How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.
Marine Lance Cpl. Ben Wetzel is home from Iraq on two-weeks' leave in Los Altos, California. He was planning on just relaxing the day away last Saturday morning.He didn't get to do what he'd planned, but I don't think he'll be complaining.
During his first presidential campaign, he was vilified and ridiculed, not for his ideas, but for his unpolished appearance and his folksy accent and his lack of education. They called him stupid, an ape, a country bumpkin, and made fun of the way he pronounced his words.
His enemies declared that his election would be the end of everything good in the world. They threatened to leave the United States if he won -- this despite the fact that he was certainly the most moderate Republican who could have won his party's nomination.
He won on a fluke. If his main opponent's vote had not been diluted by third-party candidates, he most likely would have lost. As it was, he received far less than the majority of the vote.
He did not ask for the war that came on his watch, but he was grimly determined to see it through to victory. The trouble was, nobody thought he was doing it right.
Sounds familiar? Read on to get "the rest of the story." While you're there, poke around his site for a while. There is much of interest to be read.
Texas cops thought they'd made a major drug bust when they raided a home northwest of Houston last Tuesday. After all, it looked like there were huge marijuana plants growing in the front yard.
Many of us in the blogosphere followed the recent onlineargument between Sgt. Stryker and Hugh Hewitt with interest. The short version is that Hugh said the military predominantly votes conservative/Republican, with Stryker saying that it was more of a reflection of the civilian world (approx. 50-50). Well, never let it be said that I won't take the opportunity to add fuel to the fire:
Thursday August 05, 2004--A Rasmussen Reports survey shows that military veterans prefer George W. Bush over John Kerry by a 58% to 35% margin. Those with no military service favor Kerry by ten percentage points, 51% to 41%.
Sorry, Sarge, but that sounds pretty overwhelming to me.
He who lets the world, or his own portion of it, choose his plan of life for him, has no need of any other faculty than the ape-like one of imitation. He who chooses his plan for himself, employs all his faculties. He must use observation to see, reasoning and judgment to foresee, activity to gather materials for decision, discrimination to decide, and when he has decided, firmness and self-control to hold to his deliberate decision.
I don't believe in a law to prevent a man from getting rich; it would do more harm than good. When one starts poor, as most do in the race of life, free society is such that he knows he can better his condition; he knows there is no fixed condition of labor for his whole life.
I'll be taking off from blogging for the rest of the week; must catch up with real-world obligations. Barring a terrorist attack or the equivalent, I'll be gone until Saturday the 14th. In the meantime, feel free to explore the blogs listed to the left. They're much more eloquent than I, anyway.
The bearing of arms is the essential medium through which the individual asserts both his social power and his participation in politics as a responsible moral being...
-J.G.A. Pocock, Historian, describing the beliefs of the Founding Fathers
This is from Kim duToit's blog. I reproduce it here in full, so as to disseminate it as widely as possible:
Yesterday, some French troll came in and started whining about soldiers and militarism (until The Mrs. banned his a**).
Soon afterwards, I received this email, forwarded by a Reader. The letter has to do with the two GIs killed in Afghanistan this past weekend.
I wish I was writing to you with better news regarding 3/116th Infantry combat tour in Afghanistan. Yesterday we lost two of our best soldiers, SGT. Craig Cherry, and SPC Bobby Beasely. They and an interpreter were killed when a command detonated explosive device blew up underneath their Hummer.
. . . today . . . we are up against a truly malignant force in radical Islamism and in the states breeding, sheltering, or financing its terrorist armory. This new enemy has already attacked us on our own soil-a feat neither Nazi Germany nor Soviet Russia ever managed to pull off-and openly announces his intention to hit us again, only this time with weapons of infinitely greater and deadlier power than those used on 9/11. His objective is not merely to murder as many of us as possible and to conquer our land. Like the Nazis and Communists before him, he is dedicated to the destruction of everything good for which America stands. It is this, then, that (to paraphrase George W. Bush and a long string of his predecessors, Republican and Democratic alike) we in our turn, no less than the "greatest generation" of the 1940's and its spiritual progeny of the 1950's and after, have a responsibility to uphold and are privileged to defend.
Read the whole thing. Then make copies of it and send them to anyone you know who thinks that it's just not that big a deal. Along with a copy of If it's Not Close, They Can't Cheat, by Hugh Hewitt.
