Islamic Aggression: Koranic Texts

Explanatory note: These are many examples of suras from the Koran which justify--or are used to justify--Islamic expansion, domination, and the general killing and mistreatment of non-Muslims. I could give other examples, but I think that would be belaboring the point. Thanks to Bill for providing a couple of the texts, and to Monster for suggesting the idea.

I also would like to note that one cannot appreciate the nature of Islamic expansion and treatment of non-Muslims without also studying Islamic history. Limiting oneself to reading the Koran simply will not suffice. Muhammed, himself, waged war against all who fell outside Islamic law and beliefs. He slew Jews for being Jews, Christians for being Christians, and anyone else who refused submitting to his will. When meeting an adversary in or off the field of battle, Muhammed typically gave three options to the "infidel":

1. Die.
2. Convert.
3. Become a second-class citizen with little freedom or rights.

His successors continued his policy.


9.5: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

17.16: And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.

17.58: And there is not a town but We will destroy it before the day of resurrection or chastise it with a severe chastisement; this is written in the Divine ordinance.

28.58: And how many a town have We destroyed which exulted in its means of subsistence, so these are their abodes, they have not been dwelt in after them except a little, and We are the inheritors,

28.59: And your Lord never destroyed the towns until He raised in their metropolis an apostle, reciting to them Our communications, and We never destroyed the towns except when their people were unjust.

63.4: And when you see them, their persons will please you, and If they speak, you will listen to their speech; (they are) as if they were big pieces of wood clad with garments; they think every cry to be against them. They are the enemy, therefore beware of them; may Allah destroy them, whence are they turned back?

40.22: That was because there came to them their apostles with clear arguments, but they rejected (them), therefore Allah destroyed them; surely He is Strong, Severe in retribution.

21.95: And it is binding on a town which We destroy that they shall not return.

46.25: Destroying everything by the command of its Lord, so they became such that naught could be seen except their dwellings. Thus do We reward the guilty people.

18.59: And (as for) these towns, We destroyed them when they acted unjustly, and We have appointed a time for their destruction.

9.30: And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!

14.13: And those who disbelieved said to their apostles: We will most certainly drive you forth from our land, or else you shall come back into our religion. So their Lord revealed to them: Most certainly We will destroy the unjust.

5.51: O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.

33.64: Surely Allah has cursed the unbelievers and has prepared for them a burning fire,
33.65: To abide therein for a long time; they shall not find a protector or a helper.

33.61:Cursed: wherever they are found they shall be seized and murdered, a (horrible) murdering.

2.257: Allah is the guardian of those who believe. He brings them out of the darkness into the light; and (as to) those who disbelieve, their guardians are Shaitans who take them out of the light into the darkness; they are the inmates of the fire, in it they shall abide.

3.151: We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they set up with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and their abode is the fire, and evil is the abode of the unjust.

4.56: (As for) those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.

7.41]:They shall have a bed of hell-fire and from above them coverings (of it); and thus do We reward the unjust.

9.35: On the day when it shall be heated in the fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded with it; this is what you hoarded up for yourselves, therefore taste what you hoarded.

9.113: It is not (fit) for the Prophet and those who believe that they should ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even though they should be near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are inmates of the flaming fire.

27.90: And whoever brings evil, these shall be thrown down on their faces into the fire; shall you be rewarded (for) aught except what you did?

35.34: And (as for) those who disbelieve, for them is the fire of hell; it shall not be finished with them entirely so that they should die, nor shall the chastisement thereof be lightened to them: even thus do We retribute every ungrateful one.

41.28:That is the reward of the enemies of Allah-- the fire; for them therein shall be the house of long abiding; a reward for their denying Our communications.

48.13: And whoever does not believe in Allah and His Apostle, then surely We have prepared burning fire for the unbelievers.

76.4: Surely We have prepared for the unbelievers chains and shackles and a burning fire.

98.6:Surely those who disbelieve from among the followers of the Book and the polytheists shall be in the fire of hell, abiding therein; they are the worst of men.

4.101: And when you journey in the earth, there is no blame on you if you shorten the prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve will cause you distress, surely the unbelievers are your open enemy.

4.140: And indeed He has revealed to you in the Book that when you hear Allah's communications disbelieved in and mocked at do not sit with them until they enter into some other discourse; surely then you would be like them; surely Allah will gather together the hypocrites and the unbelievers all in hell.

2.191: And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.

4.76: Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith Fight in the cause of Evil: So fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan.

Cloning the Dead

In this case of life imitating art, a doctor cloned cells from a deceased infant. Does this remind anyone of the movie The Godsend?

For an undisclosed fee from the parents, Dr Zavos and his Kentucky team inserted genetic material from the child's skin cells into a cow egg, where they continued to grow. The resulting embryos were then terminated.

The doctor claimed this was an experiment only; but of course, such experimentation has a purpose--the future fabrication of a human being. Otherwise, what's the point?

I feel sorry for those who have lost loved ones. I, too, have suffered through these tragedies, so I empathize with their pain. But something needs clarification:

The cloned person may look and sound exactly like your child. He/she may be genetically identical to your child.

But he/she is not your child. The new person is his/her own, unique individual. A person is more than his genetics--more even than his upbringing. We are all made in the image of God, as free moral agents. This is not a resurrection of your child.

It's self-delusion, of a tragic sort.

Founding Quotes of Note VI

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions." --James Madison

"Moderate" Muslims

Here's a good article on the true nature of so-called moderate Muslims.

Food for thought:

Ever wonder why it is that most Muslims supposedly are moderate--peaceful, loving, wonderful folks; yet almost no criticism toward terrorist acts emanated from them post-September 11, 2001? They responded with four types of reactions:

1. Pure joy at the deaths of so many evil infidels.

2. A muteness equivalent to that of a rock.

3. Conditional displeasure: "Well, we denounce all violence, but if America would just. . ."

4. True condemnation. And I can count the number of Muslims who voiced unqualified contempt for the terrorist murderers of 9-11 on one hand, with fingers left over.

