Arming the Camels

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In Those Days, when satellite TV was first coming to be, I was able to watch uncut, raw footage news footage from around the world. At times, it was stomach turning to see videos that were being transmitted from abroad, before the networks had a chance to edit out the gore and present it in their own distorted way.

One video has stood out in my memory. It was from the early 1980's and showed a nomad looking character riding along a mountain ridge on a camel with a Stinger missile launcher hanging from his shoulder. A Russian jet came into view. The warrior dismounted, aimed the shoulder weapon, and launched the surface-to-air missile at the jet. The jet did everything it could, but did not escape it's doom. That half million dollar Stinger missile was provided to that camel mounted jockey jockey, that Russians would refer to as a "Rebel," compliments of America.

Eventually Russia pulled out, and Afghanistan continued on as they had been. In short, Russia wanted to beef up their failing Communist agenda by installing communism across the middle east. Russia soon learned that the Afghan people have a very different culture and could not be rehabilitated.

Ever since, America has wanted to reform the camels and their riders and modernise the country. Our efforts are proving just as futile, and the Afghan people will continue as they have been long after we decide to abandon our positions and admit defeat. And the same will prove true with Iraq, and now Libya.

But what bothers me most is that we have given them our weapons and trained their armies using our very own tactics. And what I fear most is that will all someday be used against us in the furtherance of their way of life.
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Sad Sack

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Well, did you listen to the President's explanation and justification for involving our country in the Libyan turmoil? Let me recap what he said for those of you that haven't the time to do it yourselves.

Our President explained that American might was not being used to overthrow the Libyan government. It was not in preparation of a future ground attack. And he said it was not about anything other than protecting the lives of the innocent Libyan people from thier oppressive leader.

Our President said that he believed a genocide was about to occur, which if allowed, would tarnish the very reputation of what America stands for. And he explained that he has not yet intervened in other troubled Middle East countries because they, unlike Libya, used only police instead of their military to quell their disturbances. And Obama didn't say when, ever, or if our military would pull out of the action.

Did you buy into that? Did you fall for it? Did you swallow it hook, line and sinker? Wasn't it odd that he first spent three full days preparing a 30-minute presentation, then darted from the stage without accepting a single comment or question? I guarentee you that Obama did not give us the full story and that things are about to get worse.

What genocide he was talking about. Prior to our invasion, I watched weeks worth of news video and saw but just a few of the citizens killed. Actually, I saw far more of the military killed than of the civillian population. Although, I did see a warplane or two drop a bomb or two, I never saw anything to show that any significant damage or death.

And to put things into perspective, I don't think Qaddafi even has a civillian police force in place to quell disturbances in the country, so his soldiers were his only option.

You know, right here in America, American soldiers have been deployed to quell disturbances in America, involving American citizens, and have likely killed more of our own that what Qaddafi did to his own. Remember the riots in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. Hundreds were killed by our own to protect the majority? Obama would surely do the same to protect the peace at his house.

Obama said our intent is only to save lives and stop the escalation of violence. Yet by his own admission, our planes only attacked military weapons and soldiers, without harming a single civilian! The evidence supports that Obama targeted only the Libyan military in support of the opposition rebels. Why is that, if the mission was to stop the violence and keep the peace? Why weren't the protesters targeted equally as well then?

Now I'm not a supporter of Libya, or any other radical Islamic country for that matter. But, Obama should at least tell us the truth about why he involved us in Libya. And if it was all about oil, then perhaps I'd support a full scale invasion, claim the country as our own, and take it like we are capable of doing. Kind of like the way things were in the Crusades.

Like his presidential campaign, not a bit of thruth came out of Obama's mouth. There is far more to it. For if Obama's explanation was sound, we would have invaded Cuba, Syria, Egypt,Yemen, Mexico, all of Africa, and most of South and Central America.
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We'll be in Libya for a long time to come in many more ways that what the President has told us.

What's it all about, Alfie?

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Last Friday, our President announced that he will give a presentation tonight about just why we are blasting the pants off of Libya. Now, just why does it take three days for him to conjure up justification for the invasion?

But, I'm sure he will say that it is not a war. Or is it? He'll try to write his definition.

Three weeks ago, his top general announced on national TV that it would be ill advised to intervene militarily there, citing the extreme costs, overtaxing our already taxed military, the American budget, inciting the Arab world even further against the probability of accomplishing any objective.

In contrast, Obama and Hilary called for the dictator's ouster and incited NATO to step up, do what Obama wanted, but keeping the spotlight off him. So here we are. But where are we? Obama called for a No-fly zone and has spent a half billion dollars so far, not counting the loss of an F16E, at a time when we can least afford it.

A No-fly zone that has only shot down one Libyan trainer that was trying to land. Yet, we have blasted lots of WWII era tanks, and trucks, and put two well placed cruise missiles through the roof of Qaddafi's house. So, how is attacking ground forces, and making an assignation attempt on another country's leader, justified during the enforcement of a No-fly zone?

I'll be very interested in hearing the President's explanation for that. And I'm sure he has spent the entire weekend to find to dupe us. So tune in with me and see for yourself.

Now, I'm not a supported of Khadafi, but I am tired of all the Arab baloney in the middle east. And I'm tired of our country trying to overthrow the legitimate government all across the world to force democracy in lands that can not accept one due to their religion. It did not work in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, or any other tens of places where we have mingled into. We are not the World's police. So explain it to me, Alfie.
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Whatcha Gonna Do?

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In Those Days, Sundays were special. A time for the family. It was a day for the "Sunday Drive." With gas prices holding firm around 22 cents, we'd often hop in our 60 Chevy Biscayne station wagon (yesterday's SUV) with a basket of Mom's pan-fried chicken and head out. "Where are we going?" I'd often ask. And just as often Pop would say, "We'll find a place." But just as often, we'd dive into the chicken as we drove along the country road counting telephone poles and cows, only to return home, exhausted after not finding the "place" because we didn't have a plan.

As time passed, I continued on without a plan. Not knowing where to go, what to do, or how to do it, until during my sophomore year in high, I learned how much easier it was to have a plan. Mister M clued me in on that. And since then I have seldom been without one. And since then, life has been relatively easy for me and very rewarding.

I knew where I had been, where I wanted to go, and how to get there, and how to determine when I had arrived. I realized that not all plans are perfect and can not be so rigid that you destine it into failure. Plans must allow an "audible" to be called when it is evident it ain't working.

An effective plan seems not so apparent with President Obama. His health care plan is unworkable in it's present state, and might best be scrapped entirely.

His plan for a No-Fly zone in Libya is poorly designed, and will drag us into yet another invasion.
It has no definitions and lacks a way to determine when it will end. I never realized that Qaddafi's personal compound could actually fly and therefore could be a target of No-Fly.

His plan to make this country green, is a dream (more like a fantasy). Now he is encouraging Brazil to drill for oil off their coast. That's arrogant. Let them risk their waters while we over protect ours?

Mr. President, I urge you to use your vast community organizing skills and get an effective plan in place for our future. And include a plan for, "Whatcha gonna do when they come to get you!"
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A Special Place

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In Those Days I held a fascination for the Middle East. There was little information available to me about the region other than by reading the likes of Little Black Sambo, and watching movies such as Sinbad the Sailor, and Lawrence of Arabia.

It was a magical kind of place, with thinks like flying carpets, charmed snakes, belly dancers, tents and harems of the most beautiful women in the world. Tigers that could talk, and camels that could go without a drink for ages. Kings with huge mustaches and turbines. Beautiful women dressed in the finest linens. Sand every where. Dust storms. Blazing sun and a bit of shade from a tiny palm tree near the oasis. It was a special place that I could only dream about.

I don't think the countries we know today were even defined then as they are today, but there were places that sound familiar in today's news. Like Tripoli, Istanbul, Constantinople. And famous rivers like the Tigris, Jordan, and the Euphrates.

Now, either the Middle East has changed or perhaps it has been me. I don't understand the region any better to day, than I did then. But the magic I once knew no longer exists.

Today, I know there are no flying carpets with princes. The sand I once thought was beautiful is no planted with oil derricks, and the wind blows for ever. Although many still ride camels, they now tote AK47s instead of scimitars. They are radical, full of hate, and seem to seldom shave or shower. Lunatics and dictators. Murderers and thieves. And a religion of hate.

