Marko Kloos, German Federal Defence Force, Retired. March 2007 Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it. In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some. When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender. There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly. Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable. When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation... and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

Dear Jane, I'm honored to know that a few right-minded patriots might have been smiling at what I had to say this morning. Together, shoulder to shoulder, we'll regain this "One Nation Under God.", but only if we haven't waited to long to recognize the peril, and the wolves that are already in the pasture. Fear of God, Love of Country, Respect for Authority. Such basic principles of this republic. Integrity, pride, honor, duty. We've allowed those concepts to crumble under the direction of misguided unpatriotic individuals that feel we shouldn't consider Americans superior to the citizens of any socialist Anti-American cesspool the greatest generation would have taken up arms against. How have we allowed "gray areas" to take us so far off course? Opinions are wonderful when we're talking about songs, movies, books, or our favorite colors, but opinion has no place in the just cause of American patriotism, and love for the nation that was the dream, the focused vision, and passion of our founders. There IS right, and there IS wrong. And we must be prepared to defend right from wrong when the defense of our United States calls us to do so. With that, I hear an echo from the graves of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, & so many others that gave everything to pave the path of liberty. These were great men, and there only a footnote in history class for our children in the 21st century. I try to imagine the majority of those we've elected & seated to lead us standing in the shadow of the greatest flag that has ever flown over any nation in the history of mankind, with their hands on their hearts, singing "God Bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her, through the night with a light from above." Our alleged leaders singing it, believing it, living it, is a glorious picture I can not call to mind. Shame on them, and shame on us for allowing these power mongers to remain in office. This November, I'll fight with my vote and my voice. It's the only real option we still have. Seal the borders, circle the wagons, gather the patriots, and encourage every red blooded American that still believes to be undeniably heard. "Profound wisdom"? Hardly. I'm a simple man that loves the country that was left to me, and refuse to allow a lesser nation to be passed to my children. This is still the United States of America. We are still the mightiest, most compassionate nation on the third stone from the sun. I'll not quietly see it vanish, and neither should anyone else. That is not my "opinion". It's a simple fact. Give my love to that museum, and the proud veterans they represent. MOBY

Moby - We are blessed in Weston, WV with the Mountaineer Military Museum. This museum is dedicated to the preservation of our military history and honors local veterans. Weston is a small town in central WV, located at mile marker 99 on Interstate 79. Last Friday night some unknown person or person(s) stole 6 flags that have been waving in front of the museum. There was Old Glory, one flag for each branch of the armed forces and a POW flag. This organization struggles to keep their doors open and pay their utility bills. They frequently run yard sales to generate funds. That such vandalism could occur, is tragic. Thought you might want to know. Jane Crider Thank you for sharing this Jane. I absolutely did want to know, and it makes me furious. I guess my question is this. What sort of waste of flesh would steal flags from a Military Museum? Would they behave in such a way at Arlington? How were these people raised? Did none of their dad’s serve this nation in uniform? Have they never heard America the Beautiful, and felt a chill? Sad thing is, Jane, if they get caught, they’ll probably get probation, instead of any real punishment for in effect spitting on the price paid for the freedom we all are so richly blessed to enjoy. They perhaps should be tried for treason. Certainly in a less free nation, that wouldn’t even be debated. It would just occur without any civil or legal process, but God bless America, that’s not how we do things. These thieves should be taught respect with a capital “R”, and be made to understand that many things are sacred in this nation, and many of those things are represented by a single flag waving in the breeze, and those things will be protected by folks dedicated to what’s simply but honorably represented by a colorful piece of cloth. If it was some teenaged punks, and they can be found, I think fit punishment would be for the court to publicly shame their daddies & order them to bust their butts. You pick, dad. Juvenile incarceration or severe corporal punishment. We’re all watching. And, no, junior. You don’t get to vote. You only get to shut your mouth. We’ve allowed nothing to be considered worth fighting for, let alone dying for, and these 6 stolen flags are a graphic example of a nation totally lacking true respect for authority, which is an important stone in the foundation of all we’re supposed to be about. To that museum, good luck raising the funds to replace those flags. To the veterans that salute those banners, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service, and I’m truly sorry this has occurred on the very soil you fought to protect.

God bless the state of Arizona for having the courage to stand up, and demand that the laws of our nation be enforced, and passing a bill in their state that voices that demand in no uncertain terms. It isn’t a decision based on race. It’s a decision based on American patriotism & the laws of the land. Those that don’t see that, are a large part of the problem. It’s that simple. What happened in Arizona is a great thing, and opens up debate that has needed to be held for years. There are laws in place dealing with immigration, both legal and illegal, and if those laws are NOT enforced, they might as well not have been written. America has always been a land of immigrants. Unless we’re full-blooded American Indian, we are the children of immigrants. At one point there was a family, that you’re a descendant of, that made the very tough decision to leave the land of their birth and become Americans. They recognized this “sweet land of liberty” this “land of the free & home of the brave” as a place they chose to raise their children. They were brave enough to blaze a trail that their children and grandchildren would reap the harvest of through their sacrifice as Americans, not as foreign nationals demanding American rights, while maintaining their love of the land they’d chosen to abandon. They decided to leave the land of their birth so those that carried on their family name could have a brighter future in this land that promised so much to those willing to work, sacrifice, learn the language, and become contributing members of American society, and even defend her when duty and honor called. They decided to become Americans. They understood that America & Americans were the product of a dream that they wanted to be part of. We were the melting pot of humanity, and bound by our pride & love of country, became the shining beacon on the hill that Ronald Reagan proclaimed us to be not many years ago. We were the envy of the entire world. Do you think the first generation Italians had an easy time when they came through Ellis Island. How about the immigrant Germans? Can you imagine the fear & awe they felt when they first set foot in this land of bounty. They had sacrificed & immigrated. They’d arrived in the land of plenty in the light of day. They had their heads held high, and understood that their work had just begun. For them to become what they envisioned required hard work, focus, & devoted patriotism to these United States. This was a land that offered more to them and their descendants than they could have ever dreamed. This was America, there stood the Statue of Liberty, and they had taken that giant step toward becoming Americans. What a thing of beauty, and testament to the human spirit legal immigrants were, and still are. Welcome to your new home. We still to this day accept more legal immigrants than all other nations combined. God bless you all in your efforts to become a contributing part of our nation. Those standing in line, be patient. It’ll be worth the wait. Your grandchildren will thank you & honor you for this gift. Understand this though. The open border policy we’ve allowed to become a standard can not continue, or this land of our founder’s dreams will simply, and quietly, cease to exist. Our border exists for a reason, and it must be maintained at all costs. The security of our nation and the future of all patriotic American families is at risk. Bravo Arizona. Stand your ground, and don’t be swayed by those serving an agenda other than what’s best for our country. Patriots from sea to shining sea agree with you and applaud you.

Dear Moby, I am a disabled veteran of the Marine Corps and to be honest with you sometimes I regret it. Not in a bad way please don’t get me wrong cause I am very proud of who I am and what I have accomplished. It makes me sad that we used to be one of the most feared forces in the world and now we are becoming a joke! We used to fight for our freedom and rights but now I don’t know what the heck we are fighting for anymore. Wait I know it is for other countries freedom and rights! How can our government help other countries when they can’t even get it together on our own home soil. Sometimes it seems to me that our government wants us to be like all the other countries where the government runs everything. Whatever happened to that famous saying “WE THE PEOPLE”? Our founding four fathers are probably rolling over in their graves right now at how this country has went from where the people had a say in the government to where it is today. I remember when we said the pledge in school and prayed. Heck you can’t even pray in public or have you bible with you where ever you go with out getting fired, kicked out of school, or ridiculed in public. They have even taken the 10 most important laws ever out of our court rooms, so how can they expect to punish someone for a crime if they are throwing out our laws? I am terrified to see what the world becomes as my kids get older because the government is taking over our lives. That was the whole reason this country was founded to begin with was because the people was being told by the government what they can and can’t do. Finally they had enough and stood up for what they believed in and now some people are to scared to say anything. If we are not careful America we will end up just like Iraq. We need to stand up for what we believe and take back what is ours, OUR FREEDOM AND RIGHTS!!!! Semper Fi and God Bless the USA! David Pierce David, I can’t say thank you loudly enough for your service. Like you, I bow my head and weep for what appears to be the future of this greatest of all nations. Where have the leaders gone that understand?

According to a new study, people born between 1986 and 1992 are on track to become the most educated generation in history. The percentage of 18 to 24 year olds enrolled in or graduated from college; is the highest it’s been in our history. This administration wants everyone to graduate college. I guess that’s supposed to be good news, but that’s really not how I see it. I think this will create many more problems than it will solve. Certainly we benefit from many among us becoming the academics, but who’s gonna do the work? Who’s gonna work on the farms and assembly lines? Who’s gonna mine the coal, or drive the trucks? The blue collar worker has always been the real backbone of America. Regardless of what our Emperor says, not everybody SHOULD go to the 4 plus years of non-stop partying they convince themselves is college. As a matter of fact, I believe it’s better for the nation if some folks don’t attend college, or at the very least have a clear and personally beneficial picture in mind of why they would want to. Very few should, and only through the benefit of their individual advanced intellect, go directly from high school to college. There should be a mandatory 2 years commitment to America for each high school graduate. Not exclusively military service, but 2 years of selfless service to the nation that will be made stronger with young people coming on-line with a diminished sense of entitlement. There should be 2 years where kids are not just taught, but shown that the world doesn’t revolve around them. Obviously, during that compulsory service, many would find a calling that simply doesn’t require advanced education, and more power to ‘em. Trade schools might be where they need to go, or maybe those 2 years will expose them to a lighted path that requires no further formal education at all. After that 2 years, if college is still their desire, then so be it. Good luck!! Study hard!! This would be good for our country. This isn’t a new idea, there are other countries, powerful and successful nations where this is their enforced transition from the child to the adult. If this were the law of our land, our colleges would welcome a much more focused and less party-oriented student body, (dude) and America would put much better educated and motivated people in the national work force. At least that’s my opinion, and this morning’s Small Town Soap Box.

I grew up with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it.... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken........ And heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage..... And old cars..... And children with bad report cards..... And dogs with bad hips....And aging parents..... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special........ And so, we keep them close! Good friends are like stars..... You don't always see them, But you know they are always there. Keep them close!

Hi Moby, let me start by saying I listen to you every morning. I have an idea for your soap box. My husband and me are both blue collar workers, working 40 hrs a week at minimum wage. It takes both of our incomes just to pay our utilities. We don't drive fancy cars or even have Internet at home because we financially cannot afford it. We are close to the poverty level to be truthful about it. But we provide for our 3 children just the same. They may not get all they want, but we do our best. We can't afford health insurance for ourselves. Our children, thankfully, have a medical card threw the state of West Virginia. So for my husband and myself to get hurt or sick is something we try to avoid at all costs. Well a week ago today, my husband fell and broke his ankle. He has to have surgery to fix it. Well, where we don't have insurance you can imagine the stress we are under now. He can no longer work till his ankle is on the way to recovery, which the doctor told us would be at least a month. I've had to pick up a second job because we are losing his income. I'm never home anymore from pulling 75 hrs in a week. My house is starting to show the effects as well. Well my husband's orthopedic doctor will not do surgery without insurance. How is that helping the working man get back to work? What happened to this great land of ours? What happened to the "good ole days" of years past where the doctor would come to you? What is the working man to do? If you have any suggestions for us, I would appreciate it. I'm ready to cry from all the stress I'm under right now. I'm ready to just scream at the doctors, the president, and anyone else that should be helping but isn't. I'm at my wits end, I'm lost and don't know which way to turn. Thank you for taking the time to read this Moby. Just from your radio show every morning, I can tell you are a wonderful guy and your wife is a lucky woman to have you. There's not many of you left. Sincerely, Renee Eldridge I'm at a loss, Renee. I wish I knew a magic potion to help all of us, but I do not. I understand the storm clouds are all around you for now. We have some pretty serious issues on our end of things, too. These are dark days for certain. My belief is that if we simply don't surrender, if we keep putting one foot in front of the other, if we continue returning the love we get from those that love us, ultimately it will all work out, We are God's children, ad I think we're nearing a time that even if we can't make it on our own any longer, there's a greater plan than we realize, and the sunrise is just beyond the horizon. Go to your husband, and hold him. Tell him how much you love him. The two of you gather those three gifts from God, and know that we're all in the caring hand of the One that created us, and that surrender can never be an option. I can only offer my prayers, and words of support. You have both of those coming from my heart. God bless & yeah baby, MOBY

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out-patients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was preparing supper, there was a knock at the door I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. “Why, he’s hardly taller than my eight-year-old,” I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face, swelling, red and raw yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening. I’ve come to see if you’ve a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there’s no bus till morning.” He told me that he had been hunting for a room since noon but with no success; no on seemed to have a room. “I guess it’s my face I know it looks terrible, but my doctor said that with a few more treatments…” For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could sleep in this rocking chairs on the porch, my bus leaves early in the morning.” I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. “No thank you. I have plenty,” “ and he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn’t take long to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me that he fished for living to support his daughter, her five children and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn’t tell it by way of complaint: in fact, every other sentence was prefaced with thanks to God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children’s room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded, and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking for a great favor, he said, “Could I please come back the next time I have a treatment I won’t put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grown-ups are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind. “ I told him he was welcome to come again. On his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they’d be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4 a.m. and I wondered at what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special deleivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk 3 miles to mail these and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door morning. “Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people.” Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice but oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; for him we learned what it was to accept the ad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God. Recently I was visiting who has a green house. As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, if this were I’d put it in the loveliest container I had!” My friend changed my mind. “I ran short of pots,” she explained , “and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting out in this old pail. It’s just for a little while till I can put it out in the garden.” She must have wondered why I laughed so hard and so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. There’s an especially beautiful one. God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. He won’t mind starting in this small body. All this happened long ago—and now, in God’s garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart.

If someone you know is bragging that they didn’t have to pay any taxes yesterday because they cheated on their returns, there’s something you can do. Rat out a tax evader and the IRS will pay you up to 15 percent of the recovered taxes. Well, here’s where I am on that. Where are you? If I knew a crime had been committed: a robbery, or an assault, or any act where there was a real victim, I’d alert the authorities, and assist those officers in any way I could in the completion their sworn duties. But who has not noticed, we’re all being robbed by a system of taxes that was designed to be temporary in nature, but has instead become more and more unfair, intrusive, and uncapitalistic. In their ivory towers, those that should have nothing but our best interest, and the best interest of our republic in mind, feather their own nests at the expense of us all. From my way of thinking, we’re all the victims of a crime. Endless and worsening crimes from an arrogant hierarchy that answers to no one, yet enjoys the fruits of their constituency’s labor. We’re having laws dictated by a nonrepresentative government, and rules handed down by czars and a government that doesn’t have to abide by those very same rules themselves. That just ain’t fair. It’s the very type actions from the halls that used to house real leaders, that fostered “the shot heard round the world” on April 19th 1775. To those duly elected & sent to represent us, November is coming, and we are a free people whose limits of tolerance you’re rapidly approaching. Know that prior to this free and liberty demanding population’s next trip to the polls, or you will certainly know it after those polls have closed, and the votes have been counted. Would I tell on a tax cheat in exchange for a bounty from this former government of, by, and for the people? I can’t imagine that I would. We certainly, more out of fear than anything else, pay like most everyone else. But to the rebel with the courage and resolve to say, “No More!!” I’d more likely provide comfort & shelter. That’s this morning’s Small Town Soap Box.

Dear Moby,
I attended the Tea Party rally today.
First, I would like to thank you for your commitment and your hard work in the effort.
But I want to ask you not to exclude non-Christians from prayers. You made a point that the tea party effort was not a matter of Democrat, Republican, Independent, but simply American.
So how could you then exclude non-Christians from the prayer? Is it supposed to be for any political stripe, but for Christians only? You twice mentioned our "Christian god."
I'm a Christian. But I don't believe in excluding a non-Christian from anything, whether it is a prayer, or feeling included in a rally such as this one.
This has made me rethink going to any more rallies put on by North Fulton.
But since the previous one I'd been to (with Herman Cain) was not like this, I plan to give them one more chance, in the hopes that something like this won't happen again.
I will write to them of my concern as well.
Please remember, there are people attending these things who are not Christian like us, and it is not in our best interests to exclude them or make them feel uncomfortable in any way.
It doesn't even make sense. I do appreciate your efforts more than I can say, but please accept my suggestion, and refrain from making non-Christians feel excluded from the prayer, or any aspect of the gathering.
It hurts us, and it is not in line with my core beliefs.
Sincerely, Jeanie Summers Roswell

Dear Jeanie,
In the spirit of sincere inclusion, I allow you the pulpit of this show to make your feelings known. The Christian God of our founders is the God through whose love and guidance this wonderful country of liberty and religious freedom was conceived. In my heart, I feel that if anyone felt excluded at our Tea Party, I am truly sorry. But at a devoutly patriotic event, at least one where I have duties as MC, I’ll never not acknowledge my God, and the God of the men that laid the very foundation of this nation. The Jewish lady that came forward to say a few words during the “We the People” segment didn’t seem to have any of the issues of exclusion you seem to be concerned and sensitive about. Jeanie, the majority of our population in America believes in the Judeo/Christian God. You say you do as well. No individual needs to feel shut out of a rally where the Christian holy deity is recognized, and whose blessings are requested for the day, and our combined future. Our children’s, children’s, children’s will judge us on how we behave during this crisis we face, and how we, as a nation, respond to our patriotic duty. Is this land of religious freedom, every individual has the right to believe as they will, but never lose sight of the fact; it was Christian men who made that right of free choice the law of the land. I sincerely thank you for expressing your opinion, and for creating an opportunity for me to express mine. God bless you, America, and every individual that worries as we all should for our future. Between the two of us, we created a Small Town Soap Box.

A central Florida urologist has posted a sign on his office door warning supporters of President Barrack Obama to find a different doctor. The notice on Dr. Jack Cassell’s Mount Dora practice says, “If you voted for Obama, seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin now, not in four years.” Cassell told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday he wasn’t questioning patients or refusing care, because that would be un-ethical. “But if they read the signand turn the other way, so be it,” he said. Cassell, 56, also provides Republican reading material in the waiting room-probably not a risky move, given that Mount Dora’s 10,000 residents and the surrounding area lean heavily conservative. A spokeswoman from the Florida Department of Health, which licenses physicians and investigates complaints, said Friday there was no law prohibiting Cassell from advertising himself that way. “Because there is no statute, there would be no grounds for a complaint,” spokeswoman Eulinda Smith said. A University of Florida professor said Cassell is walking a thin line between free speech and professional obligation. William Allen said Cassell may be within his rights if he doesn’t quiz patients about their politics and hasn’t refused to see anyone.

I will be attending the local TEA Party rally on Wednesday. You may ask why I would do this. That is a fair question. My concern for this country centers on the United States Constitution and our federal government governing according to that document. There was a time in the past when we were required to take a social studies course that included the study of our constitution and how it worked. That study seems to have disappeared from our schools and has been gone for a very long time. The result is that the general public does not know what is in that important document. I would quote one of the Founding Fathers . . . "Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom." (John Adams) It’s the responsibility of each of us, to insure that our children and grandchildren know about that document, its contents and the importance to our way of life and our freedoms. We should not concede that responsibility to the school system or anyone else. My focus these days is on the 1st amendment (freedom of speech), the 2nd (right to keep and bear arms) here again a Founding Father quote . . . "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government" (Thomas Jefferson), and the 10th . . . powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states by the constitution of the United States are reserved to the states or the people . . . "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”(Lord Acton British Historian). Those three amendments are being ignored or worse - run over by those in Washington. This country has a long and rich history of open, free and at times raucous debate to resolve our political differences and challenges. We also have a history of addressing our political differences at the polls by voting. These tea party groups are a prime example of a non violent gathering of every day citizens, speaking their minds and making their voices heard by our elected officials at all levels from local city government, to the house and senate in Washington, D.C. Your call to action is please join me, bring a neighbor and see how representative government works in a free and independent republic. Your obedient servant, Richard G. Freeman - Patriot

Submitted by: Kristina K. Lovvorn from a book called…book called "To a Child LOVE Is Spelled T-I-M-E It began with the fond recollection of the love of his life, long gone, and somewhere in these albums was a photo of her he hoped to rediscover. Silent as a mouse, he patiently opened the long buried treasures and soon was lost in a sea of memories. Although his world had not stopped spinning when his wife left it, the past was more alive in his heart than his present aloneness. Setting aside one of the dusty albums, he pulled from the box what appeared to be a journal from his grown son's childhood. He could not recall ever having seen it before, or that his son had ever kept a journal. Why did Elizabeth always save the children's old junk? he wondered, shaking his white head. Opening the yellowed pages, he glanced over a short reading, and his lips curved in an unconscious smile. Even his eyes brightened as he read the words that spoke clear and sweet to his soul. It was the voice of the little boy who had grown up far too fast in this very house, and whose voice had grown fainter and fainter over the years. In the utter silence of the attic, the words of a guileless six-year-old worked their magic and carried the old man back to a time almost totally forgotten. Entry after entry stirred a sentimental hunger in his heart like the longing a gardener feels in the winter for the fragrance of spring flowers. But it was accompanied by the painful memory that his son's simple recollections of those days were far different from his own. But how different? Reminded that he had kept a daily journal of his business activities over the years, he closed his son's journal and turned to leave, having forgotten the cherished photo that originally triggered his search. Hunched over to keep from bumping his head on the rafters, the old man stepped to the wooden stairway and made his descent, then headed down a carpeted stairway that led to the den. Opening a glass cabinet door, he reached in and pulled out an old business journal. Turning, he sat down at his desk and placed the two journals beside each other. His was leather-bound and engraved neatly with his name in gold, while his son's was tattered and the name "Jimmy" had been nearly scuffed from its surface. He ran a long skinny finger over the letters, as though he could restore what had been worn way with time and use. As he opened his journal, the old man's eyes fell upon an inscription that stood out because it was so brief in comparison to other days. In his own neat handwriting were these words: Wasted the whole day fishing with Jimmy. Didn't catch a thing. With a deep sigh and a shaking hand, he took Jimmy's journal and found the boy's entry for the same day, June 4. Large scrawling letters, pressed deeply into the paper, read: Went fishing with my dad. Best day of my life.

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door. Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest. The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run. I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm. For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required. The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough. Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door: TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS: (1) They live here. You don't. (2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly. Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they: (1) are easier to train, () normally come when called, () don't want to wear your clothes, (4) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ...

And it came to pass that there was health-care reform, With apologies to the prophet Amos But the people did not understand the meaning of that reform; and their leaders ignored the doctors who cried out, ‘woe is all of us,’ being so much smarter than the doctors who work in health-care. But the people wanted something free, and their leaders did therefore give away the farm, so to speak. So, the people will suffer higher taxes, both they and their descendants for generation upon generation. The economy will sink like the great elephant in a huge vat of oil; and other countries will make collages of the dollar, for it will be held worthless, owing to the forces of inflation and stuff. The insurance companies the people hated, hated bitterly for their denials and cost, these will surely pass away since no one has to buy insurance until they get sick, and will not have put in money in the first place, forsooth. Then the great god government will swoop in and own it all! And a plague of fees and smaller taxes, like scurrying things on the ground, will descend upon the people, who will pay more taxes on insurance and soda, on movies and cars, on chocolate and ammunition, alcohol and guns and gasoline (all the good things). And the great beast VAT will devour all the rest of their money like warm oatmeal on a cold morning, will the VAT slurp up their dollars. Verily. But care there will be; and yet, mysteriously, not be. And we will wish to drive across the border for care like Canadians, but they will forsake us; and a drive across to Mexico will only lead to gunshot wounds and dysentery; verily. And the people will sit and wonder, ‘where is my money? Where is my job?’ And the leaders will say, ‘it was those conservatives who took it all away…but you have healthcare?’ But the people will ask, ‘why live longer if I can’t do anything, my money being used in collages and all?’ And their leaders will vanish on junkets and say, ‘What? I can’t hear you over the jet engine?’ And their leaders will have excellent health-care plans; for let it be known through all the land that leaders always deserve better stuff than the silly masses. Leaders and union members always get the best. And a famine of available doctors will descend, during which time getting an appointment will take longer than the Vice President making a cogent statement. The ER’s will overflow with the wretched refuse of health-care reform. The family doctors will dream of the days when they were paid with chickens or pies, and will (like everyone) receive small amounts of devalued dollars. Specialists will sleep in, and will stop doing extra procedures; bright students will become engineers, or community organizers. Doctors on salary will work with all the efficiency of the great, busy, industrious tree-sloth. Lawyers will flourish, however, and the land overflow with them; they will bring lawsuits against doctors with undiminished fury as states ‘explore options for tort reform,’ and legislators look on in pride and with satisfaction at protecting the freedom… of other lawyers. And on that great day when it all collapses like so many tongue depressors stacked up into the shape of Notre Dame cathedral, those who wanted it all will say, ‘who are you talking to? I was pressured! I was against it! It was those darn conservatives!’ And the New York Times will agree. Thus speaketh the prophet of health-care reform.

Foreign Aid is a great thing. It’s America being kind, and exhibiting that kindness through our national generosity. The total dollars we annually send to foreign nations in need is astronomical in proportions, yet we continue to send it without the first thought of repayment. We’ve sent hundreds of billions of dollars year after year to countries that feel a sense of entitlement to our American bounty & truly aren’t grateful for the gift. They simply expect it, and still hate us when they cash the check. Nonetheless, this is how we’ve behaved as global citizens since this nation won its independence over two and a quarter centuries ago. My issue is when we have Americans in need, such as with Hurricane Katrina, the recent floods in the north, or any number of our national disasters, our American government offers the victims “low-interest loans” as opposed to the “gifts” we give other nations. That seems less than I think we have every right to expect from our government. In the wake of a natural disaster in the boundaries of America, American dollars should be used without hesitation to make suffering American citizens whole. We are the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on all the TV networks, ships and planes lining up with food, water, tents, clothes, bedding, doctors and medical supplies, much of which goes unused, stolen or sold because of mismanagement. Haiti was a cesspool before the earthquake, now we seem to have the goal of making them better than they were before their disaster. Imagine if we gave ourselves the same support that we give other countries. I feel bad for Haiti, and for other countries that have suffered natural catastrophes, but I wonder, who cares about America. I swear that I do, and I assume you do as well, but by their very actions, and the offer of “lo-interest loans” as a remedy, how could we think that those self-serving duly elected officials in the halls of government in Washington, care as much about America as the voters that sent them there? Do they really believe they were sent from their states and their districts to represent the citizens that voted for them, or do they assume themselves to represent the citizens of the world? We can’t be a good global neighbor until we commit to caring for our own people. America First!! Then we’ll be more fit to care for others.

Is there a magic cutoff period when Offspring become accountable for their own actions? Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in The lives of their children and shrug, 'It's their life,' and feel nothing? When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few Stitches in my daughter's head. I asked, 'When do you stop worrying?' The nurse said, “When they get out of the accident stage.' My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing. When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class, and was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher said, 'Don't worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them.' My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing. When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend said, 'they're trying to find themselves. Don't worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying. They'll be adults.' My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing. By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle. There was nothing I could do about it. My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing. I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments. My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my dad's warm smile and his occasional, 'You look pale. Are you all right? Call me the minute you get home. Are You depressed about something?' Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life? One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me, 'Where were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered I was worried.' I smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed.

My old friend Charley Smith sent this to me, see if you don’t think he’d be your friend too. He used to do promotions for the Atlanta Hawks, and let me come sing anthem for them many times. A NEW CUSS WORD . . . Years ago when I sometimes used unsavory language, I often used the expression "Bull S***." As I grew up a bit and discovered it was not necessary to use such crude language, that expression became "BS." What did I really mean when I used those expressions? I meant that something was ridiculous, or idiotic, or a half truth.....or, just plain stupid. It covered any number of negative formats. The dictionary defines it as: nonsense, especially foolish, insolent talk... I have decided that I no longer will use either of those expressions in the future. When I have a need to express such feelings, I will use the word "Pelosi." Let me use it in a sentence. "That's just a bunch of Pelosi...” I encourage you to do the same. It is such a nasty sounding word, it really packs a punch! We are no longer being vulgar, and it clearly expresses our feelings. "When on a ranch, watch your step and don't step in Pelosi. It will get on the bottom of your boots and won't go away until next election." If enough of us use it, perhaps the word could be entered into the dictionary. What a fitting and descriptive legacy for the Speaker of the House!

My daughter came home from school one day, With a smirk upon her face. She decided she was smart enough, To put me in my place. 'Guess what I learned in Civics Two, that's taught by Mr. Wright? It's all about the laws today, The 'Children's Bill of Rights.' It says I need not clean my room, don't have to cut my hair No one can tell me what to think, Or speak, or what to wear. I have freedom from religion, And regardless what you say, I don't have to bow my head, And I sure don't have to pray. I can wear earrings if I want, And pierce my tongue & nose. I can read & watch just what I like, Get tattoos from head to toe. And if you ever spank me, I'll charge you with a crime. I'll back up all my charges, with the marks on my behind. Don't you ever touch me, My body's only for my use, Not for your hugs and kisses, that's just more child abuse. Don't preach about your morals, Like your Mama did to you. That's nothing more than mind control, And it's illegal, too! Mom, I have these children's rights, So you can't influence me, Or I'll call Children's Services Division, Better known as C.S.D.' Mom's Reply and Thoughts Of course, my first instinct was To toss her out the door. But the chance to teach her a lesson Made me think a little more. I mulled it over carefully, I couldn't let this go. A smile crept upon my face, she's messing with a pro. Next day I took her shopping At the local Goodwill Store. I told her, 'Pick out all you want, there's shirts & pants galore. I've called and checked with C.S.D.... Who said they didn't care If I bought you K-Mart shoes Instead of those Nike Airs. I've cancelled that appointment To take your driver's test... The C.S.D. Is unconcerned So I'll decide what's best.' I said 'No time to stop and eat, Or pick up stuff to munch. And tomorrow you can start to learn To make your own sack lunch. Just save the raging appetite, And wait till dinner time. We're having liver and onions, A favorite dish of mine.' She asked 'Can I please rent a movie, to watch on my VCR?' 'Sorry, but I sold your TV, for new tires on my car. I also rented out your room, You'll take the couch instead. The C .S.D. requires just a roof over your head. Your clothing won't be trendy now, I'll choose what we eat. That allowance that you used to get, Will buy me something neat. I'm selling off your jet ski, Dirt-bike & roller blades. Check out the 'Parents Bill of Rights', It's in effect today! Hey hot shot, are you crying, Why are you on your knees? Are you asking God to help you out,Instead of C.S.D....?'

The Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kansas is back in the news. And they’ve struck a blow against what as patriotic Americans, we hold sacred. Those literally insane individuals think it’s “God’s will” for them to protest, & hold signs saying things like “Thank God for Dead Soldiers, Thank God for IED’s, and Thank God for 911” at the funerals of our dead American heroes. And now, have you seen what’s happened this week? Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder God rest his soul, and comfort his family, contributed to our country the ultimate sacrifice, and these fanatics, as they’ve so frequently done, protested at his funeral. Matthew’s daddy, Albert Snyder, sued those protesters, and their alleged church, and in that action, he won a multimillion dollar judgement for privacy invasion, intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. This week, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals not only overturned that lower court judgement, they ordered that grieving father of one of our nation’s finest to pay these protesters nearly $1,700 in costs they absorbed defending the suit. What on Earth were those educated people of law thinking? Where does our Constitution not protect the dignity of a memorial service laying a fallen American military hero to rest? I’m not sure what’s gonna happen in all this. No doubt many good Americans will send the money so Albert won’t have to pay. No doubt the Westboro Church will use the money the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has given them from Lance Cpl Snyder’s father to fund more of their sick, un-American, totally misguided protests. It’s a brazen and totally unpatriotic slap in the face to not only the grieving Snyder family, but to every dedicated patriot that loves what the United States was founded on, and what is it was for many generations dedicated to defending. For the time being these Westboro lunatics will exercise their right of free speech to protest the actions of the very men & women pledged and dedicated to protect that right. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on this, but how can we expect any form of sanity to prevail in the insanity our nation seems to have quickly become? I won’t even hesitate a guess on what might ultimately happen in all this unpatriotic insanity. But I will ask a favor of another group of heroes that might be listening. I’ll be bold enough to ask a favor of some of the most dedicated, and right-mined patriots I’ve ever met, the family of bikers called The Patriot Guard. These focused, brave and right-minded souls that have many times gallantly stood between the protesters, and our grieving military families, blocking each’s view from the other. The work you folks do is so very much appreciated by patriots from coast to coast. As this all unfolds, and you’ll have to dig deeper than you ever have to do this, don’t hurt any of these people. Don’t make a martyr out of a lunatic. Restrain yourselves from doing what will seem like a good, right & forgivable thing to do. Don’t hurt any of them. Instead just pity them, and pray that soon, somehow, sanity returns to this great nation.