November 28, 2004

“We shouldn’t force our form of government (democracy, culture, etc) on others.”

Just about every government official, pundit and talking head has spouted the above quote. Maybe not verbatim, but at least in various forms. Think deeply about the statement. Does it bother you as much as it bothers me?

What does it say?

I see two answers to that question:

1. The United States of America does not have the best form of government ever known to man.
2. “Others” don’t deserve the best form of government ever known to man.

I suppose there is one other explanation. The Dutch have a saying that basically translates to “you talk out of your neck.” What they’re saying is that the words coming out of your mouth (sorry for the bad quote from Rush Hour, one funny movie!) skip going through your brain.

Let me state this very clearly: Our form of government is the best ever known to man. Our Constitution clearly states that all men are created equal. Thus, we have an obligation to bring it to every corner of this earth.

Most will resist. Some will accept parts. My hope is that others will see the wisdom of our Forefathers.

How many of you have actually read the U.S. Constitution? How many have read it since you were in school? It’s time to read it. Spend a measly $6 and read it!!

Now, how many of you are ambitious? Compare the U.S. Constitution with the turmoil of the Middle East. I'm recommending a very dry, informative book that will give you an understanding of what we're up against. As you read it, keep three things in mind:

1. Imperialistic aspirations of various European countries (and we're not blameless either) have shaped the psyche of the Middle East nearly as much as Islam.
2. Middle Eastern patterns tend to go from strict interpretaion of the Koran to a western orientation. Those patters have continually repeated themselves over the last few centuries.
3. This book reads like a college textbook! Don't be afraid to read a few pages, put it down, and go to a page-turner like Tom Clancy's Teeth of the Tiger. The best learning comes from a lot of thought and reflection.

The book I want you to read is A History of the Modern Middle East by William L. Cleveland. In my mind, it's like reading about the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Finally, some of you were offended in my last rant at my choice of phrase when I expressed my anger at reporters. I'm kind of a PG-13 guy, but I'll do my best to keep it to a G or PG level from now on. If I slip up, edit before you pass on the information!

It's time that I start spreading the word. If you want to be on my mailing list, send me an email. Put in the subject "Subscribe" and tell me a little bit why you want to hear from me.

I will send a couple of rants a month. Each will contain my thoughts and a recommended reading. (It will take you straight to Amazon.com, my favorite place to spend a little money!)

November 18, 2004

This week I watched an interesting debate on MSNBC. (I know, a couple of those words shouldn’t belong in the same sentence…) Pat Robertson was on for Joe Scarborough and asked the question of a couple of reporters (I’m paraphrasing): Should American reporters be on America’s side?

My visceral reaction was “of course!” But was that reaction correct? I think it’s mostly correct.

The reason I’m bringing this up is that the Time reporter said absolutely not, that a reporter should be “on truth’s side.” And that’s what pissed me off.

That reporter, and no reporter for that matter, knows the ‘truth.’ What they see is colored by their impressions, backgrounds and biases. It is the ultimate arrogance for these people to claim they report the ‘truth.’

So here’s my advice to you: Watch different sources of News. Don’t leave your TV tuned to the same channel all of the time. You need to see all of the ‘truths’ and combine them with your own common sense to come to a good conclusion.

And here’s my advice to reporters: Your bias should be in favor of your country. You are an AMERICAN. You only work as a reporter.

November 4, 2004

What can I say? President Bush has four more years.

You all know I'm a die hard republican (notice the small 'r'). I'm also a comitted Republican. I donated to the Bush re-election. I argued with my Democratic friends. I'm glad we won.

Now what?

We're fighting in Fallujah. In fact, we're kicking their asses. Then we'll rebuild it so they can kill more innocents. They are savages. They scatter like friggin' cockroaches with the light of our muzzle flashes.

Yasser Arafat just died. Big friggin' deal. He'll lay in state in Cairo (our supposed ally...remember my rant about the difference between allies and friends?) and world 'leaders' will bemoan his death. He was a killer, plain and simple. I'll be pissed when I find out who President Bush sends.