If Islam is, indeed, the fastest-growing religion in the U.S., this indicates a disturbing obstacle, looming on the horizon. What does the above reveal about its practitioners?

"Undocumented" Workers Want Perks

Our immigration system--and every facet of the way our government and pro-immigration lobbyists perceive it--has become a colossal joke.

WAUCHULA, Fla. - Fear of deportation is one of the many obstacles preventing illegal immigrants who lost their homes or jobs during Hurricane Charley from seeking disaster relief. The language barrier is also a problem, and undocumented workers can't apply for cash assistance, although they are eligible for food and temporary shelter.

Thousands of illegal immigrants, most originally from Mexico and Guatemala, work in southwest Florida's agricultural heartland, which was devastated by Charley's 145-mph winds.

Boo-hoo. This is ridiculous. I don't want to sound cold, here, but these folks aren't even supposed to be in our country. Their very presence violates the law. Now the government is supposed to give them wads of money confiscated from U.S. citizens? Keep in mind that this is in only one little corner of one of fifty states.

Gov. Jeb Bush, who has been in regular contact with FEMA director Michael Brown, said illegal immigrants shouldn't fear being deported if they apply for disaster aid.

"There's no penalty," Bush said.

Ol' Jebby's doin' a knockout job as governor, no? His patriotism makes me all misty-eyed.

But Jorge Lomonaco, the Mexican consul general in Miami, said he would like FEMA to be more flexible when it comes to providing undocumented workers with cash assistance. He has brought his concerns to the governor.

"The key issue now is discrimination taking place relating to emergency assistance because of immigration status," Lomonaco said. "You don't want so many people left behind in this state."

"Discrimination" based on immigration status?! NO! Horror of horrors! We wouldn't want that. Why not just station our former INS agents on the Rio Grande, and have them hand out welfare checks, drivers' licenses, Social Security cards, etc. as the "Undocumented" workers wade out of the river on the American side. This is asinine, and it will be our downfall, if we don't act soon.

Adult Stem-Cell Success Story

Everyone's focused on embryonic stem-cell research (It's the wave of the future!), and we heard all about this nonsense from Ronny Reagan at the Democrat convention.

But here's a story about a man who now has a new jawbone, due to adult stem-cell research.

Sometimes we forget the marvels of current medical science.

Just an amazing story.

Kerry and the Chi-coms

Kery may have received contributions from the heathen Chinee for his reelection campaign of 1996.

Does this surprise anyone?

Yoo-hoo. Anyone?

Giant Spiders and Apparitions Lend a Helping Hand

I believe this man has spent way too much time in the sun.

An Iraqi sheik claims Allah sent giant spiders to the town of Fallujah to help its residents fend off attacks by U.S. military forces.

"The first miracle that occurred in Fallujah took the form of spiders that appeared in the city – each spider larger than this chair, or about the size of this chair. The American soldiers left, holding the legs of this spider, and I too, in one of the Friday sermons, held up a spider, with all its magnitude, in front of the satellite channels and in front of the world. This spider also had thin black hair. If this hair touches the human body, within a short period of time the body becomes black or blue, and then there is an explosion in the blood cells in the human body - and the person dies."

Some Arab Internet sites have repeated claims of Iraqis about the spiders, and there also are stories circulating of phantom white-robed knights on white horses sent by Allah that killed U.S. Marines in battle.

Shades of the Angels of the Mons, anyone?

Good grief, these folks are nuttier than a Snickers bar.

With all these giant spiders running loose, I wonder if Japan'll loan us Godzilla?

Self-Loathing from a Distance

Stockholm - Former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright harshly criticised President George W Bush and especially his Iraq policy during a visit to Stockholm on a book tour, Swedish media reported on Thursday.

Is it just me, or has it become chic for celebrities and leftist politicians to trot around the globe and make disparaging remarks about America and/or the Bush Administration? Notice how they find some place safely offshore to air their brilliant remarks. This comes dangerously close to treason, in my view. I'm not an ardent Bush supporter--not by a country mile--but this really gets under my skin.

Describing the US presence in Iraq as "a hopeless mess", Albright insisted in the interview that former vice president Al Gore and Democratic presidential nominee in 2000 would not have invaded the country had he been president today.

"There would have been no difference in American actions against the Taliban in Afghanistan in the hunt for Osama bin Laden after the terrorist attacks (on New York and Washington) three years ago ... but in Iraq things would have been different," she said.

No doubt she's correct, since AlGorhythm probably would be too wrapped up in hugging trees, frolicking through fields of daisies, and having his servos oiled.

Judge Rules Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Unconstitutional

This man's skull contains a vacuum.

A federal judge ruled today (Aug. 26) the federal partial-birth abortion ban is unconstitutional, striking a blow to those determined to outlaw the grisly procedure.

In his ruling, Casey called partial-birth abortion a "gruesome procedure" but claimed the ban conflicts with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in 2000 upholding the practice. That decision in the Steinberg v. Carhart case said a "health of the mother" exception must be a part of any abortion ban.

"Health of the mother?" Please. This is the universal cop-out all abortion-mongers use in justifying their twisted, sick agenda. Of course, little mention is made that her "health" is defined in an all-encompassing way, which includes anything from her mental status, to a hangnail.

"While Congress and lower courts may disagree with the Supreme Court's constitutional decision, that does not free them from their constitutional duty to obey the Supreme Court's rulings," Casey said.

I submit that Congress only has a duty to obey the Supreme Court when its decisions agree with the Constitution's intentions. When this "august" body reads into our founding documents rights that do not, in fact, exist, we should all belly-laugh in its collective faces. This "elitists-know-best" attitude sickens me.

Casey admitted in his ruling: "The Court finds that the testimony at trial and before Congress establishes that D&X [partial-birth abortion] is a gruesome, brutal, barbaric, and uncivilized medical procedure."

This is one of the most illogical, patently stupid remarks I've ever read. Is this what our Founders intended? The protection of an act dubbed "gruesome, brutal, barbaric, and uncivilized?"

Abortion is murder. Our Founders believed that all men are created equal--by God. And they recognized a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

They have spoken. And so has God, Himself. Just look up the Ten Commandments, among other scriptures.

