Going through the trash this morning I have come across some random thoughts about the attitudes of the seaboard pundits and governmental Washington elites. First, there was the sound and the fury over the naming of a moose-hunting, hockey mom with five kids who had the audacity to believe she was qualified to be a mayor, state commission chair, governor and then candidate for vice-president. They agonized over the thought of a “trailer-trash” ex-beauty queen taking up residence at the Naval Observatory in D.C. In response, they marshaled an army of sleazeball "legal" types and sent them on a mission to “dumpster dive” in Alaska in search of dirt on the candidate. They returned from their assignment cold, dirty, and disappointed with the knowledge that unlike their fellow critics, she enjoyed huge (80%) endorsement by her parka clad neighbors and was, God forbid, real!
She further stoked their fires of rage by using highly understandable vocabulary to relate to and outline a vision for her fellow citizens. She flummoxed the press and the “lifers” in D.C. by being well advanced in her knowledge and her ability to communicate with every one past the arugula and latte circuit. She assumed the role of “everyman” for those Americans who quietly enter voting booths and exercise their common sense and conscience. The coastal elites went nuts. After all, they went to Harvard or some other weed covered hall of leftist indoctrination, where they were educated to believe that nuance superseded common sense. She revealed she had a mom and dad and neither one was named “government.”
If that were not insult enough, “The One” entertained a question from some “guy” who actually had a job and wanted to make the transition from employee to management and improve his opportunities. This person, now known almost universally as “Joe, the plumber,” demonstrated a simplistic grasp of economics, capitalism, and planning for the future well past the understanding of his betters in congress. He resisted the idea that he should “share the wealth” with others who had not paid the price he had paid. Worse, he has also expressed his belief in his native country, his confidence in the military and the goals of their use, and faith in his fellow citizens. His sturdy appearance combined with his fundamental attitudes scare these people to death.
These two are not all that different from the ones who hang out in your local barber shop, Wal-Mart parking lot, church dinners and PTA meetings who discuss the real problems America faces. They sit on town boards and councils, often unpaid, and exercise their civic responsibilities and participate in decisions which affect their neighbors. They are not all of the same opinion but manage to work together to come up with the solutions which best reflect the attitudes of the governed to the best of their ability. Since they drive the same roads, shop in the same stores, go to the same schools and, generally, worship the same God, they have the necessary information to make informed judgments. They constitute the basic cadre which directs the efforts to improve America and provide for the common good.
The elites attribute this to some kind of “overnight” success which to them is unfathomable. They fail to see that each of them prepared for lives of accomplishment by hard work, caring for others, exercising high moral standards, and actually working their way up the ladder. In close examination of most all-stars, whether they be in sports, entertainment, business, the arts, or what have you, they will modestly assure you their “overnight” success was preceded by ten or twenty years of difficult preparation.. They “made their bones” the hard way. The first time I saw Tiger Woods with a golf club in his hand was at the age of three (his age, not mine!) on the “Tonight Show.” Many US presidents started their lives as paper boys and Boy Scouts, learning the “real” basics of life. Most NFL star quarterbacks have a tale in their repertoire of endlessly throwing footballs through a hanging tire behind the barn in youthful exuberance to hone their skills. How many industry CEO’s have related tales of selling lemonade or peddling vegetables as a kid? Perhaps the most telling story is Bill Gates who dropped out of college to form what is now Microsoft and become the world’s richest man. These people did not come from inherited wealth but did come from an ingrained work ethic. It was not the luck of the draw or a one in a billion lottery ticket that put them where they are today. In their success we award our admiration; the folly lies in not appreciating what they went through to achieve it.
Yes, we are commanded as Christians to give our neighbor a helping hand. Many have done so as individuals and as a nation we have reacted to the downtrodden and oppressed in record amounts. When our nation senses tragedy abroad we immediately dispatch relief even in advance of the event. Our navy does not wait for the aftermath of a cyclone or tsunami to put our hospital ships and carrier borne helicopters rushing to the scene. We send our resources and monies promptly without expectation of praise to help our brothers’ world wide. This national attitude is born in the hearts of the people who form the nation and not from political expediency.
Those who seek to disparage the “common” characteristics and essential goodness of the folks mentioned in the lead paragraphs need to take another look. That look should not be at Sarah Palin or “Joe, the plumber” but rather, in the mirror. Have they done as much? Is paying the price for success so alien they can only carp about their lack of polish and credentials? Personally, I will only find validity in their criticisms when they can demonstrate a lack of agenda in their self-serving attacks. My prayer is that the “average” citizen seeks leadership from those who have “been there and done that.” To have studied, theorized, read about, and mulled over is not the ideal background for leadership if it is not accompanied by some actual work.
Give this some thought and share those thoughts with your neighbors. We live in a perilous world and we require common sense leadership. A world in flames and economic crisis does not require yet another symposium. It requires an individual who understands courage, stewardship, fairness, common sense and sweat!
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
When Wright becomes Wrong
I have come to believe that the biggest problem with mounting a campaign of facts against Obama is his shadowy complicity in difficult to understand programs. These are clouded with language, phrasing, and duplicity which hide the vile underpinnings of their purpose. For those who see American Idol as news, it is especially difficult.
Supplying high sounding words, closed meetings, and difficult to follow financial transactions are the bread and butter of his campaign. This is why finding intelligent people to sort through the mess become a joy. Stanley Kurtz is such a man. He managed to defeat the barriers raised by the conservators of the Annenberg Challenge documents. It was no easy task. It was necessary to document the complicated relationships of Obama, Wright and Ayers in their attempt to scuttle the already failing educational establishment in Chicago.
I would love to furnish an “easy read” for your consumption but thanks to the principals, that is not possible. I do assure you that Mr. Kurtz has done the heavy lifting for you and all that is required is your undivided attention, some of your valuable time, and a strong stomach. Once you have completed your inquiry you will have a far better grip on the entire situation. I promise that reading this piece will bring you a rich understanding of the matter.
