Okay, That's It...

Sorry for any inconvenience, but I'm turning on Word Verification for my comments... hopefully that will control some of my spam comments. I had to delete a comment linking to porn, and I'd prefer that such links not be on my blog.

Along similar lines, if you haven't already, please take note of the new "Flag" option, and flag any and all spam blogs you come across. I'm getting sick of them.

Be blessed!
The Spaminator

What Moral Decay?

I mean, haven't movies and stories like this ALWAYS met with success?

Pardon me while I puke...

Anti-War, or Anti-Iraqi?

In an astonishing... unbelievable... Okay, just plain stupid protest of the War in Iraq, Cindy Sheehan has camped outside President Bush's Texas ranch following the death of her son Casey in Iraq. Mrs. Sheehan has become the face of the anti-war movement in America, even though it is about to cost her her marriage, and her family has allegedly issued a statement requesting that she end her protest out of respect for her slain son's "good name and reputation."

Reports from unnamed sources claim that the Islamic militants who killed her son also appreciate her protests, which are meant to urge the President to pull American troops out of Iraq. In a statement issued by the Baathist Party of Iraq, an "insurgent" spoke these words of gratitude:

"We in the Baathist Party of Iraq would like to commend and thank Cindy Sheehan for her outstanding work behind enemy lines. Her support for our cause has been noted, and we are confident that her work has gotten us one step closer to our goal of vanquishing the freedom-mongering Americans from Iraq. Thanks to Mrs. Sheehan and her band of supporters, we in Iraq have been able to move our focus to other goals, such as re-instating the Baathist regime in Iraq and torturing all dissenters. We are grateful for Mrs. Sheehan's continued support, and we pledge to honor her cause by killing the sons of more American women. Long live Saddam Hussein!"

The Baathists' report made no direct statement regarding Mrs. Sheehan's slain son.

Sometimes I wonder about people like Cindy... Do they realize what they're doing? Is she actually in her right mind?

Sure, let's remove all American soldiers from a fledgling democracy in the Middle East. That'll bring peace! No more American troops will have to die for the cause of freedom then!

But how much is freedom worth? To bring about democracy in a place like Iraq will undoubtedly cost lives (since dictators and jihadists will not give up their power without a fight), but is that any reason to tuck our tail between our legs and run home? Our own liberty was given to us, won by the blood of men who never even saw the freedom they fought for, so can we not spill some of our own blood for another nation's freedom?

I respect our soldiers, and I pray for them. I admire their courage in serving our country in this war, and I want them to be safe. However, I believe that people like Cindy Sheehan are doing them no favors by calling for America to pull out of Iraq. If we left Iraq now, then everything that our soldiers, including her own son, have fought and died for would be in vain. The country would fall to the terrorists, and the freedom that we paid for in blood would be entirely lost.

Have people like Cindy been spoiled by their own freedom, so much that they can't fathom giving it to anyone else? Or is the problem perhaps selfishness? Or even racism?

Could it be that the real reason these people fight tooth and nail against the Iraq War is simply a kind of racism? Could the real reason for their opposition of freedom be that they simply are bigoted toward Iraqis? I mean, the anti-war folks are advocating a pullout from Iraq, because it's just not worth our effort. So are the Iraqis just not worth the effort, or is it everyone? Are these people just bigoted toward Iraqis, or are they equal-opportunity discriminators?

Whether they're racists, cowards, selfish, insane, or just short-sighted, they don't seem to understand the problems that would be caused by an American pullout from Iraq. They don't understand that the terrorists will perceive such an action as a weakness, and simply push harder. They don't understand that we'd dishonor our armed forces by abandoning all they've fought for. They probably don't even understand that we'd actually lose what gains we've made. All they see is big, ugly war, and they want the war to stop (even if that won't make the killing stop).

Let's honor our troops by distancing ourselves from voices like Cindy's. Let's support the troops, and encourage them, and pray for their safety. Let's encourage our representatives to cut pork spending and use the money to fund safety precautions for our armed forces. The anti-war crowd's motivation, whether it is cowardice, selfishness or bigotry, will fix nothing. We must carry out our plans and help build a free Iraq if we truly want to do our slain soldiers justice. That is the way to honor them.

God bless our soldiers, and keep them safe.



UPDATE: Here's what Mark Steyn has to say about Mrs. Sheehan's antics.

Bush Makes Kids Fat?

Mark Steyn has a hilarious response to the DNC's recent allegation that Bush is making America's children fat.

A Strange Sort of Culture Shock

After spending a week among my peers at Worldview Academy, I seem to be experiencing a letdown of sorts.

Let me explain: While at Worldview, I met eighty (or so) teenagers who were, in a sense, like me. Yes, we all had our different styles, interests, ideas, and senses of humor; in that regard, Worldview seemed to be more diverse than your average gathering of teens. However, on a basic level, we all had one thing in common: We had all come to a camp where the motto is "Think Hard, Think Well," and we didn't view this as a hardship or a punishment.

Being around this group that still regards thinking as "cool" was quite refreshing, but it set me up for a rather discouraging crash once I returned home. For a week, I had a peer group that was respectful, polite, and unafraid of deep thought, but back in my hometown such people are few and far-between. For many of my fellow teens, "Think hard, think well" is more of a torture tactic than a motto. The very thought of an apologetics and leadership camp sends them into convulsions, followed by the ridicule of the very idea of such a camp. "What's the point? Why bother?" They say.

The sad part is that these are often Christian teens. Since when was it acceptable to not understand your own worldview? Since when was it cool to follow as a dumb sheep, rather than lead as a shepherd? When did these kids stop caring? What happened?

The kids at Worldview were polite, and yet, in their consideration for others, they sacrificed none of their personality. In some art that is apparently unknown in my neck of the woods, these kids were able to be funny as all get out WITHOUT having to cut someone else down. Imagine that! Eighty teenagers who can feel good about themselves without having to make someone else feel bad! And you know what's sad? That kind of consideration is not a hard concept to grasp. It's really not too difficult to be kind every once in a while... So why can't more people do it?

The way teenagers treat each other is appalling, and I'm discouraged to see Christians falling perfectly in line with everyone else, mocking whomever and whatever seems uncool. I've watched smart kids dumb themselves down, polite kids become unruly, and kind ones become cold and withdrawn, all because they were outnumbered by peers who consider intelligence, politeness and kindness to be "stupid." I've watched it happen from the first snide remarks to the time when such rudeness is no longer necessary to keep the victim beaten down, and I've seen Christians participating all the way.

This is not acceptable, and yet my comrades can't seem to understand that. Everything that Christianity is-- compassion, servant leadership, love-- these things are all lost on so many Christian teens, to the point that they seem to be Christians on only a nominal level. They take the name of Christ, and they accept their own salvation, and then they continue to torment everyone around them who dares to exhibit kindness, compassion, or intelligence.

These Christians ridicule anyone who stands up for his own beliefs (even if they share his beliefs) simply because he chose to stand up. They themselves are convinced that there is nothing worth standing up for-- for even what should be most near and dear to their hearts can't motivate them to step out of their unconcerned stupor in its defense-- and they are quick to ensure that no one else stands up for their beliefs either.

And so, it has been quite depressing to leave the environment of Worldview and re-enter everyday life. No longer do all the Christians around me act like what they are. No longer can I speak of a subject that requires more than a 5th grade education to comprehend. No longer can I take a stand for what I believe without fear of reproach.

But stand I will, by the grace of God. When opposition comes at me even from those who are on my side, it is my job to stand for what is right, and I pray that I will not be swayed. It is a hard challenge before me (and truly, before us all), for I must stand, but stand in compassion. As resentful as I may feel toward those who I believe are betraying Christianity, I must show them the exact same love I would show anyone, lest I become exactly what I decry. I must fight against cynicism and bitterness, and lead by example, rather than by arguments, for an argument will never change the mind of someone who won't stand for anything to begin with. I must first show love and compassion toward those who won't show love and compassion, if I wish them to change.

And so I ask that you would all pray for me. Pray that I will stand strong in faith, hope and love. Pray that I would practice what I preach, and show compassion toward those who have no concept of it. This is my goal, to effect change in the hearts and minds of my peers, to make them more effective Christians, and to do it all in love. Please pray that I would succeed, and that I would find others who are like-minded and will help me reach that goal. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Be blessed!
Neo

Fighting Back

According to Yahoo News, Bush has finally appointed John Bolton as America's ambassador to the U.N.

"This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform," Bush said. He said Bolton had his complete confidence.

Bush put Bolton on the job in a recess appointment — an avenue available to the president when the Congress is in recess. Under the Constitution, a recess appointment during the lawmakers' August break would last until a newly elected Congress takes office in January 2007.

Bush said that Bolton's nomination had been supported by a majority of the Senate but that "because of partisan delaying tactics by a handful of senators, John was unfairly denied the up-or-down vote that he deserves."

Now all that's left to do is listen for the Liberals' screeching. Oh wait, they've already started... Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid claims that Bush "chose to stonewall the Senate" by using a recess appointment.

But did he really? Or did Senate Democrats choose to stonewall the Senate by using the filibuster? After all, Bush is simply trying to get things done; the Dems are the ones using the obstuctionist tactics.

Come on, now: Democrats said they would not use the filibuster except in extreme circumstances. A week later, they began another filibuster. Bush got tired of seeing a vacant government position, but he would rather fill that position with a nominee that the majority supports, so he appointed the nominee during a recess of congress.

Obviously, we'd all prefer that our U.N. Ambassador have been confirmed (or rejected) by a majority vote, but with a minority that will do whatever it takes to avoid having a vote that they lose (even if that means preventing a democratic vote altogether), Bush had to take matters into his own hands. And I applaud him. If the Left will not allow our democracy to function as it was intended, then what place do they have in the government of that democracy?

The Senate was created to pass laws through the votes of representatives of the people. When those representatives refuse to allow a vote simply because they can't win it, they are abusing our democracy and obstructing our lawmaking process. Now, if some of the representatives display such a contempt for our democracy that they will abuse it, what the heck are they still doing in office?

Isn't that what impeachment and recall elections are for?