But it was fun for me to glance back to those magical days and places that I once thought I knew.
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The Green Thing

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The following is a reprint submitted through the Thoght Dock. The author is unknown.

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”

That’s right, they didn’t have the green thing in her day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer bottles to thestore. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But they didn’t have the green thing back in her day (In Those Days).

In her day,they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she’s right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she’s right, they didn’t have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus, instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But they didn't have the green thing back then!
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Most Impressed

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My heart goes out to the people of Japan. I feel their grief and loss. Having lived through a major earthquake, then did rescue and security for months following the event, I can somewhat understand what Japan has endured.

What stands out most for me though is the ethics of the Japanese people when compared to our own. Of all the films and photos that I've seen from Japan, not one showed any sign of any civil disobedience. No rioting. No looting, No shootings, No murders or violence of any kind, unlike our California quakes, and the New Orleans hurricane.

I find that amazing. Photos of store shelves running thin, no drinking water, no electricity, severe loss of life, and total devastation, yet no crime like we are getting used to in America with most every disaster.

And President Obama was quick to pledge Eight Million Dollars for their earthquake relief effort. 8 Mil?? Seems like we gave over 200 Mil to Haiti, of which there is little evidence that it ever got to the victims. What gives?
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A Union Affair

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For the most part, I've supported employee unions all my life. I've seen unfair labor practices, disparity and discrimination occur in the workplace, even in government workplaces where you would not expect it. And in many cases, the unions were the last line of defense for the employees. But times were different then. Not so any longer. It is different today.

Today, we have laws (both federal and state) the protect the employee in cases of discrimination, unfair wages and working conditions, equal opportunity, and the list goes on and on. Although I'm sure abuse continues every now and then, I'm convinced the pendulum has swung far to the side of the employee.

No longer can the employer effective manage. And it seems to be even more pronounced in the public sector workplace. Employers face great difficulties and court battles in their effort to remove a sub-standard employee. Cops that lie, cheat and beat, get heavy severance packages when they should have been sent to prison. Worthless school teachers, road maintenance crews, planners, politicians, and court executives are everywhere. No business could survive today with the typical civil servant as their employees. It's a laugher.

Unions have all but destroyed the American prosperity. Wages have risen to such a point that we no longer manufacture anything here. We buy Japanese cars, South American fruit, and most everything else from China.

A local, very tenured, school teacher goes unpunished for duct taping a child in his seat because of the union. Yet, our children's education has been evaporating for the past 30 years. North Eugene High School walk out of class yesterday in support of the rebelling Wisconsin school teachers. Now where did they get that idea if not from our very own teachers here? They need to be fired themselves for their continued pickling of our children's minds.

Michael Moore announced that the states are not even close to being broke because there are plenty of rich people in every state that are hoarding the money. Now, that's not even socialism, but pure communism in theory! And Jesse Jackson stood proudly at the steps of the Wisconsin Senate building and called for continued mass protesting (that means riot), just like he called for in Los Angeles over the Rodney King incident.

I've been raised on donuts. I'm fat just like our government. And I'm on a diet. It is very hard and I hate it. But dropping the pounds is a matter of survival for me, just like downsizing our government.

And a big first step is to getting public employee unions under control.
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The Great Pretender

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The final report to the Fort Hood massacre was released. And in it, there was no reference to radical Islam being a factor. In fact, radical Islam was not even mentioned although the shooter had denounced America's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan on his website, received instruction from a foreign Al Queda cleric, and shouted, "Allalu Akbar - god is great" as he opened fire on our unarmed soldiers. In doing so, our President denied the families of the slain soldiers the privilege of benefits awarded to soldiers killed in action.

A few weeks ago, the President refused to call the murder of American soldiers in Germany a terrorist incident, even though the shooter shouted "Allalu Akbar - god is great" as he took the lives of two innocents.

The Obama administration has stated that the way to ease the tension between Islam and America is to stop denouncing the religion and accepting the Islamic culture into or hearts.

What part of terror does he not understand? But, perhaps it is us who don't understand because we don't have the close relationship to Islam in our childhood that the President has.

He turns my stomach! Pray for him.
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Take the Escalator Mr. President

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President Obama has called for Qaddafi to step down. And actually, now that I think about it, I think that is a great idea. Perhaps he could use the escalator when he does to speed up his decent. Problem is; Who would then take his place as the Libyan leader?

