tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40374576962172274952024-03-01T23:07:08.616-08:00Zion BeckonsAll of the entries on this site are © Cecil L. Moon or designated contributors, with the following exceptions: those which were posted by the blog's owner and editor, which are the property of Janis S. Moon, but may be posted freely elsewhere as long as they are not edited without our consent, and attribution and a link to this blog are provided.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger806125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-76237682120440002502010-10-29T19:31:00.000-07:002010-10-29T19:31:02.656-07:00CountdownI'm certain Cec was pretty ticked off to not be able to vote. I'd vote twice if I could. I even have his voter registration card. But please, please, please, don't become complacent and think that a conservative win on election day is automatic. Remember, some <em>will</em> be voting twice. Or three times. The left have come up with all kinds of "October surprises" and it wouldn't surprise me if PBO arranged a terrorist attack on election eve, declared martial law and canceled the election. And there would be our American Revolution.<br />
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These entries will be short and far between for a while until I get my act together. My get up and go got up and took a hike. Bear with me.<br />
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God bless you all. God bless America.<br />
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JanUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-11144151071740120892010-10-23T20:51:00.000-07:002010-10-23T20:54:03.911-07:00A Son's Farewell<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It has been twenty-two days since my husband breathed his last. It seems like years; it seems like seconds. Rather than post his obituary I decided to use his son Martin's eulogy, delivered at Cecil's memorial service at Fellowship Baptist Church in Aurora, Missouri, on October 4th, 2010, following the Honor Guard. Here it is in its entirety:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"I am Cecil Moon’s son. I would like to thank my mother Marjorie and [also] Jan for their help getting the information together for this. Cecil L Moon Jr. was born in </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Marshalltown</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Iowa</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> on </span><date day="31" month="3" year="1932"><span style="font-family: Arial;">March 31, 1932</span></date><span style="font-family: Arial;">. His parents were Cecil L. Moon, Sr. and Anna (Frank) Moon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He attended a campus school at </span><place><placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Iowa</span></placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">State</span></placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">Teachers College</span></placetype></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> in </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cedar Falls</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Iowa</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. In 1945, When he was thirteen he moved </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">West Liberty</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Iowa</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> with his mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She taught business subjects at </span><place><placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">West</span></placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><placename><span style="font-family: Arial;">Liberty</span></placename><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><placetype><span style="font-family: Arial;">High School</span></placetype></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. He played on the basket ball and football teams, but his talent was really with music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sang baritone solos and sang in the chorus, in addition he had parts in some of the musicals and was in the church choir. Delivering papers and working in a grocery store he saved up money for a new Conn Trumpet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was talented trumpeter in the school band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his senior year of High School he won first place in both trumpet solo and baritone voice solo work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was also chosen for Boys' State while in high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After high school Cecil and two friends took jobs with the FBI in </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Washington</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">D.C.</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a record's clerk and also worked in the photography lab developing film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he received notice of being drafted into the service, he enlisted for a 3 year stint in the Army Security Agency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He trained at </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ft. Devons</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Massachusetts</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> for Morse Code Intercept Operation. In 1952 before that training started he married Marjorie Wilkerson, they had attended high school together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lived in </span><city><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Boston</span></place></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and he commuted to </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ft. Devons</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mass.</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was then sent to </span><country-region><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Germany</span></place></country-region><span style="font-family: Arial;"> in January 1953 and remained there until his enlistment was complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marjorie joined him for two years in </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Heilbronn</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><country-region><span style="font-family: Arial;">Germany</span></country-region></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never did use the Morse code training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He volunteered to be a driver for officers on a part time basis and also ended up being the supply sergeant at the base.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">After returning from Germany He and Marjorie resided in </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Denver</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">CO</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. In 1956 they had their first child, Cecil Lee the Third and in 1960 had Martin Thomas. In 1962 The Family moved to </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Boulder</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">CO</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> where Cecil managed a </span><city><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Homestead</span></place></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> house Furniture Gallery. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The family moved to small farm in </span><state><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Missouri</span></place></state><span style="font-family: Arial;"> in 1965. In addition to farming 120 acres, He worked selling carpet as a manufactures representative all over the mid-west. In 1972 Cecil and Marjorie were blessed with the birth of Jennifer Cathleen. During that same time Cecil went to work for a Catalog Showroom chain called Ardan’s and sold the farm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cecil worked in management and helped open and establish other new stores in </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Topeka</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kansas</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and then in </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Las Vegas</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nevada</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. A quick study and masterful salesman, he earned an excellent reputation as a Sales Manager. Both his sons also worked for the same company.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1976, Cecil and Marjorie were divorced and he started his own business. He traveled around selling Indian Jewelry and Art. Cecil operated this business for many years and opened two stores during that time called Cochise Trading Company. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In July 1983 Dad met Jan Rames at a Blue Grass Festival, and married her a year later. Cecil and Jan moved to </span><city><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colorado Springs</span></place></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">, CO where he operated his own store. In 1988 he took a job as a bus driver with Greyhound. While working for Greyhound He and Jan moved to </span><state><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wisconsin</span></place></state><span style="font-family: Arial;">. During a strike on Greyhound, he left and went to work for Rite-way Bus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There he planned and drove bus tours for German tourist to the western </span><country-region><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">United States</span></place></country-region><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Using some German he picked up in the Army and all of the knowledge of the west he picked up in his travels, made him a consummate tour guide, probably his favorite job. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cecil retired 1999. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and Jan moved to </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Las Vegas,</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nevada</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">, lived there for five years [and] then they decided to move to the </span><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Midwest</span></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. They found a nice place close to </span><city><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Verona</span></place></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and moved there. He worked for a Honeycreek Golf Course part time and became an avid blogger with his own site, Zion Beckons.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So those are his resume' points, but there is much more to Cecil Moon than that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I will try to tell you about my Dad and what he did in his life, but what I really would like you to do is this, while you are listening to me or later on when you reflect on his this, if you knew my Dad, remember him fondly and know what I know. He had a deep and abiding faith in his Lord, a love for his family and a huge desire to preserve our great country. He was about God, Family and Country. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He was a lot of people, a soldier, a salesman, a farmer, a mechanic, a carpenter, a painter, a salesman, a musician, a manager, an entrepreneur, an author, and for sure he was an American.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He was a fun guy, quick to laugh and tell a joke. He was an entertainer. He could pick up his guitar and sing old country songs to crowds of people or sometimes just to his family. In a crowd he was the one laughing a little loud and enjoying those around him. My dad liked to be happy, he was not one to mope around and be depressed. Very much extroverted, he had a talent for bringing other people out of their shell. It may have been why he was such a good salesman. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He loved travel. When he was only six years old he rode a bus all by himself to </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Waterloo</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Iowa</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> to see his dad. During his teen years he had a motor bike, and that is just what it was, a bike with a motor, called a whizzer which he rode all the way to </span><state><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colorado</span></place></state><span style="font-family: Arial;"> from </span><state><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Iowa</span></place></state><span style="font-family: Arial;">. He would even hitch hike, just to travel. Most of his jobs, especially the ones he liked, involved travel. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Driving was favorite. His last big trip was to </span><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Prudhoe Bay</span></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Alaska</span></place></state><span style="font-family: Arial;">, which is in the </span><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Arctic Circle</span></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">. If you have seen the show Ice Road Truckers, that is were he went. No fear, just slapped a couple of extra spare tires on the roof, and threw a bed in the back, and off he went to dip his toes into the icy waters of the bay. He even golfed the northern most golf course in the world while he was there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Many memories of my dad involved driving, and cars. When he was teaching me to drive, we went out on a decent, but deserted stretch of highway outside </span><city><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Las Vegas</span></place></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">. He told me that “since I would do it anyway, to mash the pedal and not let up until we were at a hundred!” We were in a 1968 Buick Rivera, with a four hundred and thirty cubic inch V-8. I stepped on the pedal and off we went. When we got to a hundred he coached me on how to handle the car. First he asked me if it felt like the front end was floating, I said it did. He told me, 'that’s because so much air is going under the car, the front end is floating and the tires don’t have as much contact.' He told me not to make any quick steering changes and that if we had a blow out, we would die. Then he asked if I had enough, and I had, so he had me slow back down. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have lost track of how many road trips I have been on with him. Always the same, Oreos, peanut M&Ms, bologna, Coke, diners for dinner, gas up and get going. If you knew my dad you know we aren’t making any time standing here. Funny thing though, he taught me how to read a map, but he never needed one much.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">My dad traveled in cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, ships and planes. He sailed both oceans, even drove the destroyer USS Fitzgerald. He had been to all fifty states and a few foreign countries. He could navigate his way around </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Paducah</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kentucky</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> as easily as </span><city><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Los Angeles</span></place></city><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Johnny Cash had a song called “I’ve been everywhere”, Dad used to sing it and for him it was true.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Many of you probably don’t know that he was on a couple of TV game shows, he was on “Wheel of Fortune” with Chuck Wullery, for couple days and won a bunch of prizes, he and my brother were on “Block Busters” with Bill Cullen, but that time lost pretty quickly. He did stuff like that. Things we might not try, he would try. He was not one to feel constrained by convention and I think that his life reflected that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We could refer to him as Colonel Cecil L. Moon, because he was a Kentucky Colonel. Membership in the Kentucky Colonels can only be given by the sitting Governor of the Commonwealth. Only the Governor knows the reason for bestowing the honor of a Colonel’s Commission on any particular individual. An I must admit my dad never shared that reason with me. I can tell you this a recent Governor made this comment about the qualities he considered for membership; '<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">Each time I have the pleasure of bestowing a membership to this exceptional organization on an individual, the great tradition established by Kentucky’s first governor, Isaac Shelby, lives on. The name Kentucky Colonel has become synonymous with strength of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of others. Just as Isaac Shelby declared his trusted militia members to be his </span></em></span><state><place><em><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kentucky</span></em></place></state><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Colonels, I see in you those things that place others above self' </span></em><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Sounds fitting to me.