We Will Never Forgive Ourselves...

Fellow Christian blogger FaultlineUSA has a really good post about the ISG and War on Terrorism. It's called "The Pinheaded “Art” of Retreat and Surrender".

Here's a portion:

“God will never forgive us if we break faith with our dead again.”

The above phrase is not a theological reflection, but the angst of a fictional mother who has lost husband and son to two World Wars. She sees that war will come again and again to those who fail to heed history’s lessons. It is not God who will never forgive us. It is we who will never forgive ourselves.

Unlike the propaganda films of an earlier era designed to build national unity, America chose instead to imbed reporters who often showed more sympathy for the terrorists than for our own soldiers. Instead of nation building works of fiction we served ourselves helping after helping of enemy generated fiction and disguised it as truth. Instead of holding some of our citizens accountable for acts of treason in time of war, we turned them into celebrities. Those of us who have remained silent are as guilty as the perpetrators.

The question today is, do we break faith with our dead soldiers by staying the course in Iraq, or by cutting and running? Or are there other options beyond the widely criticized Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report? I propose that there is only one viable option and that it's to show the world that we do have a center – a moral core – National unity – and the will to win!

Some good comments over there, too.

Here is a copy of my comment:

Wow! Powerful post FaultlineUSA!

I'm currently doing a post about Committing to God all that we do. It's interesting to apply the idea of "leaning on the arms of God" to this current ideological struggle between traditional culture warriors and secular-progressives (S-P's) in this country. When we lean on God, we can either lean forwards or backwards. Facing the fact that this war is unlike any other we have previously faced means that we cannot just "lean backwards" and let it fester unchallenged. That is what S-P's would want to do. Withdraw from Iraq and hope the terrorists don't follow us back here. They fail to see the big picture which means that we need to lean forward and work pre-emptively against our enemies.

The majority of our brave service men and women realize what is at stake in Iraq, in particular; as well as what is at stake in the general global war on terrorism. They have the attitude of claiming a goal and standard...that whatever they do, they live it out with 100% of all they've got for the sake of serving God, our nation, and our people!

It seems to me that in past wars, more civilian patriots in our nation agreed with such statements and mindset and thus we had more unity when it came to fighting and defeating the enemies against our nation.

[Added here: I am deeply saddened knowing that it was people of my "baby-boom" generation of the 60's that led us out of such patriotism and into the anti-war, anti-God, free sex, drugs and "flowers in your hair" type of licientious liberalism that was mainly responsible for America's first military defeat in Vietnam. We had the likes of the following since then (Hat tip to Atlas Shrugs):

Senator John Kerry

The North Vietnamese general in charge of the military campaign that finally drove the U.S. out of South Vietnam in 1975 credited a group led by John Kerry with helping him achieve victory. Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap wrote that if it weren't for organizations like Kerry's Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Hanoi would have surrendered to the U.S.


Bill Clinton

Pardoning terrorists, discussing troop movements while being pleasured by an intern, running an obstruction-of-justice operation out of the Oval Office and suborning and committing perjury.........

In acts of official perfidy that may be unparalleled in our nation’s history, Clinton accepted bribes from Red China in the form of illegal political contributions, and in exchange made policy decisions that undermined our national security.

• The Red Chinese military (the so-called People’s Liberation Army, or PLA) is now able to deploy much more accurate nuclear-armed missiles pointed at the United States, in large measure because of policy decisions by President Clinton

• President Clinton signed national security waivers to allow four U.S. commercial satellites to be launched in China, despite evidence that China was exporting nuclear and missile technology to Pakistan and Iran.

"How did it come about that highly sensitive technical information was given to the Chinese? Why did the president ignore the national security experts who counseled against this deal? What damage has been done to our national security?" Goss asked.

Clinton's terror failures are too numerous and damaging to recount here but Bill Clinton was the quintessential dhimmi. He allowed AL QAEDA CELLS - INCLUDING THE 9/11 CELL to OPERATE IN THE USA ignored the World Trade Center bombings of '93, ignored the Cole, the embassy bombings and handed Israel over to the most barbaric terrorist of the late twentieth century, Yassar Arafat.

and that's just for starters...........

Clinton-era policies ignored Able Danger (Mohammed Atta et al)

Get all the facts, Click here for the latest News and Streaming Video on Able Danger

More Clinton Damage


As if the botched 1994 Framework Agreement with North Korea, whereby the Clinton administration provided Pyongyang with materials for building a nuclear reactor, wasn’t enough, allegations are now being made that the Clinton administration may have also provided Iran with blueprints to build a nuclear weapon.