I got it!!! President Obama!! A novel idea of my own.

President Obama should step down from the office that he is incapable of running, and immediately head to Libya and slap hands as he passes Qaddafi on the escalator.

Think about it. President Obama wouldn't have to prove citizenship because I doubt if the locals even keep birth certificates. His looks would be enough to get him through customs and into the office. And unlike the difficulty in translating the name Qaddafi to English, Obama could be easily translated to Arabic because it already is Muslim.

From there, he could distribute the wealth without opposition because everyone there, except the politicians, have nothing. And the billions that Qaddafi has said to have stolen and hidden away, could be President Obama's salary. A far cry from what we pay in America.

And he could unionize all the laborers so if any jobs did come he could control the people. He could save lots on a national health care plan because there are no doctors. And there would be plenty of wind to power windmills to make Libya greener. Camel dunk could also be recycled into flat bread.

He could name all his favorites like Hilary, Janet, and Eric to his closest positions. He could reduce the size of his military because there is no real military. He wouldn't be pressured to salute the flag or recite our Pledge of Allegiance, but instead could wear his preferred garb like a turbine and a purple robe.

He wouldn't have to bring his dog, because there are plenty of camels there to ride. He could raise taxes on the wealthy and businesses easily because there are few of them there. He could import his illegal alien favorite aunt from her subsidized apartment in America and provide her with a tent to pitch in the sand.

President Obama would be a better fit in Libya because there are few fat people there. And he could build that socialist-communist country he always wanted.

I'm praying for our President.
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What will he do now?

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He is still wondering. I am still wondering. No one now admits to putting him in the top spot. You know, the top post in America. The Office of the President.

He certainly couldn't have climbed there alone. Neither his youth years living in a Muslim country, nor the few years in America studying law in the Ivy League, or his time organizing neighborhoods in Chicago, or his brief time as a State Senator, nor his personal relationship with the most radical Black preacher in the U.S., or a friendship with a convicted terrorist;

None of that could have perched him at the top. But it did. What were you thinking?

And now, he can't get down, and it seems that no one wants to impeach him now. He just keeps spinning on his post, like a Frisbee balanced on a stick while everyone he appointed is dancing around and talking in circles.

He didn't know what to do about Gitmo. He didn't know what to do about our fading economy, but believed the "Cash for Clunker" program would save the day. Lies about healthcare, taxes, and supporting the unions and the Muslim world continue. Failing to prosecute the Black Panther polling terror, while supporting his Black scholar and condemning the White cops. Refusing to call a terrorist a terrorist. Jihad!! Allalu Akbar! Spreading the wealth around. Windmills and corn will save our day.

And now we have another Middle East crisis. What will he do now. That's a scary thought.

Very scary. . .Please pray.

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Who's the Problem?

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The Obama administration stated yesterday, "Muslim Americans are not part of the terror problem in the United States, but are the solution to it."

Well, Islamic terror is not just about a few radical Muslims. It is about Islam as a whole. As was the systematic extermination of people in order to form a "Supreme Race" was not done by Adolf Hitler alone, but by Germans as a whole. And as evil as the German were, so are the Muslims.

How can one call himself a Muslim-American anyway. The two contradict themselves to such a degree that it should be incomprehensible to any American. It's kind of like saying, "The light is on-off."

Islam contradicts the American way of life that it can not peacefully coexist here. Islam in itself, denounces everything that America stands for and advocates the eradication (murder) of anyone who does not convert.

And, should any Muslim stand up and denounce the Islamic terror acts, they to would be murdered by their own. I've yet to hear any Muslim cleric, imam, or Islamic follower offer sympathy or sorrow for the 911 murders, nor do I expect to.

It is the very Islamic faith that is the face of terror. Not some of them, but all of them. Know your enemies. Pray for them as you pray for yourselves.
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Last Friday

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I would have preferred it to to be Good Friday because school would have been out, and the buses and the drivers would be resting. But it wasn't, so I had to work.

It was however, a special Friday to some because it was the end of National Read Across America Week, and our schools recognized Dr. Seuss for his contributions to our reading programs. Remember him? Boy he and his books were weird!

Anyway, the route I was assigned began with the elementary school and made a loop around town dropping off the young ones before returning to the school yards to get the Junior and Senior High kids. The route then repeated itself before taking the remaining students to their drops in more rural areas.

Well, it was about the time that I was heading toward the rural route after completing 2 separate runs through a local neighborhood when the radio blurted, "Base to Bus 6. You failed to drop off Evan!" I had not a clue who Evan was, let alone what stop he was supposed to go to.

So after finding a suitable location, activating the 4-way flashers, I pulled off hoping not to sink into the soft soil at the road's edge. Set the brake, turn off the engine, open the passenger loading door (as a safety thing just in case the bus blows up or something), remove the key, stand up, and speak clearly into the PA system. "Is Evan here?" No answer. No surprise to me though cause I always expect the worse. Go figure.

Secure the microphone and walk the narrow isle toward the rear while asking again who is Evan. Everyone denied they were he. But then, I saw him. Had to be him. He was asleep with his pink back pack in his lap, wearing his handmade Dr. Seuss hat, and holding a jacket and a book beside him. A kindergarten kid.

After waking him, he informed me that I was not at his stop. Well, I knew that! So I asked him what stop was his and why he did not get off at either of the two passes. Well, he didn't know that either, so I invited him up front as I returned the 4 miles back to his stop, just in time for a heavy downpour of rain.

Stopped the bus and deployed the "Don't Pass Me" stop sign and instructed him to disembark. He gathered all his stuff in his arms. I was sure that he would fall down the steps if something wasn't done.

I asked him for his book and he began to explain what a great read it was because it was about a frog. "OK kid, that's very interesting, but let me just put it into your backpack for now." So then he asked where his jacket was. I told him to check the seat where he first was. He found it after wandering around for a minute or so, returned and asked for help putting it on because it was "raining out there." Then I had to fold (very neatly of course) his paper Dr. Seuss hat and put it in the pack with his book before he finally got off and ran to his granny waiting in the rain.

Seven minutes it took not to mention the time it took to drive back to the stop. Seven minutes of traffic backed up behind me. Seven-plus minutes late for each of the remaining passengers getting home. 560 heartbeats less that I have to spend in my life the way I want to. And guests are coming for dinner tonight.

I can't take it! What will this week bring?
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One Person's Opinion

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The following was received through the Thought Dock portal and was re-printed without edit.

Author unknown:

President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq. Bush's mistake came in his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in WWII. It is not..

Back then, they had just come out of a vicious depression. The country was steeled by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed fervently in this country. They knew that the people had elected their leaders, so it was the people's duty to back those leaders. Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not or whether the war was going badly or not.

And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as it is today. Often there were more casualties in one day in WWII than we have had in the entire Iraq war. But that did not matter. The people stuck with the President because it was their patriotic duty. Americans put aside their differences in WWII and worked together to win that war.

Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in. Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war effort. Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war bonds to help the effort. Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition trying their best to join the military. Women doubled their work to keep things going at home. Harsh rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was imposed, yet there was very little complaining.

You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the President. Interestingly enough, in those days there were no fat cat actors and entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile countries and complain to them about our President. Instead, they made upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale. And a bunch even enlisted.

And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our troops!

Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage. No newspaper would have dared complain about what we were doing to catch spies. A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained that German or Japanese soldiers were being 'tortured' by being forced to wear women's underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being scared by a dog or did not have air conditioning.

There were a lot of things different back then. We were not subjected to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in movies or on radio. We did not have legions of crack heads, dope pushers and armed gangs roaming our streets.

No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism. He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and fortitude of our fathers. He believed that this was still the country that our fathers fought so dearly to preserve.

It is not the same country. It is now a cross between Sodom and Gomorra and the land of Oz. We did unite for a short while after 9/11, but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country would require some sacrifices.

We are in great danger. The terrorists are fanatic Muslims. They believe that it is okay, even their duty, to kill anyone who will not convert to Islam. It has been estimated that about one third or over three hundred million Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause... Hitler and Tojo combined did not have nearly that many potential recruits.

So... We either win it - or lose it - and you ain't gonna like losing. America is not at war. The George Bush's military is at war. America is at the mall, or watching the movie stars, zooming around in exotic fast cars, looking up to sports stars with jail records, whining because the government doesn't do enough for them, busy trying to give away somebody else's money.... !!!!!.