</span></em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When Christmas came around he and Jan would go to the local Sears store and buy something to wear and a toy for every grandchild. He had a lot of grandkids. All told, he had twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren, ranging in the ages of thirty-two to one. I remember when our daughter had her second child I called dad to let him know. He asked what the “little critter’s name was”, I told him Masina. There was a pause and he asked what sort of name was that? I told him it meant Moon in Samoan, (my son in law was from </span><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Samoa</span></place><span style="font-family: Arial;">), there was another pause, and then he came back and said, “well that’s very respectful, how is the mother? I know he loved his grandchildren, but the real deal is, he liked the girls more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You really can’t talk about my dad’s life and not mention the Green Bay Packers. I think it was some kind of virus he and Jan picked up in </span><state><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wisconsin</span></place></state><span style="font-family: Arial;">. He was an avid supporter and is on the list for season tickets. My sister and I visited Jan and dad in </span><state><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wisconsin</span></place></state><span style="font-family: Arial;">, and he gave us the grand tour. We went to </span><city><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">Oshkosh</span></place></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> to visit the airplane museum, we went to the paperweight museum (yawn), and much to my sisters consternation we went to the Koehler museum, yep the folks that make toilets, she actually loved it. The real prize for me however, was the visit to the Packer hall of fame and Lambeau field. After all of that he took us to a Brewer’s game, (who he liked almost as much as the Packers). It was a good time, and was a good glimpse of who my dad was, we drove everywhere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dad had just got his thirty year chip from Alcoholics Anonymous a short time ago. Actually he told me about getting the chip an hour before he died. He was proud of his affiliation with that organization. He traveled to give talks at meetings, and sponsored new members. He even had me attend a meeting one time to see what it was all about. He felt very strongly about how AA changed his life, and believed in the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He defended what he believed in passionately, but always had an open mind. When I was in grade school, he was asked to play guitar and sing at the local Elks Club. His performance was enjoyed and they asked him to join. A lot of my friend’s dads were members and I thought it would be cool if he was too. When I asked him why he didn’t join his answer was straight on. He told me 'I won’t join a group that won’t allow a black man to join.' He wasn’t trying to teach me anything, although he did, and he wasn’t grandstanding, he was just holding to his beliefs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Some of you may have read his blog, Zion Beckons. If you have, you know his political stance, you know how strongly he felt and you how eloquently he could state his position. Without a doubt my father loved </span><country-region><place><span style="font-family: Arial;">America</span></place></country-region><span style="font-family: Arial;">, and was an unapologetic patriot. He was a life time member of the NRA and attended the 9/12/09 Tea Party march to </span><place><city><span style="font-family: Arial;">Washington</span></city><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><state><span style="font-family: Arial;">D.C.</span></state></place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Whether you agree or disagreed with his politics, you have to admire the tenacity he showed supporting what he felt was absolutely critical to preserve what he considered good and decent about his America. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He was an interesting collection of qualities that seemed somewhat incongruent. He was an eloquent speaker, but I’ve heard him cuss like a sailor. I’ve seen him crank start a John Deere “A” tractor with a breaking bar, and sell a two carat marquee diamond. He has been to Broadway plays and truck shows. He could play the classics on his trumpet and Blue Grass on his Guitar. His life had a very wide range.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have seen my Dad in many, many situations. The most memorable to me are ones that reflected his love and faith in God. Cecil Moon had a strong faith in God, and Christ as his Savior. He was far from perfect, trust me, but I never saw his faith waiver. He got himself in some tight spots, but I never saw his faith waiver, I saw him face horrible tragedies, but I never saw his faith waiver, and I saw him see success and good times, and his faith did not waiver. He was a sinner, he knew it, but he kept his faith in Christ always. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This Eulogy is just an attempt to summarize a life of seventy-eight years. I told you he was a lot of people, however If you asked him he would tell you, I was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grand father, a friend to many and a child of God. That is my father’s life."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cecil Moon is missed more than you can possibly know.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In His amazing love</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jan </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-6667606691313499382010-10-01T22:58:00.000-07:002010-10-01T22:58:50.114-07:00Cecil Lee Moon 1932-2110Dear Friends<br />
<br />
It is with more pain in my heart than you can imagine that I must tell you of the passing of my husband Friday evening. He had a massive heart attack and the damage was too extensive to allow any kind of repair. The doctors did all that was humanly possible, but, as Cec said to me on many occasions, when the Lord was ready for him He would take him, and arguing that particular issue was rather pointless.<br />
<br />
I'll do my best to keep up Zion Beckons because it was his passion. We must fight the good fight and take our beloved country back. The loss of one voice will mean the even louder voice of one determined granny. I'll try to put together an obituary in the next few days.<br />
<br />
God bless all of you and keep up the noise. I love you.<br />
<br />
Love <br />
<br />
GrannyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-82762725935322356842010-09-28T07:31:00.000-07:002010-09-28T07:31:46.089-07:00Whoa Nelly !!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong></strong></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>A word of apology in advance of fact may be necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next few days, I shall be involved with those who practice the medical arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A kind and loving God has kept me free of such involvement for over seventy years when I had my tonsils removed as a wee child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Your kind attention is always welcome and I regret any interruption in our lines of communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The details are unnecessary to relate since I have little experience in such medical matters and would probably mis-report the issues involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Offer prayers for the care-givers as they strive to tolerate an unlikely and stubbornly obnoxious patient.</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Meanwhile—keep up the good fight as best you can and remain true to that which sustains our liberties and God given rights.</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>In His abiding love,</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Cecil Moon</strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-59202706863424728692010-09-27T09:18:00.000-07:002010-09-27T09:36:14.170-07:00Monday Morning Rant 166<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">The following article is from the Washington Examiner and is a must read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It constitutes a “clear and present” danger to the electoral process and the success of the republic as an entity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All due credit is given to the Tea Party group in </span><state><place><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Texas</span></place></state><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"> who recognized that threat and doggedly followed up. Once the electoral process is corrupted, the nation is in dire peril.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not be deceived and think this is exclusive to </span><state><place><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Texas</span></place></state><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Every trip we make to the local polling place should include a vigilant attitude and the courage to complain about any observed irregularities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read On!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 22.5pt 0in 2.25pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><strong>Local Tea Party group may have uncovered massive vote fraud in Texas</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 4;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong>By: </strong><a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/bios/mark-hemingway.html"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: #ac0505;"><strong>Mark Hemingway</strong></span></span></a><br />
<strong>Commentary Staff Writer</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 4; text-align: center;"><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(This comes directly from the </span></i><state><place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Washington</span></i></place></state></strong><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Examiner and is unedited.)</span></i></strong><br />
<strong><date day="26" month="9" year="2010"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">09/26/10</span></date><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 3:35 PM EDT<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">The <i>Examiner’s</i> Mark Tapscott wrote about this <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/local-tea-party-group-may-have-uncovered-massive-vote-fraud-in-texas-103823128.html"><span style="color: purple;">story over a week ago</span></a>, but now <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/23/voter-fraud-houston-tea-party-truethevote-texas/"><span style="color: #ac0505;">Fox News is reporting on Tea Party activists in Texas uncovering vote fraud</span></a>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">When Catherine Engelbrecht and her friends sat down and started talking politics several years ago, they soon agreed that talking wasn’t enough. They wanted to do more. So when the 2008 election came around, “about 50” of her friends volunteered to work at </span><city><place><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Houston</span></place></city><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">’s polling places.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">“What we saw shocked us,” she said. “There was no one checking IDs, judges would vote for people that asked for help. It was fraud, and we watched like deer in the headlights.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Their shared experience, she says, created “True the Vote,” a citizen-based grassroots organization that began collecting publicly available voting data to prove that what they saw in their day at the polls was, indeed, happening — and that it was happening everywhere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">“It was a true Tea Party moment,” she remembers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">True the Vote appears to have made some pretty significant discoveries, including one blockbuster revelation possibly connecting the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to vote fraud in </span><city><place><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Houston</span></place></city><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Their work paid off. Two weeks ago the </span><place><placename><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Harris</span></placename><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"> </span><placename><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">County</span></placename></place><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"> voter registrar took their work and the findings of his own investigation and handed them over to both the </span><state><place><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Texas</span></place></state><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"> secretary of state’s office and the </span><place><placename><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Harris</span></placename><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"> </span><placename><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">County</span></placename></place><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"> district attorney.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Most of the findings focused on a group called Houston Votes, a voter registration group headed by Steve Caddle, who also works for the Service Employees International Union. Among the findings were that only 1,793 of the 25,000 registrations the group submitted appeared to be valid. The other registrations included one of a woman who registered six times in the same day; registrations of non-citizens; so many applications from one Houston Voters collector in one day that it was deemed to be beyond human capability; and 1,597 registrations that named the same person multiple times, often with different signatures.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">Caddle told local newspapers that there “had been mistakes made,” and he said he had fired 30 workers for filing defective voter registration applications. He could not be reached for this article.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;">There’s a lot more to the story at the link. It’s an inspiring example grassroots activism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><strong>The Erik Scott Shooting by <city><place>Las Vegas</place></city> Metro</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lacking full information on this event, I have shown reluctance to make a report. If you haven’t heard of it, the basic nuts and bolts are as follows.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Erik Scott and his girlfriend were shopping at Costco in Las Vegas and in selecting an appropriate cooler were observed unwrapping some bottles to see how the fit in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that process, an employee, when Scott bent over, noted that he was armed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a legal firearm, with a legal permit for concealed carry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><state><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">Nevada</span></place></state><span style="font-weight: normal;"> also has a lawful provision for open carry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The employee then called “Metro” to inform them of the “armed man” in the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although no sign or other indication of store policy was posted, the store has an internal rule disallowing customers with firearms.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Las Vegas Metro responded to the call, asked the manager to clear the store, and encountered Scott and his friend as they made their requested exit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the process, officers—several—gave conflicting orders to Scott and apparently felt threatened in confronting Scott who had his arms raised as requested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the melee which followed, Scott was shot four times in the back and once under his upraised arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott died of his wounds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The store was well equipped with internal cameras to substantiate any actions which take place within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Metro also has a firm policy of recording all 911 calls to their dispatcher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In both cases, we find that Costco’s tapes of the proceedings are suddenly unusable and Metro refuses to release a copy of the recording of the employee contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latest on this tragedy is available on </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/306160.php">Confederate Yankee</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">which is following the story and the subsequent investigation very closely.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Once you become more familiar with the details, you may and will draw your own conclusions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a dedicated believer in the Second Amendment, as I read this ongoing story, I find much to be suspicious of in the store policy and the police reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the absence of corroborating evidence in the unusable tape and the missing 911 call raises red flags as to the management of what should have been an encounter with little or no danger to anyone involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have even the least interest in firearms and their usage, you need to become familiar with this story.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>And finally---</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As mentioned previously, the hummingbirds seem to have departed for a warmer climate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has become seasonably cool here so it’s easy to understand their haste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, the gold finches, cardinals, etc. appear to be so attached to their daily input of seeds to not even be tempted to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some wintered straight thru last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both categories will continue to be fed until I am absolutely convinced they have departed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I owe it to both since they are of equal joy to observe less than 10’ over the top of my keyboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We have accumulated 11.35” in the rain gauge since the first of September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This promises a winter yard with some remaining color and perhaps an even cut before I retire the lawnmower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remaining question then is; how is a geezer going to get equivalent exercise to match that 20 mile plus stroll every week or so during the non-growing season?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On second thought, I’m certain Granny will figure something out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, stay well and thank God for your blessings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In His abiding love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cecil Moon</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-37264891018422075432010-09-25T12:27:00.000-07:002010-09-25T12:27:14.673-07:00Stop Lying!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>As a people, we in the <country-region><place>United States</place></country-region> have been subjected to an almost continuous series of lies for the past four years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, the greatest of these has been the murky background of our president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have become accustomed, as citizens, to an endless supply of information, easily verified, about every candidate who has ever aspired to that office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our former watchdogs—the press—had kept us up to date with far more information than we could absorb about every minor facet of their existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Even the most trivial information is obscured in mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick Google search will reveal that former president; Warren G. Harding wore size 14 shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His immense girth would have required proportionally large feet to support him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one questions the veracity of that stated measurement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Substituting Obama for Harding we find responses ranging from 9 ½, 12, & 13 ½ on the first page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not an issue of any real importance so what is the point of not having a definitive answer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do his feet enlarge and then shrink during each day?</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Back in the rude rural community, in which I was raised, a popular expression was: “He’d lie when the truth would do better.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who constantly extol the virtues of the president (the media and his minions) this is common practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It extends well past the size of his feet to discussions of domestic and foreign policy, social issues, pending legislation,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cap and trade, military matters, socialized medicine, taxes, the housing crisis, and unemployment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True to form, each is approached from a Pollyannaish perspective, with solutions and their appropriate numbers snatched from thin air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>For example, the socialized medicine initiative is rife with examples of a program billed as being a money saver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The OEM, responsible for reporting actual fiscal outlay, has not seen it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the speaker of the house (I cannot bring myself to mention the name of that harridan) assured us we would have to pass it in order to read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insurance companies are withdrawing from the market place in droves and doctors are retreating from Medicare practice as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people are realistic evaluators of the fiscal aspects of their enterprise and realize that what was presented as savings is an absolute lie. </strong><strong>Who in their right mind ever turned any enterprise over to the federal government as a cost cutting device?</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>The stimulus package was advertised as assuring the public that they would, as a result, benefit from a fixed unemployment rate of 8% or under. The reality has been 9.5% with slight variables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once one factors in those who have just plain given up on finding suitable employment, it is realistically estimated at 16% plus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those responsible, including the president, were well aware that this was a lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of claming to reduce the deficit, we find it soaring to a level equivalent to the total achieved in our 225 year history.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Those who observed this benign and generous nation over our existence have seen us use our treasure, the lives of our youth, and our strength to protect their freedoms, secure their safety and rescue them from both manmade and natural disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How then, can the president go abroad and apologize for our country as the provoker of evil in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is little more than the furtherance of the lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Another earthy phrase comes to mind as we watch the rats jumping from the sinking ship which is our administration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s enough to gag a maggot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the hardened liberal left has recognized that association with a serial liar is a perilous path to success even in a world of liars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many have retreated to the warrens of academia to nurse the wounds of their proximity to Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many however, remain to further the false doctrines and twisted reportage of actual facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the media has, through dropping readership and loss of viewers, become aware of decreasing revenue streams resulting from their obvious devotion to the fully committed socialist president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is now awareness on their part of the importance of self-preservation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sale of Newsweek for $1 is indicative of that realization.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>This raises the question, then, of the biggest lie of all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obama is not dedicated to the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though he swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the <country-region><place>United States</place></country-region>; in so doing he ascribed to yet another lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even those not really paying attention should, by now, be able to understand that his dedication is the exact opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has done his level best to exercise the Cloward/Piven strategy to seek the destruction of the republic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seeks to accomplish, by destroying our financial base, the ends which aggressors have failed to achieve by force of arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are currently being led by the most aggressive socialist ever to have sought the office.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>As we approach the second anniversary of the worst election result in the nation’s history, we need to, as a people, understand clearly our role in reversing the mistakes of the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must “man-up” and admit that we made a serious mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must absolutely insist upon the restoration of truth from our leadership, the media, and our neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can no longer be comfortable listening to a continuation of a string of lies, distortion of fact, and misrepresentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are reading this post on your computer, there is an automatic assurance that you personally have the means to fact check every word which comes from the mouth of the prevaricator-in-chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than assume that he is humble and sincere; recognize that his agenda seeks to destroy the <country-region><place>United States</place></country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>As a father with a near score of grandchildren I urge you to recognize the horror of the legacy which these innocent youngsters and yours will inherit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will not be one of ease and luxury compared to the rest of the world and our previous history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead they will share in the responsibility for a mammoth debt from the moment of their birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>As I returned from the Tea Party event on <date day="12" month="9" year="2009">9/12/09</date>, I brought my mind back to leaving the Capitol Mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noted at the time that the grounds were absolutely clean with no evidence of 800,000 people having been there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we age and then depart this earth will we take the same care to leave the republic free of debt and being a useful citizen on the world stage?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, will we leave a legacy of slavery to our socialist masters and the wreckage of imprudent finances?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer rests upon our actions over the next five weeks and the events of November 2, 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result will depend upon you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God help us all.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>In His abiding love,</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Cecil Moon</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-58311676810183245902010-09-25T06:00:00.000-07:002010-09-25T06:00:00.403-07:00Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I was unable to resist this tale of woe from </span><place><city><span style="font-weight: normal;">Alliance</span></city><span style="font-weight: normal;">, </span><state><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ohio</span></state></place><span style="font-weight: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears that Jim Brienzo, at the conclusion of a “shopping” foray at Wal-Mart, went out an open side door instead of using the checkout lines near the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once outside, Brienzo, decided to hide out in a dumpster parked beside the super center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not mentioned whether he had the $1000 worth of merchandise he had lifted, with him in the trash.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Soon after becoming “safely” hidden; along came the trash truck, picked up the dumpster and dumped Jim and the largely cardboard contents into the interior and activated the compactor mechanism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim, unable to extricate himself, called a friend who in turn called 911.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truck continued on its rounds and picked up several more dumpsters full and added to Brienzo’s problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The police, by using GPS tracking of Jim’s phone signal, were able finally to locate the truck and direct it to the nearest trash facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the contents were dumped, they still couldn’t find the thief until they sorted through the mess in search of his faint calls for help.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">After experiencing repeated compactions in the rear of the truck, he was fairly easy to apprehend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to experience “breaking every bone in your body,” Jim’s escapade will serve you well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This latest will only enlarge upon the existing 26 page “rap” sheet he already has—if he lives through it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It surely brings new meaning to “clean up on aisle 8.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or better; maybe a quote from Bill Engvall: “Here’s your sign!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In His abiding love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cecil Moon</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-34426804472189893882010-09-24T17:38:00.000-07:002010-09-24T17:38:42.490-07:00Testimony of Christopher Coates<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><country-region><place>U.S.</place></country-region> Commission on Civil Rights</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><date day="24" month="9" year="2010"><strong>September 24, 2010</strong></date></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Zion Beckons encourages its readers to read, in full, the testimony of Christopher Coates before the <country-region><place>U.S.</place></country-region> Commission on Civil Rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing so you will not be subjected to the widely varied interpretations of those who have “cherry picked” his remarks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your franchise as a voter is what is at stake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong><span style="color: purple;"><strong><a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/full-text-of-christopher-coates-testimony-to-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-pjm-exclusive/">To access the file, simply click here.</a></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>You are adults and are free to draw your own conclusions from this text of Coates’ remarks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No further comment is required.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>In His abiding love,</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Cecil Moon</strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-10740214457547133412010-09-24T11:07:00.000-07:002010-09-24T11:26:33.844-07:00Chris Christie; Against All Odds<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">A popular topic of conversation consistent with what is hoped to be a general upheaval in the political balance of power in November is: who would be the best candidate to face Obama in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a cold fact that “best candidate” is defined truthfully as: “who can win.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who are aware that your host spends too much time in absorbing political matters frequently ask for my take--as if I had a crystal ball.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As a general rule, I distrust the usual suspects because of loyalty to the establishment party (Republican) greater than an absolute commitment to the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discount some others as being too much of a lightening rod to attract an impassioned response from the Democrats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Name recognition and reputation are strong factors as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolute and unequivocal devotion to the principles outlined in US Constitution is probably the strongest qualifier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, this is not an issue of immediate necessity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">I am, however, compiling a short list of those who appear to have the best interests of the population in both their head and their heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No less important, is the will, the intellect, and the competitive spirit to actively seek the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who know me well and have been subjected to my life long prejudices and opinionated views are shocked that Gov. Chris Christie has made my personal list of suitable candidates.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">His short lived tenure (Jan. 19, ’10 to date) as New Jersey governor has demonstrated executive abilities well in excess of expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a hostile legislature, he has none-the-less played them like a banjo and managed to keep soaring demands on the treasury under relative control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When presented with a bill for an inflated budget, he vetoed it almost before it hit his desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the override vote was taken; most of the “yea” votes had somehow vanished in the face of his wrath.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">His credentials as a “social conservative” were boosted in a recent decision regarding the financing of Planned Parenthood ($7.5 million) in New Jersey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he ended the support, the legislature countered with a bill to reinstate the finances of killing New Jersey’s unborn by a margin of 30 to 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christie responded with the now familiar veto and the override failed by 23-17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This in turn forced closing many of the abortion provider’s facilities for lack of funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the amount of money involved is trivial in the grand scheme of things, it is augmented by a show of active support to those who treasure each and every human life.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He has also demonstrated support for other conservatives involved in races of national importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg Whitman of California asked him to attend a rally in support of her efforts for election to the governorship of California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a heckler rose to scream at Whitman, Christie intervened </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://gawker.com/5646257/chivalrous-chris-christie-saves-meg-whitman-from-heckling-madman">(see tape)</a><span id="goog_980988185"></span><span id="goog_980988186"></span> </span>and quelled the disturbance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His modulated response to the man’s rant served to contrast intellect over insane passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most important was his willingness to support another conservative candidate.</span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Fortunately, Chris Christie simply adds to the ever increasing stable of potential opposition to “change we can believe in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He presents a man of exceptional experience with a back ground of actual work who understands a paycheck and what it really takes to acquire it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your eye on this guy who rightly claims that his problems with New Jersey take precedence over all other current issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until they have a satisfactory solution he may be hard to convince to even run.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">In His abiding love,</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cecil Moon</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-51213492491150624442010-09-24T07:19:00.000-07:002010-09-24T07:23:42.195-07:00“A Rendezvous with Destiny”<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ben Howe has surpassed every previous effort in the production of this video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has managed to capture the entirety of the tea party movement, shown the various faces of America, identify the problems and offer the solutions in a mere 3:06 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether you are convinced we are doomed or hold confidence in </span><country-region><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">America</span></place></country-region><span style="font-weight: normal;">, to return to its former glories; you need to </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.redstate.com/absentee/2010/09/24/november-is-coming/">see this video as shown on Red State.</a></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The title on </span><place><placename><span style="font-weight: normal;">Red</span></placename><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><placetype><span style="font-weight: normal;">State</span></placetype></place><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is “November is Coming.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">To better get the vital importance of the closing spoken words, we present them here so that you may savor them at leisure:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 16pt;">“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll preserve for our children, this, the last best hope of men on earth or we’ll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ronald Reagan</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks to you for taking my suggestion and thanks to those past patriots for holding </span><country-region><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">America</span></place></country-region><span style="font-weight: normal;">, dear to their hearts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In His abiding love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cecil Moon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-44340353651314417992010-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:002010-09-23T09:17:21.324-07:00Religion of Peace<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong>The following were extracted from a more comprehensive article posted on </strong><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://normanhooben.blogspot.co%22storm'n/">"Storm'n Norm'n"</a> . </span>These are the high points spread over the last forty-two years or our relationship with the religion of “peace.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to his website for a more complete rundown.</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“1) In 1968, Sen. Robert Kennedy was shot and killed by:</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Answer:</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"> A Muslim, male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong>2)</strong></span><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"> </span><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In 1972 at the Olympics in </span><place><city><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Munich</span></city><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span><country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Germany</span></country-region></place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by: </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Answer:</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3) In 1979, the U.S embassy in </span><country-region><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Iran</span></place></country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> was taken over by: </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><br />
<i>Answer:</i> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span> </div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>4) During the 1980s, a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by: </strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong></strong></span><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><i>Answer:</i> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40</span><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>5) In 1983, U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut were blown up by: </strong></div><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong></strong></span><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<i>Answer: </i>Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><strong>6) In 1985, the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70-year-old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by: </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><strong></strong><br />
<i>Answer: </i>Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span> </div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>7) In 1985, TWA Flight 847 was hijacked in <city><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Athens</span></place></city><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, and a </span><country-region><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">U.S.</span></place></country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by: </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><br />
<i>Answer:</i> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><strong>8) In 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was bombed by:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><strong></strong><br />
<i>Answer:</i> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><strong>9) In 1993, the <place><placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">World</span></placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Trade</span></placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><placetype><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Center</span></placetype></place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> was bombed the first time by: </span></strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><i>Answer:</i> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>10) In 1998, the <country-region><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">U.S.</span></place></country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> embassies in </span><country-region><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Kenya</span></place></country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and </span><country-region><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tanzania</span></place></country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> were bombed by:</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Answer: </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 11) On <date day="11" month="9" year="2001"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sept. 11, 2001</span></date><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the </span><place><placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">World</span></placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Trade</span></placename><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><placetype><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Center</span></placetype></place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. Of the remaining two, one crashed into the </span><country-region><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">U.S.</span></place></country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:</span></span></strong><br />
<strong></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><br />
<i>Answer:</i> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span> </div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>12) In 2002, the <country-region><place><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">U.S.</span></place></country-region><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> fought a war in Afghanistan against: </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></strong><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Answer:</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong>13) In 2002, reported Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"><br />
<i>Answer:</i> Muslim, male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 </span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<strong><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Footnote: At </span></i><place><city><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Fort Hood</span></i></city><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">, </span></i><state><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Texas</span></i></state></place><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">, another Muslim, 39, killed 13 people and wounded 30 others.” </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;"></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-weight: normal;">_______________________</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The above, seen as a group, should indicate to any sane reader, that it is possible that Islam is not really the “religion of peace.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evaluating the cult of Islam, which encourages lies about the “faith” in “scripture,” should be easily accomplished through observation of their history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get used to it: they</span><strong> hate</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> you, they </span><strong>hate </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">your system of government, they </span><strong>hate </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">your success and life style and they </span><strong>hate </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">your failure to bow down before the onslaught of Sharia Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In contrast, our country has welcomed millions to our shores because they </span><strong>loved </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">the concepts embodied in our constitution and the God-given rights it was crafted to protect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intent of immigrants from Muslim lands is not to achieve assimilation into our society but rather to change it to their own </span><strong>hate </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">filled ideology which reflects a Stone Age mentality.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Those who submit that our hostile relationships with Islamic entities are a result of recent actions by our government need to be reminded that the “teachings” of the Koran were in existence long before we ever became a nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stonings, beheadings of the unbelievers, and the absolute subjugation of women have been a part of the cult for centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Unfortunately, the only way to defeat this ongoing threat is by a demonstration of force so powerful as to be impossible to ignore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Islam is made up of human beings whose sense of self-preservation will over-ride all else, even a cult mentality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer our nation withholds that exhibit of our absolute power; we shall continue to be subject to intentional outrage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many repetitions of 9/11 must we endure before a mature attitude in our seats of power finally takes that step?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, help us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To defeat the unimaginable, we must do the unthinkable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In His abiding love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cecil Moon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-55925429616921650332010-09-22T12:37:00.000-07:002010-09-22T12:37:36.846-07:00Yamamoto: A Voice from History<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Isoruku Yamamoto (1884-1943), was the Naval Marshal General of the combined Japanese fleet during the early part of World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of his early education included work at </span><place><placename><span style="font-weight: normal;">Harvard</span></placename><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><placetype><span style="font-weight: normal;">University</span></placetype></place><span style="font-weight: normal;"> where his most important educational accomplishment was gaining familiarity with the people of the </span><country-region><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">United States</span></place></country-region><span style="font-weight: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A common assertion is that he gained the highest post at sea to keep him separated from radical militant forces in the homeland who viewed him as insufficiently aggressive.</span></div><br />
There is a quote attributed to him which is widely mentioned and more than believable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon learning the success of the attack on <place>Pearl Harbor</place>, he remarked: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I fear that all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an eye-witness to that historical period, I see his remark as understated if anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every man, woman and child was absolutely committed to the US response to the sneak attack on our homeland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It suddenly became the universal goal to seek redress for that assault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those citizens who had rarely agreed on any issue were absolutely united in their response to the atrocity at Pearl Harbor. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Recruiting stations had lines which stretched well around the block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the war effort progressed, women were removed from the cook stove and replaced men on the production lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly the word “essential” (for the war effort) entered every vocabulary to define only those purposes of labor which supported our mutual response to the attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yamamoto’s fears were well grounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">That was then; this is now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we neared the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, America suffered another attack which came as an unexpected shock to the nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we suffered fewer casualties at Pearl Harbor (2402 total dead) we did not witness an equivalent national response to the loss of nearly 3000 lives on 9/11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As each retaliatory action was formulated, it met an active opposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certain factions had objections to foreign operations to run down Al Quaeda in various Mid-Eastern locations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many were unwilling to sacrifice what they considered freedoms for enhanced national security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than an all out response we found a government crippled by instances of partisan politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">We have even lowered ourselves to the point where we are considering allowing our avowed enemies to erect a “victory” monument practically on top of the site where fellow Americans were innocently slain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, “outrage” has a “use by date” which has expired like that carton of milk you bought two weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lesser events; the USS Cole, the barracks in Lebanon, the Fort Hood massacre by Major Hasan, the first unsuccessful WTC attack and others, all, are virtually ignored as the assaults on America by Islamic interests continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears that the “sleeping giant” which Yamamoto referenced has not only nodded off, but is comatose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those patriots who recognize the threat from radical Islam are hooted down as racists, bigots, and warmongers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the resources available to the United States to bring this outrage to a halt; the response is best described as tepid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part of the research for this piece included a visit to the casualty lists from Pearl Harbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one, each person is named, the site of death, rank, and the home town or state given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poring over the list it becomes quickly apparent that no state or region was exempt from casualties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every corner of America was seared with the pain of a lost loved one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An especially tragic note was logged when the deceased had a close relative (brother, son, etc.) also lost in the attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is, of course, typical of military units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being part of the armed services is an automatic exposure to people from random parts of the country who are part of your training, assignments, and finally become your closest and most dependable friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regional differences are overshadowed by the central purpose of operating in defense of the United States and covering for each other.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Obviously, in the 9/11 attacks, the victims on the planes were from a wide variety of different countries (70) and states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pentagon victims were also from diverse places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who perished in the towers and the first responders both fire and police who lost their lives were essentially local residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hardest hit were residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even today, many locals in your neighborhood will have a firm recollection of a nearby kid who lost his life or was injured during the attack on Pearl Harbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless they live in the New York metroplex, it is unlikely they can relate that personally to the WTC attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this regard, 9/11 does not have the same universal scope.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Even considering the previous observation, the question remains: why has this even more serious attack on our country been unable to match an equivalent commitment to response?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When FDR sought a declaration of war with Japan it passed 99 to l.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few days later, a declaration against the balance of the axis powers passed unopposed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, we find a war-funding bill in congress stalled by partisan bickering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1941, such opposition would have been run out of town on a rail wearing nothing but tar and feathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, it returns to committee for further consideration.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fortunately, we find a sea change in the national will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not universal but it is emerging with strength and vigor to reformulate the national mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “establishment” politicians are already feeling the heat of those who recognize our national purpose; who gradually assume more of the leadership roles and seek even greater responsibilities in elected offices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither side of the aisle is immune from this onrushing tide of political correctness which has replaced common sense, and both sides are subject to rejection by the people who sent them there.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The time has long past that we, as a nation, recognize that 9/11 and Pearl Harbor are sufficiently equal as to require an equivalent response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If our leadership fails in this regard, we can kiss this country “good-bye.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To continue to mis-identify the threat from the radical Islamic cult is suicidal for both our citizens and the nation as a whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a citizen, it is your responsibility to get involved in the governance of your country and oversee its return to sanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll see you at the polls in November.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In His abiding love,</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cecil Moon</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-50786975504000523682010-09-21T10:16:00.000-07:002010-09-21T10:16:27.471-07:00Jimmy Carter now most ‘Superior” of Ex-presidents<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It has to be true because a fine “Christian” like Jimmy Carter wouldn’t lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To better understand just exactly what the former president had to say, we shall provide a link to <u><span style="color: #606420;">first read, MSNBC"</span></u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to avoid any accusations of political bias.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have not only the video of the interview but also the printed text for your study and evaluation.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As one who survived the one-term Carter administration, I am free to report that he never met a dictator (oppressor, commie, despot or Marxist) he didn’t like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After his removal from office at the hands of the American people with the election of Ronald Reagan (by 8,416,813 actual votes and an electoral margin of 489 to 49), we found the saner heads in <country-region><place>Iran</place></country-region> recognized the difference and promptly released the hostages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The malaise of Carter’s soaring interest and a moribund economy were abated and the constitutional republic commenced its return to a normal healthy state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In retrospect we reviewed the roster of former presidents and universally decided that he held the crown as the absolute worst the nation had ever endured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Almost every family has a “crazy” uncle or a “loony” aunt who provides a constant source of embarrassment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a national family, we have Jimmy Carter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What other president ever lost a confrontation with a crazed rabbit while in office?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/972968/posts(link">(link to text)</a> <a href="http://iconicphotos.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/jimmycarter-vs-rabbit-jpg1.jpeg?w=700&h=526&imgrefurl=http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/jimmy-carter-rabbit-incident/&usg=__UG9sXnUv2n-Sq-UwOqwgfCmgea8=&h=526&w=700&sz=65&hl=en&start=40&sig2=dPY4CnHXaZQ5wpDrdeC_qg&zoom=0&tbnid=CHyaNQqmue4gAM:&tbnh=105&tbnw=140&ei=Z-KYTLHBHsP48Aai7NXoDw&prev=/images?q=Carter+and+the+rabbit&start=20&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-39,GGLG:en&tbs=isch:1&um=1&itbs=1(link">(link to picture)</a> We should probably be more sympathetic to a dangerous encounter with a buck-toothed furry assailant except it provides one of the few amusing anecdotes of an otherwise damaging and undistinguished career.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Jimmy, give us all a break and go back on your meds.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In His abiding love,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Cecil Moon</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-85754607266064669132010-09-20T12:26:00.000-07:002010-09-20T12:26:44.400-07:00Sarah Palin – Tonto or the Lone Ranger?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The relationship of Tonto and the Lone Ranger on the movie set which featured the unlikely blending of the two lead characters had an interesting component.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who among us geezers does not remember at a Saturday matinee, Tonto referring to the Lone Ranger as “Kemo Sabe?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least, that was the anglicized version of what we heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, it is a Spanish expression--“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">que no sabe”</i>—which roughly translates to “he knows nothing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, review in your mind, the endless times, as a kid, you heard Tonto repeat those disparaging words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can only wonder if Sarah Palin ever referred to John McCain with the same expression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2008, she certainly aptly filled the definition of a “faithful Indian companion.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Her position now and then has not changed one iota, I might add, neither has mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I first heard her speak in front of Bass Pro in </span><place><city><span style="font-weight: normal;">Springfield</span></city><span style="font-weight: normal;">, </span><state><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mo.</span></state></place><span style="font-weight: normal;"> in 2008, she left an impression which has only been enhanced since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She fully understands the role of the people in their own governance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fact has escaped the leaders of the major political parties on both sides of the aisle and they both stand aghast at the results of their failures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She may be an established enemy of the grizzly and the moose but she poses a far more deadly threat to the RINO and the donkey.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In their hide-bound allegiance to party regulars, they stand amazed at her success in isolating the problems which face the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that mean she is the obvious inheritor of the position of leadership which the Tea Party intentionally shuns?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite the contrary, Palin routinely ducks the constant questioning and refuses to identify as the titular leader of the movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing so, she remains aloof from the requirements of party affiliation and insists upon recognition of the role of the individual citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By elevating them to their rightful position as determinants of their own governance, she strengthens both the populace and deprives the opposition of an easy target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no mistake, once someone declares a position of leadership, the opposition will be out in full force against the threat with investigations, personal attacks and warped historical perspectives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Cf: see O’Donnell, Christine)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Paul Goldman has an article in—of all places—</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/16/AR2010091606348.html">the Washington Post</a></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> on Sarah Palin and her influence on today’s political scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you consider the source, you may choose to ignore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage you not to do so because, even from a “liberal rag,” Goldman has given thought deeper than the usual obvious Palin bashing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As usual, a commenter on </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/what-ever-happened-to-camille-paglia/">Instapundit</a></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> observed in a separate entry on “what ever happened to Camille Paglia” a particularly good bit of insight which is relevant:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><em>“23. Viator </em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><em>Maybe there is another reason the Tea Party isn’t a third party (yet).</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><em>Has Sarah Palin saved the GOP?</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><em>“Consider: If Newt Gingrich or Glenn Beck held Palin’s political clout, they might very well have used this power to encourage independent conservative challenges, figuring the resulting GOP chaos would rebound to their benefit. Palin rejected this course, even though it probably would have been in her political interest.”</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><em>Consider also that Palin has received no credit for being loyal to a party establishment that continues to treat her with maximum low regard. Americans have never sent to the White House an individual rejected four years earlier as a vice presidential nominee. So it is doubtful that Palin stuck with the GOP because she hoped to be rewarded with the chance to lead it in 2012. Think about it: A lesser person would have opted for payback, not party.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><em>That the GOP establishment fails to appreciate the debt it owes her is reflective of the elitist outlook that is contributing to Tea Party activism nationwide. Leaving aside the substance of her policies, there is no denying the “populist conservative” roots of Palin’s politics. She is a “bottom-up,” not a “top-down,” leader, a rare commodity on the national scene.”</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I agree with “Viator” on his appraisal of Palin as “heir apparent” to the role of probable candidate and her entitlement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has definitely exhibited that rare quality among politicians—class.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Do I think she should run for president?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a toughie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I can’t think of any reason why she would want to other than salving her ego.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to imagine why anyone would be willing to trade an established residence in </span><state><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">Alaska</span></place></state><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to move to the snake pit that is </span><place><city><span style="font-weight: normal;">Washington</span></city><span style="font-weight: normal;">, </span><state><span style="font-weight: normal;">D.C.</span></state></place><span style="font-weight: normal;">..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would require the absolute sacrifice of everything which she has stated she holds dear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am personally convinced that she holds her role as mother in high regard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that incompatible with the presidency?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have to be a factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps she could commute to help Todd with the next salmon run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a job no sane person would seek just for the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, as Obama proved so well (even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then,) it is a decision which is not necessary at the moment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whatever Sarah Palin decides, we have the inescapable truth that she has altered the political landscape for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll bet she will do something really radical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll probably pray about it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In His abiding love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cecil Moon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-88456491226888769902010-09-19T22:27:00.000-07:002010-09-19T22:27:40.488-07:00Monday Morning Rant 165<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We lead off this morning’s rant with what is perhaps the most asinine remark of the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “Reverend” Jessie Jackson, in this short clip from <a href="http://www.breitbart.tv/jessie-jackson-jesus-didn’t-speak-english-us-shouldnt-be-english-only/">Andrew Breitbart</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">. </span>asserts that “Jesus didn’t speak English; US shouldn’t be English only.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jessie: is it possible that Jesus didn’t speak English because the language, as we recognize it, would not become available for centuries to come?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two millennia passing have seen a considerable change, not just to English, but every other tongue as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few today are fluent in the languages in use at the time of Christ’s reign on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Latin, which is still taught in a few of today’s schools, was not yet in current vogue at the time of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its principle value today lies not in popular conversation but to gain a clear understanding of the roots of English and its accompanying lessons in grammar.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The remark demonstrates a fundamental flaw in logic and dependence upon a ridiculous premise to support a serious discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><city><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jackson</span></place></city><span style="font-weight: normal;">’s time would be far better spent attempting to eliminate the corruptive influence of “ebonics” in our speech which serves only the further confusion for those who can least afford it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The “Reverend” might also do well to review the havoc caused, as seen in Genesis 11 (KJV), by the confounding of the language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their conceit (sound familiar, Jessie?) the people built a tower, better to access heaven and demonstrate their supposed power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One takes from that reassurance that God and His Son, Jesus Christ, both have linguistic skills which far exceed that of any other known source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On the expectation of some mighty changes in the American political scene this coming November, perhaps “Reverend” </span><city><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jackson</span></place></city><span style="font-weight: normal;"> might wish to turn to Longfellow’s “King Robert of </span><state><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sicily</span></place></state><span style="font-weight: normal;">” for a timely bit of advice: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>If your Latin is a little rusty or you don’t happen to have the Tales of a Wayside Inn handy, it translates to: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“He has put down the mighty from their seat and has exalted them of low degree.”</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>September 19<sup>th</sup>, Talk like a Pirate Day!</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Aaaargh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope you had a great day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To give you some reference material to improve your pirate jargon, here is an excerpt from The Seaman’s Manual (1844) by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Lift the skin up, and put into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunt_(sail)" title="Bunt (sail)">bunt</a> the slack of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clewgarnets" title="Clewgarnets">clews</a> (not too taut), the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leech_(sail)" title="Leech (sail)">leech</a> and foot-rope, and body of the sail; being careful not to let it get forward under or hang down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abaft" title="Abaft">abaft</a>. Then haul your bunt well up on the yard, smoothing the skin and bringing it down well abaft, and make fast the bunt gasket round the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mast_(sailing)" title="Mast (sailing)">mast</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiggermast" title="Jiggermast">jigger</a>, if there be one, to the tie.”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ever since we read this, we have been very careful to “haul our bunts well up on the yard.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Understanding Sarah Palin</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hot Air poster, <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2010/09/18/the-palin-card/">DOCTOR ZERO</a></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> has come up with some superior observations on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For just a teaser, here is a quote from his entry:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Obama would be making a deadly mistake by calling out Sarah Palin for a political cage match. Let me put this bluntly: virtually no one in </i><country-region><place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">America</i></place></country-region><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> gives a damn what Barack Obama says about </i><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">anything</span></em><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> at this point. What could be more predictable, and less interesting, than Obama’s opinion on any given subject? Who wants to contemplate the economic wisdom of a guy who looted the Treasury for a trillion dollars, with less benefit than we could have achieved by stuffing hundred dollar bills into random cereal boxes? Who’s excited to hear about the next plan to convert taxpayer dollars into Democrat campaign funds? Who’s hungry for another hour of tedious excuses about permanently broken markets and the titanic dead hand of George W. Bush? Who wants a lecture on ethical business practices from the titular head of the party that gave us Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters? What use is another hollow foreign-policy speech from a man who sees no global adversary to rival the menace of </i><state><place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arizona</i></place></state><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">? Even Obama’s supporters don’t hear anything he says any more. There’s nothing left to hear.</i></strong><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>Palin, on the other hand, commands attention. Lots of it comes from people who dislike her, of course, but she definitely gets people talking. Many of her detractors have a surprising ability to quote her verbatim, stretching back for weeks. Obama’s critics need Google searches to remember what he said yesterday. They can only recall that it was boring, and expensive.”</strong></i><br />
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Do click on the above link for the rest of this informative piece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guarantee your understanding of the current political scene will be improved.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ecclesiastes to the Rescue</b><br />
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A friend at church handed me this and he was right; I can use it.<br />
<br />
“I have often wondered why it is that the conservatives are called the ‘right” and liberals are called the “left.<br />
By chance I stumbled upon this verse in the Bible:<br />
<br />
Ecclesiastes 10:2<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>“The heart of the wise inclines to the right, </strong></i><br />
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>but the heart of the fool to the left!”</strong></i></div><div style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And Finally</b><br />
<br />
I had previously noted some strange markings on the pavement of the bottom road this week but didn’t fully understand their meaning until we drove to church this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first bike I passed was not unusual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second and third piqued my curiosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly there after, it dawned on me that we were in the middle of some sort of event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the rural nature of the route, their collective carelessness may have been excusable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, riding three and four abreast on a narrow rural road seems like a risk which greatly exceeds the benefits of the exercise as a whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bike and rider don’t stand much of a chance in a conflict with a 4000+ lb. SUV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
By extending as much courtesy and latitude as possible, we managed to cover the seven miles without killing anyone only to find the finish line was on the road in front of and across the street from the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of the rousing welcome extended to each finisher who crossed the line, the sound did not carry into the sanctuary and the service was as peaceful as our enthusiastic preacher would allow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also have an active congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They love the Lord and are more than willing to raise their voices accordingly.<br />
<br />
Life here on the ridge is busy as we prepare for the cool weather in the offing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are both more than ready for a little relief from 90° + days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hummingbirds are busy packing for their trip south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lawn is becoming leaf strewn with the produce of the pin oaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may now be safe to observe that this has been a nearly “snake-free” year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I haven’t seen a copperhead or other poisonous variety all year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they are there but either I am getting less able to see them or somehow, they are blessedly absent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so: it’s proof enough there is a God, that, and the blessing of living in this little patch of wood.<br />
<br />
In His abiding love,<br />
<br />
Cecil Moon<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-32512214547426342010-09-17T09:43:00.000-07:002010-09-17T09:53:09.015-07:00Much Ado About Nothing<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The ever dependable Drudge Report had two separate items this morning which concerned routine behavior treated as news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To a geezer with a mid-western background raised in the thirties, neither was really remarkable in any way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s deal with them individually.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>“Teen rides his horse to high school.”</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Wow, that’s a stunner!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a story extracted from <a href="http://philly.com/philly/news/20100916_Gladwyne_teen_takes_unusual_transportation_to_Haverford_School.html">"Philly.com."</a>, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">we find Roby Burch atop his Percheron, “Jet” on his way to tony </span><place><placename><span style="font-weight: normal;">Haverford</span></placename><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><placetype><span style="font-weight: normal;">School</span></placetype></place><span style="font-weight: normal;"> for classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roby and his dad arranged for a nearby paddock near the school so Jet could stand and munch oats and a little hay while the boy attended his sophomore classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you click on the link you will learn about Roby’s interest in animals, his </span><state><place><span style="font-weight: normal;">Montana</span></place></state><span style="font-weight: normal;"> experiences, and his family’s support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opening sentence of this piece describes this as “routine” for a good reason.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As I type, at 9:30 AM, rest assured that our closest school (approximately 2 miles away) has no less than a half dozen horses--or more--patiently waiting for the riders to complete their absorption of their daily dose of readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmatic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike Roby, they didn’t shed their jeans, put on slacks and hang up their hard hats when they arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were dressed alike with dark blue pants, worn blue shirts and straw hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saddles may or may not have been part of the equipment for the horses that are contentedly grazing in the school yard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">At morning recess, they will uniformly check on the horse’s welfare before they take up the continuous ball game which generates more enthusiasm from the participants than the “Phillies” could ever hope for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the horse’s point of view, it’s a welcome break from pulling the variety of equipment which waits back at the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We note here that the teacher’s buggy is parked and her horse has joined the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since this school ends with the eighth grade, these kids are all at least four years younger than Roby.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Granted, the traffic encountered by these youngsters riding to school is minimal compared to Roby’s experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does exist however and the locals are very much aware of the presence of riders and buggies in our neighborhood and yield to the slower transportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who live adjacent to this community respect them as individuals and their “ways” as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does make it very difficult to see a boy riding his gelding to school as “news.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>“Jail for NJ gym teacher who grabbed boy by the ear”</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">From </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2010/09//16/news/doc4c924be447317727703929.txt">The Trentonian</a></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> we find twenty-five year teacher, Allen Rushing, who resigned after a February 2009 confrontation with a student, has been sentenced to 90 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His crime: he grabbed a disorderly kid by the ear and threw him out of the class room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, he made repeated requests for the student to leave and he did not comply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge, Frederick DeVesa, noted that there was likely “a degree of provocation.” but coupled that with other complaints about Rushing in making his ruling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I fully understand the assertion that; “the lunatics are running the asylum.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As I recall my school days, even the slowest and most willfully stupid kid at any level recognized that mis-behavior in a class taught by “coach” would not be tolerated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He might let a non-athlete girl slide but a boy at any level of physical accomplishment was fair game for his wrath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering the large number of convenient appendages available to assist in control of classroom miscreants, the kid got off lucky with the coach’s choice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As a home experiment, I encourage you to grab your own ear; exert as much pressure as you can and be amazed at how difficult it is to realize any actual pain--discomfort yes; pain—no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where the ear goes, the body will follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind how many kids of both sexes submit to piercing their lobes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shudder to think of how many instructors I have known who have used this device to encourage some kid to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reports of ears being torn off or damaged in the process are non-existent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In today’s world of “politically correct” behavior, the mere act of actually touching a student is unthinkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Finally,</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Kid rides horse to school,” “mother bakes cookies,” “teacher throws kid out by the ear,” “dad goes to work,” “preacher is down on sin,” are not headlines which deserve our attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing further research, I found that Drudge no longer had either article featured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could then focus with clarity on items which reflect the situations, both nationally and regionally, which do matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If nothing else, both of these items demonstrate how detached we have become from the realities of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it any wonder we can view with success the attempts made by some folks to return the nation to fundamentals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By lending importance to these lame tales, we find only those who are willing to trivialize the real problems facing the country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As I typed this piece, an old song, revised, kept going through my head.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“If I sent a horse to you,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>for every time you made me blue.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“I’d have a room full of</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>horse-sh…..oes.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In His abiding love,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cecil Moon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-84408383093339110472010-09-15T18:35:00.000-07:002010-09-16T08:14:07.094-07:00Christine O’Donnell and the RNSC<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Before we undertake to understand the last twenty-four hours of electoral activity, let me state clearly that I favored Mike Castle for the nomination in <state><place>Delaware</place></state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had read the gossip about O’Donnell and figured that Castle, warts and all, was the better choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those registered Republicans in <state><place>Delaware</place></state> disagreed with me and elected Christine O’Donnell as their standard bearer in the upcoming run for the senate seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They live there, they read the local papers, they listen to the local talking heads on radio and TV, they have the pulse of the local needs of the citizens of <state><place>Delaware</place></state> and they chose O’Donnell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, there are more Tea Partiers in <state><place>Delaware</place></state> than I imagined and they spoke loud and clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, I have no alternative other than to respect their informed judgment and support their choice unequivocally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do otherwise would be to act in opposition to what I say and what I sincerely believe.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>This was not the general election in the race for Joe Biden’s vacated senate seat so the candidate has her work cut out for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What support I can offer will be gladly put forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do otherwise is to shame both the Tea Party and the Republican Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a primary election, the time to debate the qualifications of the candidates is before—not after—the election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several highly ranked figures of national importance have failed to recognize this essential truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The RNSC went so far as to claim detachment from O’Donnell in moral and financial support for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saner heads prevailed and they withdrew their alienation on both counts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are they, nuts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like this is the first time they ever had a favorite candidate lose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even my guy, Castle, claimed he wouldn’t support her in the general election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grow up and get with the program people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>The Tea Party, rightfully, claims enormous success in defeating entrenched career politicians in this run-up to the general election in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Specter, Murkowski, Bennett, and now Castle, to name a few, have fallen to an energized edition of “we, the people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Current polling numbers indicate many governors and candidates for the congress are also running behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can only pray that a photo of the new body will be devoid of recognizable faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With congressional approval numbers in the basement struggling to get out of the teens it will be closer to the founder’s intent of citizen representatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a welcome change that will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Now is not the time for childish piques and second guessing the voters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A master politician, FDR, is alleged to have said: “He may be a SOB, but he’s our SOB.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to form four-square behind the party’s choice and do everything in our power to elect these people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We the people and the nation can ill afford to do otherwise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>In His abiding love,</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Cecil Moon</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-28366659306553731242010-09-14T10:06:00.000-07:002010-09-14T10:06:03.607-07:00Miscellaneous Curiosities<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Despite the well-known knowledge that all <country-region><place>US</place></country-region> District Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president, Democrats raised the outrage roof when Bush fired eight of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They, and their media co-conspirators conveniently forgot the truth of the provisions of the law and demagogued the issue relentlessly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These same chronic complainers ignored the firing by Bill Clinton of not a mere eight, but the entire lot of them in a fit of partisan pique, when he took office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In August, the Justice Department quietly announced that no prosecutions or further investigations were planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No word yet, has come on news of an apology to George Bush for the inconvenience of the false accusations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><date day="10" month="2" year="1964">February 10, 1964</date>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this day the Civil Rights Act passed the House of Representatives and, Glenn Beck was born in <place><city>Everett</city>, <state>Washington</state></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day, the 11<sup>th</sup>, Sarah (Heath) Palin was born in <place><city>Sandpoint</city>, <state>Idaho</state></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about what occupied your life on those critical days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were you even born yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>The American justice system allows every accused the right of a capable defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each accused is read his rights by the arresting authority and understands his inability to pay is not a criteria for denying an attorney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In defense of “the blind sheik” (Omar Abdel Rahman) who was proven complicit in the attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, Lynne Stewart, exceeded her authority as a defense lawyer and acted as an information conduit from the perp to his handlers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2005, this act of treason earned a conviction and sentence of a ridiculously low, three years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did not see a cell until 2009 through various legal wranglings and for her offense against the nation; the courts upped her time to ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although an improvement, ten years remains insufficient punishment for giving aid and comfort to an enemy beyond filing the appropriate papers.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>While I am certain that falsely claiming military service records which include combat experience are not unique to the Democrat Party, most of the easily verifiable distortions seem to come from that direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The now infamous “Christmas in <country-region><place>Cambodia</place></country-region> by John Kerry, Tom Harkins’s claims of “combat” missions over <country-region><place>Viet Nam</place></country-region>, and now the AG in <state><place>Connecticut</place></state>, Richard Blumenthal who is running for the <country-region><place>US</place></country-region> Senate, has inferred he served in <country-region><place>Viet Nam</place></country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a close look at the slack Blumenthal, as AG, has offered others, check out William Saleten’s </strong><strong><a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2254214">piece in Slate.</a> </strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>For all the alleged bungling by the military, they do keep remarkable records of actual military service in various theaters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am and have known hundreds of vets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of us can relate with amazing accuracy the actual details of that service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stand amazed that Blumenthal, who has proven to be a serial prevaricator regarding his military experience, is seriously considered worthy to represent the people of <state><place>Connecticut</place></state> in the Senate. There is a world of difference between a combat assignment in <country-region><place>Viet Nam</place></country-region> and a <country-region><place>Viet Nam</place></country-region> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">era </i>vet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stolen Valor</i> indeed!</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>In His abiding love,</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Cecil Moon</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-44721010975999518952010-09-13T09:46:00.000-07:002010-09-13T09:46:59.709-07:00Election ManipulationThe least heralded and also the least understood problem facing the nation currently is the election process. With a national election only fifty days away, we find a lethargic Justice Department failing its assigned responsibility to enforce the law. The agency with the foremost duty of law enforcement is poisoned with political bias and outright prejudice by selective determination of which laws to follow and which to ignore. As such, we find the republic under an insidious assault which enjoys little effective news coverage, and as a consequence is largely hidden from the citizenry.<br />
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No matter how completely capable, intelligent, or popular a candidate may be; if the electorate participate in a skewed election, he cannot be elected. Our congress has passed laws which cover requirements for citizenship, residence, and age of eligibility to cast a vote. Through the military voter protections legislation they also enabled those, who for legitimate reason must necessarily be absent on Election Day, to cast a ballot. There is also legislation which covers the citizens’ rights to be un-intimidated in the process. In each circumstance, the Department of Justice is charged with the enforcement of those statutes. In each, they seem indifferent to the existing law.<br />
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The franchise to vote has formerly been restricted only to legitimate citizens. This feature is unambiguous and restricted to those who can actually document their citizenship through proof of qualifications by a birth certificate or naturalization papers duly certified by election officials. At the local level, the gray-haired ladies and gentlemen who supervise and verify your eligibility and pore over the lists of the qualified at the polling place are equally divided by party affiliation to assure fairness in the process. In the town of “East Podunk, USA” this presents an idealized picture of the process at work.<br />
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The reality rears its ugly head when certain unseen factors go unnoticed by the routine voters. In a labyrinth of laws which require advance notice of changes in polling places and other details we find challenges from the Department of Justice which appear intentionally designed to prolong investigative results until more favorable courts become available. They accomplished much the same result by allowing loosely justified waivers to the requirements of the military voter protections and thereby disenfranchised military absentees. Add this to the dismissal of the voter intimidations by the Black Panthers and we find a composite of the duplicity so rank in the Justice Department.<br />
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Some factions on the left have shown overt signs of hysteria over the prospect of losing the House of Representatives. This may indeed be the case but it will require sufficient voter strength at the ballot boxes to overcome the “kept” Justice Department and Obama lackey, Eric Holder, the Attorney General. Complacency in the face of this powerful force would be suicidal for those who wish to restore the republic to its original intent. It then underlines the absolute necessity to turn out an overwhelming number of voters with sufficient advantage to exercise the public will for the restoration of the nation. <br />
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Even Obama is intelligent enough to realize that suspension of the election for whatever reason would get the public’s attention. He does have the executive authority to suspend, or at least delay, the plebiscite. Barring that, he has turned to Holder and given him the responsibility to insure a favorable result. Giving credit where credit is due, one has to admit he is doing his darndest.<br />
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In His abiding love,<br />
<br />
Cecil MoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-30482207438255468822010-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:002010-09-13T07:30:00.845-07:00Monday Morning Rant 164Are we about sick and tired of hearing each and every oppositional position described as “something-or-other – phobic?” According to Webster, “-phobic” is <em>1: having an aversion for 2: lacking an affinity for”.</em> What it boils down to is just a windy way to say: “I’m agin’ it!” I have an aversion to broccoli so does that make me “broccophobic?” I also have little affinity for soccer as played by the World Cup crowd so am I best described as “soccophobic?” We have a hard enough time being understood in this whirlwind of issues which swirl about our heads; must we rely upon suffixes which have made their way through Latin and Greek to enter our language?<br />
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In a related note; I heard the president recently praised for a speech he gave at the end of the week with subsequent Q and A at the conclusion. The reporter remarked how refreshing it was to hear the leader of the free world drop the “g” from nearly every gerund to present a more inclusive face to his audience. Simply saying, “comin’”. “goin’”, and “screwin’ you” hardy seems appropriate for a so-called genius with an Ivy League background. This type of thing is expected from a chameleon who seeks to blend with his background and thus not be noticed. For a person lacking this natural ability to blend comes off as amateurish and clumsy.<br />
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While we are on the subject of language and speeches; there is yet one more question which needs be asked. Is “Am I my brother’s keeper?” the only biblical verse which the president has memorized. As one who seeks to provide cradle to grave care and supervision to each and every one of our 300,000,000 plus citizens, to him, it must be the only one worth remembering. There is little in the word “keeper” which implies freedom. It is rather an expression which implies retention and control. Either definition is totally inappropriate when describing any citizen of the United States since free people require neither. On balance, the response in Genesis 4:9 is actually a smart aleck answer to God. It is no less inappropriate as an answer to a question by a citizen. For a guy whose brother lives in a cardboard box in Africa it seems a strange verse to retain.<br />
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<strong>Who’s a Nobody?</strong><br />
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In a controversial piece, Neil Cavuto referred to the president as being a “nobody” at the time of the 9/11 attacks. Many supporters rose to Obama’s defense and claimed that he was indeed, “somebody” and not a person of little influence as Cavuto claimed.<br />
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If you live in Illinois, have a rampaging interest in politics, or are a political junkie in a general sense, it is possible that you may have had some evidence of the existence of Barack Obama as an Illinois state senator. For an exercise in evaluating the complaint against Cavuto’s remark, I propose you take a little self-administered test. <br />
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Think back nine years, where you were living, and name three of your state senators. Any three will do. <br />
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Do you remember who your federal representatives and senators were from that state at the time? <br />
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Forget 2001 and just name three state senators from any state where you have ever lived. <br />
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How about, you just name two? <br />
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Before the 2005 Democrat convention, can you honestly say you had ever heard of Barack Hussein Obama? <br />
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When he won the senatorial election in 2005 in Illinois, did you recognize the name?<br />
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Certainly, among our readership, someone will score a few of these questions. Granny and I took our little test and I’m ashamed to admit that local politics is not our forte. Over the 26 years of our marriage we have lived in or have roots in New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Wisconsin, Nevada and Missouri. We also have a peripheral interest in Wyoming and Arizona and failed there as well. We still came up empty. <br />
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If you score 3 out of 5, you have permission to join Neil Cavuto’s critics. Otherwise, accept the fact that Obama did not become a household name until the run-up to the 2005 election. Neil was right—he was a “nobody.”<br />
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<strong>And Finally</strong><br />
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Breaking news which really matters or isn’t redundant is suddenly in short supply. Liberals continue to defame Sarah Palin in hopes of lessening her influence on conservative politics. Another member of the Congressional Black Caucus has been nailed funneling scholarships to family members. Faux Tea Party members continue to show up on ballots with their only backing provided by the DNC. To burn or not to burn Korans is on an indefinite hiatus limited only by the medias desire to air it or not. The only person who seems subdued through this whole ugly mess is Al Gore. Even Nobel laureates can’t seem to get a break.<br />
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Here in the Ozarks, we found our 10th inch in the rain gauge for the month of September. This, after a successful experience mowing the “monster” in between the rain drops. About the only natural feature of any importance has been the appearance of the moon flowers. No, that is not a play on your host’s name. This is a flower which I freely admit I had never, ever heard of before. It is, to say the least, a really showy and spectacular flower. I have been challenged by Granny to keep these plants alive and have kept asking myself; “Why?” It’s a sort of vine with short stubby leaves and little to recommend it until the flower appears. Don’t look for it before midnight. It is unbelievable as it opens and the four separate leaves of the flower finally reach a circle of stark white nearly 9” across! It’s huge. By morning, it’s gone and nothing remains except the hope that another blossom may occur the next night. The wonders of God’s creation never cease to amaze.<br />
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In His abiding love,<br />
<br />
Cecil MoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-67865981020868215562010-09-11T10:42:00.000-07:002010-09-11T10:42:54.830-07:00Who Done It?We live in a world obsessed by crime stories. We have a conditioned reflex to identify the victim and then the perpetrator. The normal process is then to seek, through evidence, motive and ability, proof of the crime and then prosecute the villains. This fascination with solving crimes established Conan Doyle as an author and the reputation of his lead character, Sherlock Holmes, as the master sleuth. Holmes was introduced in 1887 in Doyle’s work the Study in Scarlet and our fascination with crime has never abated but rather provided an avalanche of interest by the public over the next 133 years. Witness if you will, the massive presence of “crime dramas” on your TV menus. People are sympathetic to those who seek justice.<br />
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Whether by deranged individuals, self-seeking nations, or ideology; humanity is offended by unrepentant criminality. The willful and unpunished perpetrator then becomes a stain on the fabric of our lives.<br />
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Today we commemorate the ninth anniversary of the most heinous crime to ever occur on American soil. The horror of the event is encapsulated in the innocence of the victims. They fell into two general categories: those who were simply reporting for a normal work day with no particular axe to grind and those who lost their lives attempting to rescue them. Although a huge element, the loss of property pales to insignificance in comparison to the loss of life. In total, 2977 persons from 70 separate nations lost their lives in addition to the 19 total suicide perpetrators.<br />
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Unlike the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor, one could not easily assign a national interest to those who carried out the attack on the twin towers. Even the attackers had variant nationality although Saudi Arabia contributed the majority of the highjackers. Various leadership positions have been identified and al Qaeda claimed responsibility but absolute responsibility remains murky still. There is one common element which all the criminals involved share—the ideology of Islam. <br />
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As a nation with a constitution which demands respect for a huge variety of religions and protects each of those faiths equally, we have a conflict in seeking retribution. Sorting through the problems of dealing with the ideology of Islam which espouses “death to infidels,” has become a major barrier to action which respects the 1st Amendment. As Americans with a good grip on our history and the founders’ intent, we are hobbled by our understanding of our sacred document and inhibited in seeking justice for those who have sullied our national purpose. It is possible that the time has come to clearly define that which is a religion and that which is an ideology. To not do so may well spell the end of our nationhood as we know and understand it.<br />
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If 9/11 were an isolated incident and not accompanied by rejoicing at the time on the streets of various Islamic communities in the world, it would be a completely different matter. Obviously the news of America’s loss was greeted more as a military victory than a successful criminal action among the believers in Islam. The broad smiles of Muslims and signs (in English) proclaiming “death to America” do little to substantiate the allegation of “a religion of peace.” The evidence clearly points instead to an avowed enemy which holds a vision of our complete and absolute destruction in mind. <br />
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For those who wish to hide behind claims of tolerance and historic actions of other divergent faiths the time has come to confront the willful destructive force which resides in the hearts of the Islamist ideology. The failure to understand the effectiveness of the surge in the Iraq war is symptomatic of misunderstanding the psyche of the Islamic mentality. When confronted with absolute power they are cowed and respectful. To cede the high ground of superior force is understood in that region as capitulation and cowardice. This is what happens when we declare a withdrawal date for troops in any Islamic theater. Their attitude is based upon having a century’s long history in the region and the patience to wait until we are exhausted. Facing a billion and a quarter protagonists with a millennium of experience cannot be successful unless we continue to the end. <br />
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Conan Doyle, through Sherlock Holmes would have remarked: “elementary my dear Watson.” This is not about revenge, or retribution, or retaliation. It is about sustaining the existence of the most benign force this earth has seen since the advent of Jesus Christ. We have made mistakes as a nation but to ignore this particular threat would be the death of life as we know it. To depend upon mounting bureaucratic security measures in lieu of active resistance to the threat is suicidal for our nation. Turning to the United Nations would be the epitome of insanity. We are an exceptional nation because we learned long ago to clean up our own mess. Yes, we have had allies and will continue to have but eventually, it will be our initiative which will win the day.<br />
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What better day than September 11, to realize what we must face as a nation and to resolve to summon the will to do so. May God help us!<br />
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In His abiding love,<br />
<br />
Cecil MoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-16486044136382676072010-09-10T19:07:00.000-07:002010-09-10T19:15:04.551-07:00Obama and ChristianityAmid the raging controversy over the “Ground Zero Mosque”, burning Korans, and the Muslim outrages world wide, we have an issue of importance to some about the religious identity of our president. Rather than share my opinion, I shall turn to Mychal Massie and quote a post in its entirety which I found at <a href="http://www.thevailspot.blogspot.com/">The Vail Spot</a> .<br />
