Monday Morning Rant 143

As a boy, I learned many important lessons from the men in my family. Be it father, grandfathers, uncles, whatever; when women folk are ill it is best not to inquire too specifically into the illness but rather remain solicitous and sympathetic to their discomfort. I am grateful for their advice as it has served me well to keep from asking embarrassing questions and getting in over my head in matters which shouldn’t really concern me other than in general ways.

We had just such a circumstance this past week with my bride which involved taking her to Springfield to a medical facility there. The lead-up to the procedure was difficult for her and uncomfortable. She was anxious about the procedure but faithful in the routine proscribed to accomplish the medical inquiry. It did prove quite disruptive to our normal lives but everything turned out well with no dire consequences so we are all happy and feel secure in her continued good health. If your curiosity is getting the better of you, you may read about her experiences in her own entertaining words by going to Granny with a Pitchfork.

In any case, it did disrupt my normal schedule and I was remiss in failing to make my routine number of posts. For that; I apologize. Please forgive me and accept my promise that I shall attempt to do better in the future.

A Response to a “Nameless Cynic”

In a rather harsh criticism of the Monday Morning Rant 142, a comment was belatedly posted to that entry so you can read for yourself his opinion of your host. Since the individual has chosen to remain anonymous we shall use “he” for convenience.

The first issue was the character of David Koresh. He raises many issues and accusations, none of which were identified as the purpose of the raid on the compound by the federal authorities. Had they been after Koresh they could have arrested him in town in the preceding days without an assault on the compound. In addition, I have heard the local sheriff complain that he was not advised of the initial raid and greeted the news with absolute denial of any prior consultation. The accusations voiced by “Nameless Cynic” are all within the jurisdiction of that officer.

As it was, they launched an all-out assault and were met with considerable resistance. It is difficult to justify your concern for the young girls that were supposedly Koresh’s victims when they found it necessary to burn the compound to the ground at the end, killing 76 people, 20 of which were children. If this is not an example of a “government gone power mad,” I hesitate to imagine exactly what you think would rise to that level.

I will admit I was amused by the remark that they had spent “$2K” on guns, ammo, and other munitions and equipment. Either that is a typo or you don’t have much to do with firearms. $2,000 won’t acquire much in the line of armaments; maybe a couple of guns and a few hundred rounds of ammo.

As far as McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing; his choice of the anniversary of the Waco debacle lead me to believe along with other evidence that he was indeed influenced by governmental overreach. It would only be fair to mention that several militia groups recognized that he would not be a suitable person to join their efforts and he was rejected. I do acknowledge that as one who lives in close proximity to the occurrence (Tulsa?) you may have been exposed to better coverage than I had living in Wisconsin at the time.

The savage beating of Allee Bautsch in New Orleans, in spite of your protests, has not had much coverage in the news or on the net in the last few days. Her mother has altered her story and claimed that the protesters were responsible. Since she wasn’t there, I shall take that with a grain of salt and wait until the NOPD completes their investigation. Whatever the cause of the attack; grown men in numbers assaulting a woman is not my idea of a fair fight. The fact that they could do this at all is reprehensible in a civilized American city.

Lastly, when the Tea Party Express buses arrived at the fairgrounds in Tulsa a few weeks ago, the first person I sought out was Lloyd Marcus. We had a nice chat and I thanked him for his efforts. He was received with huge enthusiasm in that crowd who loved his singing and appreciated what he had to say. I found the Tulsa gathering exactly the same as every other one of the many I have attended: spirited, safe, noisy, and peopled with folks who have problems with changing America into a socialist state. I am not only happy, but proud to be associated with such a crowd—including Mr. Marcus.

This site does not operate a conversational type open forum so I shall wish you well for the future with the assurance that I shall have no further response.

The Tea Party Affect

There is a continuing frustration on the left with the Tea Party movement. With no clear individual leadership, the group offers no readily available person to attack, demean, or otherwise defame. Thus, denied their usual tool of personal assault, they must confront ideas. As though in compliance with the assertions of the Tea Partiers; the administration continues to supply grist for the mill.

The difficulty lies in the failure of the left to recognize “the people” as an independent voice. It is a concept that those unfamiliar with our history and the procedures used to establish the greatest nation in the world are near totally unfamiliar. A simple reading and understanding of the words in our constitution would clear all this up. From the very first words of that document—“We the People,”—the governing authority is established.

The free exercise of individual rights is alien to those who depend upon a state for their every need. They cannot fathom that our rights, a gift from the Creator, are protected from intrusion of government in that document. In the God-given genius of the founders, it outlines the many ways the authority of government may not intrude in the daily lives of its citizens. In so doing, no allowance is made for the despots who despoil other nations for their personal gain.

This clear understanding of our constitutional mandate by those in the Tea Party Movement is what has the leftists so flummoxed. Their cry for liberty will always fall upon deaf ears of those who would rule. For those whose self-interest and lust for power prevails, it will continue to be mis-understood. For me, I am content to be part of “We the People...”

And finally,

With Granny back to her usual feisty self and life on the ridge continuing to bloom, we are returning to our usual bliss. The grapes I planted to eventually cover the lattice on the roof of the deck are doing exceptionally well. This will be the critical season for them to find their way aloft and complete the vision I have of a roof sagging from the weight of fruit. I’m just a Roman at heart.

The indigo buntings have returned and the occasional flash of intense blue on the rail under the feeder is a welcome sight. Officially, the bird visitor list has 17 species and we were finally able to firmly identify the tufted titmouse. The red-bellied woodpecker is our “clown prince.” He is really too large to be on the feeder and so hangs precariously off the edge and has his own unique system for retrieving the seed. It is amazing how fast they go through a 40# bag of seed.

Life is now returning to normal and we are thankful—God is good.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon