Most of this page not humor, but I think you might want to read as these
are thought provoking and makes you think, whether you agree
or not. You need to shed your biases and wonder where the
truth is today. Try not to anger, these not meant to make you
angry and defensive, but just open your thinking cap ............
~~~~~~~~~~***********~~~~~~~~~~****************

Bill Clinton is returning to Washington D.C.
yep, true ......... but thankfully only because
Hillary hired him to open her mail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a moral question for you. 
This is an imaginary situation, but I think it is fun to decide 
what one would do. Here is the situation: 
You are in the Middle East, and there is a huge flood 
in progress. Many homes have been lost, water 
supplies compromised and structures destroyed. 
You are a photographer getting still photos for the CNN 
news service and are traveling alone, looking for 
particularly poignant scenes. 
You come across Osama Bin Laden who has been 
swept away by the floodwaters.  He is barely hanging on 
to a tree limb and is about to go under. 
You can either put down your camera and save him, or 
take a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of him as he 
loses his grip on the limb. 
So, here's the question and think carefully before you 
answer the question below: 
1........
         2..........
                      3 ..............     Which lens would you use? 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CANNON BALLS... 
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried
iron cannons. Those cannon fired round iron cannon balls. It was 
necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but prevent them from 
rolling about the deck. The best storage method devised was a square
based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine 
which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of thirty cannon balls could be
stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. 
There was only one problem - how to prevent the bottom layer from 
sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate 
called a, "Monkey," with sixteen round indentations. If this plate was
made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. 
The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys."
Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much
faster than iron when chilled.  Consequently, when the temperature 
dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that 
the cannon balls would come right off the monkey. 
Thus, it was quite literally,
"Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!" 
(And all this time, you have had dirty thoughts, haven't you?)
You must send this fabulous bit of historical knowledge to at least 
seventeen unsuspecting friends (or enemies) within thirteen and
one half seconds. If you don't, your floppy is going to fall off your
hard drive and kill your mouse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor's Note: The humor ends here, the following items are very
noteworthy although rather long. Veterans take heart, if only more
non-veteran voters would read and believe, maybe "things" would
get better ........ 'nuff said, read and enjoy   HIC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What a difference 14 Years Makes. Do you remember this?? It was 1987!
At a lecture the other day they played an old news video of Lt.Col.
North testifying at the Iran-Contra hearings during the Reagan Administration.
There was Ollie in front of God and country getting the third degree, but
what he said was stunning! He was being drilled by some senator;
"Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?"
Ollie replied, "Yes, I did, Sir."
The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience,"
Isn't that just a little excessive?"
"No, sir," continued Ollie.
"No? And why not?" the senator asked.
"Because the lives of my family and I were threatened, sir."
"Threatened? By whom?" the senator questioned.
"By a terrorist, sir," Ollie answered.
"Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?"
"His name is Osama bin Laden, sir" Ollie replied.
At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce
it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people
laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued.
"Why are you so afraid of this man?" the senator asked.
"Because, sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of,"
Ollie answered.
"And what do you recommend we do about him?" asked the senator.
"Well, sir, if it was up to me, I would recommend that an assassin
team be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth."
The senator disagreed with this approach, and that was all that was
shown of the clip.
(If anyone is interested, the senator was none other than Al Gore.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On 12 Jan, Ms Cindy Williams (who is a 'fellow' at M.I.T., 
Professor Cindy Williams who was Deputy Assistant to the 
National Security Agency.)
(and NOT, I repeat NOT from Laverne and Shirley TV show) 
wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s) 
coming service members' way this year - citing that the stated 13% wage 
gap was bogus. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below.
He ought to get a bonus for this! (or a medal !)
Ms. Williams:
I just had the pleasure of reading your column of 12 Jan 00, "Our GI's earn
enough" and I am a bit confused.
Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because
as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (Defense
Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.
Checking my latest leave and earnings statement (LES), see that I make
$1,117.80, before taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through
Windows' Calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60
before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.
I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part
of the team responsible for the administration of a 25,000-host computer
network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with
Cisco Systems equipment.
A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C.
area reveals a position in by career field, requiring three years experience 
with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does
 it pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,00 to $80,000 per
 annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic allowance
 for Subsistence ( housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a further
 boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as to where this
 money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the Hill AFB 
area effective in January 00.
Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER had
the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take
it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership
for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off
AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying
soldiers headed for Saudi - I leave the choice of service branch up to you.
Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: It will
guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends,
thus giving you full "deployment experience".
As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses
and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care
to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make 
ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone-obviously they've been
squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them.
Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a DFP
(Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the
cold desert night, and flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough
people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this; trade whatever
MRE you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini,
and add Tabasco to everything.
Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted' it won't nearly be
long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful
for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the
points you present in your op-ed piece. But, tomorrow from Sarajevo, I
will defend to the death your right to say it.
You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your
First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis,
 my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like
 you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing 
short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. 
We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we 
can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.
And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
deserve? Rubbish!
A1C Michael Bragg
Hill AFB AFNCC
IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE 
AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN
FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU!!
THIS LETTER SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BY ANYONE WHO'S EVER
SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY MEMBER SERVE IN THE
ARMED FORCES! THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES A MEDAL!!!!!.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NICE TO KNOW THAT ALL OF HOLLYWOOD IS NOT ANTI-MILITARY.
Richard, (my husband), never really talked a lot about his time in Viet
Nam other than he had been shot by a sniper.  However, he had a rather
grainy, 8 x 10 black & white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann
Margaret with Bob Hope in the background that was one of his treasures.
A few years ago, Ann Margaret was doing a book signing at a local
bookstore.  Richard wanted to see if he could get her to sign the treasured
photo so he arrived at the bookstore at 12 o'clock for the 7:30 signing.
When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the bookstore, 
circled the parking lot, and disappeared behind a parking garage.
Before her appearance, bookstore employees announced that she would sign
only her book and no memorabilia would be permitted.  Richard was
disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her know how much
those shows meant to lonely GI's so far from home.
Ann Margaret came out looking as beautiful as ever and, as 2nd in line,
it was soon Richard's turn.  He presented the book for her signature and
then took out the photo. When he did, there were many shouts from the
employees that she would not sign it. Richard said, "I understand.  I
just wanted her to see it".
She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she
said, "This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly
will sign his photo.  I know what these men did for their country and I
always have time for "my gentlemen". With that, she pulled Richard
across the table and planted a big kiss on him.  She then made quite a
to do about the bravery of the young men she met over the years, how
much she admired them, and how much she appreciated them. There weren't
too many dry eyes among those close enough to hear.  She then posed for
pictures and acted as if he was the only one there.
Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet.  When I asked if he'd like to
talk about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears.  "That's the
first time anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army", he said.
Richard, like many others, came home to people who spit on him and
shouted ugly things at him.  That night was a turning point for him.  He
walked a little straighter and, for the first time in years, was proud
to have been a Vet.  I'll never forget Ann Margaret for her graciousness
and how much that small act of kindness meant to my husband.  I now make
it a point to say Thank You to every person I come across who served in
our Armed Forces. Freedom does not come cheap and I am grateful for all
those who have served their country.
If you'd like to pass on this story, feel free to do so. Perhaps it will
help others to become aware of how important it is to acknowledge the
contribution our service people make.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is some food for thought for that circumstance we know is coming
up some time soon. With all of this talk of impending war, many of us will
encounter "Peace Activists" who will try to convince us that we must refrain
from retaliating against the ones who terrorized us all on September 11, 2001. 
These activists may be alone or in a gathering. Most of us do not know how to
react to them. When you come upon one of these people, or one of their rallies,
here are the proper rules of etiquette: 
1. Listen politely while this person explains their views. Strike up a 
conversation if necessary and look very interested in their ideas. They will tell
you how revenge is immoral, and that by attacking the people who did this to us; 
we will only bring on more violence. They will probably use many arguments,
ranging from political to religious to humanitarian. 
2. In the middle of their remarks, without any warning, punch them in the nose. 
3. When the person gets up off the ground, they will be very angry and they may
 try to hit you so be careful. 
4.  Very quickly and calmly remind the person that violence only brings about 
more violence and remind them of their stand on this matter. Tell them if they
are committed to a nonviolent approach to undeserved attacks, they will turn
the other cheek and negotiate a solution. Tell them they must lead by example
if they really believe what they are saying. 
5. Most of them will think for a moment and then agree that you are correct. 
6.  As soon as they do that, hit them again. Only this time hit them much harder.
 Square in the nose. 
7.   Repeat steps 2 - 5 until the desired results are obtained and the idiot 
realizes how stupid of an argument he/she is making. There is no difference 
in an individual attacking an unsuspecting victim or a group of terrorists
attacking a nation of people. It is unacceptable and must be dealt with,
perhaps at a high cost. We owe our military a huge debt for what they are
about to do for our children and us. 
We must support them and our leaders at times like these. We have no choice.
We either strike back, VERY HARD, or we will keep being hit in the nose. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Military Wife's View 
I thought you all might like to read this. It says a lot for us in the military. 
To everyone who reads this I want you to join me in praying for all the 
people that are victims in any way, of the terror of September 11, 2001. 
I am a military wife. I serve my country in the shadow of my husband as 
do many military spouses. We are all sitting at home trying to make the 
world for our children as "normal" as possible, while living the nightmare
the we live with in the back of our minds. I sit here and listen to all the 
world scream for a military strike. 
These same people don't want the military to get money for equipment,
housing, or pay. Yet, they want my husband and many other young men
and women to fight and die. To face the faceless enemy that they 
themselves won't fight. 
To all who read my thoughts I want you to know. I have prayed all day. 
Not just for my husband or the other military personnel, but for all the
 world and the horror to come... 
No one knows like military spouses the fear that I feel today. I have to
encourage my children to be strong and be strong for them. I have to cry
my sorrow after they have gone to bed. I look at my husband laying 
beside me asleep & wonder what the future has in store for us. 
So many Americans just say fight without knowing who is doing the
fighting. I want you to know that it is the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, 
sisters, brothers, husbands, wives.... We are the faceless people who give
more than anyone in the world will ever understand. 
You say fight. You say defend. We do. You say protect. We do that too. 
When you go to bed at night ... say a prayer and ask God to protect the
military persons fighting for your freedom. When your government ask 
how to spend money ... ask for pay raises for the soldiers that have to 
work extra jobs to stay off welfare. 
I only ask today for prayers. My husbands goes off tonight to protect 
and defend. I keep watch till his return. If you really want to show
you care pray for peace, not revenge. 
I am sending this to everyone I know. To all the military spouses. 
Add your thoughts to this and pass this on. I also pray that as you read 
this that you are spared the pain of loosing someone in this and if you
aren't, then I pray for God to comfort you in this time of need. 
God Bless and Protect you all... 
Unknown Writer, but could be any of thousands .............
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dick Cheney, Words on the Military (From January 2001)
On my way to work last week, I stopped behind a purple Geo Metro with 
my least favorite bumper sticker ever plastered across the back. It read: 
"It'll be a great day when schools have all the money they need and the Air 
Force has to have a bake sale to buy a bomber." At that moment, I realized 
who the most undervalued and under appreciated segment of society is. And it 
ain't teachers. Teachers, I believe, rank second on that list. Heading the list are 
the men and women of the forces, who, throughout history, have protected our 
country from the Hitler's and Stalin's - they who would have had our white 
children marching to the school bus in jackboots and our minority children 
locked up in laboratories and labor camps. The U.S. military - the most 
powerful and influential group of people in the world, hands-down - gets an 
awfully bad rap these days. 
Many Americans seem to think that simply because the communist Soviet 
Union no longer exists, the world is as safe as Beaver Cleaver's neighborhood. 
This, of course, ignores three facts: 
1) Dozens of countries have nuclear weapons that could take out millions of 
 people with the turn of a key. 
2) Leaders of several countries (e.g. North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Lebanon 
and perhaps China and Russia) would love to see the U.S. and its people blown 
to pieces and, most importantly 
3) The U.S. has the greatest collection of human, economic, natural and 
technological resources anywhere on Earth, making it the greatest natural 
target for military aggression. Though some would like to fashion the U.S. of 
the 21st Century as a flowery feel-good fantasy where war and violence are 
mere after thoughts of a time gone by, that can never be the case. 
As bad as our crime and drug problems are, we're still considered the jewel 
of the planet by the half of the world that has yet to make its first phone call.
In ancient Greece, the people of Athens were unparalleled world leaders in 
art, philosophy and technology. Their rivals in Sparta were not; instead, the 
Spartans built massive, well trained armies. When the two countries fought, 
who won? Sparta. And guess who lost their entire civilization because they 
didn't think it was important to build an appropriate army?  Athens! 
Right now, the U.S. has the best of Athens and Sparta: we are the most  
cultured and most well defended country in the world. As we continue to lower 
our defenses by devaluing the military, we open ourselves wider and wider to 
a takeover. A takeover of the U.S.?  Ridiculous, one might say. But why does
it seem so unlikely? Because the power and protection of the U.S. military has
been so overwhelming in the last century that Americans have been free to 
enjoy a comfort level unlike any in the world. We all take it for granted that we
will never be invaded by another country, but few other countries can afford to
be so sure of  themselves. It's not only Americans who can go to bed feeling safe. 
Children everywhere from Israel to England, from Brazil to Japan - know that, 
if their country is attacked, the U.S. will be there to help. 
On TV, the military is often represented by stiff, buttoned-down generals or the 
occasional drill sergeant who is accused of feeling up a female recruit. 
In reality, things are much different. The men and women of the armed forces 
are, in most ways, just like everyone else: they are mechanics, pilots, cooks,
photographers, engineers, secretaries and X-ray technicians. 
They work from 8 to 5 and then come home to their families. The one difference 
comes when the U.S. or any of its allies is threatened by a foreign power. 
In that case, military people pack up and ship out, off to fight - and many times
die - so the rest of the country, including teachers, can continue their lives 
without interruption. Teachers mold young minds into intelligent, independent 
people, and they should be admired for the job they do; however, I don't know 
any teachers who are required to catch bullets and swallow shrapnel if so 
ordered by the principal. 
So, old-fashioned as it may seem, I'm happy to give my taxes to the military 
and tell the tots and teachers to fire up the oven if they want extra dough. 
Make muffins, cookies and candy and be happy you're allowed to. 
Because, as the old saying goes, if it wasn't for the U.S. Military, we'd all
be speakin' German now." 
"It is easy to take liberty for granted, 
             when you have never had it taken from you." 
Dick Cheney 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Bury Me With Soldiers ..............
I've played a lot of roles in life; I've met a lot of men, 
I've done a lot of things I'd like to think, I wouldn't do again. 
And though I'm young, I'm old enough, To know someday I'll die. 
And to think about what lies beyond, Beside whom I would lie. 
Perhaps it doesn't matter much; Still if I had my choice, 
I'd want a grave 'amongst Soldiers when, At last death quells my voice. 
I'm sick of the hypocrisy, Of lectures of the wise. 
I'll take the man, with all the flaws, Who goes, though scared, and dies. 
The troops I knew were commonplace, They didn't want the war; 
They fought because their fathers and, Their fathers had before. 
They cursed and killed and wept... God knows, They're easy to deride... 
But bury me with men like these; They faced the guns and died. 
It's funny when you think of it, The way we got along. 
We'd come from different worlds, To live in one where no one belongs, 
I didn't even like them all; I'm sure they'd all agree. 
Yet I would give my life for them, I know some did for me.. 
So bury me with soldiers, please, Though much maligned they be. 
Yes, bury me with soldiers, for I miss their company. 
We'll not soon see their likes again; We've had our fill of war. 
But bury me with men like them, Till someone else does more. 
Author unknown 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Story Told By Rear Admiral Jay Donnelly At the North Central 
Regional held at DesMoines, Iowa     Lifted from the Illinois Scope 
Newsletter.  (editor's note: Jay must be "qualified" & wearing dolphins?
"In the beginning was the word and the word was God and all else was
darkness and void without form. So God created the heavens and the earth. 
He created the sun and the moon and the stars so that the light might pierce
the darkness. And the earth God divided between the land and the sea and
these He filled with many assorted creatures.
And the dark smelly creatures that inhabited the land, God called ARMY 
and dressed them accordingly like trees and bushes. And the flighty
creatures of the air, He called AIR FORCE and these he clothed in uniforms 
of light blue to match the sky, and the creatures who sailed on the surface of
the sea, God called SKIMMERS. Then, with a twinkle in His eye and a sense 
of humor that only He could have, God gave them big gray targets to sail on.
He gave them many splendid uniforms to wear. He gave them many wonderful
and exotic places to visit. He gave them pen and paper so they could write home
every week. He gave them afternoons off, movies and ice cream makers and he
gave them a laundry to keep their splendid uniforms clean. When you are God, 
you tend to get carried away.
And on the 7th day, God rested.
On the 8th day at 0700, God looked down on the earth and He was not happy.
So He thought about His labors and in His infinite wisdom, God created a
"divine creature" which he called a SUBMARINER.
And the SUBMARINERS that he created in His own Image were to be of
the deep, and to them He gave the Dolphin insignia. He gave them black
messengers of death to roam the depths of the seas, waging war against the 
forces of Satan and evil! He gave them submarine pay so they might entertain
the ladies on Saturday nights, and impress the Hell out of the SKIMMERS. 
And at the end of the 8th day, God looked down on the earth and saw that all
was good, but still God was not happy. In the course of His labors He had
forgotten one thing. He himself did not have a submariner's dolphin. He
thought about it and He thought about it and Finally satisfied Himself, 
knowing that not just anybody could be a SUBMARINER!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOW that the President has called us to prayer..... 
NOW that Congress has called us to prayer..... 
NOW that our Governor has called us to prayer.... 
NOW that the city Mayor has called us to prayer.... 
NOW that most of the media and most other branches of 
our American society have called us to prayer..... 
AND NOW that our churches are assembling in special prayer.... 
"Honorable" Justices of the Supreme Court, I have only one 
question......Would it be okay to pray in our schools........?? 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free and I won't 
forget the men who died who gave that right to me and I gladly stand up
next to you and defend her still today cause there ain't no doubt I love 
this land, God Bless America.            LEE  GREENWOOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

QUOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT: 
This is ABSOLUTELY the Quote of the Day 
When asked what is taking so long..... 
"When I take action I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile
at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt." 
President of the United States, George W. Bush 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you think God, "should have stopped the terrorists" 
 *******  Here is one He did stop!!!  *******
The president paid moving tribute to Todd Beamer,
32, a passenger on United Airlines flight 93.  Todd went to
the same Christian schools in Wheaton, Illinois that FRC
staffer Jennifer Marshall attended.  Todd recited the Lord's
Prayer to fellow passengers, then said: "Let's roll!" as he
and several other men resolved to give their lives that we
in Washington, D.C. might live.  As Todd's father, David
Beamer, 59, said: "Obviously there was a struggle, but I can
tell you who lost.  That plane was headed for a target."
Lisa Beamer, Todd's widow, has reached out to millions with
a strong Gospel message.  She said she knew the message from
a GTE operator was genuine because Todd always said "Let's
roll" to get his little boys going.  Todd Beamer's story
shows that not all the heroes wear uniforms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not funny anymore
     "Aliens blowing up the White House. Calling game-show contestants
 'Survivors.' Background shots of the New York City skyline. Caring about
 Gary Condit's and Anne Heche's love lives. Insult comedy. Smug, detached
 comedy. Political comedy. These are just a few more of the casualties of 
Sept. 11's terrorist attacks 
     "Wait. Start again. 'Casualties'? An officeworker, encased in a 
steel-and-concrete tomb, who did not live to see the birth of his
 baby: that is a casualty. But an entertainment genre? That's nothing.
     "This, in a way, is the problem facing American pop culture in the wake 
of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon: so much that we
 could say casually a month ago rings empty, even cruel, today. 
Our metaphors have expired. 
     "A five-hour 'Law & Order' mini-series on NBC was scuttled because
 it involved an anthrax-attack plot in New York City. Microsoft indefinitely
 put off the next version of its popular 'Flight Simulator' because it includes
 the Twin Towers in its simulacrum of New York City. Terror-themed 
movies were shelved by studios and pulled from cable."
     James Poniewozik
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INDIVISIBLE_ incapable of being divided!
The United States of America has not been very "United" in the past many years.
The attack on our values and the killing of innocent people in New York, should
 UNITE us in every way possible! Please print out, or e-mail, this Pledge of 
Allegience , ( I'm sure you have recited it many times) ,so that you and other 
patriotic Americans will be inspired ,and be comforted  with the realization 
that there is still a fierce determination to defend the freedoms for which so 
many of our forefathers and military personnel have died.
(please note the term,"indivisible"-incapable of being divided!-and the 
addition of ,"under God", that has been inserted after the words,"one nation,")
May God truly bless and protect us!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton 
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and
 meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote 
down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. 
It is followed by an observation of his own.  
I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.  
Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.  
Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.  
To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever
                       she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her 
                       a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.  
United - - That means that we have all come together.  
States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight/fifty great
                states. Forty-eight/fifty individual communities with pride and dignity
                and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united
                 to a common purpose, and that is love for country.  
And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested
                   in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government
                   is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, 
                    not from the leaders to the people.  
For which it stands One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.  
Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.  
With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, 
                            without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.  
And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.  
For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, 
                          it's as much your country as it is mine.  
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and
two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God.
Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be
eliminated from schools, too?  
Red Skelton    
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

Monday vs Tuesday ( September 10, 2001 - September 11,2001):
On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where
                   someone was not praying
On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race, 
                   sex, color and creed 
On Tuesday they were all holding hands
On Monday we thought that we were secure
On Tuesday we learned better
On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes 
On Tuesday we relearned what hero meant
On Monday people went to work at the world trade centers as usual 
On Tuesday they died
On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property 
On Tuesday the same people all said 'God help us all' while thinking
            'Thou shall not kill'
On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room 
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids
On Monday people picked up McDonalds for dinner On Tuesday they stayed home
On Monday people were upset that their dry cleaning was not ready on time 
On Tuesday they were lining up to give blood for the dying
On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses 
On Tuesday grief stricken they sang 'God Bless America'
On Monday we worried about the traffic and getting to work late 
On Tuesday we worried about a plane crashing into your house or place of business
On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived
On Tuesday we saw people celebrating people dying in the USA
On Monday some children had solid families 
On Tuesday they were orphans
On Monday the president was going to Florida to read to children 
On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children
On Monday we emailed jokes 
On Tuesday we did not
It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into perspective, 
but it has. The lessons we've learned, the things we have taken for granted,
the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be 
forgotten again.
On Sunday - pray and be thankful
On Monday - pray and be thankful
On Tuesday - pray and be thankful
On Wednesday - pray and be thankful
On Thursday - pray and be thankful
On Friday - pray and be thankful
On Saturday - pray and be thankful
God bless!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOME PRETTY AMAZING STATS!!! 
Some good news from all of this 
By now everyone has been hearing the death toll rise and  reports of 
the destruction from the terrorist attacks on the  US. These were 
deplorable acts that we will never forget. 
But now is a time to look at the other side of the numbers coming 
out of New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. 
The sad but somewhat uplifting side that the mainstream  media has 
 not reported yet - the SURVIVAL rates. 
The World Trade Center -  The twin towers of the World Trade Center
were places of  employment for some 50,000 people. With the missing 
list  of just over 5,000 people, that means 90% of the people targeted 
survived the attack. A 90% on a test is an  'A'. 
 The Pentagon - Some 23,000 people were the target of a third plane aimed 
at the Pentagon. The latest count shows that only 123 lost  their lives.
That is an amazing 99.5% survival rate. in  addition, the plane seems to 
have come in too low, too early  to affect a large portion of  the building.
On top of that, the section that was hit was the first of five sections to undergo 
renovations that would help protect the Pentagon from  terrorist attacks.
It had recently completed straightening  and blastproofing, saving untold lives. 
This attack was sad, but a statistical failure. 
The Planes - American Airlines Flight 77 
This Boeing 757 that was flown into the outside of the  Pentagon 
could have carried up to 289 people, yet only  64 were aboard.
Luckily 78% of the seats were empty. 
American Airlines Flight 11 -  This Boeing 767 could have had up to 351 
people aboard, but only carried. 92. Thankfully 74% of the seats were unfilled. 
United Airlines Flight 175 - Another Boeing 767 that could have sat 351 
people only had 65 people on board. Fortunately it was 81% empty. 
United Airlines Flight 93 - This Boeing 757 was one of the most uplifting
stories yet.  The smallest flight to be hijacked with only 45 people  aboard 
out of a possible 289 had 84% of its capacity unused.  Yet these people stood 
up to the attackers and thwarted a  fourth attempted destruction of a 
national landmark, saving untold numbers of lives in the process. 
  *** In Summary *** 
Out of potentially 74,280 Americans directly targeted by  these inept 
cowards, 93% survived or avoided the attacks.  That's a higher 
survival rate than heart attacks, breast  cancer, kidney transplants 
and liver transplants - all  common, survivable llnesses. 
The Hijacked planes were mostly empty, the Pentagon was hit at it's
strongest point, the overwhelming majority of people in the World 
Trade Center buildings escaped, and  a handful of passengers gave
the ultimate sacrifice to save even more lives. 
Don't fear these terrorists. The odds are against them. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1995, a little-known operative, Abdul Hakim Murad, was arrested in the 
Philippines on a policeman's hunch. Inside Murad's apartment were passports 
and a homemade bomb factory--beakers, filters, fuses and funnels; gallons of 
sulfuric acid and nitric acid; large cooking kettles. 
Handed over to intelligence agents, Murad was violently tortured. For weeks,
 according to the book "Under the Crescent Moon," agents struck him with a chair
and pounded him with a heavy piece of wood, breaking nearly every rib. But 
Murad said nothing. He taunted them. So they forced water into his mouth. They 
crushed lighted cigarettes into his private parts. Even then, he remained silent. 
In the end, they broke him through a psychological trick. A few Philippine agents 
posed as members of Israel's Mossad and told Murad they were taking him to 
Israel. Terrified of being turned over to the Israelis, he finally told all. 
Then and only then. 
And what a treasure trove of information it was. One of his roommates was 
Ramzi Yousef, a mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, now 
serving a 240-year term in a U.S. prison. More ominously, Murad recounted
a horrific plot to assassinate Pope John Paul II in Manila, simultaneously blow
up 11 U.S. airplanes in the Pacific, and fly another plane, loaded with nerve 
gas, into the Central Intelligence Agency. 
One wonders, of course, what would have happened if Murad had been in 
American custody? It is no idle question.
Today our international might may be at its zenith, but we as a nation have
never been more vulnerable to debilitating and destabilizing attacks at home.
As the U.S. ponders a largely hidden enemy, potentially armed with 
bioweapons--anthrax, plague, even smallpox--and perhaps a radiological 
bomb, one of the most important decisions the nation faces is how we balance 
the security measures we need to forestall future attacks with America's 
much-cherished doctrine of civil liberties.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I, for one, am quite disturbed by these actions of so-called American
citizens; and I am tired of this nation worrying about whether or not
we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist
attacks on September 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by
the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely
settled in New York and Washington D.C. when the "politically correct"
crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was
offending others......................
1. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma School officials remove "God Bless America"
           signs from schools in fear that someone might be offended.
2. Channel 12 News in Long Island, New York, orders flags removed from
           the newsroom and red, white, and blue ribbons removed from the lapels 
            of  reporters. Why? Management did not want to appear biased and felt 
             that our nations flag might give the appearance that
                  "they lean one way or another". 
3. Berkeley, California bans U.S. Flags from being displayed on city fire trucks
          because they didn't want to offend anyone in the community.
4. In an "act of tolerance" the head of the public library at Florida
          Gulf Coast University ordered all "Proud to be an American" signs
                removed so as to not offend international students.
I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone
who is seeking a better life by coming to America. In fact, our
country's population is almost entirely comprised of descendants of
immigrants; however, there are a few things that those who have recently
come to our country, and apparently some native Americans, need to understand.
First of all, it is not our responsibility to continually try not to offend you in any 
way. This idea of America being multi-cultural community has served only to 
dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our
own culture, our own society, our own language, and our own lifestyle. 
This culture, called the "American Way" has been developed over centuries
of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have 
sought freedom. Our forefathers fought, bled, and died at places such as 
Bunker Hill, Antietam, San Juan, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Korea, Vietnam.
We speak English, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or
any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society 
- learn our language!
"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some off-the-wall, 
Christian, Right Wing, political slogan - it is our national motto.
It is engraved in stone in the House of Representatives in our Capitol
and it is printed on our currency. We adopted this motto because Christian 
men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation; and this is
clearly documented throughout our history. If it is appropriate for our motto 
to be inscribed in the halls of our highest level of Government, 
then it is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.
God is in our pledge, our National Anthem, nearly every patriotic song, 
and in our founding documents. We honor His birth, death, and resurrection 
as holidays, and we turn to Him in prayer in times of crisis. If God offends
you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, 
because God is part of our culture and we are proud to have Him.
We are proud of our heritage and those who have so honorably defended
our freedoms. We celebrate Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans
Day, and Flag Day. We have parades, picnics, and barbecues where we
proudly wave our flag. As an American, I have the right to wave my flag,
sing my national anthem, quote my national motto, and cite my pledge 
whenever and wherever I choose. If the Stars and Stripes offend you,
or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move 
to another part of this planet.
The American culture is our way of life, our heritage, and we are proud of it. 
We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really
don't care how you did things where you came from. We are Americans,
like it or not, this is our country, our land, and our lifestyle. 
Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion 
about our government, culture, or society, and we will allow you every 
opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and 
griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, 
I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great American freedom, 

                     the right to leave.

Author Unknown  ............... except she or he is a Patriot!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A husband and wife were watching the devastation on TV of the World 
Trade Center and videos of different countries around the world crying with
Americans over the events of the past few weeks. Reporters were attempting
to analyze political strategy and President Bush"s speeches.
The wife turns to the husband and says, "I'm so thankful that Bush is 
our President. He is doing such a wonderful job."
The husband turns to the wife and says, "Shut up, Tipper!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 A Commander-in Chief who respects the military
(not loath it,as the former President once wrote)
and receives respect in return!
I  just came from an informal, outdoor memorial service which 
Maj. Gen.Van Antwerp attended. ... What I most wanted to share is a 
vignette Gen. Van Antwerp related about Pres. Bush and the general's 
executive officer who was badly burned over 50% of his body in the 
Pentagon attack. Gen. Van Antwerp said that the president visited
Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell at Washington Hospital. He spent time talking
with Brian and prayed with him. As he was getting ready to leave, he 
went to the foot of Brian's bed and saluted the officer. He then held that
salute until Brian, with burned and bandaged arms, ever so slowly
returned the salute. It wasn't hard to picture the scene in my mind, and I
think it says a lot about our Commander-in-Chief. "
Editor's Reply: For those who don't know, military protocol dictates that
the first salute should have been from Lt. Col. Birdwell. No cameras were
present for this visit -- just a private moment demonstrating the high
esteem in which our Commander-in-Chief holds his men, every one of them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is commonly agreed that our greatest breakthroughs in this war will most likely
come not from military strikes or careful diplomacy--needed and important as 
they both are--but from crucial pieces of information: a lead about a terrorist
cell; a confession from a captured bin Laden associate; reliable intercepts 
warning that a new attack is going to take place. Indeed, one small lead could 
potentially save thousands or hundreds of thousands of lives--perhaps millions.
But how we go about obtaining this information also raises crucial questions: 
When is detention going too far? When is the surveillance too much? Is e-mail
fair game? Or is wartime censorship acceptable? (Already the administration 
has asked the media not to air the recent Osama bin Laden tapes, as well as to 
edit his transcripts.) And at what point are we giving government more power 
than is necessary, as well as unbridled access to personal information, thereby 
jeopardizing or perverting our precious democratic institutions? 
But if history is any guide--and it is--we see that the Bush administration's 
proposals, even at the far end of the ledger, pale in comparison to what previous 
wartime administrations have imposed. Ironically, we may be the first
generation of Americans to wrestle so intensely with this issue. Faced with the
choice between security and civil liberties in times of crisis, previous 
presidents--John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin 
Roosevelt--to a man (and with little hesitation) chose to drastically curtail civil 
liberties. It is also worth noting that despite these previous and numerous 
extreme measures, there was little long-term or corrosive effect on society after
the security threat had subsided. When the crisis ended, normalcy returned, 
and so too did civil liberties, invariably stronger than before.  
During John Adams's administration in 1798-99, war hysteria over a looming
conflict with France (many feared a French invasion) gripped the young 
American republic. French refugees, once welcomed, were viewed as potential
spies. Singers of the "Marseillaise" were hissed off Philadelphia stages. And
Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, considered one of the lowest 
points in U.S. history. 
The acts provided the government with sweeping powers to deport any alien
considered dangerous to the nation's welfare, as well as to impose fines and 
heavy imprisonment on anyone found guilty of writing, publishing, uttering or
printing anything of "a false, scandalous and malicious" nature against the 
government. Thomas Jefferson privately called it "the reign of witches" and
many Republicans openly worried that the Federalist administration was 
abandoning the principles of the Enlightenment, the Revolution and the 
Constitution. (In one telling instance, a congressman, thrown in jail for four 
months, was re-elected while serving his sentence.) 
Yet if Adams's administration was harsh, Abraham Lincoln's during the Civil 
War was considerably harsher. The president suspended the writ of habeas 
corpus and subjected "all persons discouraging volunteer enlistments" to martial
law. To enforce this decree, a network of provost marshals promptly imprisoned
several hundred antiwar activists and draft resisters, including five newspaper 
editors, three judges, a number of doctors, lawyers, journalists and prominent 
civic leaders. 
Opposition to Lincoln's war aims was considered opposition to the war itself,
and scores of opponents, including well-known citizens, respected police 
commissioners and even a police chief, were subject to military arrest. One 
estimate is that throughout the war Lincoln detained 13,535 people. Many were
held for extended periods, though the government never offered any evidence 
against them or brought the prisoners to trial. Quite a few were guilty of little 
more than southern sympathies or lukewarm Unionism. When Chief Justice 
Roger B. Taney declared Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus unconstitutional, 
Lincoln flatly refused to obey the ruling. 
At one point, Union troops even sealed off Frederick, Md., and arrested 31 state
legislators to prevent them from voting for the state to secede. At another point, 
Ulysses Grant issued his infamous "Jew Order," expelling all Jews from the
region under his command (a storm of pressure forced him to rescind the order)
Even congressmen were not safe. In the middle of the night, one of Lincoln's 
generals arrested Rep. Clement Vallandigham of Ohio and threw him jail. 
Vallandigham's offense: "disloyal sentiments and speeches." When cries of 
despotism by his political opposition mounted, Lincoln commuted 
Vallandigham's sentence from imprisonment to . . . banishment; he was forcibly 
escorted by the military out of the Union.  
Even a change of century did little to protect civil liberties in time of war. A
week after World War I was declared, Woodrow Wilson created the Committee
on Public Information to mobilize public opinion. Designed to help sell war 
bonds, combat absenteeism in the factories, and reconcile doubters to the war, 
this propaganda committee also cultivated a kind of war madness. All dissent 
became suspect: There were continual spy scares, witch hunts and even kangaroo 
courts that imposed harsh sentences of actual tar and feathering. The Espionage 
Act of 1917 followed, giving the postmaster general the authority to prevent 
publications from using the U.S. mail, while the subsequent Trading with the 
Enemy Act provided sweeping authority to censor the foreign-language press. 
Then, in 1918, the newly passed Sabotage and Sedition Acts went even further,
empowering the federal government to punish any expression of opinion 
considered "disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive." Activist Eugene V. Debs 
was imprisoned for a decade after expressing antiwar views. People were 
regularly hauled into court for as little as criticizing the Red Cross or questioning 
war financing, and the mail was summarily closed to publications that espoused
socialism or feminism or displayed an anti-British bias.  
World War II produced a whole new set of draconian curbs on civil liberties.
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Franklin Roosevelt personally signed the 
infamous Executive Order 9066, authorizing the expulsion of "all persons" of
Japanese ancestry (70% of whom were U.S. citizens), from their West Coast 
homes. Forced to leave on a week's notice, more than 110,000 were shipped by
bus and train to "relocation centers," where they were herded into primitive 
camps rimmed by barbed wire and patrolled by armed guards. None had been 
accused of any crime. Nor had there been any instances of sabotage or spying. 
(FDR's intelligence services, for the most part, determined that few posed a risk;
in fact, a number of the detainees had husbands, sons and fathers serving in the 
U.S. armed forces.) 
Nevertheless, they were incarcerated until 1946--months after the war with 
Japan ended. By then, some 80% of the internees' property had been damaged by 
looting and vandalism; when the camps finally closed, many had lost everything.
 Ironically, however unconstitutional many of FDR's policies may seem to us 
today, they were not even controversial until a generation later. 
It is hard to think of a group of presidents more passionate in their staunch 
support of democracy than Adams, Lincoln, Wilson and Roosevelt. Yet 
they--Federalists, Republicans and Democrats alike--did not hesitate to enact 
harsh, even ruthless measures in times of national crisis. And however shocking,
flawed or atrocious their actions may appear in hindsight, it is crucial to note
that each president (save perhaps Lincoln) did so when there was, ultimately,
no overwhelming "fire in the rear," no credible widespread, subversive threat 
within our own borders. Today, however, we may be facing just such a threat,
and one that is largely without historical parallel. 
To respond, we as a nation will have to confront some hard choices. The 
enormity of the risk to civilian lives on American soil is unprecedented, yet 
despite this the Bush administration has thus far shown remarkable restraint.
 But as the president weighs what additional measures will be needed, both the
administration and civil libertarians would do well to recall that our history
demonstrates that war-time restrictions on civil liberties have neither been 
irrevocable nor have they curtailed our fundamental freedoms in times of peace.
Indeed, our democracy can, and has, outlived temporary restrictions and 
continued to thrive. 
And if, as we get thicker into this grim conflict, the administration deems it 
necessary to enact more restrictive steps, we need not fear. When our nation is 
again secure, so too will be our principles. 
Mr. Winik is the author of "April 1865: The Month That Saved America"
(HarperCollins, 2001). 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a little long-but has a powerful message!
Subject: Letter From Charles Stanley to the terrorists et al.
I thought you might be interested in a "Letter to the Editor" that The
Reverend Charles Stanley of North Carolina sent to every major
newspaper in the world, including Pakistan and Iran,
(Afghanistan, Iraq & Syria do not have newspapers on the Internet).
An open letter to terrorist and those who harbor and support you.
From an American Grandfather.
I am told by the leaders of my government that you are intelligent people. 
In light of your actions, I am having growing difficulty believing that.   
At the very least, it has become increasingly obvious that you lack a 
fundamental comprehension of my psychology as an American.
I hear on our news broadcasts that your rage is fueled by my support of Israel.
It has never been about nationality or religious faith -never about Jew vs. Arab.  
I thought you would finally have understood that when I sent my children into
harm's way in order to protect the innocent citizens of Arab Kuwait from the
savage wolf who would devour them for his own gain. It has everything to do
with the lessons taught to me by my father - and his before him for many
generations before the white man came to this land we call America.
I have a vivid memory of coming home, as a boy of about nine years of age, and
telling my father of feeling helpless horror as I watched the neighborhood bully
unmercifully torment a boy even smaller than myself. My father reflected for a
long moment, then quietly inquired of me as to what I had done about it. 
I said that I had watched until it was over and had then come home.
The look in his eyes penetrated me to my core for he had never looked at me in that
way before. He said that he was deeply ashamed of me and he sent me to my room 
with instructions to think about what had happened. It seemed hours before he came
to my door. He sat beside me on my bed and, for a painfully long while, he said 
nothing.  When finally he spoke, he explained,
"There will always be among us dishonorable men who are devoid of humanity
and compassion.  They are but naked animals and an empty shell ofwhat truly
is a man.  They attempt to fill their emptiness by the exercise of power
over others, thinking that it makes them whole men.  Often they are enraged
that they do not even understand their own emptiness, what it is that they lack.
When these men are also cowards, they disguise themselves as sheep among the
flock and attack from the shadows.  This is the vilest form of sub-human
behavior for even animals attack openly when they must attack.
When humanity and integrity are present in a man, he expresses them as
compassion. When compassion and strength achieve perfect balance within a
man, they manifest as wisdom.  The compassionate man feels the pain of
others.  The wise man protects others from pain.  For, if you watch and do
nothing to protect others, who will come to your aide when you alone remain
and the bully comes for you?
Some things are far more important than your personal safety and freedom
from pain.  If ever again you see someone being hurt, protect him, even if
you are certain to be injured in the process.  Then I will know that I have
truly raised a man"
Anyone who understands the impact of this lesson - and how deeply it runs in
the man I have become, will understand my unflinching willingness to
sacrifice my children in defense of Arab and Jew alike when they are
threatened by the bullies and cowards of the world.  And please do not
insult my intelligence with claims of Jewish treatment of Palestinians.  I
am old enough to retain vivid memories of 1948.  I remember the excitement
of the Jews over the prospect of governing "with" them.  Their reaction, and
that of their neighbors, was to attempt to finish what the Nazis could
not-Repeatedly Intelligent men?  I, for one, am stunned by the monumental
stupidity of your arrogance.  Did you actually think that only Americans
would occupy the World Trade Center?  You have but fired the first pitiful salvo
of World War III for the entire world is now preparing to come after you,
your host, your financiers and your supporters.  And please, do not listen
to what I say. You would do far better to watch the sky.
I must say that I owe you a profound debt of gratitude.  Not for what you
have done or what you have unleashed upon the world, but for what you have
accomplished.  For not one among us could have accomplished it.  On Monday,
September 10, 2001, we were a divisive, apathetic nation.  Our young people
had nothing by which to identify with our history or heritage; our people
were divided by factions of religion and skin color; our government was
polarized and paralyzed by political party affiliation, able to agree upon
nothing; the military had difficulty obtaining volunteers and most of us
simply changed TV channels in response to Red Cross pleas for blood
donations.  Your actions have changed all of that in a way that has occurred
only twice before in the history of this nation - once in 1776 and again on
December 7, 1941.  The worst in the worst of Allah's children has brought
out the best in the best of Allah's children and, for this, I thank you.
Since your cowardly act, Muslim, Jew, Christian, black, white, yellow and
brown have stood shoulder to shoulder for hours in the hot sun to donate
blood for the injured.  Our government has suddenly become totally united in
its purpose.  Our military is having difficulty handling the flood of
volunteers from among our young people.  Our flag makers report that there
is no way humanly possible that they can keep up with the demand -shipments
are sold out within minutes.  You have accomplished a miracle that only God
could have anticipated.
And, it would seem, the hand of God was present even in the date that you
selected for your attack, for you could not have chosen a date more  in
keeping with a reawakening of American pride and purpose.  There is
in America a nationwide system for seeking help in times of emergency.
Every American knows that, when threatened, he can pick up any telephone
and dial 911 and help is immediately on the way to assist and protect him.
By selecting September, (our 9th month), 11, 2001 to exhibit your cowardice,
you unwittingly placed a 911 call that has brought all of America together in a
way that brings tears of joy and pride to my eyes.  No longer is our battle
cry, "Remember Pearl Harbor!"  Thanks to you and your kind it will now and
forevermore be, "Remember 911!" whenever the innocents of any nation find
themselves threatened by cowards with guns.
I do not, for a moment, deny that you hurt me.  Far too many parents and
children now go to bed wondering where their loved ones are.  And, yes, I
am momentarily reeling.  But it is from the sudden realization that I share
the planet with anyone capable of such an atrocity against the humanity of so
many nations.
In his Inaugural Address in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 1961,
President John F. Kennedy said, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us
well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the 
success of liberty."  He was talking about the liberty of all men, of all faiths,
of all nations.
You need to understand that the truth of that statement is the very fabric
of who and what I am.  I wish neither to rule nor to inflict injury upon the
innocents of any nation.  I am the lion who sleeps with God's lambs to
protect them from ravenous wolves that would devour them.  Your 911
call has awakened the lion and now I hunger for the flesh of wolves.
In closing let me state, Muhammad taught that Allah is a God of love- yet
you have the unmitigated gall to bastardize Islam to suit your own personal,
unholy agenda.  Who now is the infidel?
  Sincerely,
  The Reverend Charles Stanley
  121 Windemere Drive
  Hertford, North Carolina, USA
  252-426-3830
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Watch out-this will choke you up. But it's very special.
This is the band teacher from my school - not sure how
he got to N Y. - but he is a great guy.   Lyn Levens
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2001 11:51 AM
A musician thing  - A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MEMORY
Playing for the Fighting 69th Monday, Sept. 17
Yesterday I had probably the most incredible and moving experience of my
life. Julliard organized a quartet to go play at the Armory. The Armory
is a huge military building where families of people missing from
Tuesday's disaster go to wait for news of their loved ones. Entering the
building was very difficult emotionally, because the entire building (the
size of a city block) was covered with missing posters. Thousands of
posters, spread out up to eight feet above the ground, each featuring a
different, smiling, face. I made my way into the huge central room and
found my Julliard buddies. For two hours we sight-read quartets (with only
three people!), and I don't think I will soon forget the grief counselor
from the Connecticut State Police who listened the entire time, or the
woman who listened only to "Memory" from Cats, crying the whole time.
At 7, the other two players had to leave; they had been playing at the Armory
since 1 and simply couldn't play any more. I volunteered to stay and play
solo, since I had just got there. I soon realized that the evening had
just begun for me: a man in fatigues who introduced himself as Sergeant
Major asked me if I'd mind playing for his soldiers as they came back from
digging through the rubble at Ground Zero. Masseuses had volunteered to
give his men massages, he said, and he didn't think anything would be more
soothing than getting a massage and listening to violin music at the same
time. So at 9:00 p.m., I headed up to the second floor as the first men
were arriving. From then until 11:30, I played everything I could do for
memory: Bach B Minor Partita, Tchaik. Concerto, Dvorak Concerto, Paganini
Caprices 1 and 17, Vivaldi Winter and Spring, Theme from Schindler's List,
Tchaik. Melodie, Meditation from Thais, Amazing Grace, My Country 'Tis of
Thee, Turkey in the Straw, Bile Them Cabbages Down.
Never have I played for a more grateful audience. Somehow it didn't matter
that by the end, my intonation was shot and I had no bow control. I would have
lost any competition I was playing in, but it didn't matter. The men would come
up the stairs in full gear, remove their helmets, look at me, and smile. At
11:20, I was introduced to Col. Slack, head of the division. After
thanking me, he said to his friends, "Boy, today was the toughest day yet.
I made the mistake of going back into the pit, and I'll never do that
again." Eager to hear a first-hand account, I asked, "What did you see?"
He stopped, swallowed hard, and said, "What you'd expect to see." The
Colonel stood there as I played a lengthy rendition of Amazing Grace which
he claimed was the best he'd ever heard.
By this time it was 11:30, and I didn't think I could play anymore. I asked 
Sergeant Major if it would be appropriate if I played the National Anthem.
He shouted above the chaos of the milling soldiers to call them to attention, 
and I played the National Anthem as the 300 men of the 69th Division saluted 
an invisible flag. After shaking a few hands and packing up, I was prepared to
leave when one of the privates accosted me and told me the Colonel wanted to 
see me again. He took me down to the War Room, but we couldn't find the 
Colonel, so he gave me a tour of the War Room. It turns out that the division I
played for is the Famous Fighting Sixty-Ninth, the most decorated division
in the U.S. Army. He pointed out a letter from Abraham Lincoln offering
his condolences after the Battle of Antietam...the 69th suffered the most
casualties of any division at that historic battle. Finally, we located
the Colonel. After thanking me again, he presented me with the coin of the
regiment. "We only give these to someone who's done something special for
the 69th," he informed me. He called over the division's historian to tell
me the significance of all the symbols on the coin.
As I rode the taxi back to Julliard...free, of course, since taxi service
is free in New York right now...I was numb. Not only was this evening the
proudest I've ever felt to be an American, it was my most meaningful as a
musician and a person as well. At Julliard, kids are hypercritical of
each other and very competitive. The teachers expect, and in most cases
get, technical perfection. But this wasn't about that. The soldiers
didn't care that I had so many memory slips I lost count. They didn't care
that when I forgot how the second movement of the Tchaik. went, I had to
come up with my own insipid improvisation until I somehow (and I still
don't know how) got to a cadence. I've never seen a more appreciative
audience, and I've never understood so fully what it means to communicate
music to other people. And how did it change me as a person? Let's just
say that, next time I want to get into a petty argument about whether
Richter or Horowitz was better, I'll remember that when I asked the
Colonel to describe the pit formed by the tumbling of the Towers, he
couldn't. Words only go so far, and even music can only go a little
further from there.
Rick
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is Ted Nugent a "Bad American" ? Written By: Ted Nugent, the
 rock singer and hunter/naturalist.
Upon hearing that California Senators B. Boxer and D. Feinstein denounced him
for being a "gun owner" and a "Rock Star". This was his response after telling
the Senators about his past contributions to children's charities and scholarship 
foundations which have totaled more than $13.7 million in the last 5 years!!
I'm a Bad American? This pretty much sums it up for me. I like big trucks, big
boats, big houses, and naturally pretty women. I believe the money I make
belongs to me and my family, not some mid level governmental functionary
with a bad comb-over who wants to give it away to crack addicts squirting
out babies. I think playing with toy guns doesn't make you a killer. I believe
ignoring your kids and giving them Prozac might.
I don't think being a minority makes you noble or victimized. I have the right not 
to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or make me mad.
This is my life to live, and not necessarily up to others expectations.
I don't celebrate Kwanzaa. But if you want to that's fine; I just don't feel like 
everyone else should have to.
I believe that if you are selling me a Dairy Queen shake, a pack of
cigarettes, or hotel room, you do it in English. As of matter of fact, if
you are an American citizen, you should speak English. My uncles and
forefathers shouldn't have had to die in vain so you can leave the countries
you were born in to come disrespect ours, and make us bend to your will.
Get over it.
I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry butt if you're running
from them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word
'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the previous line.
I don't use the excuse "it's for the children" as a shield for unpopular
opinions or actions. I know how to count votes and I feel much safer letting 
a machine with no political affiliation do a recount when needed.
I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you qualify for
any special loan programs, gov't sponsored bank loans, etc., so you can
open a hotel, 7-Eleven, trinket shop, or any thing else, while the indigenous
peoples can't get past a high school education because they can't afford it.
I didn't take the initiative in inventing the Internet.
I thought the Taco Bell dog was funny.
I want them to bring back safe and sane fireworks.
I believe no one ever died because of something Ozzy Osbourne, Ice-T or
Marilyn Manson sang, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to that crap 
from someone else's car when I'm stopped at a red light. 
But I respect your right to.
I think that being a student doesn't give you any more enlightenment than
working at Blockbuster or Jack In The Box.
Our soldiers did not go to some foreign country and risk their lives in vain
 and defend our Constitution so that decades later you can tell me it's a
 living document ever changing and is open to interpretation. The guys who
 wrote it were light years ahead of anyone today, and they meant what they
 said - now leave the document alone, or there's going to be trouble.
I don't hate the rich. I help the poor.
I've never owned, or was a slave, and a large percentage of our forefathers
weren't wealthy enough to own one either. Please stop blaming me because
some prior white people were idiots - and remember, tons of white, Indian,
Chinese, and other races have been enslaved too - it was wrong
for every one of them.
I believe a self-righteous liberal Democrat with a cause is more dangerous
than a Hell's Angel with an attitude.
I want to know exactly which church it is where the "Reverend" Jessie
Jackson preaches; and, what exactly is his job function.
I own a gun, you can own a gun, and any red blooded American should be
allowed to own a gun, but if you use it in a crime, then you will serve the
time. I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and
continue to make more. If it makes you mad, then invent the next operating 
system that's better and put your name on the building.
Ask your buddy that invented the Internet to help you.
I don't believe in hate crime legislation. Even suggesting it makes me
mad. You're telling me that someone who is a minority, gay, disabled, another
nationality, or otherwise different from the mainstream of this country has
more value as a human being than I do as a white male. If someone kills
anyone, I'd say that it's a hate crime. We don't need more laws!
Let's enforce the ones we already have.
I think turkey bacon, turkey beef, turkey fake anything sucks.
 I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child-it takes a parent
with the guts to stand up to the kid and spank his butt and say "NO!" when
it's necessary to do so.
I'll admit that the only movie that ever made me cry was Ole Yeller.
I didn't realize Dr. Seuss was a genius until I had a kid.
I will not be frowned upon or be looked down upon or be made to keep
silent because I have these beliefs and opinions. I thought this country allowed
me that right.
I will not conform or compromise just to keep from hurting somebody's
feelings. I'm neither angry nor disenfranchised, no matter how desperately
the mainstream media would like the world to believe otherwise.
Yes, I guess by some people's definition, I may be a bad American. But
that's tough.           Ted Nugent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I MET GOD IN THE MORNING,
WHEN MY DAY WAS AT ITS BEST.
AND HIS PRESENCE CAME LIKE SUNRISE,
LIKE A GLORY IN MY BREAST.
 
ALL DAY LONG THE PRESENCE LINGERED,
ALL DAY LONG, HE STAYED WITH ME.
AND WE SAILED IN PERFECT CALMNESS,
O'ER A VERY TROUBLED SEA.
 
SO, I THINK I KNOW THE SECRET,
LEARNED FROM MANY A TROUBLED WAY,
YOU MUST SEEK HIM IN THE MORNING,
IF YOU WANT HIM THROUGH THE DAY!
BY RALPH S. CUSHMAN

The life of a true servant can only be lived "one day at a time." 
           Joyce Lock

Enjoy TODAY... Live for TOMORROW, and Make Memories
            that will last FOREVER!

"In order to make an apple pie from scratch, 
    you must first create the universe." -- Carl Sagan, Cosmos

God grant me the senility to forget the people I never  liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones that I do, 
and the eyesight to tell the difference.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The storm was raging.  The sea was beating against the rocks in huge,
dashing waves.  The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the
wind was blowing; but the little bird was sound asleep in the crevice of 
the rock, its head tucked serenely under its wing.  That is peace: to be
able to sleep in the storm!  In Christ we are relaxed and at peace in the 
midst of the confusions, bewilderments and perplexities of this life.  
The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace at last! 
 Billy Graham
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whoopitiyiyiyo!
Forrest Gump died, and he went to Heaven. Saint Peter said he would 
have to answer three questions to get through the gates of Heaven: 
First, name the two days of the week that begin with the letter "t." 
Second, give the number of seconds in a year. 
Third, tell me the first name of God.
Gump thought about it, and came back with his answers.
The names of the two days of the week that start with "t" are 
today and tomorrow.
There are 12 seconds in a year: Jan. 2, Feb. 2, Mar. 2 ….. 
The first name of God is easy. It's Andy. They sing it in the song:
Andy walks with me; Andy talks with me; Andy tells me that I am 
His own. Gump got through the gates. Come on in Forrest!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MEMO FROM GOD   
I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. 
Please remember that I do not need your help.   
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, 
do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD 
(something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved,
but in My time, not yours. 
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by
worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that
are present in your life now. 
If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people
in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege. 
Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has
been out of work for years. 
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person
who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return. 
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend;  Think of the 
woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, 
seven days a week to feed her children. 
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance;
Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.   
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer 
patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine. 
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, 
asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't
live long enough to get the opportunity. 
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness,
ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse.
You could be one of them! 
Should you decide to pray for a friend; Thank you, you may have
touched their life in ways you will never know! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The light of God surrounds us,
The love of God enfolds us,
The power of God protects us,
The presence of God watches over us,
Wherever we are, God is
And all is well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TWO DAYS
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, 
two days which should be kept from fear and apprehension. One of 
these days is yesterday, with it's mistakes and cares, it's faults and
blunders, it's aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond
our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. 
We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is beyond recall.
The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with it's 
possible adversities, it's burdens, it's large promises, and perhaps its 
poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. 
Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet 
unborn. This leaves only one day - today. Anyone can fight the battles 
of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burden of those two
awful eternity's, yesterday and tomorrow, that we break down. It is not
the experience of today that drives us mad. It is the remorse or bitterness
for something which happened yesterday or the dread of what tomorrow
may bring. Let us therefore do our best to live but one day at a time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reach Up
"Ye, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death,
I will fear no evil." The journey each of us walks is not always a
meadow full of flowers. Sometimes it is a journey up a mountain, 
loose rocks and steep inclines. We so often loose sight of the beautiful
scenery because of our attempts to hold on. We have to struggle with 
many things in this world that makes us feel alone.
Arthritis grips us tight and wrenches pain from within.
Diabetes cuts our feelings ulcerates our skin.
Cancer files away at the cells of our body and leaves us weak.
Blindness takes away our vision and paints our world black.
Mental disabilities hold our thoughts and leave us in a lonely room.
Cruelty of others cuts our hearts and leaves us empty.
We were born to celebrate, to reach up and believe.
We were born to rejoice, to lift our hands to life.
We were born to sing, to paint rainbows with our voice.
We were born to love, to hold the hands of gentleness.
We were born to share, to be a blessing to those around us.
Reach up, my friend and believe for that is God's dream.
Lift your hands, my friend and live for that is God's purpose.
Paint your world, my friend with songs for that is God's compassion.
Hold on, my friend with gentleness for that is God's love.
Bless those around you, my friend for you are God's gift.
No less than a flower planted by angels and nurtured by the hands of God
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A group of students was asked to list what they thought were the present
Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the
following got the most votes:    1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal    3. Grand Canyon    4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building    6. St. Peter's Basilica   7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one quiet student hadn't 
turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble
with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my 
mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World
are these:   1. to touch   2. to taste    3. to see    4. to hear"
She hesitated a little, and then added, 5. to feel  6. to laugh  7. and to love"
The room was so full of silence you could have heard a pin drop.
Those things we overlook as simple and "ordinary" are truly wondrous.
A gentle reminder that the most precious things in life cannot be bought. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If I Could Live It Over  by Nadine Stair
I though this was very nice and it make me think of Philippians 4:6
'Be Anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, 
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God'.   
We have so much to be thankful for, but we (especially me)
constantly whine. In spite of all this God continues to love us.
If I had to live my life over again,
I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax.
I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans
I would perhaps have more actual troubles,
but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who live seriously and sanely, 
hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments. 
And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a 
thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had to live my life over, I would start barefoot earlier in the 
spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to 
spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, 
Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, 
with a fine home on the water-way, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have 
this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live.
The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to 
the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity 
to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so she was enjoying herself 
immensely. As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive 
restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene 
and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent 
moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was
nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had
dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and 
picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket
as if he had found a great treasure.
How absurd!  What need did this man have for a single penny?  
Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout 
dinner the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no
longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin 
collection and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the
penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! 
What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words
"United States of America."  "No, not that; read further."  "One cent?" 
"No, keep reading."  "In God we Trust?"  "Yes!"  "And?" "And if I
trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I 
find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United 
States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message
right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by?
When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that
moment. I  pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in
Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it
is God's way of starting a conversation with me. 
Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk.  
I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and
fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 
"In God We  Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. 
It seems that I have been finding a large number of pennies in the last
few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!  And God is patient... 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seize the Day 
READ THIS VERY SLOWLY. . . . . . IT'S PRETTY PROFOUND. 
Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because 
they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't 
know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. 
I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who 
passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. 
From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible. 
How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't 
suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does 
the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you? 
How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you 
watched 'Jeopardy' on television? 
I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going 
to lunch in a half hour?" She would gasp and stammer, "I can't. I have 
clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had 
a late breakfast, It looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "It's 
Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. 
Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule
our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to 
ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit
the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained. We'll entertain 
when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second
honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college. 
Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, 
and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we 
awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going 
to", "I plan on" , and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit." 
When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure 
and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her 
enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, 
and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and 
skip an elevator for a bungee cord. 
My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's 
just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula 
and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car 
and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way 
home, I would have died happy. 
Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to
......not something on your SHOULD DO list.. 
If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could 
make, who would you call and what would you say? 
And why are you waiting? 
Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened 
to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic 
flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? 
Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask 
"How are you?" Do you hear the reply? 
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred 
chores running through your head? 
Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste,
not see his sorrow? 
Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"? 
When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened 
gift....Thrown away... Life is not a race. Take it slower.
Hear the music before the song is over. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying
groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 7 years 
was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.
He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off
and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always 
spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.
He knew I loved yellow roses.
With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and
leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.
Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.
Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and
remembered how he had loved his steak.
Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely
in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large pack of
T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back.
She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks. She 
saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, 
but honestly, at these prices, I don't know." I swallowed the emotion 
down my throat and met her pale blue eyes.
"My husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the
package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice.
"Buy him the steaks.. And cherish every moment you have together."
She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed
the package in her basket and wheeled away.
I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy
products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy.
Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else,
I could always fix myself an ice cream cone. I placed the ice cream in
my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front.
I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards
me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest
smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair
as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine. As she came closer,
I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. "These are for you,"
she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms.
"When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for." 
She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again.
I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable
to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.
I looked down at the beautiful roses nestle! d in the green tissue wrapping
and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer 
seemed so clear. I wasn't alone. Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you?
I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his
angel. Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings.
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long
as possible. Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord,
that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though! the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost,
toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud.
Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in
magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced. Thank you, Lord, 
for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you,
Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish
my circumstances were not so modest. Thank you, Lord, for life.
A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift.
A friend is someone to treasure. For friendship is a gift. 
A friend is someone who fills our lives with Beauty, Joy and Grace
and makes the world we live in a better and happier place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If I knew it would be the last time, That I'd see you fall asleep, 
I would tuck you in more tightly, and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. 
If I knew it would be the last time, that I see you walk out the door, 
I would give you a hug and kiss, and call you back for one more. 
If I knew it would be the last time, I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, 
I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. 
If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute 
to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you would KNOW I do. 
If I knew it would be the last time, I would be there to share your day, 
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away. 
For surely there's always tomorrow, to make up for an oversight, 
and we always get a second chance, to make everything just right. 
There will always be another day, to say "I love you," 
And certainly there's another chance, to say our "Anything I can do?" 
But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, 
I'd like to say how much I love you, and I hope we never forget. 
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, 
And today may be the last chance, you get to hold your loved one tight. 
So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? 
For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day, 
That you didn't take that extra time, for a smile, a hug, or a kiss 
and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish. 
So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, 
Tell them how much you love them, and that you'll always hold them dear 
Take time to say "I'm sorry," "Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay." 
And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's a Military Family Worth?    
I think the vast differences in compensation between the victims of the
September 11th casualty, and those who die serving the country in 
uniform, are profound. No one is really talking about it either because 
you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11th. 
Well, I just can't let the numbers pass by because it says something 
really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. 
If you lost a family member in the September 11th attack, you're
going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum 
guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million. 
If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in 
action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of
which is taxable. Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. 
If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you 
remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child
under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a 
screeching halt. Keep in mind that some of the people that are getting
an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that 
it's not enough. We also learned over the weekend that some of the 
victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization
asking for the same deal that the September 11th families are getting. 
In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the 
embassies are now asking for compensation as well. 
You see where this is going, don't you? 
Folks, this is part and parcel of over fifty years of entitlement
politics in this country. It's just really sad. 
"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the 
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."-Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr. 
Every time when a pay raise comes up for the military they usually 
receive next to nothing of a raise. 
Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East while their
families have to survive on food stamps and live in low rent housing. 
However our own U.S. Congress just voted themselves a raise, and 
many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one-time
to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month and most are
now equal to be millionaires plus. 
They also do not receive Social Security on retirement because they 
didn't have to pay into the system. 
If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an 
E-7 you may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very 
people who placed you in harms way receive a pension of $15,000
per month. I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon 
and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay
for our sons and daughters who are now fighting. 
"When do we finally do something about this ??"
If this doesn't seem fair to you, it is time to send this message 
to as many people as you can. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Social Security
Non believers, Check it out. . . It's 100 percent true. . . .. 
Q: Which party took Social Security from an independent fund and put
      it in the general fund so that Congress could spend it? 
A:  It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic-controlled House & Senate. 
Q:  Which party put a tax on Social Security? 
A:  The Democratic party. 
Q: Which party increased the tax on Social Security? 
A:  The Democratic Party with Al Gore casting the deciding vote. 
Q.  Which party decided to give money to immigrants?   
A: That's right, immigrants moved into this country at 65 and got SSI 
      Social Security. The Democratic Party gave that to them although they 
      never paid a dime into it. 
............Then,  after doing all this, the Democrats turn around and tell you 
             the Republicans want to take your Social Security. 
             And the worst part about it is, people believe it! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who Will Defend American Values? by George Livadas 
Eighty-four percent of college students today do not believe that Western
culture is superior to Arab culture according to a newly released poll funded
by Americans for Victory Over Terrorism (a project by Empower.org) and
former Secretary of Education William Bennett. 
Considered by Empower America to be “the single most extensive survey
of college students’ attitudes about terrorism, the Middle East and the Bush
administration this year,” the poll reveals that high percentages of college
students quite simply lack any pride in their country. 
According to the poll, 70 percent of American college students would not 
serve in the armed forces if sent abroad, while 48 percent openly declared 
that they would evade a draft. 
With 31 percent of public schools specifically prohibiting the presence of
recruiters on campus and nearly 25 percent of high schools refusing to 
even release student directory information to recruiters (from a July, 2001 
Defense Department report), such attitudes from college students are hardly
unexpected. While college students enjoy and benefit from the many
freedoms for which past American generations fought, many selfishly refuse
to be responsible for protecting these freedoms. Seventy-nine percent of 
college students believe that the U.S. “has the right to overthrow” Hussein. 
Although college students support Hussein’s overthrow, most refuse to
assist, as 70 percent had said that they would not serve overseas. 
Additionally, 58 percent of those saying that they would evade a draft said
that they support Saddam’s overthrow. 
Critics have charged that this high percentage of students unwilling to serve
and admitting that they would evade a draft can be attributed to the inherent
moral confusion of college students today-also revealed in AVOT’s poll.
Seventy-one percent of college students disagreed with the statement,
“the values of the U.S. are superior to the values of other nations.” 
Only 25 percent of college students agreed with the statement. 
College students, notorious for protesting alleged U.S. oppression against
minorities and various victim-groups, refuse to acknowledge U.S. efforts 
and strides in leading the world in the constant bolstering of civil rights and 
equality under the law. According to the poll, 84 percent of college students
do not believe that Western culture is superior to Arab culture. Astonishingly,
43 percent of students said that they “strongly disagree” that Western culture
is superior to Arab culture, while a mere 3 percent said that they
“strongly agree.” The widespread use of torture and cruel forms of public
execution (sometimes by stoning or beheading) as a means of punishment in
the Islamic world make the results of this poll all the more shocking. Apparently 
college students are unaware of the fact that many Islamic nations jail and 
execute homosexuals (the Taliban did so by pushing stone walls on them), 
publicly flog traffic violators, amputate the limbs of thieves (often without trial), 
ban the Star of David and the cross, and occasionally sentence women to be 
gang-raped for offenses not even considered to be criminal in the U.S. 
Rather than holding terrorists solely responsible for their actions on 
September 11, college students partially blamed the U.S. government for the
attacks, as 57 percent of college students stated that United States policies are
“at least somewhat responsible for the September 11th terrorist attacks.” 
According to a majority of college students, boosting our nation’s level of 
multiculturalism is a key solution in preventing further terrorist attacks. 
Only 33 percent of college students claimed that “investing in strong military 
and defense capabilities at home and abroad” would be more effective in 
fighting terror than “developing a better understanding of the values and history
of other cultures and nations that dislike us.” A full 60 percent believed the latter
to be the superior method in preventing terror. Would developing a better
understanding of the values of the Nazi culture have proved to be a more 
efficient and useful method in combating Hitler during World War II? 
While there is no justifiable excuse for the results of the poll, there could be a
simple explanation for the apparent moral confusion of college students-they 
do not follow current events closely or carefully enough to have a reasonable 
perception of the world. The poll revealed that less than half of college students
are capable of correctly naming Colin Powell as Secretary of State, less than
one-third can name Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense, and only
one-fifth can name Condoleeza Rice as the National Security Advisor. 
With a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent, the poll is a relatively
accurate measure of the prevalent attitudes of college students today. 
The results of the poll are undoubtedly shocking and appalling. Despite the
War on Terror and the events of September 11, college students remain 
adamant in refusing to judge anyone or anything foreign based upon their
actions. The once educational and beneficial idea of multiculturalism has
been taken to such extreme levels that college students, who formerly studied
different cultures to gain a better perspective of their own values and culture,
 now embrace and praise all societies but their own. 
The disturbing results of the poll show us that not only are most college
students today unwilling to fight for true American values and freedoms, 
but they are unwilling to even acknowledge the great achievements of 
American society. This tendency for American academics to blame the
U.S. for the world’s problems, while praising oppressive foreign cultures
simply because they are not our own, will ultimately result in the
weakening of our nation. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
"Now the networks would have us believe their new reality shows aspire to 
loftier ideals like romance and marriage.  Perhaps no one watches these shows 
and takes them seriously.  Maybe on a certain level it's easy to laugh because
we know, don't we, that true relationships cannot be that plastic.  We know, 
don't we, that true love is patient and kind and not boastful.  All we have to 
do is tell this to several million youngsters who are now learning the opposite
from 'reality' TV." --Brent Bozell

At Rutgers University, researchers with the National Marriage Project have
published a report called 'Why Men Won't Commit: Exploring Young Men's 
Attitudes about Sex, Dating, and Marriage.' The study offers the top ten
reasons men are reluctant to say, 'I do.'  Among them: They can get all the
sex they want without marriage.  They want to enjoy the single life as long as
possible.  They want to avoid the financial pitfalls of divorce. And they're
afraid marriage will demand too many changes and compromises. ... Modern
women have far more freedom of movement than their sisters in the ancient 
world.  But human nature is still fallen.  This means that men are as predatory
as ever -- and women today are paying the price for it in a culture that 
doesn't demand marriage." --Chuck Colson

Almost fifty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the government couldn't
stand in the schoolhouse doors and keep minority children out. The Supreme 
Court [now says] those same government officials can't stand in the doorway 
and keep minority children in. Parents should have the freedom in America to
choose which schools their kids go to, especially when the local public school
isn't cutting the mustard. This Supreme Court decision...will save thousands 
and thousands of urban children from bad educations in the short-term and 
equally provide assistance in ending what has become and unfortunate
cycle of poverty." --ACU Chairman David Keene
 
"The dynamism and freedom that characterizes the West is the product of 
Christianity's reforming itself and moving forward culturally. ...
The ascendancy of the West is the story of the difference that Christianity 
makes, and it's a story we can't let our culture forget." --Charles Colson 
"All too often when people come to the church for the bread of spiritual 
consolation, they are given the stone of social administration." --John O'Sullivan
"But conservatism -- real conservatism -- pays no heed to the comings and 
goings of dictators and politicians.  It is a matter of the heart."  --Richard Poe
"The classical idea of civic virtue -- the adult citizen accepts responsibilities in 
exchange for carefully delineated rights -- is all but gone." --Victor David Hanson
"Open borders for terrorists means a police state for citizens." --Paul Craig Roberts 
 
"The Economist is a normally sober-minded weekly 'newspaper' edited in Britain. 
However, in recalling the populist campaign based on class warfare that Al Gore
unsuccessfully waged in the 2000 presidential election, the Economist's weekly
Lexington column offered this inexplicable observation in the July 13 issue:
'Each corporate scandal increases the likelihood that the 2004 election will be a 
rematch of 2000 -- and even, perhaps, that Mr. Gore may win it.'  But perusing 
the details underlying the scandals demonstrates beyond doubt that the genesis
 of these scandals occurred during the Clinton-Gore administration: Enron.... 
Global Crossing.... Qwest.... Xerox.... WorldCom.... Tyco.... Adelphia.... 
It takes a certain amount of gall -- which Mr. Gore has in excess -- to pretend 
that corporate misbehavior began on Jan. 20, 2001, and to forget who was in
 charge of the regulatory agencies from 1993-2000." --Washington Times 

"Many of us already have experienced via airline travel what happens when you
 give people sudden power over their fellow citizens.  I'm trying to be polite here,
 but you know what I mean. Sometimes morons happen." --Kathleen Parker  

"There's no book in the library called Great Moderates in American History.
Moderates have not contributed one thing to the greatness of this country, 
and they never will." --Rush Limbaugh  

"Of course we have to profile people. We live in some weird time now where
 we're all trying to convince each other that we shouldn't profile people. 
When 19 out of 20 people are from a certain country, and they blow up the
 two biggest buildings in your country, if you don't start looking at people 
who are visiting here from that country, you're not being open-minded.
You're being dead. Okay?" --Dennis Miller

Janet Reno's Dance Party was held in South Beach Friday in what she called
 an effort to reach out to young people. This was an iffy idea. The last time
she reached out to young people, Elian went to Cuba and the Cuban
vote went to Bush.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Dennis Prager August 28, 2002  --  UNC is confused about 9-11
Moral and intellectual confusion has become the norm at our universities,
with the most recent example coming from the University of North Carolina. 
In order to equip incoming freshmen with a better understanding of the
Islamic terror attack of 9-11, the chancellor of the university has assigned
as required summer reading a book containing the early revelations of 
Muhammad. "Approaching the Qur'an" contains those chapters (suras) of
the Koran, assembled, translated and commented on by Haverford College
professor of religion Michael Sells. 
The amount of intellectual and moral confusion in this policy has eluded
 nearly all those who have commented on it. Defenders of the UNC policy
 say that it is vital that in order to understand Islamic terror, Americans 
must become acquainted with Islam, and how better to begin than by
reading the Koran? 
Let's deal with the confusion step by step: 
1. On September 11, 2001, deeply religious Muslims from the Arab world,
in the name of their religion, tried to murder tens of thousands of Americans,
and did murder more than 3,000 completely innocent men, women and
children, on airplanes, on the ground and in office buildings. Tens of
millions of Muslims, largely in the Arab world, either denied that Muslims 
committed the acts, either attributing them to Israel and the CIA, or simply
rejoicing over them. 
2. There are one billion Muslims in the world, but not one authoritative 
Muslim organization anywhere has condemned Islamic terror generally 
(some have condemned 9-11 specifically). All have come out in favor
 Palestinian terror against Jews, and none has condemned the cult of 
death developed among Palestinian Muslims in which God is depicted 
as supplying 72 virgin women to any teenage Muslim boy who blows 
himself up while murdering Jews and Americans. 
3. There are almost no Muslim democracies in the world;
in the Arab world, there are no Muslim democracies. 
4. Wherever Islamists take power, a totalitarian regime is set up, and the
most primitive denials of basic human rights follow. One or more of the
Islamic regimes -- Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya -- have
either engaged in genocide or supported Islamic regimes that have, have
forbidden all other religious expressions, have exported terror, and have 
relegated women to a status well beneath that of a woman in 10th century
Europe. They are, with the exception of North Korea, the cruelest places
on earth. 
Now, exactly how will reading "Approaching the Qur'an," with its
selected lovely suras from the Koran, explain any of the above? 
It won't. Such readings are in fact irrelevant to any of the above, 
including understanding 9-11. 
So, the intent of the University of North Carolina assigned summer reading
is not at all what it purports to be. It was not chosen to help students 
understand 9-11; it was chosen to help students not to understand 9-11 by
deflecting their attention from the contemporary Arab Islamic reality and
onto selected ancient Islamic texts that bear no connection to that reality. 
It would be as if after Hitler and Nazism rose to power and began
subjugating countries and slaughtering Jews, some American university
assigned readings from Goethe and required listening to Bach so that
their students could better understand Nazi Germany. To understand 
Nazi terror, you study the hate-filled texts of Nazism, not the beautiful 
novels of German writers or Bach's cello suites. To understand Islamic
terror, you study the hate-filled texts that are published daily throughout
the Arab world; you assign the hate-filled sermons that are preached 
every week in the Muslim mosques in the Middle East and Iran. 
But none of that will be noted, let alone assigned, at the University of 
North Carolina or any other major American university one year after 9-11.
Our universities are not really interested in having their students understand
America's enemies. They are, incredibly, more interested in having their 
students sympathize with them. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. The Islamists are militarily weak but culturally secure. 
The West is just the opposite.  
There's more than one way to lose a war." --Mark Steyn 
2.  "The NEA represents, and presumably reflects the mentality of,
the people who are delivering -- inflicting? -- public education. 
That is as frightening, in its way, as any foreign threat." --George Will
3. "To liberal Democrats, the Constitution is an obstacle, and why is it 
an obstacle?  It's because the Constitution spells out our freedoms.  
The Constitution limits government." --Rush Limbaugh {} 
4. "The real reason Democrats want to raise taxes by canceling the
[Bush/Republican] tax cut is so they can spend the money to buy votes.
5. "In my opinion, there is nothing that opens the closed minds of
academic administrators better than sounds of pocketbooks snapping
shut." --Walter Williams  
6.  "Now why is it so terrible to suggest that conservatives are greedy, 
child-punishing, minority-hating, war-mongering bad mothers, but it's
beyond the pale to suggest that maybe, just maybe, 
some liberals don't like America that much?" -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 The Bill of NO Rights
 (The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye
        from GA. I hope this guy runs for President!)
"We, the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone
get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep our
nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free
liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one 
more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the 
terminally whiny, guilt ridden, and delusional folks who blame others for all 
their problems.
We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused 
by what the Bill of Rights says and are so dim that they require a Bill of No Rights.
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other
form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is
guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country
is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! 
You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.
 but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
 ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick
a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool 
manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing.
Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help 
anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing
generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve
nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional
couch potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be
nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public 
health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people.
If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised
if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others.
If you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens,
don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a
place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a
life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You don't have the right to demand that our children risk
their lives in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We hate
oppressive governments and won't lift a finger to stop you from going to
fight if you'd like. However, we do not enjoy parenting the entire world
and do not want to spend so much of our time battling each and every
little tyrant with a military uniform and a funny hat.
ARTICLE IX: You don't have the right to a job. All of us sure want all
of you to have one, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we
expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and
vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
ARTICLE X: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American
means that you have the right to pursue happiness - which by the way,  is
a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws
created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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