Jimmy Carter

The Carter White House during the disasters of the Sandinista takeover of Nicaragua, the energy crisis and stagflation, the Iranian revolution and hostage crisis, and the invasion of Afghanistan. Not backing the Shah of Iran in 1979, our close ally in the Middle East, resulted in the take over by Radical Islamic Fundamentalist Ayatollah Khomeini which brings us to where we are today with Iran.

Time magazine columnist wrote that some of Carter's "Lone Ranger work has taken him dangerously close to the neighborhood of what we used to call treason"

Carter befriended North Korea during the Clinton administration, appeasing the communist regime and giving it cover for its nuclear weapons program.

[Note: And how did the worst president, an inexperienced peanut farmer named Jimmy Carter come into office?]

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, two leftwing cub/pitbull reporters at the Wahington Post, intent on bringing down President Nixon.

And they did. After being exposed for covering for his people (not guilty of the break-in, mind you), Nixon resigned. Imagine if Nixon had been a democrat. Would that ever have happened? The shenanigans of Democrat Presidents going back to JFK's stolen election are wildly known (don't even get me started on Bill).

What made this left wing assault on America so damaging is the subsequent road America went down. Had it not been for Watergate, America- leery and distrusting of the GOP after Nixon's resignation - would never have elected a Democrat, an unknown peanut farmer to the office of the President. A man so out of his league, a man so incapable of the office of the President, that we are still suffering from his ineptitude. Imagine if Reagan had been President when the leader of one of our greatest allies in the Middle East, Iran, called upon the President for help. Imagine the course of history, if you will, if we had backed the Shah of Iran. Imagine what a different world this would be.

According to many Iranians, Carter practically pushed out the Shah and gave Iran to the Ayatollah Khomeini (much the way he relinquished control of the Panama Canal).



Ward Churchill


In a treatise titled, "Some People Push Back," written after the attacks, Churchill asserted the 3,000 people killed at the World Trade Center worked for "the mighty engine of profit" but chose to ignore their role.

"True enough, they were civilians of a sort," he wrote. "But innocent? Gimme a break."

Churchill went on to describe the World Trade Center victims as "little Eichmanns," a reference to Adolph Eichmann, who carried out Hitler's plan to exterminate Europe's Jews during World War II.

There are several more listings of the damage that S-P's have done to America at Atlas Shrugs sidebar.

Prepare yourself for an education!

Decided to add one more link. See the page on:

Fauxtography
Hat tip: Little Green Footballs ]

Back to my comment:

Today, we have, as you touched on in your post, those who desire appeasement rather than victory; "peace at any expense" rather than national unity for the safety and security of our people; horrible name-calling against people who work hard for us in our government rather than showing just the basic respect for their position(s) that they deserve; the anti-war crowd who don't care that what they say and do can demoralize, injure and even kill our soldiers who are in harms way during this war. How ironic it is that our military personnel risk their lives every day for such people who turn around and use their "free speech rights" in a way that gives aid, comfort, and emboldens our enemies! S-P's are of the superfluous mindset that all worldviews should be viewed as equal and we don't have the right to "judge" others for their actions.

Could you imagine if we had to fight WWII with the current liberal left loonie cultural mindset that is present in the secular-progressive leftist worldview? What would it have been like if they were around back then, intent on spouting their negative propaganda rhetoric like they do today?

Yet this is what we face now, during our WWIII fight with Islamo-fascism being incorrectly labeled "freedom fighters" by the likes of Cindy Sheehan and her ilk... Someone ought to show her and her groupies the Obsession: Radical Islam's War With the West documentary so she could see how utterly stupid her worldview is!

Great post! Keep up the good work!

Iraq Study: Some Good, Some Bad Ideas

The Iraq Study Group has done it's job and has released it's recommendations. It will obviously take some time to read it all. However, some of the ideas which have been brought out via the media are good ideas, while others are very, very bad ideas! The worst being the suggestion to "talk" with Iran and Syria about Iraq!

Establishing timetables for withdrawal isn't a good idea, either. President Bush has mentioned that fact many times. However, it sounds like a good idea to get the Iraqi government moving faster and have the Iraqi soldiers do most of the work in the combat areas. Training needs to be stepped up. But realizing that new Iraqi officers needed to be trained explains why this particular portion of the mission has taken so long.