Man Takes Fire in Wal-Mart Bathroom

Gosh, I genuinely feel sorry for this poor guy.

I mean. . .if only he had evacuated in time.

Illegals: Costing Us a Pretty Penny. . .and More

Read this article. Pretty please?

Ok, now you understand--if you didn't already--why I'm always harping about illegal immigration.

They're costing us over $10 billion in services, annually.

The research, conducted by the Center for Immigration Studies, used Census Bureau data from 2002 to find the fiscal impact of illegal aliens. The $10 billion figure was determined by subtracting taxes paid by illegals from the value of services they enjoy.

CIS noted the study did not include the impact of illegals on state and local governments.

The think tank estimates that if illegal aliens were extended amnesty, as President Bush has proposed, the impact to the federal budget would grow to nearly $29 billion.

Of course, this doesn't even address the ease of terrorists sneaking into a nation with unguarded borders:

". . .Give me your scum, your trash,
Your huddled zealots yearning to kill me,
The wretched flotsam of your putrid shores.
Send these, the fascists, tempest-tost to me,
I stand--fully armed--beside the golden door!"

With deepest apologies to Emma Lazarus.

Let the Ads Run

Fortunately, this guy has a little bit of sense. It seems he believes the average citizens actually (gasp) deserve a say-so in who gets elected, and have a right to voice their opinions (faint).

Though Chairman Bradley Smith is a Republican, he was appointed to the FEC by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

"I think it's great we live in a country where 260 average guys can go out and put their point of view out there before the public and influence a major presidential race,'' Smith said in an interview with Bloomberg television. "I am not one who agrees it is illegitimate for citizens to take a stand on these kind of issues and only the politicians should be able to say what they want about the issues they want to talk about.''

Why should Kerry--or any politician, for that matter--be given a free ride on a manure truck of lies, all the way to the White House? You may now compliment me on my poetic prowess.

The Butterfly Effect

I'm not sure what I think of Chaos Theory (or should we call it the Law of Unintended Consequences, I dunno). This flick is based on that idea--that everything we do has an effect on everyone around us--and not always the effect we expected or desired. To this extent, I agree, for the most part. But the belief that killing a butterfly, or some other small insect, might create a cataclysm of epic proportions--well, let's just say I'm dubious on that one. I suppose this is a rambling way of saying that I'm not entirely eye-to-eye with the movie's philosophy. That said, it was well-acted and thought-provoking. Ashton Kutcher, who normally comports himself like a complete ding-a-ling in most of his movies, did a fairly competent job in this one. The primary flaw in the story was that it didn't explain, to my satisfaction, the origin of the events transpiring. I was left pondering the implications, though, in the end. And if a movie can make ya think, it can't be all that bad.

THREE STARS

Livin' the Life. . .

. . .in Iran.

And we Americans get all hot and bothered about corporal punishment.

Better keep your tongue in check, in Persia.

With a judicial system like that, I'd take anarchy, any day.

Only a beautiful religion produces such people.

Don't Rock "The System"

What a joke this is.

The Bush Administration has now come out in condemnation of "outside groups" attacking both himself and Kerry.

President Bush denounced TV ads by outside groups attacking both John Kerry and himself on Monday and called for a halt to all such political efforts. "I think they're bad for the system," he said.

What "system" would that be, Mr. President? The system of truth? The system of making sure that voters actually are well-informed about the candidates they may give support at the ballot box? What are you talking about? And what do you mean by "outside?" Remember the First Amendment? If a citizen wants to make known his opinion on a political candidate, he should be allowed to do so, unimpeded. This reeks of elitist arrogance.

If the SWIFTboat ad is truthful, I see it as imperative to let it run, in the interests of full-disclosure of Kerry's strange lies. He lied about Vietnam in the past, and he's lying, now. Is this not relevant to the current campaign?

Personally, I think Bush has his own interests at heart. Perhaps he thinks that if he condemns such ads, then Kerry will have a change of heart and tell all his yes-men to stop airing their smear-ads on Bush. The problem with this assessment is that Kerry first would need character, honesty, and decency--and he is a stranger to those virtues.

Oasis

This is one of my favorite songs from Petra, a great group. Here are the lyrics. Enjoy.


Oasis


You give me water
In a dry and thirsty land.
You satisfy my hunger;
You feed me from your hand.

I was a wanderer in the wilderness,
Until I stumbled on your oasis.

(Chorus 1:)

And I will stay here with you--
Here in the shade, here in the cool.
You keep me safe through the night
In your oasis.


You give your Spirit
To a dry and thirsty heart.
You satisfy my longing.
I hear the voice of God.

I was a wanderer in my emptiness,
Until you brought me near your oasis

(Chorus 1)
(Chorus 2:)

And I will drink from your well.
I found my peace here in your shelter.
And I will stay here with you
In your oasis.

Searching for Noah's Ark

This is an interesting story, with accompanying pictures.

I've not formulated an opinion on this, yet. I do believe in the Bible and the Flood story, but I don't know if the ark has been found. But I remain open-minded and intrigued. I leave it to my readers to decide for themselves.

No Man is An Island?

Ever notice how some folks seem oblivious to the presence of others, as if they live, breathe, and blur through the days of their lives all alone? Some examples:

At Wal-Mart yesterday, I was pushing my buggy along, minding my own business, when a woman pushed her cart directly in front of me, blocking my path. Then she just stood there, looking around. I had to stop and detour around her. Often, I see people move down high-traffic aisles, and stand in the center, blocking all access. And they look around, seemingly unaware that other people also are shopping and needing to pass through. I see this sort of thing all the time.

About a year ago, I went walking down my street, enjoying the exercise and weather. I passed a neighbor's house, and received an earful. The lady of the house had just pulled up and gotten out of her car, and her husband came out to meet her. When she discovered that he'd lain around and had done no housework all day--while she worked--she became angry. An argument ensued. My focus is not on the argument or its worthiness. The point is, these folks had a rather loud spat in their front yard, in front of the whole neighborhood, in plain sight. They saw me walking, I know, so I thought it was bizarre that they didn't take the issue indoors. Instead, they acted as if I didn't exist, hashing it out right there on the lawn. I'm positive they knew I both saw and heard them. Admittedly, this doesn't happen often, but it's not the first time I've seen a spectacle like this.

On many occasions, I've seen people enter restaurants and converse in very loud tones. Once, my wife and I stopped for a bite to eat. We were sitting at our table, when in walked three people, talking at a high volume. Two of them stopped at the door, while the third made her way across the restaurant, still carrying on her conversation with the others. Everyone in the building clearly saw and heard them. In fact, I couldn't help but follow their whole conversation. The point is, these folks acted as if no one else was there. Just them. I've seen this many times.

I could give other examples, but I think you get the gist of what I'm saying. Many live their lives seemingly in a daze, as if they live in their own little world. What causes such behavior? Have Americans become more narcissistic? Or has society's nature--with its long distances separating people--created a disconnect and a dissolution of the spirit of community? I think both are true.

It's a fascinating trend that I've noticed, and it seems to be growing worse.

People have become islands unto themselves.

Abortion's Unintended Consequences

When I clicked on this link and scrolled down the page, I thought I'd be sick. For a few moments, I was so angry, I wanted to smash someone's face in. I warn you, the picture isn't pretty, and I daresay it will disturb you greatly. I found it horrifying.

"We just broke down and cried at what we were seeing. We couldn't believe it," Chambers sobbed to the paper.

Why? Why are you upset, you stupid woman? You were just exercising your right to choose, weren't you? After all, unborn babies aren't really babies. They're just pieces of filth and inconvenient trash that must be scraped out of your saintly bosom.

"I started thinking about it. Here I am very ill, already with three children, and I was very depressed because of the medication I was on."

What a brilliant rationale. This doesn't hold water, folks. It's what most people call a cop-out. With vast numbers of couples, wringing their hands in anticipation and waiting in line for their own child, there is no justifiable excuse for having an abortion. And to make matters worse, just reread the last part of her final sentence. She was depressed because of the medication she was on? Abortion must be a small thing, indeed, since a woman now doesn't even have to be in her right frame of mind to decide in its favor.

I shudder to think what it will be like, some day, when such people have to stand before God and explain away these evil acts. I would not want to be in their shoes. And don't think for a minute that you self-righteous cretins will walk on this issue. The Lord sees you, and some day, you won't feel so smug, when you bow before him.

Founding Quotes of Note V

"The truth is that the want of common education with us is not from our poverty, but from the want of an orderly system. More money is now paid for the education of a part than would be paid for that of the whole if systematically arranged." --Thomas Jefferson

Interesting that, even in our nation's infancy, some people recognized this problem.

"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them." --Justice Joseph Story, appointed to the Supreme Court by James Madison, author of our Constitution

Oh, so bearing arms was not just for the state militia? Since this is only one of literally dozens of accessible quotes from our Founders, I wonder how the gun grabbers explain this?

Brilliant Quotes of World History

"The human tendancy toward evil is exceeded only by its penchant for the absurd."

Wes

Who'd ya think said it, Aristotle?

Gay and Fancy-Free

While reading this story, I thought I'd choke to death on my own tongue with the violence of my guffaws.

It seems a homosexual lawyer finds the designation "homosexual" offensive. He insists on being called a "gay" man.

Attorney John Rawls insisted he was not a homosexual, but, rather, a "gay" man.

In a hearing Friday before Louisiana District Judge Mike Caldwell, Rawls, according to published reports, lost his temper, his face turned red, and he lunged at the attorney defending traditional heterosexual marriage.

"No one calls me the H-word," Rawls said in defense of his outburst.

Besides the obvious chuckle-value of such moronics, this event demonstrates the continued devaluation of language, and the way the secular humanist world continues to negate or twist the meaning of words, while inventing catch-phrases and absurd misnomers in describing themselves and their lifestyles.

Why does he wanna be called "Gay?" His chipper personality? His sunny disposition?

Founding Quotes of Note IV

"How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments of every hostile nation?" --JamesMadison


"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?" --Benjamin Franklin

Around the World in Eighty Days

I saw this one, too--and on the same day, believe it or not.

It's hard criticizing such a fine movie--what with all its many high points--but darn it, I just can't resist!!

First the good:

This movie was filled with hilarious antics, witty dialogue, good special effects, and a fun, exciting storyline. It reminded me of the old-time adventure tales told back in the '40s and '50s, and revived somewhat in the '80s. Jackie Chan's a funny guy, and the man who played Phileas Fogg did a great job, as well. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a humorous turn as a Turkish prince--one of the film's several highlights. I'd recommend this one for anyone who likes a good comedy or a good adventure movie--since it's both, rolled into one.

It had some annoying flaws, though.

Fogg's nemesis--and the man who challenges him to the task of traveling around the globe in eighty days--is a lowlife of the worst sort. And yet he is based (I believe) on the real scientist, Lord Kelvin. He even has the same name. Now, in the movie, this man is portrayed as a smug, superstitious, narrow-minded little man--a fool, in other words. The problem is, in reality, Kelvin was a great scientist, who made many innovations in his field of study. What's more, he was a devout Christian. So the trashing of this important historical figure bothered me, because it seemed senseless and mean-spirited.

Just as disappointing was the absurd scene in which Kelvin tells Fogg that, next thing we know, you'll have us all believing in things like evolution. Remember, the man is shown to be a jackass, and wrong about everything. The film's implication is that, if you disbelieve in evolution, you are a small-minded bigot, and not a true man of science.

Finally, there is a scene near the end that serves no other purpose than as a paean to Buddhism. Chan finally has rescued the Buddha statue stolen from his village, The elders return it to its place of worship, as it were, and everyone spends several moments bowing their heads to the earth outside, surrounding the shrine. I admit that, in the late 1890s, most Chinese were practicing Buddhists, so this was historically accurate. So why did it bother me? Let me explain: Have you ever noticed that--in Hollywood, today--every religion is deserving of respect and honor? Except for Christianity, of course, which apparently deserves (and receives) almost universal contempt. That's what bothered me: the fact that such a scene would never be inserted in a film with Christianity in Buddhism's role of honor. It's disgraceful. As I watched the movie, I thought to myself: "You know, most of the people watching this film don't even practice Buddhism, since America's a predominantly Christian country. And yet, the filmmakers went out of their way to honor a religion that their fellow countrymen largely don't understand. Whereas when Christianity is mentioned at all, it's with a libelous sneer.

All in all, this was a good film. But with the excision of the flaws mentioned earlier, it could've been a great film.

THREE STARS

Chronicles of Riddick

I have to admit, I enjoyed this movie. It offered a little something for everyone: great effects, nonstop action, scathing remarks, and a devil-may-care attitude on the main character's part. I'd call it imaginative, big, dumb fun. Very entertaining.

It had its flaws, though. For one, Riddick's enemies--the Necromongers--were not fully explained. Their leader kept mentioning an "underverse," of which he never gave more than a fleeting description. And at one point, Riddick finds himself in a prison, where the guards occasionally release monsters into the cell-blocks to feed on the inmates. In a bizarre turn, no explanation of this is given. Other smaller mysteries plagued the film, so if you're hoping to walk away with every question answered neatly, sorry; it ain't gonna happen. That said, it's fun watching a man wreak havoc on evil people, all the while caring little if he lives or dies. Kind of liberating, in a way.

THREE STARS.

SWIFT Boater's Testimony

This website lists direct quotes from numerous veterans who served with John Kerry. For example:

"In my specific, personal experience in both coastal and river patrols over a 12-month period, I never once saw or heard anything remotely resembling the atrocities described by Senator Kerry. If I had, it would have been my obligation to report them in writing to a higher authority, and I would certainly have done that. If Senator Kerry actually witnessed or participated in these atrocities or, as he described them, 'war crimes,' he was obligated to report them. That he did not until later when it suited his political purposes strikes me as opportunism of the worst kind. That he would malign my service and that of his fellow sailors with no regard for the truth makes him totally unqualified to serve as Commander-in-Chief."
-- Jeffrey Wainscott

Pretty damning stuff. The list goes on and on. In addition, 19 of the 23 officers who served with him say he is unfit for the presidency.

He's such a charlatan. After all, the man loathed the military, hated our presence in Vietnam, and disparaged our fine, brave men, immediately upon returning to the U.S. But now, he wears his "service" in Vietnam like a badge of honor. In his twisted mind, the men who bled and suffered in that hellish country are all scum--except for him. He's a hero for it.

If I knew nothing else about Kerry, I'd shun his name in the ballot box, for this alone.

Hurricane Charley's Deadly effects

At least fifteen people are reported dead in the wake of Hurricane Charley.

This is a sad time for our country, particularly for those who had loved ones killed. My mother and stepfather were in Florida, recently, and only just arrived back home. I'm glad they're safe. Those who now must rebuild in the aftermath, you have my prayers. God bless.

If--

I've always admired this poem. Read on.

IF

by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Statue Uncovered in Egypt

An amazing archaeological find has been unearthed in Egypt.

Excavators found a seated statue of Rameses II, weighing over 700 tons and standing perhaps forty feet tall.

Many biblical scholars and historians believe this pharaoh ruled Egypt at the time of the Exodus.

Band of Brothers Against Kerry

Ann Coulter's most recent article discusses John Kerry's lies and distortions, in relation to his time spent in Vietnam.

Two hundred fifty-four Swift Boat Veterans have signed a letter saying John Kerry is not fit to be commander in chief, a point developed in some detail in the blockbuster new book by John O'Neill, aptly titled "Unfit for Command." At the 2003 reunion of Swift Boat Veterans, about 300 men showed up: 85 percent of them think Kerry is unfit to be president. (On the bright side, Kerry was voted, in absentia, "Most Likely to Run for President on His Phony War Record.") Fewer than 10 percent of all Swift Boat Veterans contacted refused to sign the letter.

Of course, Kerry sycophants have come out of the woodwork, with accusations of political motivations, lies, greed and envy hurled at the swiftboat veterans.

For me, motivations have no relevance. The only factor that interests me is: Are they telling the truth? Is Kerry lying? The sheer weight of testimony against him seems to indicate that the answer to both questions is "Yes."

Aliens Saved the Russkies

This is a weird story.

In 1908, a huge explosion rocked the Tunguska region of Siberia, flattening trees and knocking people off their feet 400 miles away. Members of a scientific research team have now found a metallic object in the debris, which they believe is an alien artifact, used to destroy an incoming meteorite.

One scientist said based on his calculations, the mass of the space object headed for Earth in 1908 was nearly 1 billion tons. He believes the meteorite was blasted by the spaceship at an altitude of 10 kilometers to prevent the destruction of all humanity on the planet.

Like I said, weird. Maybe ET loves us, since we're soooo benevolent.

Founding Quotes of Note III

"Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say: 'What should be the reward of such sacrifices?'. . .If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsel or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!"

--Samuel Adams

New Jersey Governor Resigns in Shame

New Jersey Governor James McGreevey just admitted to an extramarital affair with another man on his staff.

What makes this story worthy of note is that the governor admits his wrongdoing, intending to resign in November.

McGreevey asked for forgiveness for the "foolish, inexcusable" mistake of having an affair, saying he hoped the state's residents would extend grace to him. He said he would leave office in November 15.

Obviously, his actions were immoral. But at least he's acting like a real man, acknowledging the wrongness of his deeds and asking for forgiveness. That's more than may be expected from most politicians.

How I Strayed from the Bush Camp

In 2000, I voted for George W. Bush.

There, I said it. A weight has been lifted. I know, I know--I should be embarrassed. Believe me, I am; but I'm also honest. Even four years ago, I didn't think Bush was the best man for the job. I really admired Alan Keyes. He was such an eloquent, passionate speaker. And most of his words resonated with me. I saw him as a man of principle; a man who represented the values I held--and still hold--dear.

So what happened, you ask?

I've never been great at mathematics, but I recognized that he had no earthly chance of winning. It simply wasn't doable. So I took a gander at Bush.

In him, I saw a man who seemed like an ok guy, one who professed belief in conservative ideas. Though I liked him less than Keyes--and less than Gary Bauer and Dan Quayle, as well--I realized that he had a genuine opportunity to stop the insane human vegetable, Algore. I loathed the Democrat Party's candidate, to the core of my being. I saw him as a Clinton clone (and still do), who was even worse than Clinton, because he actually believed the noxious mutterings fuming out of his mouth.

So what I'm saying is this: I saw Bush as the lesser of two evils. I felt like he wasn't such a bad feller; whereas Gore was made for a strait-jacket.

Thus, I voted for Bush. And I've regretted it almost continuously, ever since.

My first misgivings with Bush came in his decision on the embryonic stem cell issue. Clearly, his was not a principled pro-life stand, but rather a turn down centrist avenue--a stance designed to compromise and appeal to the majority. But darn it, that's not what I want in a president! I want someone who will do the right thing, and his reelection, his party, and his ego be damned. I saw that Bush was not that type of man.

Then he began a consistent policy of spending proposals, of signing every increase in spending that came down the pike. As of this writing, the trend continues.

Other issues bothered me, too. But the straw that broke the camel's back was his de facto amnesty of illegal aliens. When I heard this, my disenchantment with Bush became contempt.
My eyes opened to the fact that Bush has no interest in protecting our nation and our way of life. I don't know what motivates him; but a desire to follow our Constitution and carry out the Constitutionally well-defined obligations of the federal government is nowhere to be found in his actions.

In addition, I've reached the conclusion that the Republican Party is corrupt, just like the Democrat Party. Oh, I'm aware of the differences in degrees of corruption, but both are rotten to their cores. I see that neither party has the best interests of America's citizens in mind.

I never had faith in the Democrats. But, once upon a time, I thought the Republicans cared about what's right. My journey took over four years.

From now on, I vote on principle; and if that means never seeing my candidate step foot in the Oval Office, then so be it. At least I'll go to bed at night with a clear conscience.

I didn't leave the Republican Party. It left me. Long ago.

Illegal Immigration's Effects

I'm a firm believer in legal immigration. I wanted that said from the outset, because I don't want to come across as a xenophobe. And, like others of similar mindset in the blogosphere, I believe that anyone who so wishes should be able to leave the U.S., no questions asked. That said, a nation has a right to control its own borders. The government's raison d'etre is to protect its citizens from foreign invasion. In my view, this is impossible, without a firm control of the border situation. Illegal immigrations should not be tolerated. Not for a second. Any government refusing to address such a problem has no interest in protecting its citizens. Period. And all the rhetoric to the contrary won't change this fact.

Let's look at some of the consequences of illegal immigration:

1. Open borders allow terrorists--al Quaida and other groups--free reign in the commission of atrocities.

2. U.S. citizens living near the Mexican border face home invasions and robberies regularly, perpetrated by illegal aliens.

3. U.S. law enforcement officers on or near the Mexican border sustain frequent attacks by illegal criminals and Mexican drug-lord bounty hunters.

4. Mexican military, paramilitary groups, and police have made armed incursions into our country, often engaging American authorities.

5. The Mexican government encourages its poor, its crime, and its drugs to move North of the border. A passing of the buck, if you will. Why should the Mexican government have to reform, when they can toss the hot potato to someone else?

6. Health care and insurance costs for U.S. citizens have skyrocketed because of uninsured illegals who cannot legally be denied medical care in our country.

7. Illegal aliens with fraudulent work permits are taking jobs from U.S. citizens.

8. Our uniquely American culture is experiencing degredation, due to an influx of people who have no interest in assimilating or becoming loyal to our founding principles. All too often, immigrants come here to milk the system.

The list goes on. If you want to come here and become an American, and give your loyalty to our principles of liberty and rugged individualism, then I welcome you. God bless you. But if you're here to get on welfare, or otherwise sponge off our taxpayers, or to receive that operation, or to make a buck to send back to your senorita--and that's all--then git! I don't want you here, and we don't need you here. We're not obligated to roll bellyup for the rest of the world. Your governments have a responsibility to you, to allow you a chance to make a life for yourselves. I suggest you make them see the light. If this sounds mean, then so be it. I'm not interested in seeing the country of my birth, the land that I love, annihilated for your benefit.

Yet Another Translation of the Holy Bible

New: The Urban Youth translation of the Bible.

Why don't we just do a hiphop version, and get it over with?

Example from Exodus (Hiphop Trans.) :

Once upon a time dey wuz a man name a' Moses.
Man, did he stuttah, he stuttah.
So he got somebody ta watch his back,
Aaron, his bruddah, his bruddah.

He went to da king, an' wha' did he say?
He said, "Let my homies go, 'for I blow ya away!
But da Fayroe laff an' give his knee a slap,
Den he pulled out his nine, an' busted a cap.

Coming soon, to a bookstore near you.

Officials Demand: Remove Pro-Life Sign from Porch!

Here's a sick story. Apparently, this couple can't have a pro-life sign on their own porch. It's a violation of some idiotic "borough ordinance." The ordinance allows posted signs only in places such as charitable institutions, churches, etc. Conveniently, other folks in the community have hung signs that violate the ordinance, but the city chose these particular people to come down on like a ton of bricks.

Paxtang Mayor William J. Parker said he opposes abortion but wants the sign removed because "if everyone with a self-serving interest puts a sign up, we'd have signs all over Paxtang.

"That's a visual impairment," he said. "Where does it end?"

Hey, Mayor Moron, who cares what you want? This is a free-speech issue. No one said you have to like it. Everyone should have the right to hang any kind of sign they like on their property. If you don't approve, that's tough. The First Amendment was drafted with fascists like you in mind, bub.

Interestingly, the ACLU even took a role in this little farce:

Paula Knudsen of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said the action "cuts to the heart of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights."

"It doesn't matter whether it's affixed to your house, in your yard or to a banner flying from your balcony," she said. "Political and religious messages are protected by the First Amendment."

Hm. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Hug a Fed

The liberal/leftist views of the federal government and corporations fascinate me. Here's a brief summary of this outlook:

Private Corporations: corrupt, evil, untrustworthy, greedy, always will make a buck at someone else's expense, far more harmful to society than beneficial.

Federal Government: benevolent, good, honest, selfless, always willing to help the unfortunate, a boon to mankind.

I realize most liberals won't come out and overtly state this, but it's true. Government is the cure-all, the entity that makes all things right.

What rubbish.

Here's how I see it: Private corporations inherently are neither good nor bad. Some fit the liberal description to a tee; others don't even come close. Some businessmen are honorable, some are swine. I do agree that when great amounts of money become involved, the tendency toward corruption heightens.

But the federal government inherently is evil. Why? Because of the concentration of vast amounts of money and power, the likes of which even the mightiest corporation can only dream. So we're not just talking cash, here. The feds don't just control your job. They have the power of life and death. The centralization of such power only makes the likelihood of corruption worse. As the old adage goes: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." I don't remember who said it, but it's true. Are there exceptions? Sure. Are there many exceptions. Nope.

Our Founders understood this concept well, and they believed it. They considered government an evil--a necessary evil, to be sure--but an evil, nevertheless. Yet they also knew that the alternative (no governing body at all) was worse. This brings anarchy. Anarchy means destruction. So they created a federal government, with limited Constitutionally-defined powers. All powers not specifically laid out in the document were to be left to the domain of individual states. The decentralization of power makes corruption less likely, and diminishes its effects, limiting it to a smaller geographical area.

But when men receive power of this magnitude, the tendency is to attempt to control the lives of their fellows.

The federal government is not your friend. It never has been, and it never will be. The sooner folks start contemplating this, the better. Remember that, the next time a lefty starts railing against private companies, and calling for big government intervention.

Bye-Bye, Birdie

This new article suggests that archaeopteryx--long thought a transitional form linking dinosaurs and birds--could fly:

The magpie-sized animal had a skeleton that bore a strong resemblance to dinosaurs such as the velociraptors in the movie "Jurassic Park." But it also had stubby wings and feathers like those of living birds.

The new findings "really fill in a very important piece that was missing in regards to the transition from dinosaurs to birds," said Dr. Lawrence M. Witmer, an anatomy professor at Ohio University in Athens.

The scientists in the aforementioned article believe flight capability strengthens their notion of dinosaurs evolving into birds. But it seems to me that this makes sense only if one already believes in the macroevolutionary process. They never even address the obvious: If the creature could fly, then doesn't that seem evidentiary of its true-bird nature, and that's all? I find it amazing that the most likely answer is the one they ignore.

I have some questions for these researchers; doubtless they have no intention of answering them. For example:

1. Why is this the only known fossil supposedly linking dinosaurs and birds? If one assumes the truth of this evolutionary process, why aren't there hundreds--if not thousands--of intermediate forms, readily available for study in the fossil record?

2. Why do many paleontologists believe that archaeopteryx was a true bird? (In other words, if
the evidence points to evolution, why the dissent?)

3. Why are archaeopteryx' feather types found in genuine birds, yet not in reptiles?

4. Concerning breathing methods: Birds and reptiles have very different lung structures. Reptiles have lungs consisting of tiny air sacs in the millions. Birds' lungs have tubes. The idea of an intermediate form between the two, exhibiting characteristics of both, is absurd. No evidence of such a form exists in the fossil record, or in extant creatures. How do they explain such a descrepancy?

5. How do scientists explain finding the fossils of modern birds in the same rock layers as archaeopteryx?

I'm not trying to draw an air-tight case, here. The point is, there are serious questions revolving the issue; questions that deserve an honest answer. In the more than 140 years since archaeopteryx' discovery, these questions have elicited stony silence--or worse, ridicule--from evolutionists.

As I've asked before, if the case for evolution is so undebatable, why does this trend weave its way throughout the scientific community? As with the other questions, don't hold your breath waiting for the answer.

Founding Quotes of Note II

"Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them." --Joseph Story


Very very insightful. Spoken like a cautionary tale describing our nation. Or an epitaph.

Founding Quotes of Note

From time to time, I'll post quotations from our Founding Fathers, just to give some insight into how they looked at the world. For now, here are two for starters

"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse." --James Madison

"[T]he opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action, but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch." --Thomas Jefferson

Sound just like big-government leftists, don't they?

Egyptian Newspaper: Holocaust Didn't Happen

Egypt's leading newspaper just published a story denying that the Holocaust ever happened.

Just two quick points:

1. When is the United States going to stop sending ridiculous sums of money to this haven of terrorism and insanity? When a war between Israel and Egypt occurs in the near future, rest assured that the Egyptians will be using weapons purchased with American taxpayer dollars against Israel.

2. For those who believe there was no Holocaust, I have some simple questions for you: How do you explain the fate of millions of people who disappeared from this planet? Where are all the grandparents and parents, children and siblings, cousins and aunts and uncles? Do you really believe that all the vast numbers of people who lost loved ones in this attempt at genocide are complicit in this lie?

Sharon Stone's Fabled Intellect

In a WND story, Sharon Stone had a few choice words about the producers' decision not to include a scene with her kissing Halle Berry in the new movie, Catwoman.

Stone, 46, wanted to enjoy a lesbian moment with her co-star, but the current conservative climate in the country just wouldn't allow it, she concluded, according to Ireland Online.

"Halle's so beautiful and I wanted to kiss her. I said, 'How can you have us in the movie and not have us kiss? That's such a waste,'" said Stone.

"That's what you get for having George Bush as president."

Putting aside any desire to see these women smooch, isn't it fascinating that a person of Sharon Stone's age and status could be so irredeemably stupid and out of touch with reality? Where does she get this notion? Her comparison between America and a Puritanical society is so off the mark, it's right off the page. Gimme a break! Just go watch MTV or regular primetime tv, or go to your local movie theater, and then get back to me on the "conservative climate."