We live in a world where our friends are few and far between. Even domestically. I fear for our future.

April 27, 2004

This rant is short.

How is denying me the opportunity to carry a pocket knife on a commercial airliner going to make anyone any safer? If a bad guy has a weapon, I don't want to have to go up against him empty-handed.

We are AMERICANS, damn it! We fight for what is right. We believe in ourselves. We win. President Bush, Secretary Ridge, don't hobble us. Empower us.

Write the President and the Secretary and tell them that we are AMERICANS and that we can and should be trusted to fight for ourselves and our countrymen.

Don’t disappoint me.

April 24, 2004

When the next attack on the homeland comes, I expect it to be devastating. The loss of life on 9/11 will seem trivial compared to the possible outcome of the next attack. 2 ½ years ago, our economy stopped. We were dumbfounded. We grieved. We stopped.

The next time we get hit it will be worse. There will be finger pointing and arrow slinging. Some will blame the president or the attorney general or the FBI or the CIA. Only a select few will blame the terrorists.

If America stops, I will be severely disappointed. The loss of thousands or hundreds of thousands or even millions will be a horrific loss, but it is not enough to stop America. We are the strongest, bravest, most resilient culture to ever exist. We are preordained to lead the world out of the second dark ages. The only things that can stop us are self-doubt and self-blame. When the next blow comes, we need to rise up and resume our drive to liberty, freedom and success. Then we need to completely crush the evil arrayed against us. No apologies. We will mourn our dead as we continue our quest to change the world.

Don’t disappoint me.

April 14, 2004

It's been a while. My mind has been active, but my pen has not. But now I have something very important to teach.

It's time we understand the difference. It will help you understand what is happening in these difficult times. It's time everyone helps their friends understand the difference between "Friends" and "Allies".

It's time to be a friend to President Bush. He is a friend to us. I've donated cash to his re-election. Have you? Don't be fooled by reports of his war chest. Go to www.georgewbush.com and give what you can. It's important.

October 28, 2003

It's time to get off our collective butts and tell the world what we are about, want we want, and what we're willing to do.

It makes absolutely no sense to be secretive or diplomatic about our goals. Tell it like it is and offer to bring friends along for the ride. As I see it, make the following points:

1- We don't want to run your stinking, piece of crap country.
2- We want to live in peace.
3- We want to be rich. That means we want open, fair markets.
4- We want security.

Finally, say what we're willing to do:

1- We'll let you run your country if you don't threaten us.
2- We will kick your ass if you threaten us.
3- Open your markets or we'll take our business elsewhere. That means no money for you!
4- We will definitely kick your ass if you threaten us.

What this means is that the UN or France or Germany or Russia are welcome to advise us or counsel us or whatever it is that they do. But, and this needs to be set in stone, we will act in our own best interests. And everyone needs to understand that.

The Germans

We kicked their collective ass twice.

They are responsible for millions of dead.

Now they pretend to be pacifists. Give me a break. Boycott anything German. No Mercedes Benz. No Dodge. No Chrysler. No BMW. No Audi. No Krups. No Henkel. No H&K. We don't need it. Cadillac ROCKS! Smith & Wesson makes the best revolver. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is better than a Colt Government model. 45 ACP, that's Automatic Colt Pistol, is what I'm saying.

Boycott German crap.

But, 'What about the French?' you say?

They haven't changed their stripes. They were Collaborators in WWII. They are still working with the Germans. Quiche eating, wine swilling, cheese eating, no shaving, beret wearing, no bathing French.

Let me tell you how it is.

We know how it works. We are hard working, honest, and true. It has been said that we have conquered many and never asked for more than a place to bury our dead.

Hitler wanted more. Napoleon wanted more.

Dec 18, 2002

I don't know Senator Lott. I know that he ain't too bright. It seems that he's not a very dynamic leader. To me, he's a non-issue. What is an issue is the black establishment's blindness on race.

You heard me. Blindness.

Isn't it ironic that Lott had to apologize on Black Entertainment Television? Its very name screams racism. You're white? You're excluded.

Isn't it ironic that Al Sharpton is criticizing Lott? 'Nough said.

I don't care what happens to Lott. That's his business. I do care about America. Every American needs to realize that every one of us is racist to some extent. We've all been taught to be racist from the day we were born. Whether it's whites being afraid of blacks or blacks being upset at that fear or worse (on both sides), we are all racists. It's time to realize it and deal with it.

Trent Lott, you're a dumbass. But probably no more than the rest of us.

Dec 12, 2002

The United States "reserves the right to respond with overwhelming force including through resort to all of our options to the use of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) against the United States, our forces abroad and friends and allies."

Maybe I'm just naive, but why would the likes of Saddam Hussein care if we nuked him? He's going to die anyway. He doesn't give a rat's ass about his people or his country. How does this deter him?

We shouldn't threaten destruction of the country unless the very destruction would be the worst possible outcome for their leaders. The Soviet Union is a perfect example. Soviet leaders genuinely cared about their country, although in misguided ways. Destruction of the Motherland was the worst possible outcome.

For Saddam, the worst possible outcome would be capture and harsh imprisonment. For the rest of his life he would stew in his own rotten juices until it drove him out of his mind.

Punishment should be horrible.

Sept 18, 2002

ATTENTION

Humans are not a peaceful race.

We don't like peace. It doesn't make us happy.

People are happiest when there is a struggle. Most struggles involve violence and war. Peace is an unnatural state. When there is 'peace', we get wound tight. And, like a rubber band, when wound too tight we break.

What concerns me most is why we don't or won't understand this basic premise. One only needs to look back on our history to see that we are a war-like people. If we don't understand who we are, we will never reach our full potential.

And isn't that the goal?

Sept 11, 2002

It's really been bugging me. Why is this war so different? I grew up during the cold war. Vietnam. Panama. Desert Storm. What is it?

Then during a sleepless night last night, it dawned on me. I'm not afraid of the bad guys. I'm not afraid of what might happen. I'm not afraid of dying. I'm afraid that it won't end. And that means we have a good chance of not coming out of this recession. That our way of life will be different.

The good part is the answer is pretty simple: Learn how to thrive given the current conditions. The bad part? I don't know how.

Sept 8, 2002

9/11 -- The Day America Changed

No one can doubt that on September 12th everyone in America, and most in the world, had changed. We were hurt, angry and confused. We loved our country and what it stands for. The question I have is this:

When did it change back?

Why are we fighting about whether or not Iraq is an enemy and a threat? Who is so blind that they can't see it? I think no one. I think that the problem is not blindness, but cowardness.

We are great because we are brave and free, determined and resourceful. Let's act like it.

Sept 1, 2002

We, as Americans, are entitled to BE Americans.

We do not need Europe. We do not need Asia. We do not need the Middle East.

What we DO need is to stand up and be proud of who we are and what we represent. If the Arabs or the French or the Germans don't like it, well, tough. Think about your friends. Are they like you? Or are they completely different? Do they have similar values as you? Who are they? Who are America's friends?

Email your Congressman and Senator and tell them who are friends are. And who they aren't.

Aug 17, 2002

I've watched the world closely over the last year and have come to a simple conclusion: Washington wrecks good people. President Bush is no longer the man who stood atop the destroyed WTC to promise retribution, redemption, and justice. He is simply a beltway insider who forgot what it means to be American.

George, show some backbone. We do not need to apologize for leading the world. Do not let the world become a bucket of crabs.

To me, the answer is simple. It seems that I heard it last January. You're either with us or against us. And not only in the war on terror.

It's time to ask our neighbors around the world one simple question: What do you want?

If it's compatible with American interests, then it's time they act like they are with us and it's also time we help them achieve those goals.

If what they want is contrary to American values, then it's time to cut them off.

With us or against us. It's really pretty simple.