace prize when he had served less than two weeks as President. It is obvious to me, and should be to anyone with an ounce of intelligence, that his selection had nothing to do with peace, or achievement, or service to the community of nations, or anything one might consider necessary for this prize. This is something much more sinister.
Selecting Obama is an overt attempt by European liberals to inflict themselves on America and inject their opinions into our foreign policy. It is an attempt to direct our conduct in world affairs. Their own statement that Obama has as a goal the elimination of all nuclear weapons in the world is at best wishful thinking on their part. There has been no such statement coming from Obama. He knows better. It would surely be great if this Utopian concept of a world at peace with their neighbors, all religious differences set aside, all border disputes ignored, and all the crazies held down and not ascending to positions of leadership, were possible, but of course that is nonsense. True world peace is achieved by mutually assured total destruction. That is what we have today. That keeps the war mongers at bay and offers us the best chance of a peaceful life. All the world powers know that if they strike out with any nuclear weapon, they would be eliminated immediately. When lunatics such as Iran and North Korea have these weapons, that somewhat changes the game plan, but their total destruction is guaranteed if they strike us or any of our allies.
Norway, and for that matter most of Europe, exists today because of America's willingness to spend our treasury, send our troops and materiel, and to spill our blood for their defense. What peace we have in the world today is the result of our war making ability and our commitment to making sure that peace can occur. Neville Chamberlain proved to the world that appeasement is the road to defeat and ultimate destruction.
The current Nobel Committee has, by their recent actions, cheapened the award and insulted all who have truly earned it. Awarding this prize has become nothing more than a political act designed to influence, and in some ways control the actions of other nations and their people. What a pity. What a shame for the original purpose of Alfred Nobel. What morons the selection committee has become.
Ron Scarbro October 10, 2009
Today's choice is a no brainer. The honor goes this month to that bastion of integrity, that arbiter of all things pure and proper, none other than the Nobel Committee. Now I know they have really messed up things in the past, for example, Yassar Arafat, Al Gore, or Jimmie Carter, but this time Alfred Nobel has to be turning in his grave. Selecting Barak Obama as this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has even the most liberal thinkers of the world scratching their heads not to mention the recipient himself.
This column however is not a criticism of Obama. He had nothing to do with this I don't think. For all I know he may well prove to be a prime candidate for this award some day. That might occur some time in the future when he has had an opportunity to grow up, learn his job, perform his duties, and become the statesman he probably thinks he already is. For your information his name was placed in nomination for the peace prize when he had served less than two weeks as President. It is obvious to me, and should be to anyone with an ounce of intelligence, that his selection had nothing to do with peace, or achievement, or service to the community of nations, or anything one might consider necessary for this prize. This is something much more sinister.
Selecting Obama is an overt attempt by European liberals to inflict themselves on America and inject their opinions into our foreign policy. It is an attempt to direct our conduct in world affairs. Their own statement that Obama has as a goal the elimination of all nuclear weapons in the world is at best wishful thinking on their part. There has been no such statement coming from Obama. He knows better. It would surely be great if this Utopian concept of a world at peace with their neighbors, all religious differences set aside, all border disputes ignored, and all the crazies held down and not ascending to positions of leadership, were possible, but of course that is nonsense. True world peace is achieved by mutually assured total destruction. That is what we have today. That keeps the war mongers at bay and offers us the best chance of a peaceful life. All the world powers know that if they strike out with any nuclear weapon, they would be eliminated immediately. When lunatics such as Iran and North Korea have these weapons, that somewhat changes the game plan, but their total destruction is guaranteed if they strike us or any of our allies.
Norway, and for that matter most of Europe, exists today because of America's willingness to spend our treasury, send our troops and materiel, and to spill our blood for their defense. What peace we have in the world today is the result of our war making ability and our commitment to making sure that peace can occur. Neville Chamberlain proved to the world that appeasement is the road to defeat and ultimate destruction.
The current Nobel Committee has, by their recent actions, cheapened the award and insulted all who have truly earned it. Awarding this prize has become nothing more than a political act designed to influence, and in some ways control the actions of other nations and their people. What a pity. What a shame for the original purpose of Alfred Nobel. What morons the selection committee has become.