What is good to hear is the fact that President Bush has been correct all along. A rapid exit from Iraq (a failed "strategy" that would be encouraged by the likes of Pelosi, Murtha, Schumer, etc.) IS A VERY BAD IDEA AND WAS ENTIRELY REJECTED BY THE STUDY GROUP!

In her latest article, Ann Coulter had the best analogy:

The "bipartisan" Iraq panel has recommended that Iran and Syria can help stabilize Iraq. You know, the way Germany and Russia helped stabilize Poland in '39.*

[*Note: See comment below that explains the historical significance of this statement.]

In her commentary, Ann discusses how in a broadcast on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, NBC's Matt Lauer pestered President Bush by aggressively questioning him about the possible use of "waterboarding" against terrorists like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.

You need to read the entire article, but these excerpts give you an idea of how ridiculous the left's constant harping on revealing any terrorist interrogation techniques really is:

President Bush refused to discuss techniques used on terrorists, saying, "We don't want the enemy to adjust." But Americans "need to know," he said, "we're using techniques within the law to protect them."

While normal people would be happy if we were using cattle prods on the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Lauer was testy about the possible use of waterboarding against him. "I don't want to let this 'within the law' issue slip," he said.

"I mean, if, in fact, there was waterboarding used with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- and for the viewers, that's basically you strap someone to a board, and you make them feel as if they're going to drown. You put them under water. If that was legal and within the law, why couldn't you do it at Guantanamo? Why'd you have to go to a secret location around the world?"

In point of fact, we strap people to wooden boards and make them feel like they're drowning all the time in this country. Mostly at theme parks like Six Flags.

[Log flume ride? Wheee! Heat the water, though!]

Bush again said he wasn't going to talk about techniques. But Lauer's relentless grilling was getting to him. If he'd been at Gitmo, at this point Bush would have demanded a lawyer, another copy of the Quran and a couple of chocolate eclairs.

Lauer continued to pester the president, demanding to know whether these "alternative techniques you use ... if they are used, are you at all concerned that at some point, even if you get results, there's a blurring the lines of -- between ourselves and the people we're trying to protect us against?"

Hey, I forget: When did Khalid Sheikh Mohammed use aggressive interrogation techniques against a known mass murderer in an effort to thwart another 9/11-style attack on thousands of innocent civilians?

There are few better examples of how out of touch liberals are. They go right to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and expect Americans to be outraged that he may have been waterboarded.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks and is believed to have played a role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Bali nightclub bombings, the filmed beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, a thwarted 2002 attack on a bank tower in Los Angeles, and Operation Bojinka, a plot to blow up 11 commercial airliners simultaneously. Oh, and he took home the coveted "world's craziest terrorist" prize at al-Qaida's end-of-season office party last year.

I think waterboarding should be a reward for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: OK, you've been good, Mohammed, we're only going to waterboard you today. Let's get you out of those cold electrodes and onto a nice, warm waterboard, OK?

Now that they're our new best friends, how about we turn to Iran and Syria for help on our interrogation techniques?

There are 127 comments about the article. Here are a few really good ones:

Marc of CA writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 12:00 AM
Fools in Charge
Today it was confirmed that the Iraq Study or Survey Group tells us, and the World, we need to 'engage' Iran about Iraq security.

How stupid can we get? My goodness these people are idiots!

Now Iran can boast that the US cannot control the violence in Iraq, we will not support Iraq until they gain strength and most deadly; Iran must come to the rescue! Iran is more powerful and wise than America! The Infidel is Inferior! Allah Is Great!!

IRAN MUST SAVE US?

IRAN WANTS TO KILL US!

What planet are we on here?

Bush made mistakes in Iraq, (not that he was elected to be the great war hero in the first place), but he is correct in the main focus; getting an indepentent government in the middle of the Middle East who does not hate democracy, in particular, the U.S..

And again I bring up the point that the revenue from the Iraq oil fields could finance terrorism for a lifetime and can certainly afford to buy Nukes.

If we abondon Iraq we should fulfill the wacky claims of the Leftists that we did this for the oil. Control the oil fields and sales and give the money back to the Iraqi people for whatever they want, except WMD's.

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badbassplayer writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 1:54 AM
Surrender This!
It is nothing less than criminal that the dems are advocating our surrender and defeat to a third world country the size of California. Apparently they have everyone convinced that we can't defeat some pissant little sewer in the desert.

Is that how far that they have gone destroying our military, national security, patriotism, and most of all, our pride in being a strong and free country? Obviously dem control of education has left a generation with no knowledge of history.

Treasonous is too kind of a description for this behaivior.

Maybe we should send a big dem delegation over to Iran on a Friday afternoon to try to negotiate with these savages that they support and wish to surrender to..

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jerubaal writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 5:37 AM
Not That You ALL Didn't Know This
*But in 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed a secret agreement called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. It defined the spheres of territory that Germany and the USSR would own after a succesful Third Reich conquest of Poland, and it included a bit more than just Poland, namely, the Balkan states. All non-German inhabitants in the German area were expelled to the Soviets.

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MacZed writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 5:43 AM
Bipartisan
Means sacrificing your moral ideals for the sake of a moddled mediocrity and failure that we can hold as a new moral imperative in the Politically Correct Media Kaleidescope of insanity.

We will call this muddled mediocrity "The Public Opinion"

And we will hold our Presidents and Politicians to these Gray goals of irrationality developed with zero education and even less intel on reality of world affairs.

When we decide to cop out to Death...this Civilization makes the Roman Civilization look like survivors extraordinaire.

Note, this Bipartisan Commission is just a study group...nothing more - the President is a Lame Duck now - he will not give a rat's testes for the opinions...why should he? They are absurd...

Talk to Syria? Right, sure. To what, sellout Israel by trading The Golan Heights and Jerusalem for a year of Peace? Dust off the Nobel and wait for the Atomic Fallout over Damascus and Tehran...that is, don't hold your breath.

Talk to Iran? To what, figure out how far over the couch we need to metaphorically bend to take the Islamic Phallus of Oil Raping for a decade? Are we just hoping for $5 per gallon gas?

Are we hoping for a 3,000 point drop in the stock market in a one month span of time?

These men of this bipartisan commission are the most deluded dolts of archaic history ever to be dug up since Jimmy Carter was somehow unmuzzled at the beginning of the Hezbollah conflict this summer to tag team Bush with Colin Powell and the McCain Warner betrayal...quick, someone Muzzle that crazy sob.

The Soros Gambit to end the War on Terror is rapidly being realized...

Phase 1) Destroy the Moral Highground of the United States, the most philanthropic, freedom fighting country in the history of the Planet...

Phase 2) Deprive America of a Wartime Leader. Bye Rummy...Hello Gates...

Get ready for the Impeachment of Cheney - it can't miss...Pelosi will be VP by Default by November Elections of 2008 mark my words.

We are now officially in the Downward Spiral of Fascism's venemous pull.

[Whew! That was scary!]

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jerubaal writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 5:44 AM
Francis
"Bravo, Ann. Not only are we at war; we're at war with a fundamentally cowardly enemy that has disavowed the rules of war between civilized states."

And that's just the DEMOCRATS! Wait till you see the terrorists we have to fight!

[Well...not ALL Democrats! We still have some patriots like Joe Lieberman around...]

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moses writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 7:20 AM
syria and iran are enemies not friends
doesn't anyone see that syria and iran are enemies and not friends of either democracy or the US. engaging them is like saying " let's just hold hands and sing kumbaya and we'll all feel better and be friends." sorry not everything is like a Disney movie. this is just sheer stupidity.
let's face it. it appears that the only way that the Left will be happy with war is if no one gets hurt, including feelings. can't have anyone have their feelings hurt or lose their self esteem.
if we want to win, we need to focus on those that are out to kill us, iran and syria. we need to stop the rearming of the insurgents from these countries.
it appears that the new congress and the ISG are willing to surrender now so that the situation gets worse (iran gets nuclear weapons and takes out israel) so that we have real casualties in our military. the democrats never liked the military anyway. best way to exterminate them is in a nuclear conflict with iran. oh and of course a democrat would not retaliate in kind with nukes. that would be lowering ourselves to their level. if we did that, (gasp) we would actually win a war. we can't have that.

[The nuke idea might be going a bit too far...but if Iran succeeds in completing enrichment and we just "let it happen," it might be necessary some day...but I hope not.]