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It consists of Massies’s analysis from his position as a Christian and active in public and private life. I encourage you to read on and form your own opinion.<br />
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“In the aftermath of Obama's unsolicited, controversial dictates over the Ground Zero mosque debate, White House image-makers are now trying to convince the public he is a devout Christian. Specific to that point, he may not be a Muslim, but I'm convinced he isn't a Christian, either.<br />
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As evidence of his devoutness, the White House has entered into evidence that he allegedly prays every day. Let me be clear – praying every day no more makes one a Christian than walking across a stream makes one a fisherman.<br />
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A true Christian, i.e., a born-again believer, is a person who has put his faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ – including His sacrificial death on the cross as propitiation/payment for our sins, His crucifixion and resurrection and the understanding that this same Jesus will, at a time appointed return to gather unto Himself His own.<br />
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Simply believing there is a God or "god" doesn't make one a Christian. The New Testament tells us, in James 2:19, that the very "demons also believe and tremble." In the Book of Job we have record of God addressing Satan (Job 1:6-12). Ergo, if Satan and the demons are acknowledged as knowing God exists from first-person experience – just believing there is a God simply places a person among a legion of not so pleasant beings.<br />
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My point being – prayer and belief sans confession, repentance and acceptance of Christ in one's heart is hot air. Being a "good person" doesn't make one a Christian either, nor does being an outwardly religious person. Being a Christian, devout or otherwise, is more than that – it placing our eternal life in the hands of One we have not seen, based on a faith that many scorn (John 3:1-21, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 3:21-28, Hebrews 11:1-3).<br />
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Neither do good works make one a Christian. John Gotti and Al Capone did many good works within their communities, and still others convicted of heinous crimes are said to have seemed like good persons. The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God's word. That doesn't mean acceptance of others' sinful and aberrant behavior – it means love enough for the person committing same not to want to see them perish.<br />
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A true believer is a child of God, a part of God's family and one who has been given new life in Christ Jesus. Intellectuality has no place with God; self-anointed "christianship" is a falsehood.<br />
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Some will no doubt spew forth the plaintive wail of false teachers and those whose hearts have been hardened, and rail "judge not, less [I] be judged." But that, too, is most frequently misapplied. I'm not judging by appearance – I'm judging according to "life" and what biblically based, Christ-like attributes Obama displays. What one thing has he done or said since taking office that can be unequivocally said to be the words/actions of Christ in man?<br />
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Scriptures tell us that by our works we shall be known (Matthew 7:15-20). Where is Obama's fruit? I think it can be reasonably argued that, if he were a Christian following after Jesus, there would be no questions about his faith. If his actions were Christ-like, people wouldn't question whether or not he is a Muslim.<br />
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This isn't about color or race. There are many persons of color in very public capacities that do not have these questions swirling around them.<br />
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America is in need of truly godly leaders – and the fact that we are lacking same is evidenced by the condition our country finds itself in today. America is rapidly becoming a place where Christians need not apply. The country is the recipient of what the church is producing. If Obama had spent 20 years under a truly God-fearing, Bible-preaching, Christ-filled pastor, would we today have these questions? Obviously, we cannot say with absolute certainty that wouldn't be the case – but I submit the chances greatly favor that we wouldn't.<br />
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A true Christian is more concerned about the eternal benefits of service than about endorsing behaviors and teachings that are antithetical to the God of Scripture. God doesn't care what color a person is, nor whether you are a man, woman or child – He cares that we accept His Son, lead others to Him, and live Christ-centered lives that make others want to be like "that" which they see in us.<br />
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Specific to that point, I see nothing in Obama I want to be like."<br />
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<em>Mychal Massie is chairman of the National Leadership Network of Black Conservatives-Project 21 – a conservative black think tank located in Washington, D.C. He was recognized as the 2008 Conservative Man of the Year by the Conservative Party of Suffolk County, N.Y. He is a nationally recognized political activist, pundit and columnist. He has appeared on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, NBC, Comcast Cable and talk radio programming nationwide. A former self-employed business owner of more than 30 years, Massie can be followed on Twitter and Facebook. </em><br />
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Thank you for taking the time to read Massie’s thoughts on this issue. Personally, I think it is outstanding.<br />
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In His abiding love,<br />
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Cecil MoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-41714610708633725112010-09-09T09:46:00.000-07:002010-09-09T09:46:15.395-07:00Obama, Going to the DogsToday marks a landmark in the Obama presidency. From the soaring approval numbers in the polls immediately following the election, we find some twenty months later that BHO has reached the nadir of his public acceptance. Rasmussen, the leader in verifiable polling results, reported the overnight finding at -24%. This is achieved by comparing the “strongly” approve/disapprove numbers, 47 vs. 23, and the difference, -24, is the index.<br />
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Removing the critical adverb “strongly” from the question, we find him lagging by a 58-41 margin of -17. A necessary reminder here is that Rasmussen predicted the final tally on Bush-Kerry and Obama-Bush with less than a 1% margin of error. In total, the numbers are the absolute lowest recorded for the president by the most accurate of all poll sources. <br />
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In a recent departure from his prepared remarks, the president complained that “people were treating him like a dog.” Having had a dog for a companion since 1937, I find his statement misses the mark by a wide margin. Each of the faithful, noble beasts who have enriched my existence over the years had a positive affect on my life. In return for their love, I made every effort to care for their needs and reward them for their service. Each was considered an active member of the family. However, none of them were ever allowed to accompany me on a journey using their own personal multi-engine jet as transport. Being “treated like a dog” apparently does have its perks.<br />
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Even Lyndon Johnson, whose conduct and policies in the White House I found most disagreeable, enjoyed one photo from the oval office which gave me a measure of hope for the man. He was shown, leaning back in his chair reading a multi-page document held in one hand and with the other he was idly scratching his dog’s head. I saw in that picture, a different perspective of his personality I had previously never observed. It served to temper my opinion of him from that day forward. <br />
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Understanding the narcissist is a life long study but one does not need endless years of education to either recognize one or see the negative affect he has on those around him. This individual will stand as a case study for years to come. As gradually we unwrap the endless layers of mystery concerning this president we shall find a soulless, egocentric man who has ridden affirmative action to outrageous heights. Fortunately, one only needs return to the Rasmussen numbers quoted above to see the American electorate coming to grips with the realities of their decisions. <br />
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As we continue to watch, often in horror, the activities of our government in lock step doing nearly everything they can to destroy America, it becomes more difficult to predict the end result. I’m confident, with certain reservations, that the electorate is starting to awaken. As the affects of our current financial difficulties turn from recession to depression with massive unemployment, depressed housing markets, and the lack of effective action from the government, how can anyone sleep through it? In hard numbers we now have a national debt equivalent to the grand total of every previous administration combined. Instead of solutions, we find ourselves deluged with distracting issues to divert our attention from the unrelenting problems we face as a nation. Oil spills, book burning, weather threats, vacation schedules, are the crisis de jour and noteworthy but nothing compared to the overthrow of the government.<br />
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For twenty months we have been reminded daily that the entirety of the nation’s ills belong on the shoulders of the previous administration. Might it possibly be the time to stand up, like a man, and take responsibility for his own actions? I realize that is inconsistent with the personality of the narcissist but it certainly would be a refreshing change. Gradually, the entire population—even leftists—will come to see the need for the restoration of sanity in our government. The only remaining question is; will they accomplish this attitudinal change before it is too late? God help us!<br />
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In His abiding love,<br />
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Cecil MoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-12963958975059797322010-09-07T20:35:00.000-07:002010-09-07T20:42:10.004-07:00A “Heap o’ Nothin’” or a “Pile of Somthin’”Who but Florence King would write a column and entitle it “Heap o’ Nothin’?” The piece in question appears in the “National Review” in the August 30, 2010 issue on page 39, in her regular column, The Bent Pin. You do subscribe to “National Review” don’t you? Her column alone is worth the price of admission. Enjoying the cream of conservative writers, Ms. King stands alone among the contributors. She has a salty style which is otherwise unavailable. No doubt, this was acquired growing up in the south in the thirties and forties.<br />
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As an example, I submit the following:<br />
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“They don’t call him “No Drama Obama” for nothing. He’s even worse than we thought because he has committed the ultimate American crime, worse than anything he has been accused of so far. He has no sense of humor. You can tell just by watching him at the mike that here is a person who knows the words but not the tune. You see him standing like a greyhound in the slips, straining upon the start, but he can’t sense where the start comes. Someone has over-coached him on the subject of “timing.” He doesn’t really feel it, he just knows that comedians are supposed to have something called timing, so he puts on a little half-smile and waits for it—you can almost hear him counting.<br />
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My ultimate prediction is based on the scientific certainty of female intuition. I have a feeling that a lot is going to happen. I sense that something is gearing up, gathering speed, starting to peek from behind the curtain. Lights keep going off in my mind like fireflies in a jar, and I already have a poem to go with it all: “Shine, Perishing Republic” by Robinson Jeffers.”<br />
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To read what came before and to complete what follows you will have to borrow a copy from your well-informed brother-in-law and finish it yourself. I imagine that National Review would be touchy if I quoted the entire thing. <br />
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As a geezer, I may have a greater appreciation of Florence King and an admiration for that segment of our society who don’t bother mincing words. We plainly don’t have enough time in life left to waste on platitudes and “the little niceties.” <br />
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In His abiding love,<br />
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Cecil MoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037457696217227495.post-6376056673166898462010-09-07T11:43:00.000-07:002010-09-07T12:00:46.371-07:00Gratitude for Soundly Based CommentaryLabor Day is now past, cooler mornings are here, and the necessary tasks for the oncoming winter are being planned and executed. A little caulking here, checking windows and doors for leaks there, space heater maintenance in advance of necessity and filter replacement occupy the prudent home owner. This is a conditioned response to the onset of the inevitable. This advance preparation eases our departure from the lively growing season to the declining days of fall and then those three months of the dearth of winter.<br />
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With that dire threat knocking on the door, absent the joys of the preceding six months, what is there to lift our outlook to face the challenges? Actually, there is an abundance of distraction to raise our spirits and divert our attention from the wind and cold. So then, let us count our blessings and not fear the future. <br />
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Even though not as demanding, the upcoming two seasons will have much to challenge the physical man. In a rural setting, the last quarter mile of road finds access is guaranteed only by maintenance by the occupant of the property. Snow must be cleared, fallen limbs removed, and thus is access to the outside world assured. Once the leaves have fallen and the detritus swept aside we will enjoy the restoration of the marvelous view we have of the adjacent valley—and the road below. With the absence of the leaf cover, much will be revealed that needs attention. The hyper-active shop can finally be attended, cleaned, and generally reorganized without interruption from mundane daily activity. Soon, the light bulb in the well house will be activated to assure continuous service after the first freeze. It will be a time of smaller tasks with even greater importance.<br />
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Obviously, since we are married to the internet, we shall spend more time gathering information, digesting it and then sharing our opinions. As so many we know are returning to all levels of the education process, we also are prepared to enlarge our knowledge and share our thoughts as well. We observe that fall and that activity are a natural fit. In the run up to the November election, we anticipate much excitement will accompany the rise and fall of the various candidates and, hopefully, restore the progress of the nation. As I anticipate my 78th seasonal change, I truly believe that we face the most critical election our nation has ever had.<br />
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With that in mind, I shall make a personal recommendation of the <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/">Instapundit</a> site and the small army of brilliant minds who inhabit it. My daily “favorites” list is arranged in order to start my day with that which I consider important. I lead off with <a href="http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/">Day-by-Day</a> for grins and political observation. This is followed by <a href="http://www.drudgereport.com/">The Drudge Report</a> , the <a href="http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/">USGS</a> Earthquake site—hey, I have a thing about tectonic plate movement, the <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll">Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll</a> to gauge changes in the national mood, and by force of habit, <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll">Knowledge is Power</a>.<br />
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Then to prove my status as a creature of habit, I then check the weather, my email, my Stat Counter—just to see if you are awake yet—and then a dozen other blogs of interest. Scattered among them is an occasional visit to Huffington Post, Slate, and Daily Kos to measure the hysteria of the left. This process is interrupted by numerous trips to the coffee pot and personal recriminations concerning my sloth because it is now noon.<br />
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You will find the most frequently quoted blog is Glen Reynolds’s Instapundit. I find great comfort in the genius exposed there regarding current events. Victor Davis Hanson, Ed Driscoll, Roger Simon, and Mark Steyn are typical of the commentators who contribute to the website. They are joined by a host of others with equal intellect who grace those pages.<br />
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This particular post was inspired by a piece by <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/eddriscoll/2010/09/06/labor-day-2010-building-a-bridge-to-the-13th-century/">Ed Driscoll</a> who liberally quotes some of the other mentioned writers. To view a brilliant mind at work, I recommend clicking on the link and reading it. <br />
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For those who routinely follow Zion Beckons, we offer our heartfelt thanks. We promise, as the weather gets nippier, to provide an even greater supply of information to get your blood warmed up and moving. We also promise to remind you that as our government becomes less and less capable of managing their affairs that God is still in charge and his will, will prevail.<br />
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In His abiding love,<br />
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Cecil MoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0