WORLD CITIZENSHIP
Re: Peter Ferrara’s
President Obama Chooses Decline for America:
Obama’s oath of office makes Bill Clinton’s statement that it
“depends on the meaning of ‘is’” look like straight talk. Though
technically not treason, the effect of governing from the
perspective of “world citizenship” is the same.
— Christopher Roberts
THE PRIME CRITERIA
Re: Robert Stacy McCain’s
It’s Up to You, Upstate New York:
I am a Republican committeeman in Jefferson County and can tell
you that for myself, I look at the selection of Dede Scozzafava
as one more misstep by the Republican leadership on New York
State. I consider the choice of Pierre Rinfret as the
gubernatorial candidate in 1990 to have been the classic gaffe by
this party’s leadership. I will be voting for Doug Hoffman and so
will other Republicans I have spoken with. It is time that
“electability” stops being the prime criterion and instead
position on the issues is added to create a real two-horse team.
Hopefully we can see a real sea change in the political
landscape.
— James C. Kenney
UNORGANIZED FAITH
Re: Mark Tooley’s
Evangelicals and Immigration:
This act by NAE is precisely why, although I remain a Christian,
I no longer participate in any organized religion.
— Garry
Gearhart, Oregon
UNCHRISTIAN PRESIDENT
Re: Jeffrey Lord’s
FCC-Church Conspiracy to Silence Talk Radio and Fox?:
For sure let us pray. No one alive knows when Jesus is coming
again, those who were alive during his crucifixion and return
from the dead fully expected him to return during their lifetimes
and all generations since have seen indications or claimed that
his return is near. Certainly when his own Church, or at least
many of those who claim to be such, are leading the charge
against many of the principles that has made the US the most
Christian-friendly nation in history it might well lead many to
think the end is finally nigh.
All of this and a seemingly total retreat from the traditional
values of my Grandfather’s Methodist Church are mind-boggling.
Who would have thought that so many members of once respectable
Churches such as Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Methodist, and
yes even the Roman Catholic Church have gone either outright
tolerant or soft on such moral issues as abortion, homosexuality,
adultery, etc the list goes on and on. Now they are entering into
declared if not kinship, at least a partnership with this the
most un-Christian president and administration in the history of
our historic nation.
— Jack Wheatley
Royal Oak, Michigan
Sounds to me that the separation of “church and state” only is
mentioned when bibles are pulled out in public schools, or some
poor kid runs a prayer meeting at a public school and gets in
major trouble for it. The “transparent” Obama, who has never held
a real job other than to work for organizations that get some
sort of funding, has set about destroying every facet of our
Constitution to further their financial needs. As Rush often
says, “follow the money” and once again he is right. Anyone who
is so dim to think this is all being done for the poor,
minorities, gays, women animals or any other “protected” group,
had better take a deep breath and join the NRA asap!!
— Bob M
Ft Myers, Florida
TAKING IT DOWN
Re: Ben Stein’s America’s
Cross:
It would not surprise me in the least if the ACLU didn’t just
want to take down the crosses at Arlington National Cemetery, but
to pave the place over and use it for satellite parking at Obama
(formerly Reagan) National Airport!
— Gretchen L. Chellson
Alexandria,
Virginia
It would be reassuring for Americans who are not Christians to
stand with us. But, save for a voice or two such as yours, Ben, I
don’t see that happening.
As to the hysteria the ACLU and others create, the Apostle Paul
wrote in his letter to the church at Galatia of the “offence of
the cross.” It offends those who know nothing about Jesus the
Christ and His message. It offends those who would make
themselves His equal or even greater. If offends those who hate
Him. It’s not just that the world sees Christ as
foolishness. It does.
But now it appears that our judiciary and legislators, including
our current president whose profession of Christianity appears
hollow and once politically expedient, as well as the
now-state-controlled minion media, seem hell-bent to diminish, if
not stamp out, Christianity.
They’ve perverted readings of the First Amendment, for sure.
Maybe that’s why I appreciate your free speech, but especially
these: “Those of us who are not Christians might want to stop
pushing Christians around. They don’t deserve it. It won’t be
pretty if they are ever start pushing back.”
Well, as Christ Jesus said, if the world hated Him, they will
hate us who call ourselves Christians. So, in a real sense, we
signed up for it.
Still, we Christians have sat, for way too long, on the sidelines
on our blessed assurances. Perhaps if we get on the playing field
and do start to push back, it will inspire those who might stand
with us to do so? I’m sure it will startle those who think
wrongly that the Messiah was some effeminate Jewish carpenter who
amassed a following of passivists.
Things, though, will get much worse for Christianity in America,
I believe. Meanwhile, we who say we are followers of the Christ
must stand for Him-and that might have unforeseeable
consequences. So be it.
Regardless, thank you, Ben, a Jew, for standing for us and for
recognizing the foundation on which America was built. And thanks
for mentioning those Crosses of Christ that populate the
cemeteries where the bodies of American soldiers rest. Worth
remembering, too, is that there are many Stars of David sprinkled
among them.
Shalom, Ben.
— C. Kenna Amos Jr.
OBAMA-MATH
Re: W. James Antle III.’s
All the President’s Mavericks:
Like Specter, Snowe, Collins and Graham are RINOs, at best.
As for Graham’s declaration that the GOP is “not going to be the
party of angry white guys”? First, who is Graham to speak for the
GOP? And better to stand as AWGs, have a discernible and
defensible point of view and fight for America, rather than to be
submissive Quislings-not mavericks-like him and Snowe.
What’s equally nauseating about those two, in particular, is how
they allow themselves now to be shills for Obama and the
Democrats as evidence of “bipartisanship.”
Funny thing, Obamamath: 13 Democrats/liberals/leftists + 1 RINO =
bipartisanship.
In everyone else’s math, though, that’s equivalent to 14
Democrats + 0 Republicans/conservatives =
current-Congress-business-as-usual partisanship.
That formulation equals breaking our country’s economic, social
and constitutional backs.
— C. Kenna Amos Jr.
WASTED CAPITAL
Re: RiShawn Biddle’s Fool’s
Gold:
As a well seasoned professional educator who has taught on both
coasts of America, I can attest that the further one gets from
the classroom, the less one is focused on the students and their
needs. This is not to say that many a fine administrator has not
come from the teachers rank, but it is to say that those who can
keep their focus on true education and the needs of children are
the rare exception from the rule.
The rule is as a person rises (or too often floats to a higher
level, much like waste product) her focus moves from the
priorities of the classroom to one of controlling a fiefdom. The
love of interacting with students is replaced with the anxieties
of making quotas, crunching numbers, dealing with outraged
parents, the newest educational fad and political machinations.
Each promotion takes the former educator further away from the
real to the imagined, from the field to the ivory tower or simply
deeper into the bureaucracy. The one time bond of mutual interest
between teacher and student becomes weaker and more fragmented as
the former teacher, now administrator, concentrates on department
meetings, budgets, scheduling, and a calling to a higher (ever
higher!) office.
Sadly, I cannot offer a solution. The system is badly broken and
possibly beyond repair. If a factory were to produce a product
with a waste rate of 20% per cycle, the stock holders would look
for solutions: shutter the factory; retrain or fire the
production crew; purge the management staff or any other myriad
combinations of redesign solutions would be investigated. When
dealing with schools and school districts, the stake holders are
composed of all American citizens and the wasted capital is human
beings and human potential. The rate of wasted product is often
over 40%. This is unacceptable in business and it is
inconceivable (but true) when dealing with our children.
Scrapping the entire educational system is impossible: too many
interests are entrenched and empowered; no existing alternative
system is in place for a quick and orderly transition. But
systems are often built subsystem upon subsystem. Here solutions,
starting locally and building upwards to the state level can be
worked out.
We Americans can demand that within our states that the systems
that are not working be scrapped, assets shifted and, ultimately,
people be held responsible, be they students, parents, teachers,
administrators, board members or politicians. Truly, it is time
for local citizenries to make their voices heard at school board
meetings. It is time for citizens of the state call their
assemblymen and state senators. It is time for all Americans to
raise their voices and let Congress ring with the call for civil
justice.
Too much time has passed with schools failing the American
public. Let us not have one more school day pass where
incompetence is met with indifference. For too long public
schools have failed us. Let us not fail our public schools.
An educated mind is the greatest weapon against tyranny.
— I.M. Kessel
THE GROWN-UPS HAVE LEFT THE ROOM
Romper Room is open again,
Doors locked against the bad guys.
That only the frisky Dems can play
Will elicit no massive surprise.
Whining and sulking are taught within
By those adept in the field.
Moral rectitude is the game they’re at.
Let righteousness be their shield!
With escape hatches at the ready,
They can scurry away unobserved.
To expect them to put their shoulders back
Is so obviously absurd.
There used to be Liberal grown-ups,
But they’re now on the other side.
Progressive pretenders can’t abide the light.
They can only run and hide.
— Mimi Evans Winship