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Mr. Right writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 7:55 AM
The libs scare me
Allen, Kimberly, Red Tooth, hosekuervo and others scare the crap out of me. What we have in the Middle East is a group of radicals whose only goal is to destroy Western Civilization. You cannot negotiate with them, you cannot reason with them. You can only destroy them. Which negotiating tool would be effective with an enemy for whom death is a promotion? The only thing this enemy understands is total humiliation and destruction. That is required to get their attention and only after that can you begin to talk to the survivors. Democracy will work in the Middle East but only if coupled with Free Market Capitalism.

In the meantime, in this country we have libs whose only enemy seems to be Bush and the conservatives. Apparently someone telling you that abortion is murder while allowing clinics to perform abortions under the auspices of the Supreme Court is more dangerous than someone slitting your throat for not having your wife and daughter shrouded in a burka. The lack of rational thought scares me. The lack of focus on who the enemy is and what constitutes a real threat to our country and way of life is terrifying. Yes, our troops are in harm's way and it is terrible that any of these fine young men and women are lost in any war. But we have trained them and equipped them to kill people and destroy evil and then sit back here in the safety of our coffee shops and wonder if they haven't committed a war crime by being too harsh when we don't have a clue what they are facing. We do need to change course in Iraq. We need to commit every troop over there to a search and destroy mission to clean out every terrorist cell. Their destruction needs to be complete and humiliating so that little tinpot dictators in Syria and Iran and Hezbollah understand the result of trying to destroy freedom and freedom-loving people. We need to unleash Israel (whose greatest crime in terms of the Middle East is properity and freedom for its citizens) and allow her to destroy Palestinian opposition to the already generous offers that have been made. Complete and utter victory is the only solution in the Middle East.

[The libs are a misguided bunch...to say the least!]

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Icedog writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 8:22 AM
What history?
Libs do not like comparisons to WWII (or any historical events whatsoever) because they are incapable of comprehending that we can actually learn from our past.

In order to be a liberal you must awaken each day as if it is the first day of human existence.

Only someone with absolutely no memory of yesterday (liberals) would believe:

- Appeasement of our enemies is a successful strategy
- Giving everyone equal rewards regardless of effort (socialism/liberalism) is good for society
- The amount of money you take from your citizens is directly proportional to the success of the economy
- Milder criminal sanctions leads to less crime
- Unlawful discrimination can be eliminated by increasing legal discrimination
- Eliminating all values and ethical standards leads to a better society

History has demonstrated repeatedly – usually with tragic and horrendous results – that these are all failed philosophies.

To be a liberal you must be so egotistical as to believe you are smarter than the previous hundreds of generations and billions of people – or you have to be stuck in some bizarre and twisted version of the movie “Groundhog Day”.

[Serious points on serious subjects. But I just had to laugh at the "Groundhog day" comment...heh heh]

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eon writes: Thursday, December, 07, 2006 8:28 AM
And just for points
People like Mondamay (nice Zelazny ref, there!) may be irritated by comparisons to World War Two, but unfortunately such comparisons are in fact the only ones which are valid.

World War Two was a global conflict fought by democracies (and, after June 1941, one dictatorship) against enemies with a militaristic, collectivist, anti-reason, anti-Semitic and anti-Western Enlightenment philosophy. (Germany wanted a return to mythic Germanism; Italy wanted a return to mythic Romanism; and Japan wanted a return to mythic imperialism under the Shintoist faith.) All of the three fully intended to conquer and rule vast sections of the world, wherein they would treat the natives as little more than slaves, forcing them to work for and/or pay tribute to their new rulers. Unless the locals were Jewish, Romany, black, or Christian (especially in the Far East); such "inferiors" were to be eradicated.

The present war is essentially the same thing, against an enemy with almost precisely the same philosophy and objectives. (If you don't believe the Islamists are racist toward Africans, and hate Christians as much as they do Jews, I'd suggest you don't look too closely at Darfur. Your eyes might not like what they see. Oh, and BTW, they don't like animists, either.)

The fundamental difference between World War Two and World War Three (which is now underway) is that this time around, the enemy has spent more time preparing. There are still some gaps in their TO&E, mainly in the area of strategic weapons and delivery systems, but they are working very hard to rectify this. (And unlike the [people you are not supposed to mention in these debates] they are not turning up their noses at nuclear physics on the grounds that it is "Jewish science".) So far, their unconventional (asymmetric) warfare tactics have provided them with a less-than-satisfactory substitute; they can, and have, inflicted casualties, but so far, they have yet to defeat their enemies (us) decisively. Anywhere.

What is going on now equates to a peculiar cross between the "Phony War" of October 1939-May 1940, with overtones of the period of the "anschluss" and Munich(1936-38) in Europe, and the Japanese conquest of Korea and Manchuria (or "Chosen" and "Manchukuo" as they insisted on misnaming them) in the 1932-37 time frame. As yet, the primary enemy states (Iran, Syria) and their non-governmental allies (various Islamist groups) have yet to take the field in open warfare. (Mainly because for the last half-century, every time they have, they've been defeated in no uncertain terms.) The logical conclusion is that they will not do so until they have a trump card that will prevent or dissuade the enemy (us) from committing conventional forces against them.

Nuclear weapons are such a trump card. And they are openly pursuing their development.

Once they have them, all bets will be off.

Should we negotiate with Iran and Syria? Not at this juncture. We would simply be repeating the colossal stupidity of the European powers (England and France) in 1936-38, and the United States in the Far East in 1937-41. Negotiations will only be appropriate if, as, and when we have the aforementioned regional powers in the position we had Germany and Japan in in 1945. At which point, our demands should be reduced to two words; unconditional surrender.

But so far, I have seen no evidence that anyone in the halls of power, in any party, has grasped the seriousness of the situation. I find myself wondering how many casualties we will have to suffer, and what kind, and where, it will take for them to recognize the reality of the threat we face.


eon

[I think that Bush does get the reality of the threat we face. Trouble is, many of the RINOS and the liberal Dems don't! Hopefully, the more moderate to conservative "freshman" Dems do get it! How refreshing that would be!]

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There are probably many more good ones that I could list, but eon's comment is a good one to end this post!

Searchers Find Missing Dad's Body

We were all praying and holding out hope that James Kim, the man who has been wandering in the Oregon woods for several days would be found alive. Just minutes ago, the sad and tragic news came that Kim was found dead this afternoon. Our heartfelt grief, condolences, and prayers go out to the Kim family. Thanks should go to all the searchers who worked so hard and diligently to rescue him.

Hat tip: Drudge

He Leadeth Me...

Yes. The Christmas rush has started in my household! But I feel that I am already so far behind our neighbors! Most of the homes down the street have beautiful displays of lights up. We are usually the ones who finally get them up right before Christmas, which isn't fun because we only get to enjoy them for about 2 weeks. But we are determined to get it done this weekend! My son is swamped with papers and tests before the close of the semester, so I'll probably be the one to help with putting up the lights this weekend...oh joy...

There is so much that I want to blog about! The new Iraq Study Group report, the new Secretary of Defense elect, etc. The great thing about blogging is that when one does not have the time to blog about all that one wants to, create some links and refer people to those who already have!

Drudge can usually be relied upon for fast-breaking news on most topics of the day. Of course, when most people are trying to work together for solutions to the Iraq war instablity, Al Gore has to have his usual negative rant. Al, my advice is get over yourself and the 2000 election! Even 6 years later, it's just more evidence that Gore is a Sore Loserman...

OK...gotta shift gears now...away from the politics of this day.

Today, I wanted to share my Bible study wrap-up assignment. Each of us was given a chapter from the book, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" and we were to share five things that we had learned about God in the chapter as well as how it impacted our individual lives.

Chapter 6: He Leadeth Me in the Paths of Righteousness for His Name's Sake.

Question: What are 5 things I learned about God in this chapter? How has it impacted my life?

This chapter from our study describes so vividly how we, like sheep, can cling to habits that we have seen ruin other lives. Like stubborn, self-willed, proud and self-sufficient sheep that would graze on land that eventually would be ruined (if not for the Shepherd's gentle nudging to move on to better pastures), we see the greed and selfishness of mankind often leaves behind a legacy of ruin and remorse.

Amidst the chaos, Christ the Good Shepherd invites us by saying, "If any man will follow me, let him deny himself daily and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

Precious few of us Christians allow ourselves to be led in paths of righteousness.

Some people might view that statement (from the book) as "judgmental." The buzzword of today is "tolerance," for everything and towards anyone. But is this what God would want us to do? I don't think so.

Jesus didn't tolerate the moneychangers in the temple.

Jesus didn't tolerate those who wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery. He shamed them, through one simple statement, into recognizing their own need for confession and repentance. He said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone at her." But we know that Jesus doesn't condone sin, either. After each man had dropped their stone and left the scene, he then told the woman to "leave her life of sin."

Jesus also pointed out the fact that the woman at the well did not have a husband, but was apparently involved with fornication because she was living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus stated this to her, directly, demonstrating that as God and man, he knew all about her life.