Ron Scarbro October 10, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
THE SECOND AMENDMENT RE-VISITED, AGAIN
As you no doubt know, the Supreme Court is once again hearing a case regarding the second amendment. Chicago has a city ordinance which forbids owning handguns in the city. From the looks of things, that law doesn't seem to be working out too well for their murder rate, but I digress. Chicago, like other municipalities, has two problems. One is that their law breakers, especially those with gun offenses, are not sufficiently punished, and number two, you cannot fix your crime problem by violating the Constitutional rights of the law abiding people in your city. The National Rifle Association has sued Chicago to have that law overturned and that action has made its way to the Supreme Court.
I recently was watching a hunting show on television and saw Chuck Norris come on with what was a public service announcement concerning the second amendment. Chuck's message loosely translated said that "Freedom is not about what government can do for us. Freedom is about keeping government from doing what it wants to us." Think about that for a moment. The second amendment guarantees us the right to keep (own) and bear (carry, have in our possession) arms (guns, knives, etc.). The reason for the amendment and those rights is not necessarily to go hunting or even to protect us from home intruders. No, that right to own guns is about protecting us from our own government. The reason our government is accountable to the citizens is not only because of free elections. One of the main accountabilities is that the citizenry is armed. That is also one of the primary reasons foreign nations don't attack us. They know we are all armed and will repel any such attack.
I know there is a large group of people who are afraid of guns. They see guns as evil. The fact is that there are far more people killed or injured by automobiles than guns in this country, and yet there doesn't seem to be this inexplicable fear of automobiles. Guns, in the hands of a law abiding citizen, are no more dangerous than a hammer or a screw driver. A hammer or a screw driver in the hands of a homicidal killer are at least as dangerous as a gun. Guns, like hammers and screw drivers are just tools. When used for their proper purpose, they are completely benign. As we all know it is the killer not the tools he uses that are the problem. I believe this group of people who fear guns have bought into the propaganda of the left that wants to disarm America so that they can go about their plan to change this country into the socialist utopia that they imagine. Another thing I heard recently is that apathy is the enemy of freedom. To those among you who fear guns, do us all a favor and stay away from them. I for one do not want anyone who has this fear to have a weapon in their possession. They are already unstable enough.
In the far out event that you are not familiar with the language of the second amendment to the Constitution, it reads as follows, "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." As you can see there is no ambiguity here. There are no hidden messages. This is as clear as our language. If this right is inconvenient for you, then I would recommend you taking up residence in a country where no such right exists, such as China, or Iran, or maybe Venezuela.
I will leave you then with this final thought. I believe it was Ben Franklin who said, and I will paraphrase, those who sacrifice freedom in order to gain security wind up with neither.
Ron Scarbro October 5, 2009
I recently was watching a hunting show on television and saw Chuck Norris come on with what was a public service announcement concerning the second amendment. Chuck's message loosely translated said that "Freedom is not about what government can do for us. Freedom is about keeping government from doing what it wants to us." Think about that for a moment. The second amendment guarantees us the right to keep (own) and bear (carry, have in our possession) arms (guns, knives, etc.). The reason for the amendment and those rights is not necessarily to go hunting or even to protect us from home intruders. No, that right to own guns is about protecting us from our own government. The reason our government is accountable to the citizens is not only because of free elections. One of the main accountabilities is that the citizenry is armed. That is also one of the primary reasons foreign nations don't attack us. They know we are all armed and will repel any such attack.
I know there is a large group of people who are afraid of guns. They see guns as evil. The fact is that there are far more people killed or injured by automobiles than guns in this country, and yet there doesn't seem to be this inexplicable fear of automobiles. Guns, in the hands of a law abiding citizen, are no more dangerous than a hammer or a screw driver. A hammer or a screw driver in the hands of a homicidal killer are at least as dangerous as a gun. Guns, like hammers and screw drivers are just tools. When used for their proper purpose, they are completely benign. As we all know it is the killer not the tools he uses that are the problem. I believe this group of people who fear guns have bought into the propaganda of the left that wants to disarm America so that they can go about their plan to change this country into the socialist utopia that they imagine. Another thing I heard recently is that apathy is the enemy of freedom. To those among you who fear guns, do us all a favor and stay away from them. I for one do not want anyone who has this fear to have a weapon in their possession. They are already unstable enough.
In the far out event that you are not familiar with the language of the second amendment to the Constitution, it reads as follows, "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." As you can see there is no ambiguity here. There are no hidden messages. This is as clear as our language. If this right is inconvenient for you, then I would recommend you taking up residence in a country where no such right exists, such as China, or Iran, or maybe Venezuela.
I will leave you then with this final thought. I believe it was Ben Franklin who said, and I will paraphrase, those who sacrifice freedom in order to gain security wind up with neither.
Ron Scarbro October 5, 2009
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