Random Thoughts

Sorry it's been so long since my last entry, but I have just returned from ten days in Oklahoma City attending a course in System's Administration. Overall a good course, excellent opportunity to network with others from all across the nation and England.

While the course wasn't really challenging, it was nice having a refresher and finding out how others coordinated and performed the usual administrative tasks in their offices. I picked up a few good tips, made some friends and that makes the 10 days in Oklahoma City worth the time away from my family.

On another note, the actions of our "allies" when it comes to the impending action in Iraq concerns me. My first impulse is for the US to pull completely out of Turkey and Europe. Close all of our bases, stop paying dues to NATO, and put all of those foreigners we employ on our bases out of work.

But after listening to President Bush tonight, I must agree with him, while we may be disappointed in their public actions up to now, we must trust them to do the right thing when the bell tolls. Even if we can't agree on Iraq, there are many other areas we do agree on and do have a positive influence in America's interests.

The war in Iraq, well you all know I am a conservative at heart, I do believe it is in our defense that we disarm Iraq and remove Saddam. As a retired Army Warrant Officer who served in Desert Shield/Storm, I don't like seeing American soldiers being put into harm's way, but that is exactly what the military trains for and I firmly believe they are the best fighting force on the face of the Earth today. If history is any indication, the Iraqi's will be surrendering in mass if we go into Iraq. Today's Iraqi Army is 1/3 the size it was during 1991.

I feel France and Germany fear we may find their fingerprints all over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WOMD) when we go in, therefore they are trying to delay the inevitable. I firmly believe they have been violating the UN sanctions and profiting from a brisk and illegal trade in goods prohibited by the UN after the 1991 Gulf War. Russia is afraid of losing out on the $40,000,000,000 trade deal they have made with Iraq that carries a personal guarantee from Saddam. No Saddam, no guarantee for the trade agreement. What in the hell were they doing negotiating a trade agreement with Iraq, while Iraq was under major UN trade sanctions? Take a chance and you know what happens when events don't break your way.

Quick, a shift to the left - can you believe the recent February 28th decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (Federal) not to rehear the case Newdow vs. U.S.Congress? Don't know what I'm talking about? Remember that case in California where a doctor (Newdow) brought a case to the most liberal Federal Appeals Court in the land and won a judgement from a three judge panel stating the "Pledge of Allegiance" was unconstitutional because of the words "under God" are in it? A request to have the full Appeals court to rehear the case was denied, the actual decision is located at: http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/1AC18E7FEB98DB6D88256CDB000AFCF4/$file/0016423.pdf?openelement.

Red Skelton many years ago had a few words on this subject and I have included them here for review, seems this is a battle which has been going on for a long time and I'm sure we haven't seen the end of it yet.

While this is not "humor" in the sense that it is a joke, it is something which I feel needs to be shared. Red Skelton was one of the greatest comedians I can remember. He was funny without being smutty. He also made some profound statements. The words were meaningful many years ago when they were spoken by Mr. Skelton. They are just as meaningful today.

Now, more than ever, listen to the meaning of these words.

Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance

by Red Skelton

The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day.

"I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?"

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's 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 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.

AND TO THE 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 quality of dealing fairly with others.

FOR ALL -- which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

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