Remember Obama said in his book 'Audacity of Hope', 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction'.....what better place for the Muslins to control our country, than in the office of the President of USA .
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Ready. . Set. . Start!

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I've talked about these kinds of things before. Duplicate things, I mean. And the senselessness of them.

Things always seems accumulate over the years. Have you ever gone through that shoebox full of photos that you've taken over the years and noticed that you sometimes have more than one of the exact same picture. Blame it on the "Double Print" offer that Walmart had if you want. Now days instead of shoe boxes many of us keep our digital photos on some sort of computer storage thing, but the idea is the same; Retention of so many useless things. Duplicate things. Surely we can all think of the stuff we need to sort through and throw out the duplicates.

In Those Days, my children realized they could hit me up for a buck or two, then hit their Mom up for a buck or to more, without either of use realizing the kids had been overpaid. At least not until they had spent all the money.

Just the other day I was asked to drive a bus transporting "Head Start" youngsters home in the early evening. It seemed odd that these kids appeared to be only 4 or 5 years old. Perhaps some were even younger. Much too young for school like they had in Those Days.

So after I got home I did research only to learn that the Head Start program is Federally funded but operated by the County. It provides no cost, door to door service to and from a preschool, to give "under privileged" kids, aged 6 months to 5 years, the chance to be better prepared for kindergarten when they get old enough. Meals are also included. Turns out "under privileged" means kids whose parents don't work, or don't work enough. Why would non-working parents need the services of a day care center anyway.

So why is it that if a child is simply poor, he is also deemed under privileged? And why is it that if the parents are home because they do not work, our government sends the kids to this pre-school, which is nothing more that a day care center. Yet, if one does work, most often day care is very expensive. And why is it that the Federal government pays for the children's lunches, when the State government also gives lunch money for the children through Welfare. Seems much like having two duplicate photos in the shoe box, especially when neither one is good.

And I'm sure that neither the Federal, State, County, or Local governments ever realize (or care) that these same families also receive money from churches, food share programs, their family, and from begging on the street, or perhaps selling dope or stealing some one else's property.

And Head Start is just the tip of the iceberg of thousands of entities that have overlapping or duplicate social funding to the "under privileged." Federal, State, County, and Local governments each offer relief for utility costs, as well as the utility companies them selves. Duplicate rebates for water conservation gadgets, home insulation, renewable energy, are just a few. Funding to off set the costs of small business start up, college education, home mortgages, unemployment and welfare are duplicated everywhere. And most times, one entity is not even aware that another is also helping out. It's kinda like a child hitting her father up for funds, then doing the same with the mother without ever divulging she already got funding.
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And we wonder why our governments are broke!
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A Tune-up

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Well, usually I don't say much about religion in this blog for fear of scaring away my readers that practice religions that are different than Christian, or to those that don't know a religion at all. And you know I would hate to cause any more stress to Muslims and Atheists alike. Surely they must have enough stress already.

Anyway, I feel an apology is in order. Not to the Antichrists out there, but to some leaders in American government that I have been so disrespectful to time and time again.

So, what brought me to my knees? Well, it was my very own religion. You see, during last Sunday's church service, the Preacher discussed several passages in the Bible that relate to Christians respecting their leaders. He hammered home that we (I mean me as well as all Christians) are to respect the position of a leader, whether we agree with his leadership or not. And with that, my tune-up in the subject was complete, and I added these leaders to my daily prayer list.

So, with future posts, I will not refer to our President as the "Long Legged MacMuslim" or to the Secretary of State as "The Adulterer's Wife" and I will not use mean words intended to disrespect or mock (like calling someone a prick), any of our leaders. I know words are cruel. So if I offended either them (the ones I insulted, or you (my Followers), I sincerely apologize and repent my sins.

Now, the Preacher did imply that it was OK to challenge a leader's position and values if it is done with respect. So that will be the order of the day in future posts. I'd hate to hurt any one's feelings (even the Muslims who are out to kill me), you know. And I would invite all Muslim Imans to attend my church and learn first hand just how much we respect them as leaders.

Well, enough said. But I'll say it again to the tune of a favorite song of mine. . . . I take it back; I didn't mean it; Please forget the things I said, I take it back; I'm sorry; I must have been out of my head.
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