The overarching message I took from this was the accent on increasing a divisive posture on a huge segment of American society. The nation’s purpose in spending 600,000 plus of our young men in the Civil War was to enable full citizenship and assimilation into the richness of our country’s liberty and benefits. Would that Abraham Lincoln could see the fractured response presented by this cabal of elites to overturn his goals and hard won victories on the battlefield. Those who have no knowledge of the truth of America’s success will be easily led to believe the lies so cleverly presented.
Men of honor and integrity are laced into the complete history of our country. From the very inception of the republic, they have stood tall to insure our future success. To ignore their sacrifice and nobility to yield to the insane ranting of those who, in Wright’s word, “damn” America, will insure the destruction of everything which we hold dear. This is serious business and it requires serious opposition.
God, in His wisdom, has provided us a place of untold blessings. He has guided our forefathers to construct a government which has no parallel in history. In the face of His immense largess will we allow it to be destroyed by an emotional appeal by a man and his cronies who cannot even bring his message from his heart and not a teleprompter?
You are not called upon in this circumstance to don the armor and weapons of bloody personal contact. You are, however, required to furnish yourself with every available piece of information you can acquire to share with your fellow citizens to insure they fully understand the horrible mistake they may well be about to make.
You do not have to be a Latter Day Saint of any stripe to appreciate the words of Moroni when faced with a serious adversary. He charged his followers to action with these words written upon a piece of cloth rent from his own body, “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children.” (Alma 21:41) In the next verse, he knelt in prayer “unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren so long as there should be a band of Christians remain to possess the land.”
Our liberties are being assaulted as well. Choose whatever level of the struggle you can manage, but choose! Do it for the preservation of your freedoms.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Supplying high sounding words, closed meetings, and difficult to follow financial transactions are the bread and butter of his campaign. This is why finding intelligent people to sort through the mess become a joy. Stanley Kurtz is such a man. He managed to defeat the barriers raised by the conservators of the Annenberg Challenge documents. It was no easy task. It was necessary to document the complicated relationships of Obama, Wright and Ayers in their attempt to scuttle the already failing educational establishment in Chicago.
I would love to furnish an “easy read” for your consumption but thanks to the principals, that is not possible. I do assure you that Mr. Kurtz has done the heavy lifting for you and all that is required is your undivided attention, some of your valuable time, and a strong stomach. Once you have completed your inquiry you will have a far better grip on the entire situation. I promise that reading this piece will bring you a rich understanding of the matter.
The overarching message I took from this was the accent on increasing a divisive posture on a huge segment of American society. The nation’s purpose in spending 600,000 plus of our young men in the Civil War was to enable full citizenship and assimilation into the richness of our country’s liberty and benefits. Would that Abraham Lincoln could see the fractured response presented by this cabal of elites to overturn his goals and hard won victories on the battlefield. Those who have no knowledge of the truth of America’s success will be easily led to believe the lies so cleverly presented.
Men of honor and integrity are laced into the complete history of our country. From the very inception of the republic, they have stood tall to insure our future success. To ignore their sacrifice and nobility to yield to the insane ranting of those who, in Wright’s word, “damn” America, will insure the destruction of everything which we hold dear. This is serious business and it requires serious opposition.
God, in His wisdom, has provided us a place of untold blessings. He has guided our forefathers to construct a government which has no parallel in history. In the face of His immense largess will we allow it to be destroyed by an emotional appeal by a man and his cronies who cannot even bring his message from his heart and not a teleprompter?
You are not called upon in this circumstance to don the armor and weapons of bloody personal contact. You are, however, required to furnish yourself with every available piece of information you can acquire to share with your fellow citizens to insure they fully understand the horrible mistake they may well be about to make.
You do not have to be a Latter Day Saint of any stripe to appreciate the words of Moroni when faced with a serious adversary. He charged his followers to action with these words written upon a piece of cloth rent from his own body, “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children.” (Alma 21:41) In the next verse, he knelt in prayer “unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren so long as there should be a band of Christians remain to possess the land.”
Our liberties are being assaulted as well. Choose whatever level of the struggle you can manage, but choose! Do it for the preservation of your freedoms.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Monday, October 13, 2008
Monday Morning Rant 59
When the preacher (Pastor Lee Parsons) went to the final prayer yesterday morning at Fellowship Baptist Church, I came to a startling discovery. I was so thoroughly engrossed in his topic and his excellent presentation that any vestige of the awareness of time had completely escaped me. Either I am maturing in the faith or else he is one of the most captivating sermonizers I have ever heard. I have to admit that it is the latter. After all, who would not confess, at least to oneself, that he has stolen a peek at his watch during a Sunday service? My reaction was one of surprise and disappointment rather than relief at the close; shame on me and cheers for him.
Although not the subject of his remarks I was provoked to consider what other aspects of my so called Christian life are governed by external forces and not the pure love of Christ and His message. Does my personal budget have an affect on my support of the ministry? Have I found the time to carry the message personally to others? When I contact those with whom I disagree—and who doesn’t during an election—am I aware of their identity as my “brothers” and not ready to brand them as fools and lunatics? Does my faith operate 24/7 or is it practiced at my personal convenience? If indeed, I plan on wrapping myself in the cloak of Jesus Christ by claiming His name as the most important part of my identity, it would be well to rethink some of these questions.
In my travels through Ozark Christendom, I have noticed tradition to be widely varied. The music, the order of worship, the accepted dress for both women and men, those who offer prayers, and other aspects of the services which I have attended appear to be accepted by those who attend and there is a wide disparity between many protestant bodies. Being a geezer, I have some ingrained old time habits. No matter where I wind up on Sunday, you will find I am always dressed the same. Dark suit, white shirt, necktie, shined boots, and a general sartorial presentation consistent with the respect I have for the God I worship. This is in no way meant as criticism of those who are comfortable in casual trousers and a clean pressed shirt. It’s possible us “old guys” are a bunch of stuffed shirts and overdress for the occasion. It does cause some confusion on occasion, however.
