Criminals? No, they are terrorists!

"Those who seek to be liked rather than respected wind up neither" Thaddeus McCotter (R) MI

We've all heard the news that the 9/11 conspirators will be tried as criminals, when I hear the word criminal I think of someone who has broken the law- someone who needs to be tried and if found guilty, do time for what they have done, that is how our justice system works. While the word criminal can cover many different infractions, these are crimes that are meant to be tried in a court of law. However, to try these 5 terrorists as 'just' criminals is a ridiculous decision, these terrorists have committed one of the most heinous crimes in our countries history, they have committed an act of war, and should be tried by a military tribunal, many argue that these terrorists deserve to be tried a regular criminals. They say they would get a fair trial, but as we all know from various trials in recent history have just been used as live reality shows whereby 'justice' gets pushed aside in favor of the 'show.' Bringing these terrorists to New York to trial will be dangerous and cause further distractions to an already heated trial. I hope this decision will be reconsidered (it won't,) our country is still in need of healing, and unless this trial is moved to a military venue where it really belongs as these 5 are truly war criminals, I don't beleive we will get the closure we need.

9/11/2009 - Never Forget

8 years ago today our world, our lives our way of living all changed, what we knew or thought we knew all changed. For me I decided to start giving blood, the following week, and have been a faithful giver for the past 8 years, that was one of the benefits; people not thinking so much of themselves and their fears, but what they could do to help others. For a moment we were all one community, there wasn't anything you wouldn't to for a brother. I am a regular at Facebook and Twitter, but today decided to take a break from all of the banality of everyday life by focusing on what really matters, I prayed at 8:46, 9:03, 9:37, 9:59, 10:03, 10:28 (I hope I have them right) and the rest of the day thanked my God for what he has given me, I went to work, just as I had the tragic day. I thanked God for the job he provided me. Mainly my focus was on my family, my new wife, my young son. I'm no different than any other person on that day, but we're all different since that day. I pray that none of us ever has to go through anything like that again, I pray for healing for our country, the victims families, our country's leaders, and the first responders who risk their lives everyday they put on the uniform. God Bless America.

Tea Party (pt. II)

Update- how silly do those tea parties look now- our esteemed president now has, on the table, $604 billion (with a B) worth of tax hikes slated for us in the near future. This will fund- get this healthcare reform. This where it gets scary, we do not need healthcare reform, true, the system is flawed but it can be fixed without this drastic catastrophic measure. The only reason we are heading this way is because the programs that are currently out there to help those that are without healthcare are not being used becuase people are too lazy to seek that help. Because these people are too lazy to seek this help, our leader feels it has to come knocking on peoples doors. There are roughly 16% of us without healthcare, do we really need to destroy the system for the 84% that have healthcare?

May 7, 2009- National Day of Prayer

Today (and everyday) pray for:

1. Government
2. Military
3. Media
4. Business
5. Education
6. Church
7. Family

Quote time...

Came across this quote by Winston Churchill:

"If the present tries to sit in judgment of the past, it will lose the future."

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised. Even if I go through the deepest darkness. I will not be afraid Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.

You prepare a banquet for me where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim. I know that your goodness and love will be with me all of my life; and your house will be my house as long as I live. (Good News Bible)

I like to read this everyday, it's surprising how uplifting it is even when things are going good, and I am feeling good about myself- God can lift you up no matter what your situation or circumstance. God knows everybody on earth, where they are, and how bad they are hurting, reach out to him... he's reaching out to you.

Swine Flu... That reminds me of a joke.

With all the talk of swine flu, and new "possible" cases popping up all over, I though it would be a nice change of pace for a joke about swine...

A guy was lost and he came upon a farm, he stopped his car, got out and called over to the farmer, while the man was asking the farmer for directions he noticed a pig with only three legs. So he asked the farmer how the pig lost his leg, the farmer answered "Oh, that pig is a very special pig... there was a fire in the barn one day, and the pig singlehandedly opened the barn door, unhitched all of the horses and ushered them out of the barn to safety. Then came to the front door of the house alerted me so I could call the fire department." "Yep" the farmer said "that is one special pig" "is that how he lost his leg?" the man asked, "Oh no" said the farner "One other time there was a bad accident out on the road that you just drove up, there was a woman trapped in the car, and it was leaking gasoline" "so..." continued the farmer "The pig pulled on the door handle with all his might until the door opened, and then he pulled the woman to safety right before tha car exploded!" "Yep" said the farmer, "that is one special pig." Again the man asked "Is that how the pig lost his leg?" "Oh no said the farmer" Growing impatient the man asked "So how did the pig lose his leg?"
"Well" said the farmer "with a pig that special, you can't eat him all at once."

Yes, yes I expect the boos to rain down. The joke kills at parties though.

America! America!

I am watching the replay of The O'Reilly Factor from Thursday night. He had as his guests two surviving family members of victims of the 9/11 attacks. The one gentleman made a great point about how the release of the top-secret documents, and subsequent article in the New York Times is unforgiveable. Just the idea that a US president could even think to release such sensitive documents is actually beyond comprehension, at this rate our enemies won't need spies, all they will need to do is subscribe to The New York Times. I am still at a loss over these memos, whether you believe the interrogation techniques were harsh or not, the results are there and proven; we have been safe since 9/11. Anybody with any sense would not argue that.

Alterior Motives

Hello, back on the release of these justice department memos, the current administration did release these memos... why?? For what reason? I believe they were released to test public opinion, they were released to see how far these ultra-liberals will go to continue to punish the Bush administration for whatever wrongs they had supposedly done. For me, all the Bush administration did was to take the correct steps to keep our country safe, not just Republicans, but everybody, and they did it in the spirit of the uncertain times that followed 9/11. What people need to do is to remember 9/11, not just what a horrific attack that befell our great nation, and the loss of so many lives; but the feelings of fear, uncertainty, and what next? that all Americans felt. It's the what next? that the Bush administration took care of for us, I do not think the extreme interrogation (read: torture) methods were too harsh at all. We have been safe since 9/11, a safety we would not have enjoyed if the interrogators had asked these terrorists "nicely" about their ties to the murderers of 9/11. Let's punish those that have wronged, not those who protect.
The current administration has alot on their plate as it is, I fear that a witch hunt that is 100% partisan would hurt our country and divide the nation at a time when we really need to unite.

Scales of Justice?

I admit I need to do some research on the de-classification of certain C.I.A. documents pertaining to the torturing of terrorists, but, I do know this- the mere hint that these patriots may get prosecuted for keeping our country safe from an attack for 7 years after 9/11 is unconscionable. Although I doubt it, I do hope the new administration realizes it is undoing all of the good that the Bush administration did. Or, is that the idea? I for one am very worried that our country is not as safe as it was under George W Bush, and that this questionable move may lead to further attacks. I will write more oncet I have reviewed the background of these documents and the release of same.

Let's have Tea!

Most of us love a nice cup of tea, I am no different. The recent protests have me, well troubled. I did not make it to a "tea party", but would gladly have gone... not as a nutjob, or even as a right-wing wacko; but as a concerned citizen of what still is, for now, the greatest country in the world. These were citizens, as we all are, simply getting together because they love our country and want it to succeed and over-taxation exactly what we do not need. Freedom of speech is one of the principles our country is founded on, however, there are those who have twisted that to mean that the freedom belongs only to those who share their point of view, and those whose points of view differ will not be tolerated. How certain news outlets are portraying these peaceful protests is a disturbing, I feel this way mainly because I, as I said before, support these protests with no other motivation than my need to voice my opinion when I think things are going wrong, call it pointing out a wrong that needs to be made right (or corrected, if you prefer.) Keep this kind of freedom of speech alive, let's not tolerate hate speech, or speech directed towards certain groups bent on keeping them down.

Let Us Pray

Another murder-suicide today... doesn't really matter where. It's just that it is happening all too frequently. How people think that will solve problems is disturbing to say the least. That course of action is a last resort, a final step of a desparate soul. We as a nation should not let this happen, when someone is suffering, be there... As Christians we should seek to ease suffering wherever we see it, afterall that is what Jesus did.

Fireproof

My wife and I watched Fireproof for the first time last night, to put it simply it is a life-changing movie, whatever stage of your life you are in, whatever your relationship status, you need to see this movie. This movie will soften even the hardest of hearts. You can find out more about the movie and love dare journal right here.

Harry Kalas 1936-2009

Philadelphia sports fans lost a great man this week, Harry Kalas longtime announcer with the Phillies passed away on Monday April 13th, 2009. I grew up with the Phillies, at the old
Veterans Stadium, and I also grew up on Harry Kalas as the voice of the Phillies, well that voice is now silent; after 38 years as the Phillies play-by-play announcer there is a void that I never imaged would be there. I have come to take for granted that when you turn on the game, there was Harry. Well that has all changed now, and now I have to get used to a new announcer, oh, we will never replace Harry, just as he was so unique to what he did for a living, we are all just as unique at what we do. There are no replacements, just new chapters- waiting just a few pages back while the current chapter finishes it's task. On a personal note I will always embrace new chapters wherever or whenever they occur, while occasionally smiling for no reason as I think about past chapters that I have enjoyed so much. So long old friend, you will be missed...

Pirates of the Carribean? NO!

Pirates are not to be glorified, on my facebook account I searched for a group to show support for the captain of the Maersk Alabama whose ship was boarded and who was taken hostage by pirates. But all I found were groups with 'fans' of pirates, fans of barbarians, murderers? Shame on the movie industry who portrays pirates as swashbuckling heroes, we have been desensitized to the violence that exists in our world!! What is going on right now is an act of war, and we as a nation need to do something about it? I mean more than sitting back and waiting for.... anyway, I read an article that said the current administration did not want to act too quickly; like the past administration whose quick action only served to exaserbate terrorists. Well yes we want to do this, we need to show them that we will not be pushed around!!

Good Friday

Never understood why it was called Good Friday, considering what transpired that day. Well, after considering what has come of it, and how everybody- who has ever lived and will live in the world was redeemed by Christ's blood, and how his resurrection showed us the way to heaven, that there is life after death- for those who are deemed worthy. It was a Good Friday that set off a chain of events that we continue to benefit from today. Happy Easter to all!! Let's keep Christ in our hearts this weekend, but on everyday of the year, and years to come.

Been 2 long time.

Gracious I didn't realize it's been so long since my last post, well, I do want to say one thing while everyone is still wearing their rose-tinted glasses. Before the 100 days is up (is it up yet?) for our new president; I hope beyond hope this administration will stop it's Bush-bashing ways!! George W. served our country well during his 8 year term, he served admirably during the toughest 8 years of our history; with all due respect to our Civil War era, WWI & WWII, bombing of Pearl Harbor, the great depression, etc, etc. I happened to be alive through 9/11 and I am very proud and thankful that George W Bush was my president. Obama and his crew are not doing anybody justice by continuing the democratic agenda of demonizing Conservatice/Republican polititians. If this presidency is going to start out every speech, press conference, or whatever by blaming Bush for the mess we are in, and not offering any concrete solutions, AND people keep listening to this garbage... we are in trouble!! When will people learn that you do not build yourself up by tearing someone else down. Especially as fine a man as our former president. President Bush has had a long 8 years, let him enjoy private life!