The American Spectator

SUPERB
Re: Peter Ferrara’s America’s Rebirth:

Superbly written, even a liberal could understand it.
— Lance E. Hollensbe

While I usually agree with Mr. Ferrara, on his statement about “Bush fiscal policies leading to the financial collapse,” I must disagree. In Panderer to Power, Mr. Sheehan makes the case that, in fact, Mr. Greenspan so bamboozled successive presidents (three), that they took as gospel what he espoused. Mr. Greenspan’s antics regarding the credit-based economy and GDP increasing as a result of borrowing equity against rising home values, is required reading for anyone with a dog in this fight.
— Robert Mandraccia MD
Ft Myers, Florida

THE SMALL STUFF
Re: Robert Stacy McCain’s How to Make Sex Boring:

Ranchers do not watch the MTV Awards, in fact that show has been a banned program in our house since I first “discovered” one of my children  in around 1987 watching a thoroughly disgusting performance of Madonna’s. I walked in, saw what was on the one family television screen, determined it was visual pornography and degeneracy in the making of teenagers, turned the television off, and told all three children that if that show ever was found on in our house, they would receive immediate restrictions. I didn’t have to be told that Madonna acting like a slut was not suitable for building the character of my children.

So, it doesn’t surprise me that Adam Lambert did his thing on screen. That is the new frontier of liberation. But what I did see this weekend in what I believed would be innocent family viewing left me strained and more worried about seemingly “innocent” images being used for propaganda. I turned on ice dancing in Little Rock, Arkansas, and saw the hosts Peggy Fleming and Brian Boitano. My husband said that one face on that screen should have told me what to expect, but I remain a lover of all things ice. Never having the opportunity to ice skate as a child (Texas ranches are not usually known for their ice rinks, especially in the 1950’s and 60’s), has left me with a great longing to glide artistically on an ice rink.

The featured music was by REO Speedwagon, and the very first song was one I loved some 20+ years ago. So, sitting back in my recliner I watch as an elegant couple dance to “Can’t fight this feeling anymore.” The dance on ice started nicely enough, but within a minute of the performance of a man/woman couple spinning on the ice they suddenly split and the woman started dancing with a new man. I looked at the image, admiring the new moves and throws with the taller more strongly built partner, when suddenly this couple disappeared to be replaced with two men skating. One of the men was the previous partner. As I watched the two skate in opposite corners of the rink, exact reflections of each other, they skated closer and closer to each other, never touching.

The images suddenly found me examining the scene, the lyrics, and the images more closely, and some clear conclusions being drawn. My deduction was cemented as two women skaters came out to skate similar to the men, with the grand finale being all couples skating together happily. I wondered in mid-America Arkansas, if parents examined the images and found them the least bit curious. I might add that mothering 3 children and two foster-daughters, made me have heightened mama sensors, even our special forces son says that nothing misses my radar.

So, while Adam Lambert may have had an in-your-face performance, it’s the small stuff you still have to sweat and the wise parent who must question every image and situation forced upon the family and what its goal might be. Indoctrination begins slowly and builds insensitivity, with the end game of acceptance and waywardness being the final outcome.

So, I’m not worried about Adam, but I’ll surely be watching skating much less around the ranch here. Even I do not want to be indoctrinated, only wisely entertained.
— Bev Gunn
East Texas Rancher

MOVING TIME
Re: Ben Stein’s Breaking Fast With Bill Safire:

After reading Ben Stein’s column, all I can say is that he should leave that degenerate liberal “Reform” Temple he joined and either join an Orthodox synagogue or a Chabad center.

This is NOT his father’s Reform movement.
— David S. Levine
Hobe Sound, Florida