In nearly all of these wonderful congregations I have visited, the ones most surely to share my personal dress code are the preachers, elders, deacons and others of rank. On occasion someone will confuse me, by virtue of my dress, with one of the officials of the church. To know me well is to establish firmly that you can’t tell a book by its cover. While I find the misinterpretation flattering, it is often embarrassing. A man I know only casually was close by and obviously very tickled over something. When he saw that I had noticed he came to me to apologize. After a series of appropriate disclaimers we launched a discussion of God, humor, and the general relationship. In this particular church, the pastor has a marvelous sense of humor and displays it often during the delivery of his message. My personal experience has been that humor often provides the tonic to dilute the gravest of problems.
Altogether, the day provided much food for thought and a wonderful distraction to the week’s political nightmares. Please note that the relative importance to me is demonstrated by the fact that it leads the rant. The rest shall follow.
Michelle’s Thesis
Although somewhat unusual, Michelle Obama was required to furnish a thesis for graduation from a bachelor’s program at Syracuse. This was prior to being admitted to Harvard Law. When questioned about the availability of the document, she at first seemed reluctant to furnish it to reporters or the general public. This is, I suppose, a furtherance of the desire to examine under a microscope, every snippet which can be extracted from every scrap of paper authored by anyone remotely connected to the current campaign.
While I disagree with her husband about nearly everything but his choice of waffles for breakfast, I fail to see why anyone would have any interest in the ramblings of a twenty-something undergraduate from Syracuse. However, to satisfy myself that there was nothing earth shattering in the paper, I found it and read it. You may also if you wish to waste whatever time it takes you to read roughly 100 double space pages of typing. Ed. note: Yawn.
If you chose to take my word for it and passed, I congratulate you on your time management skills. Like much of what passes for civil discourse on both sides, there is “no there, there.”
Imaginary Americans
For those who are tiring of the campaign, I have a temporary distraction for you from Dave Burge at Iowa Hawk. In response to the attempt by ACORN to fix the election by tampering with voter registrations, he has written one of his typically astute satires on the subject. Have a look and you can thank me later for exposing you to his clever wit.
One of the big draws I have to Iowa Hawk is his familiarity with areas of the upper Midwest where I have lived or traveled during various parts of my life; Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. Given my late-life aversion to snow piled up higher than my 6’ frame it is likely I shall never give any thought to returning to the four season delights (early winter, winter, late winter, and the 4th of July picnic) of that region. Dave is good enough to keep me up to date on the happenings there so that will not be necessary. Enjoy him; he’s very good at satire.
That’s it for the rant this morning. No big revelations or attacks on anyone today, just, as usual, the aftermath of an enriching Sunday.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Although not the subject of his remarks I was provoked to consider what other aspects of my so called Christian life are governed by external forces and not the pure love of Christ and His message. Does my personal budget have an affect on my support of the ministry? Have I found the time to carry the message personally to others? When I contact those with whom I disagree—and who doesn’t during an election—am I aware of their identity as my “brothers” and not ready to brand them as fools and lunatics? Does my faith operate 24/7 or is it practiced at my personal convenience? If indeed, I plan on wrapping myself in the cloak of Jesus Christ by claiming His name as the most important part of my identity, it would be well to rethink some of these questions.
In my travels through Ozark Christendom, I have noticed tradition to be widely varied. The music, the order of worship, the accepted dress for both women and men, those who offer prayers, and other aspects of the services which I have attended appear to be accepted by those who attend and there is a wide disparity between many protestant bodies. Being a geezer, I have some ingrained old time habits. No matter where I wind up on Sunday, you will find I am always dressed the same. Dark suit, white shirt, necktie, shined boots, and a general sartorial presentation consistent with the respect I have for the God I worship. This is in no way meant as criticism of those who are comfortable in casual trousers and a clean pressed shirt. It’s possible us “old guys” are a bunch of stuffed shirts and overdress for the occasion. It does cause some confusion on occasion, however.
In nearly all of these wonderful congregations I have visited, the ones most surely to share my personal dress code are the preachers, elders, deacons and others of rank. On occasion someone will confuse me, by virtue of my dress, with one of the officials of the church. To know me well is to establish firmly that you can’t tell a book by its cover. While I find the misinterpretation flattering, it is often embarrassing. A man I know only casually was close by and obviously very tickled over something. When he saw that I had noticed he came to me to apologize. After a series of appropriate disclaimers we launched a discussion of God, humor, and the general relationship. In this particular church, the pastor has a marvelous sense of humor and displays it often during the delivery of his message. My personal experience has been that humor often provides the tonic to dilute the gravest of problems.
Altogether, the day provided much food for thought and a wonderful distraction to the week’s political nightmares. Please note that the relative importance to me is demonstrated by the fact that it leads the rant. The rest shall follow.
Michelle’s Thesis
Although somewhat unusual, Michelle Obama was required to furnish a thesis for graduation from a bachelor’s program at Syracuse. This was prior to being admitted to Harvard Law. When questioned about the availability of the document, she at first seemed reluctant to furnish it to reporters or the general public. This is, I suppose, a furtherance of the desire to examine under a microscope, every snippet which can be extracted from every scrap of paper authored by anyone remotely connected to the current campaign.
While I disagree with her husband about nearly everything but his choice of waffles for breakfast, I fail to see why anyone would have any interest in the ramblings of a twenty-something undergraduate from Syracuse. However, to satisfy myself that there was nothing earth shattering in the paper, I found it and read it. You may also if you wish to waste whatever time it takes you to read roughly 100 double space pages of typing. Ed. note: Yawn.
If you chose to take my word for it and passed, I congratulate you on your time management skills. Like much of what passes for civil discourse on both sides, there is “no there, there.”
