Monday Morning Rant 46

I probably shouldn’t refer to this as news because all too often the result of cancer is death. Even in the face of remarkable gains in the field, there are still those who succumb. This week it was Tony Snow, at 53. The former White House press secretary and staple at Fox news will be missed.

As I read the many, many tributes I felt the stunned sincerity of the commenters. Almost all ignored his considerable talents and centered the observations on his people skills and caring heart. Paramount was his consideration of others and his impeccable honesty.

In his waning days he furnished this response to an intimate’s inquiry about his condition.

“we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Please join me in prayer for his family and best wishes for his final earthly journey.

Wildfires and Individualism

It is not my intention to diminish the tragic result of the fires which are currently ravaging parts of California. My heart and prayers go out for those who are being threatened and who have already sustained loss of life and property. Like good Americans the people have dropped what they are doing and are fighting fires directly or helping those who man the fire lines by furnishing food, supplies, and the necessities of life. It’s the way we are!

In an article in the International Herald Tribune (a function of the New York Times) we find coverage which points out that the government is not available to many outlying districts. In almost breathless prose they point out what should be obvious. When you are fighting fires scattered over an area the size of New England, the government resources cannot possibly be available to everyone, all the time. There are only so many fire trucks, retardant tankers, bulldozers and personnel to operate them.

Many of these medium and small communities have volunteer fire companies and they are manned by locals just as they are throughout “flyover” country. To the credit of those who live there, the residents have picked up hand tools and what ever equipment they have and are improvising to save their homes and their livelihood. The Times reporter seemed somewhat taken aback that they we willing to do whatever it takes to fight the constant blazes. These good people realize that waiting for the “government” to remedy their ills is a foolish endeavor and would only result in watching their communities disappear. My hat is off to those who have the independent spirit to take matters into their own hands and do their best to extinguish the fires.

I also understand the Times and their attitude. Their agenda is and continues to be, a top down demonstration of accountability. They have difficulty understanding the basics about America. Although we have been gifted, by God, with the best of all Constitutions, the nation is great because of the people and not the government. Our people will survive with or without the “nanny state.”

Dumb and Dumber

Just when you thought every asinine thought had been expressed by a member of Congress, along comes Edward Markey (D-Mass) to top them all. In remarks to a symposium for students he assigned the blame for Katrina to global warming. For frosting on the cake, he also alleged that the battle of Mogadishu in Somalia was also caused by the effects of global warming.

He remains unfazed by solid evidence of cyclic weather patterns in the region being responsible for alternating drought and flood with accompanying periods of feast and famine. He also seems to have forgotten that the US servicemen were in country to help with the distribution of relief supplies for the people. The local government officials in various factions were competing to see who could steal the most and enjoy the subsequent enrichment.

I am now awaiting the announcement from a special select committee of the senate to announce that the irritating wart I have developed is caused by global warming and will be cured the very second we sign on to the Kyoto accords. If it were not so damaging to the nation, this type of thing would be funny.

More Fun in the Ozarks

My boss at the golf course asked me the other day in a conversation about retirement, “What do you do?” Since he hates computers and the internet, he is unimpressed that I write several essays a week. I doubt he would be moved by a concentrated study of scripture. Because he mows grass and tends greens for a living he wouldn’t be very impressed with the maintenance of four acres of grass and twenty acres of oak. The fact I do my own laundry and ironing, do household chores and spend a grand amount of time discussing a huge variety of topics with my bride wouldn’t reach him.

Last Monday, a forty foot flatbed with a forklift attached, pulled down the lane and deposited the material for our new deck. I finally finished the addition of 160 sq. ft. of additional space for an office, dressing room and two closets. Now, I felt compelled to place a covered deck just off that room. When completed, it will overlook the bluff and the Spring River Valley below and hopefully afford additional protection for the outer wall from the ravages of Missouri heat and cold. At the end of the first week the framing is complete and the floor boards will be installed tomorrow—if I have time.

When I report for work at 7:30 am on Tuesday, he will no doubt come in with the usual question, “What you been doing.” My response is already on my lips, “Not much!”

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon