stevendedalus

Patch Work in Politics JoeUser Forums

When the so-called military experts state that the fighting men and women in Iraq were not trained for occupation or police duty, I find it laughable. In September of ‘45 there was no leaner meaner fighting machine than the 4th Marines which was sent in to take over Yokosuka Naval Base. We were heavily armed and ready for the worst but found the Imperial Navy ready to surrender. As a result we quickly became an occupation force ready to defend against rumored

Live and Let Live in Politics JoeUser Forums

Live & Let Live “Live and let live” is not an absolute. When Dirty Harry challenges his captive with “Make my day” and is counter challenged, then death is the result. If the Maryland snipers resisted arrest there would be no qualms if they were sent off in body bags. So with “let Muslims be Muslims” is prima-facie for religious freedom, yet does not mean they are free to hate, maim or kill. From the Dark Age to the Puritans, let Christians be Christians had to be qualified in face

Lack of National Will in Politics JoeUser Forums

Annually I’m distressed when floods and forest fires wreak terror on our populace and properties. We get all riled up over terrorism but never make any attempt to control these catastrophes. Because of FEMA we tend to think that floods are taken as a matter of course without an effort to begin planning a way to eliminate or at least minimize the devastation by mass projects of strategic dam-building and embankment construction. The US has lost its will to develop safety infrastruct

Champions of Better Education in Politics JoeUser Forums

Though I am not one of them, many believe that the policy of teachers unions is to put jobs, salaries and seniority ahead of educational quality, the remains of which is incompetent teachers and the chief reasons children are so poorly educated in public schools. This, of course, is sheer nonsense: some more powerful locals through out the nation have managed to negotiate better education at the table with their respective school boards. Only recently the teachers union in New Yor

Are We on Self-Destruct? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Most of us think the stock market is the sole indicator of a good or bad economy. However, with so much investment going overseas, it doesn’t tell the whole story. More important is labor statistics. The top retailier, for instance always seems to lead the pack in job creation, but most of it is part time and roughly at minimum wage, but its greatest impact on creating jobs is abroad by importing tons of foreign made goods. There was a time when buying American was the patriotic

Unspeakable in Politics JoeUser Forums

Subliminally known for centuries, and surfaced dramatically and tragically on September 11th , is that religion is dangerous when it imposes its will on the political realm. There has always been religious lag, resistance and conflict with respect to modernity and democratization. Ironically, it was Christ who first introduced the concept of separation — "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." Of course, religion can never be totally

Thanksgiving Haiku in Misc JoeUser Forums

Turkey of the wild met by the roaring musket became the first feast. Stacked hay and pumpkin companions under the skies warm the vagrant's heart. The children from art made pilgrim hats and wore them over thankful eyes. Mom sweetens the yams, Grandma whips the potatoes And Gramps carves the bird. In feasting too much and the tummy aches, give thanks for alka-seltzer.

The Doctor Protests Too Much in Welcome JoeUser Forums

©Rrk, Jan. ‘03 In the McCarthy era the insertion of “God” in the Pledge was a paranoidal defense against “godless” communism. Granting Michael Newdow that a corrective measure is called for, it will never come to pass because it is as permanently engraved in the minds of Americans as “In God We Trust” on currency. That the good doctor equates this aberration with “civil rights...as important and as serious as any in our history” is ludicrous. He thinks he is perceived as a “