Imaginary Americans
For those who are tiring of the campaign, I have a temporary distraction for you from Dave Burge at Iowa Hawk. In response to the attempt by ACORN to fix the election by tampering with voter registrations, he has written one of his typically astute satires on the subject. Have a look and you can thank me later for exposing you to his clever wit.
One of the big draws I have to Iowa Hawk is his familiarity with areas of the upper Midwest where I have lived or traveled during various parts of my life; Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. Given my late-life aversion to snow piled up higher than my 6’ frame it is likely I shall never give any thought to returning to the four season delights (early winter, winter, late winter, and the 4th of July picnic) of that region. Dave is good enough to keep me up to date on the happenings there so that will not be necessary. Enjoy him; he’s very good at satire.
That’s it for the rant this morning. No big revelations or attacks on anyone today, just, as usual, the aftermath of an enriching Sunday.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wanted – A Credible Witness
In a criminal trial, when the “perp” is confronted with vile accusations and evidence of a foul deed, the defense in most cases can come up with a neighbor, former class mate, drinking buddy or former wife to testify to what a benign presence he has been in their life. How many times have we seen on television a mass murderer described by the guy next door as an occasional friend and one who has never shown any aggressive tendencies? ”Yeah.” They say, “He was kind of a loner who loved dogs and played with the kids here—oh, and he kept his place up, too..”
When the average person makes application for a new job or faces any situation with responsibility he mentions the names of people who have known him well and are willing to vouch for his character and background. He does so with the realization that these folks will be called upon to state their relationship and furnish information about the nature of what they shared. The goal is generally to establish the “good” character of the applicant. Convicted felons, loony preachers, Communist sympathizers and anarchists are normally avoided as admitted associates.
A quick look at Zion Beckons archives will turn up many references to friends, teachers, business people, clergy (often also friends,) former neighbors and acquaintances with accompanying posts about their fine examples which have served as guideposts in my life. They are presented as people I have known well enough to look to for role models and see living a life which I might care to emulate. We all have these people in our history who have provided deeds and actions which we admire.
Despite our best intentions, we sometimes find ourselves associated with persons who have a less than savory past. In Las Vegas, I played golf twice a week for over four years with a convicted felon who had done “hard” time. In Missouri, I have a fellow worker who has done the same; and for more serious crimes. In my twenty eight years in Alcoholics Anonymous I have met countless others who have in the past shown less than a sterling character. Each one of these individuals, whose company I enjoyed, had one thing in common; repentance. Each freely acknowledged his wrongdoing and the damage that he caused others. Each had paid the price with a temporary forfeiture of freedom or worldly goods. Every one of them had sought to redress the grievances and change their lives. In each case, they had discovered that most important character trait of all—honesty!
It’s not easy to engage in self-examination and actually admit that we were wrong. The hardest part is accusing one’s self of wrongdoing and admitting to an aggrieved party the truth of the matter. All too often we grudgingly admit to error and misdeed and fail in our attempt at repentance. We lie to ourselves. In so doing, we miss the cleansing relief which can only be found in true repentance. Only when we admit to God and another human being our misdeeds will we find the blessings of forgiveness.
So, what’s the point? Currently, the news is alive with reports of a person who has filled his life with people who are described above with one exception. They have done the crimes but have not done the time. They are unrepentant and continue to be the despicable individuals which they are accused of being. No one has ever offered any explanation or quotation to demonstrate that William Ayers has either denied or shown any remorse for his activities to overthrow the government of the United States. Rather we have seen an arrogant claim that, “we should have done more.”
No one has offered any apology from Jeremiah Wright for his pulpit rantings which include the statement; “G** d*** America!” His student and congregationalist, Barack Hussein Obama, has clearly disassociated himself and denied that his twenty years in the pew and his very personal relationship had any affect at all on his politics. Somehow he has managed to avoid being influenced by Wright’s constant racist frothing.
Another of his “not a close” friends who bought a chunk of land to add to Obama’s million dollar plus estate, Tony Rezko, for over $50,000, may find a cause for repentance as he languishes in prison and contemplates his unsavory past. Rezko joins Ayers and Wright “under the bus” in this spate of self-denial.
Mega church theologian, distinguished English professor, and real estate tycoon may seem like ideal resume references on a job application but they are most inappropriate if you actually examine their lives and their characters. Each has offered proof of his own origin for their despicable world views and actions. These are not associations which any sane man would offer as supporting his own views. The “rubes” are actually discovering these fellow travelers, ranters, and criminals for who they are and the contribution they have made to “the one.”
For the critical thinkers among us it will be acceptable to “let bygones be bygones.” For the rest of us simpletons who don’t have the elite mindset of Hyde Park, I suggest that we attempt to nail down the reality of the situation and act accordingly. As an acknowledged simpleton, I shall have to remember grandpa’s advisory: “Son, when you lie down with dogs you can expect to get up with fleas.”
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
When the average person makes application for a new job or faces any situation with responsibility he mentions the names of people who have known him well and are willing to vouch for his character and background. He does so with the realization that these folks will be called upon to state their relationship and furnish information about the nature of what they shared. The goal is generally to establish the “good” character of the applicant. Convicted felons, loony preachers, Communist sympathizers and anarchists are normally avoided as admitted associates.
A quick look at Zion Beckons archives will turn up many references to friends, teachers, business people, clergy (often also friends,) former neighbors and acquaintances with accompanying posts about their fine examples which have served as guideposts in my life. They are presented as people I have known well enough to look to for role models and see living a life which I might care to emulate. We all have these people in our history who have provided deeds and actions which we admire.
Despite our best intentions, we sometimes find ourselves associated with persons who have a less than savory past. In Las Vegas, I played golf twice a week for over four years with a convicted felon who had done “hard” time. In Missouri, I have a fellow worker who has done the same; and for more serious crimes. In my twenty eight years in Alcoholics Anonymous I have met countless others who have in the past shown less than a sterling character. Each one of these individuals, whose company I enjoyed, had one thing in common; repentance. Each freely acknowledged his wrongdoing and the damage that he caused others. Each had paid the price with a temporary forfeiture of freedom or worldly goods. Every one of them had sought to redress the grievances and change their lives. In each case, they had discovered that most important character trait of all—honesty!