There are so many more examples I could give. The Bible tells us that "our sin will find us out." There is no hiding, no escaping from that fact.

Allowing God to "lead us in the paths of righteousness" is needed through knowing who Jesus is, following Him and his lead, and obeying His word in the Bible.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Dr. David Jeremiah of Turning Point shared an all important verse. It is important to realize that this verse is referring to Christian believers:

Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit. We're the tree and whether we bear good fruit or not demonstrates the genuineness of our faith.

Those who say that they are Christians, yet act just like the world; engaging in willful sin and outward, unrepentant disobedience to God's Law need to be evaluated as to whether or not they are genuinely Christian. Now we know that the Bible tells us "do not to judge," but as believers, we can be "fruit inspectors!"

It's no secret that there are many willful Christians. The question is, how can we avoid being one of them?

1. Instead of loving myself most I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself.

Fruitfulness, in the Christian walk, is the method of touching other people with God's love. Instead of focusing on "self," focus on others! One fringe benefit of this is the likelihood that we will not be in situations that could, or would tempt us!

I shared the following in my last post, but it bears repeating here:

It's not about you...it's about others! The fruit that is evident in your life is going to touch other people with love...God's love!

Think about this. Is your fruit consumed only by you?

If so, recall that we need to show JOY in our lives!

J = Jesus first.
O= Others second.
Y= You third.

2. Instead of being one of the crowd I am willing to be singled out, set apart from the gang.

Here, at this Talkwisdom blog, I can certainly relate to a phrase from our Bible study book says, "and to be marked as one of His (meaning Christ) would mean a certain amount of criticism and sarcasm from a cynical society."

I used to hate being criticized and mocked for my faith. Now, I view it as coming with the territory! What has changed? My attitude towards it. I have taken the following verses to heart in my life. I am to "count it all joy" :


Jam 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Jam 1:3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Jam 1:4
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Jam 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Jam 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Jam 1:7
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Jam 1:8
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Jesus told us that they "hated Him first," so what makes us think that they won't hate us for sharing Him with this sinful world?

Jhn 15:25 But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Jhn 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Despite the fact that Jesus was hated by some, he came to save us all!! Those who reject the invitation, do so to their own detriment. But we, as his followers, aren't to judge who shall come to repentance and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. The Holy Spirit does the saving, we do the sharing. So we press on and share the Gospel with whomever, wherever, and whenever we can.

Notice the next point. But we are called to enter into the suffering of others! This is what "longsuffering" means. Some interpret it as patience, and yes, that is a part of it. But one of the fruits of the Spirit is longsuffering.

Instead of insisting on my rights I am willing to forego them in favor of others. Denying oneself.

But there is a benefit, even in this! Set free from the shackles of personal pride, it's pretty hard to hurt such a person.

In an earlier post here at my blog, I tackled the "why celebrities have conflict ridden lives." It's quite eye-opening. It discusses how pride, and that "false kind of love" (e.g. idolic worship of celebrities) and hate (self-loathing in their personal lives) can cause such conflict and pain in their lives.

He who has no sense of self-importance cannot be offended or deflated. But doesn't this go against the grain of human autonomy? Much of what Christ preaches to us goes against the grain of typical human wants and desires, doesn't it? Why is that? Because we are not allowing Christ to lead us into His righteousness!!

This chapter asks, instead of being "boss" am I willing to be at the bottom of the heap? Not "top ram", but a "tail-ender." Am I willing to place my personal life and personal affairs in the Master's hands?

5. Instead of finding fault with life and asking "Why?" I am willing to accept every circumstance of life in an attitude of gratitude. No matter whether joyous or tragic.

The current war on terror was prophesied in Scripture. We should not be surprised at what is happening in the Middle East. No matter what your politics may be, there is the reality of good vs. evil going on between the West and radical Islamo-fascism. If you don't believe me, I suggest you read Bill O'Reilly's Culture Warrior (chapter 7 in particular) and view the documentary DVD: "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West."

But despite all the turmoil going on in the world, each Christian can have peace amongst the storm. Jesus' words in this verse sum it up very well:

Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Pair that encouraging verse with this one:

1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Wow!

Powerful, powerful verses to live by!!

It is for this reason that we want to share what we have in Christ with others. Putting up with a little (or a lot, for that matter!!) scorn, ridicule, and mocking for just one more person's sake...that is...that they find Christ as a result...means more for all eternity than any pain or suffering that we may have to endure in order to accomplish such a desired end! Amen??