Not too long ago, I found myself turning 41. As can be common around this age, I have been doing my own personal mid-life progress check. Also as can be common, I have found that I'm sick of doing what I currently do for a living. (I'm the tech guy where I work.) Beloved Wife and I have been talking of this very thing for a while now, and I've figured out what I want to do with the rest of my days: gunsmithing.
We have been researching different avenues of education: apprentice with a Master smith, trade school, self-teaching. Apprenticing is right out: With a wife, three kids and a mortgage, I can't just quite my current position to apprentice for a long period of time. I could teach myself; that's how I've learned most of the things at which I excel; but that is fraught with its own set of drawbacks. Trade schools: There are few gunsmithing schools, and Colorado School of Trades seems to be the best of the lot; There are also some associate degree/certificate programs, but I'm not as sure of their reputations. And, as hinted above, I have to worry about both paying for the school and maintaining at least my current level of income at the same time.
This is where you come in: does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on how to begin and make this major life move? Any knowledgeable input would be greatly appreciated.
Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those others that have been tried from time to time.
For him that Stealeth a Book from this Library,
Let it change into a Serpent in his hand & rend him.
Let him be struck with Palsy, & all his Members blasted.
Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy,
Let there be no Surcease to his Agony till he sink to Dissolution.
Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not,
When at last he goeth to his final Punishment,
Let the flames of hell consume him for ever & aye.
-From the monastery of San Pedro in Barcelona (there is some doubt as to whether the monastery ever existed, but I am entirely in agreement with the curse).
The Backcountry Conservative is building a directory of all bloggers who are current and former military (any military, not just the USA). If this applies to you, leave a comment or link to his article. For the record, I served in the U.S. Air Force from 1986 to 1994.
You're so vain; I bet you think this post is about you
I banned my first commenter today. I'm sure he'll think it's because I don't agree with his politics; he couldn't be more wrong. I encourage comments in general, and I enjoy a well-reasoned debate; but that's not the point of this post.
This blog is the equivalent of my home. When people come to visit, they are welcome to make themselves comfortable. However, I expect folks to behave in a well-mannered fashion. If I ask for help in a serious situation, snarky comments aren't appropriate or welcome. I enjoy a good joke, and will share one quickly as I hope others will with me.
I apologize for getting up on my soapbox. If this doesn't apply to you, just ignore it. If you are the one person to whom it does apply, then you know why your comments are no longer welcome here.
To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived: this is to have succeeded!
What is the difference between a Liberal and a Conservative?
No, that's not the beginning of a joke, though it'd probably be a good one. Ginny over at Chicago Boyz asks that question, and answers it in a thorough, convincing essay.
What is striking about the people who defined our culture--both the early Puritans and the founding fathers-was the emphasis they placed upon the future, upon the far horizon in time. The Puritans thought in terms of typology; the founding fathers in terms of "human nature." Both studied history to see what it could tell them about patterns; both wanted to project those patterns into the future. A society that sees not the broad sweep of "human nature" but the factions and responses of the moment is more likely to miss the big picture, less likely to contribute to the wisdom that comes from the ability to truly see rather than merely feel.
She even manages to weave in a little John Donne. Her conclusion? Go ye forth and see.
I've had to disable comments for now. I have been spending more time banning spammer IPs and deleting comment spam than I have with any other aspect of blogging. I was using MT-Blacklist, but it doesn't work since I upgraded Movable Type. Please bear with me; I'll have comments back in short order.
CNN is reporting that Lance Armstrong may be stripped of his record sixth Tour de France title. In a random check for banned substances, three were found in Armstrong's hotel room. The three substances, all banned by the French, were:
(1) Toothpaste
(2) Deodorant
(3) Soap
The French officials also found several other items in Lance's possession which they had never seen before including a testicle and a backbone. . .
. . . sitting in the barber shop, when in walked G.W. Bush, followed moments later by John Kerry. Somehow, they ended up in the same barber shop for a shave and a haircut.
As they sat there, each being worked on by a different barber, not a word was spoken. The barbers were even afraid to start a conversation, for fear it would turn to politics. As the barbers finished their shaves, the one who had Kerry in his chair reached for the aftershave.
Kerry was quick to stop him, saying, "No thanks. My wife Teresa will smell that and think that I've been in a whorehouse."
The second barber turned to President Bush and said, How about you,sir?" Bush replied, "Go ahead. My wife doesn't know what the inside of a whorehouse smells like."