It’s not easy to engage in self-examination and actually admit that we were wrong. The hardest part is accusing one’s self of wrongdoing and admitting to an aggrieved party the truth of the matter. All too often we grudgingly admit to error and misdeed and fail in our attempt at repentance. We lie to ourselves. In so doing, we miss the cleansing relief which can only be found in true repentance. Only when we admit to God and another human being our misdeeds will we find the blessings of forgiveness.
So, what’s the point? Currently, the news is alive with reports of a person who has filled his life with people who are described above with one exception. They have done the crimes but have not done the time. They are unrepentant and continue to be the despicable individuals which they are accused of being. No one has ever offered any explanation or quotation to demonstrate that William Ayers has either denied or shown any remorse for his activities to overthrow the government of the United States. Rather we have seen an arrogant claim that, “we should have done more.”
No one has offered any apology from Jeremiah Wright for his pulpit rantings which include the statement; “G** d*** America!” His student and congregationalist, Barack Hussein Obama, has clearly disassociated himself and denied that his twenty years in the pew and his very personal relationship had any affect at all on his politics. Somehow he has managed to avoid being influenced by Wright’s constant racist frothing.
Another of his “not a close” friends who bought a chunk of land to add to Obama’s million dollar plus estate, Tony Rezko, for over $50,000, may find a cause for repentance as he languishes in prison and contemplates his unsavory past. Rezko joins Ayers and Wright “under the bus” in this spate of self-denial.
Mega church theologian, distinguished English professor, and real estate tycoon may seem like ideal resume references on a job application but they are most inappropriate if you actually examine their lives and their characters. Each has offered proof of his own origin for their despicable world views and actions. These are not associations which any sane man would offer as supporting his own views. The “rubes” are actually discovering these fellow travelers, ranters, and criminals for who they are and the contribution they have made to “the one.”
For the critical thinkers among us it will be acceptable to “let bygones be bygones.” For the rest of us simpletons who don’t have the elite mindset of Hyde Park, I suggest that we attempt to nail down the reality of the situation and act accordingly. As an acknowledged simpleton, I shall have to remember grandpa’s advisory: “Son, when you lie down with dogs you can expect to get up with fleas.”
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Media: “In the Tank?”
Any one with the least awareness of the particulars of the campaign for president must surely be aware by now that the media is totally in the tank for Obama. If this has not been obvious from the beginning, one must question your powers of observation. Over the years I have observed various outlets paint candidates with a mix of unsavory accusations on both sides of the aisle. To refresh your memory, much was made of Dukakis in the tank wearing the standard helmet which was by design extremely large and made him look ridiculous; endless criticism for Dan Quale’s supposed failure to spell potato; the famous “Willy Horton” issue; John Kerry’s highly questionable service record as challenged by the swift boat veterans; CBS news fabricated story about George Bush and his Air National Guard service; and similar coverage of one or the other or both in every campaign since and before.
In most of these cases, a snippet of truth was amplified to cast aspersions on a particular person. This activity has been part of American politics from the “git-go.” First amendment freedom of speech and other constitutional issues prohibit any reining in of these allegations. All of this, of course, explains the army of investigators dispatched to Alaska to “dig up the dirt” on Sarah Palin.
What is unusual here is the total devotion of the media in this election cycle to Barak Obama. They are caught up in the Messianic zeal which that campaign encourages. To not repeat the story of Barack ascendant is near blasphemy. Some media outlets are obviously worse than others and consequently acquire a logical reputation as the most flagrant perpetrators. Fox news: not so much; CNN and MSNBC have been absolutely dedicated to support Obama.
This morning I found a repeat of a CNN investigative report which I had overlooked for the simple reason I don’t watch CNN. Anderson Cooper was challenged to dig a little deeper into the Obama/Ayers relationship. What I saw was absolutely amazing. Although somewhat bumbling and not quite as straightforward as I would have preferred, the report was close to accurate and in a word; damning! Try this link and see if you agree.
Now that you’ve seen it can you believe that CNN actually aired this? Despite the campaign representative’s best attempts to play down and refute the results of the investigation, they firmly establish the connection. This is not a McCain ad; it is a report from a significant part of the mainstream media. The message is clear. Obama has had a firm relationship dating well into the past with Bill Ayers and they are definitely not just ships which have “passed in the night.”
Apparently CNN has figured out that their continued existence as a news source depends on a measure of fairness in presentation. I applaud their epiphany and look forward to any additional revelations which they might bring forth. I have already covered the Obama/Ayers connection in previous posts and that is not the subject matter here. The thrust of this post is the affect which the media has on the citizenry.
An anecdote about my late mother is the best example of ingrained media bias. Bless her heart; she started to go blind in her seventies. Being close, I watched, with horror, as she gradually lost her sight. To fully understand her you must realize she was a former high school teacher with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Every summer for over thirty years she acquired at least six credit hours in continuing education which added to her educational accomplishments and put her well in excess of the advanced degrees she never sought. She wanted “to know.” Our home was full of books and periodicals which were for use and not for show.
As the disease in her eyes progressed we painfully observed first the increased type size necessary for understanding and then eventually her reliance on television, radio (very little), and conversation. The major news sources had, over the previous years, established themselves as reliable, familiar and trusted. Lacking contradiction from other printed sources, she was gradually brainwashed by the media. Once a rugged individualist, a single mother who worked her entire life (retired at 73!) and made her way in the pure American style, she was gradually inculcated with the liberal line which was propagated by the only media source available.