Is mind-numbing idiocy and leftism a requirement for success in Hollywood?

Bush: Mixed Messages on the IRS

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has a new book out, in which he calls for the abolition of the IRS. Now, I'm all for this, and I salute Mr. Hastert for his view. But in his book, he assures his readers that he has had conversations with Mr. Bush, and that the President agrees with him, yet he probably won't address the issue in his campaign.

"I think he's on board on the litigation issue and the regulation issue," he said. As for the tax proposals, however, Hastert said, "I think that's a piece they don't want to bite off in the campaign. They have other things they want to talk about."

I have one simple question: If Mr. Bush also wants to be rid of the IRS, and he intends to address this in a second term, then why would he not mention this in his campaign?

His behavior only makes sense if he has absolutely no intention of addressing the issue--in his campaign, or in a second term.

Missouri Approves Ban of Same-Sex Marriage

According to this story, Missouri voters showed their support of a ban on same-sex marriage. 71% of those who voted favored such a ban.

It seems that the good citizens of Missouri have made their desires crystal clear. Let's see if the judiciary backs the will of the people, shall we?

Alan Keyes For U.S. Senate

After Jack Ryan--Republican primary winner--dropped out of the race in late June, due to a sex-scandal, Alan Keyes became a possible contestant for the open Republican U.S. Senate seat for Illinois.

Keyes ran unsuccessfully for President in 1996 and 2000. And it was a shame, too. I think he was the best man for the job, both times. His entry into the current Senate race is not certain, but I think it would be great to see him in office. I've admired him and his unapologetic brand of true conservatism for many years.

The Village

I'll just say first off that this is a difficult movie to review--at least without giving away integral parts of the storyline. That said, here's a list of the pros and cons.

Pros:

The acting was very good, particularly on the part of newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard, who plays a blind woman. Suspense piled up effectively throughout the first 70% of the movie. I enjoyed the atmospheric look of the cinematography. Shyamalan always does a great job with this, creating a mood and an eerie feel to the setting. In addition, I enjoyed the soundtrack, though it was not quite as good as that of Signs. Laslty, regardless of your hate or love for this film, it was, indeed, thought-provoking.

Cons:

As I said, the suspense built steadily through most of the movie, but the pay-off toward the end did not live up to the earlier portions. Worse, the end was actually anticlimactic. And the way people spoke--as if they'd just stepped out of The Scarlet Letter--is never explained properly. Once you see it, you'll realize what I mean. Though M. Night Shyamalan has made three previous excellent films (excellent, that is, in my opinion), this one does not rise to the level of his earlier efforts. And yet it is a tribute to what a fine filmmaker he is, for it is still worth your time.

TWO-AND-A-HALF STARS

Public Library: Christians Not Wanted

A public library in Antioch, CA barred Christians from using a free meeting room on the premises, due to the library's rule against using such rooms for "religious purposes."

Can you believe the audacity?! Whatever happened to equal access? This was a public facility paid for with taxpayer monies! I'm assuming that part of such funding came directly from the pockets of the people who reserved the room. So if you're a Christian, it's ok to fund the building of a facility, pay its workers, and continue to fund additions and other needs over the years. It's just not ok to use the facility, even after reserving a room and following the rules.

Clearly, such a policy is unconstitutional and immoral.

The government may not be feeding Christians to the lions or burning them at the stake, but don't be fooled. Persecution is alive and well in America. It now remains to be seen how far it will go.

Iraqi Christian Charity

As I've said before, it seems that a certain monstrous segment of Iraq's population has declared war on Christians--simply for being Christian. Car bombs went off at five different churches, in a presumed coordinated attack.

From WND:

In the worst attack, a suicide car bomber drove into the car park at a Chaldean church in southern Baghdad before detonating his vehicle, killing at least 12 people as worshippers left the building, witnesses said.

And:

An explosion at the Armenian church in Baghdad shattered stained glass windows and hurled chunks of hot metal.

Another bomb exploded about 15 minutes later outside the nearby Assyrian church, where medics dragged a man from a car, his arm almost torn off.

I could go on, but you get the idea. The "people" responsible for these actions deliberately and premeditatedly targeted innocent, defenseless Christians who wanted only to worship in peace. Such loathsome cowardice and evil deserves swift retribution.

Isn't it wonderful to know that we now have another beacon of liberty such as this in the Middle East? The next time I hear Mr. Bush bragging about the exercise in liberation that is Iraq, I think I'll be sick.

Embryonic Stem-Cell Research

On July 27, Ron Reagan, Jr. spoke at the Democrats' National Convention, favoring federal (i.e., taxpayer) funding of embryonic stem-cell research. This process utilizes the removal of stem-cells from human embryos, resulting in the destruction of these embryos.

Mr. Reagan's father (President Reagan), probably would not have approved, since his strong pro-life stance is well known. But putting that aside for a moment, does Mr. Reagan have a point? Will such research cure diseases? Let's look at what we know:

1. The ethics of such a decision must be addressed. As I already said, this process requires the destruction of these otherwise viable embryos.

2. Scientists have experimented successfully with adult stem-cells in the treatment of certain diseases. The use of such cells does not require the termination of their host.

3. The effectiveness of using embryonic stem-cells in treating diseases is a long way from proven.

Given these three factors, if we are to err, shouldn't that be on the side of caution?

From Jerry Falwell's July 31 column on WorldNetDaily:

On CNN's "Crossfire" on Wednesday, Democrat gadfly James Carville five times accused me of leading a "right-wing" assault on federally-funded embryonic stem cell research. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. Carville also suggested that opposing federal funding for this type of research is"loony" and "nutty." He's always so charming, you know.

Regardless of your opinion of Jerry Falwell, doesn't this typify the lefties' tactics? Ignore factual information; provide no refutation of what your opponent has said; label them a kook, thus positioning them to spend the rest of their allotted speaking time defending themselves against the label.

Calling someone a name is easy and intellectually lazy. Dishonest, as well. Proving them wrong requires efforts the leftists have no intention of making.