Early in our marriage, we found a house in Colorado Springs with a live-in apartment so she could enjoy assisted living. We shared the den where the TV was located and she became a huge football fan. Her interest in the game was not driven by the action on the field but rather the voice of John Madden. She identified his characteristic masculinity as only a sightless person could. In a word; she loved him. While we found her affection for John amusing, we easily understood.
During that period of ten years, I increasingly attempted to keep her up to date on the real world and not what the media mavens projected. Fighting three (then) networks is no easy job as they increased their influence day by day. Happily, her mental capacity was not impaired so she did maintain some semblance of reality and responded to reasoned argument and logic.
It was a lesson which I am apt to never forget. Her blindness was physical; unlike that which we see on the part of much of the electorate. Her narrow view was forced by her disability and certainly not on the laziness which seems to inhabit so many. Any time I am tempted to accept that which is being spoon fed by the celebrity reporters I keep in mind the struggle of my mom to maintain her equilibrium. Annie: rest in peace.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
In most of these cases, a snippet of truth was amplified to cast aspersions on a particular person. This activity has been part of American politics from the “git-go.” First amendment freedom of speech and other constitutional issues prohibit any reining in of these allegations. All of this, of course, explains the army of investigators dispatched to Alaska to “dig up the dirt” on Sarah Palin.
What is unusual here is the total devotion of the media in this election cycle to Barak Obama. They are caught up in the Messianic zeal which that campaign encourages. To not repeat the story of Barack ascendant is near blasphemy. Some media outlets are obviously worse than others and consequently acquire a logical reputation as the most flagrant perpetrators. Fox news: not so much; CNN and MSNBC have been absolutely dedicated to support Obama.
This morning I found a repeat of a CNN investigative report which I had overlooked for the simple reason I don’t watch CNN. Anderson Cooper was challenged to dig a little deeper into the Obama/Ayers relationship. What I saw was absolutely amazing. Although somewhat bumbling and not quite as straightforward as I would have preferred, the report was close to accurate and in a word; damning! Try this link and see if you agree.
Now that you’ve seen it can you believe that CNN actually aired this? Despite the campaign representative’s best attempts to play down and refute the results of the investigation, they firmly establish the connection. This is not a McCain ad; it is a report from a significant part of the mainstream media. The message is clear. Obama has had a firm relationship dating well into the past with Bill Ayers and they are definitely not just ships which have “passed in the night.”
Apparently CNN has figured out that their continued existence as a news source depends on a measure of fairness in presentation. I applaud their epiphany and look forward to any additional revelations which they might bring forth. I have already covered the Obama/Ayers connection in previous posts and that is not the subject matter here. The thrust of this post is the affect which the media has on the citizenry.
An anecdote about my late mother is the best example of ingrained media bias. Bless her heart; she started to go blind in her seventies. Being close, I watched, with horror, as she gradually lost her sight. To fully understand her you must realize she was a former high school teacher with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Every summer for over thirty years she acquired at least six credit hours in continuing education which added to her educational accomplishments and put her well in excess of the advanced degrees she never sought. She wanted “to know.” Our home was full of books and periodicals which were for use and not for show.
As the disease in her eyes progressed we painfully observed first the increased type size necessary for understanding and then eventually her reliance on television, radio (very little), and conversation. The major news sources had, over the previous years, established themselves as reliable, familiar and trusted. Lacking contradiction from other printed sources, she was gradually brainwashed by the media. Once a rugged individualist, a single mother who worked her entire life (retired at 73!) and made her way in the pure American style, she was gradually inculcated with the liberal line which was propagated by the only media source available.
Early in our marriage, we found a house in Colorado Springs with a live-in apartment so she could enjoy assisted living. We shared the den where the TV was located and she became a huge football fan. Her interest in the game was not driven by the action on the field but rather the voice of John Madden. She identified his characteristic masculinity as only a sightless person could. In a word; she loved him. While we found her affection for John amusing, we easily understood.
During that period of ten years, I increasingly attempted to keep her up to date on the real world and not what the media mavens projected. Fighting three (then) networks is no easy job as they increased their influence day by day. Happily, her mental capacity was not impaired so she did maintain some semblance of reality and responded to reasoned argument and logic.
It was a lesson which I am apt to never forget. Her blindness was physical; unlike that which we see on the part of much of the electorate. Her narrow view was forced by her disability and certainly not on the laziness which seems to inhabit so many. Any time I am tempted to accept that which is being spoon fed by the celebrity reporters I keep in mind the struggle of my mom to maintain her equilibrium. Annie: rest in peace.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Monday, October 6, 2008
Monday Morning Rant 58
Another gorgeous day in the Ozarks; we could use a little rain though. Maybe the first of the week will find some. It has been nearly three weeks. The trip to Miami, Oklahoma was rewarding as usual. Roy Reis brought the message with his usual insights and demonstration of lengthy faith. What a treasure he is to the Restoration.
Junk Science Skeptic
I was enjoying Robert L. Simons blog and he was making compelling arguments and entertaining commentary. As usual, in reading the comments, I found a treasure trove. I do not know the commenter, not can I verify his background or material but much of it has the ring of truth. Make up your own mind:
"Ah, the fun of reading energy pronouncements from the technically illiterate. Wasn’t why I came down here to post, but couldn’t overlook some of the aforementioned nonsense.
1. Pickens’ wind scam is only about getting eminent domain for his water pipeline. His windmills might power a few of his water well pumps, but he’ll never be able to sell commercial volumes of electricity.
2. Land-based oil wells in areas of known reserves can produce oil in a matter of months, offshore wells in a year or so. The 10-years before a drop flows story is a lie.
3. Nuclear power plants, while they are a great idea, do take nearly a decade to build, after (and if) the permits are issued. Same goes for hydro-electric.
4. In spite of several decades of solar R&D, the only places it has been used as anything other than as a stunt are satellites and the space station, and that’s only because it would cost too much for an extension cord to plug ‘em in.
5. CNG (ed. compressed natural gas) has about a 4 to 1 volume penalty vs. gas/diesel, sorta practical for big trucks going short distances, not practical for personal transportation.
I could add several more about alternative fuels, and about the scientific fraud being sold as man-made cooling/warming/climate-change, but since the original topic was about the MSM circling the bowl, thanks to their open campaigning for the DNC, let me get back to my intended comment.
With the exception of far-left partisans and the ignorant, most of the rest of the world has stopped trusting the MSM on anything of substance.
The media here and in Europe told us all how much that Germans and the French were mostly anti-American and leaning further left, yet somehow the Germans elected Merkel and the French elected Sarkozy, both conservatives who ran on a platform that included improving relations with America.
Now the media wants us to believe that most Americans want to shift towards Marxism/Socialism.
Sounds to me like the media is confusing their own opinions with those of the public.”
And even more ……..
I thought this one was pretty funny. You really don’t need the original to appreciate the comments.
“Tom W said: “leftists… salient characteristic is the wish-fulfillment fantasy. If they say something, it immediately becomes true”. Well Tom, that didn’t take long. Courtesy of Bill: “drilling idea is a red herring…(drilling) is a tiny, tiny, tiny part of the solution. In 10 years it might be 1 or 2% of our needs. That is meaningless compared to what solar, nuclear, and wind could do in a shorter time frame.”
Bring on those solar powered jets, and the wind powered submarines, and the electric powered-plug-in cargo container ships!!! Oh, and the pig manure powered bicycles.”
More notes on Not Exactly
"I never practiced Islam—NOT EXACTLY, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years, until your wife made you change so you could run for office. (4-3-08) Article ‘Obama was quite religious in Islam’
My School in Indonesia was Christian—NOT EXACTLY, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check you own book.) February 28, 2008. Kristoff from the New York Times a year ago: 'Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully uncalculated, Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as ‘one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.’' This is just one example of what Pamela is talking about when she says; ‘Obama’s narrative is being altered, enhanced and manipulated to whitewash the troubling facts.’ “
I was fluent in Indonesian—NOT EXACTLY, not one teacher says you could speak the language.
Stay tuned because there are nearly thirty more of these.
And finally
As the week goes on we shall itemize the now famous “14 points” which Joe Biden made during the debate with Governor Palin. Examination of the transcript and comparison to actual facts we have isolated at least 14 items which come under the heading, “Biden says” which are at least garbled misunderstanding, not fact checked or out right lies. All of this supports the logical abbreviation for “Biden says”—BS!
If nothing else, this election cycle will live on as an example of the Democrat party fronting capable speakers who make great presentations with little regarding for the truthful substance of their remarks. Who actually “won” the V-P debate is really unimportant. What counts is the perception of each individual voter and that result will be readily available after the 1st Tuesday in November.
As usual, the sacrament service Sunday provided a very necessary break in my activities. Most important, it was an opportunity to break away from the grind and come to grips with those things in my life which really matter. This becomes an act of renewal and re dedication which always improves my attitude leaves me refreshed to face a very troublesome world scene.
My prayer for you is that you were able to duplicate not only the experience but also the resultant improvement..
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Junk Science Skeptic
I was enjoying Robert L. Simons blog and he was making compelling arguments and entertaining commentary. As usual, in reading the comments, I found a treasure trove. I do not know the commenter, not can I verify his background or material but much of it has the ring of truth. Make up your own mind:
"Ah, the fun of reading energy pronouncements from the technically illiterate. Wasn’t why I came down here to post, but couldn’t overlook some of the aforementioned nonsense.
1. Pickens’ wind scam is only about getting eminent domain for his water pipeline. His windmills might power a few of his water well pumps, but he’ll never be able to sell commercial volumes of electricity.
2. Land-based oil wells in areas of known reserves can produce oil in a matter of months, offshore wells in a year or so. The 10-years before a drop flows story is a lie.
3. Nuclear power plants, while they are a great idea, do take nearly a decade to build, after (and if) the permits are issued. Same goes for hydro-electric.
4. In spite of several decades of solar R&D, the only places it has been used as anything other than as a stunt are satellites and the space station, and that’s only because it would cost too much for an extension cord to plug ‘em in.
5. CNG (ed. compressed natural gas) has about a 4 to 1 volume penalty vs. gas/diesel, sorta practical for big trucks going short distances, not practical for personal transportation.
I could add several more about alternative fuels, and about the scientific fraud being sold as man-made cooling/warming/climate-change, but since the original topic was about the MSM circling the bowl, thanks to their open campaigning for the DNC, let me get back to my intended comment.
With the exception of far-left partisans and the ignorant, most of the rest of the world has stopped trusting the MSM on anything of substance.
The media here and in Europe told us all how much that Germans and the French were mostly anti-American and leaning further left, yet somehow the Germans elected Merkel and the French elected Sarkozy, both conservatives who ran on a platform that included improving relations with America.
Now the media wants us to believe that most Americans want to shift towards Marxism/Socialism.
Sounds to me like the media is confusing their own opinions with those of the public.”
And even more ……..
I thought this one was pretty funny. You really don’t need the original to appreciate the comments.
“Tom W said: “leftists… salient characteristic is the wish-fulfillment fantasy. If they say something, it immediately becomes true”. Well Tom, that didn’t take long. Courtesy of Bill: “drilling idea is a red herring…(drilling) is a tiny, tiny, tiny part of the solution. In 10 years it might be 1 or 2% of our needs. That is meaningless compared to what solar, nuclear, and wind could do in a shorter time frame.”
Bring on those solar powered jets, and the wind powered submarines, and the electric powered-plug-in cargo container ships!!! Oh, and the pig manure powered bicycles.”
More notes on Not Exactly
"I never practiced Islam—NOT EXACTLY, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years, until your wife made you change so you could run for office. (4-3-08) Article ‘Obama was quite religious in Islam’
My School in Indonesia was Christian—NOT EXACTLY, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check you own book.) February 28, 2008. Kristoff from the New York Times a year ago: 'Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully uncalculated, Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as ‘one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.’' This is just one example of what Pamela is talking about when she says; ‘Obama’s narrative is being altered, enhanced and manipulated to whitewash the troubling facts.’ “
I was fluent in Indonesian—NOT EXACTLY, not one teacher says you could speak the language.
Stay tuned because there are nearly thirty more of these.
And finally
As the week goes on we shall itemize the now famous “14 points” which Joe Biden made during the debate with Governor Palin. Examination of the transcript and comparison to actual facts we have isolated at least 14 items which come under the heading, “Biden says” which are at least garbled misunderstanding, not fact checked or out right lies. All of this supports the logical abbreviation for “Biden says”—BS!
If nothing else, this election cycle will live on as an example of the Democrat party fronting capable speakers who make great presentations with little regarding for the truthful substance of their remarks. Who actually “won” the V-P debate is really unimportant. What counts is the perception of each individual voter and that result will be readily available after the 1st Tuesday in November.
As usual, the sacrament service Sunday provided a very necessary break in my activities. Most important, it was an opportunity to break away from the grind and come to grips with those things in my life which really matter. This becomes an act of renewal and re dedication which always improves my attitude leaves me refreshed to face a very troublesome world scene.
My prayer for you is that you were able to duplicate not only the experience but also the resultant improvement..
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Friday, October 3, 2008
Triumph of Will?
I normally don’t claim any degree of prescience but those of us with an excessive amount of collective real time history are bound to see parallels. A few days ago (Wed. Oct 1,) I posted “Reminiscence” on the subjects of an old friend, Hitler Youth, and darker days in Germany under the last dictatorship. The conclusion which I had hoped the reader would draw was to the remarkable similarity between the linked YouTube video of Obama kids and the films of Leni Riefenstahl, the famous chronicler of the Third Reich.
Riefenstahl gained her initial fame with a cinematic effort which covered the Congress of the Nazi Party in Nüremberg in 1931 entitled Der Sieg der Glaubons (Victory of Faith.) It so pleased Hitler and propaganda minister Geobbels that they invited her back to a 1934 gathering to assemble the epic, Triumph of Will. No question is raised to Riefenstahl’s ground breaking talent as a film maker. She was superb, well in advance of her time. She was, of course, also an ardent admirer of Hitler from the moment she read his book, Mein Kampf. Her efforts to further Nazi propaganda were legend and she was even charged at post-war trials in the city where she initially gained her crowning moments. She was not, however, convicted of complicity in the Nazi horrors.
Born in 1902, she only succumbed in 2003, but left an enduring legacy for propaganda film makers’ world wide.
Someone with far better resources than I has gone to the trouble of lifting some of Riefenstahl’s film footage and assembling it with the sound track from the video I linked in the October 1 piece. The result is—for lack of a better word—scary. Click on the link and understand why I am alarmed. It’s short.
I am not insinuating that Obama is Hitler revisited. I am saying that their propaganda techniques are absolutely identical. They share many other characteristics as well; a false claim to be of the people, seeking the destruction of the morals of the existing government, and using racial disparities as a weapon.
Typical of Hitler’s early accomplishments were the construction of the autobahn and the subsidized Volkswagen. Both had a tremendous appeal to the citizens at the time. It enabled ownership of an automobile for even the most modest household and the fast roads to drive them on. In addition he endorsed numerous social programs at low or no cost to the citizens to further secure their loyalty to the regime.
He was also not shy about claiming the endorsement of God in his enterprise to further cement his relationship with the citizenry. It was all too good to be true; and you know where we’ll go with that.
I spent two solid years in Europe post WWII, met a large number of people, and saw the ravages of a world war. My memories are sometime disrupted but they will never disappear. I am happy to offer my observations to those of you who are not old enough to have had the experiences. In this case, my prayer is that you never have to.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
Riefenstahl gained her initial fame with a cinematic effort which covered the Congress of the Nazi Party in Nüremberg in 1931 entitled Der Sieg der Glaubons (Victory of Faith.) It so pleased Hitler and propaganda minister Geobbels that they invited her back to a 1934 gathering to assemble the epic, Triumph of Will. No question is raised to Riefenstahl’s ground breaking talent as a film maker. She was superb, well in advance of her time. She was, of course, also an ardent admirer of Hitler from the moment she read his book, Mein Kampf. Her efforts to further Nazi propaganda were legend and she was even charged at post-war trials in the city where she initially gained her crowning moments. She was not, however, convicted of complicity in the Nazi horrors.
Born in 1902, she only succumbed in 2003, but left an enduring legacy for propaganda film makers’ world wide.
Someone with far better resources than I has gone to the trouble of lifting some of Riefenstahl’s film footage and assembling it with the sound track from the video I linked in the October 1 piece. The result is—for lack of a better word—scary. Click on the link and understand why I am alarmed. It’s short.
I am not insinuating that Obama is Hitler revisited. I am saying that their propaganda techniques are absolutely identical. They share many other characteristics as well; a false claim to be of the people, seeking the destruction of the morals of the existing government, and using racial disparities as a weapon.
Typical of Hitler’s early accomplishments were the construction of the autobahn and the subsidized Volkswagen. Both had a tremendous appeal to the citizens at the time. It enabled ownership of an automobile for even the most modest household and the fast roads to drive them on. In addition he endorsed numerous social programs at low or no cost to the citizens to further secure their loyalty to the regime.
He was also not shy about claiming the endorsement of God in his enterprise to further cement his relationship with the citizenry. It was all too good to be true; and you know where we’ll go with that.
I spent two solid years in Europe post WWII, met a large number of people, and saw the ravages of a world war. My memories are sometime disrupted but they will never disappear. I am happy to offer my observations to those of you who are not old enough to have had the experiences. In this case, my prayer is that you never have to.
In His abiding love,
Cecil Moon
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