6. Instead of exercising and asserting my will, I learn to cooperate with His wishes and comply with His will.

This means that we must be willing to cancel out the great "I" in our decisions. It is then, indeed, that the Cross has been applied to that (my) life. No longer, "my will be done," but it changes to, "His will be done in my life!"

7. Instead of choosing my own way I am willing to choose to follow in Christ's way: simply to do what He asks me to do.

This is a biggy for me. It answers the question of how this study has impacted my life. Each morning on my blog, I have the opportunity to share things that are going on in the world, but most importantly, applying them to the gospel of "Christ and Him crucified."

I have prayed about the possibility of writing a book about the topics here at this blog and my encounters with people who both agree with me on cultural and spiritual issues and those who disagree. I have plenty of material to pen a book now, but I didn't have any idea what my main message was supposed to be. But this Bible study has helped me tremendously! It has pointed me towards the direction that I should go. In fact, a famous contemporary Christian song has motivated me in finally choosing it's title!

Previously, I had come up with several different title choices, but after thinking about each of those individual titles, I found that it wasn't broad enough for what I would be ultimately trying to convey within the book's message. Now, I have the title that works really well (some friends have agreed), while at the same time, encompasses the main message that I want to share, and gives me the opportunity to end each chapter on a positive, uplifting and encouraging note! I feel as though that "boulder of indecision" that I seemed to have had before me, which was constantly preventing me from moving on, has now been removed! I'm so excited and can't wait to get started! But even my months of indecision did not go completely to waste...as it turns out, I have several great chapter headings as well!

Now, instead of talking about it...it's time to get busy on it!!

Bearing Spiritual Fruit

Today's topic from Turning Point Ministries by Dr. David Jeremiah is Bearing Spiritual Fruit.

Dr. Jeremiah started the sermon sharing a football coach story. A head college football coach was instructing his assistant coach on how to recruit players for the team. The coach said, "Some players get knocked down and they don't get up. Some players get knocked down once, get up, but when they get knocked down a second time, they don't get up. Then, there are some, that no matter how many times they get knocked down, they get up each and every time."

The assistant coach asked, "So, you want me to find and recruit that third type of guy; the ones that always get back up again?"

The head coach said, "No. I want you to find the guy whose knocking down all those players!"

Obviously, this story indicates that the coach was looking for productive players.

Dr. Jeremiah likened this story to Christian believers. Some just don't always know how to be productive. So, what constitutes a productive Christian believer?

I. Fruitfulness is a Very Important Subject

The Bible tells us to bear fruit. "Bearing fruit" is mentioned 106 times in the Old Testament. It is also mentioned 70 times in the New Testament. Of the 27 epistles, "bearing fruit" can be found in 24 of them. The remaining three have the concept of bearing fruit within the message, too.

Through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, the Bible's divine Author, we see that bearing fruit is an important subject. The people that the Holy Spirit chose to pen the Bible, wrote down this important subject. So how are we, as Christians, supposed to bear fruit? And why?

A. Fruitfulness is the Mark of our Genuineness as a Believer

Matthew 7:15-20

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.


Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?


Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.


Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.


Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.


Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Jesus himself tells us that we will know them by their fruit.

Matthew 12:33


Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.

We're the tree and whether we bear good fruit or not demonstrates the genuineness of our faith.

Those who say that they are Christians, yet act just like the world; engaging in willful sin and disobedience to God's Law we must ask are they genuinely Christians?

Now we know that the Bible tells us "not to judge," but as believers, we can be "fruit inspectors!"

There is a book out on the market which has become popular that gives the impression that you can be a believer and not have to bear fruit at all! That's certainly not scriptural!

Jesus Christ changes your life! Salvation is not a reformation, it is transformation! The tested and true expositor will bear some fruit. What is an obvious test of being in the vine? No fruit? You can be sure there is no light.

If your life hasn't changed at all, I must warn you - see if you are truly in the faith. There is a popular saying that's very true. No fruit? No root!

B. Fruitfulness is the Measure of Your Walk With the Lord.

Is there any evidence of fruit in your life? Is there any pro-activity in your life? Does anyone see you as different?

Of course, when we start out as new believers, we may only bear little fruit. But as we grow, more fruit should become evident in our lives.

C. Fruitfulness is the Motivation Behind God's Pruning for Discipleship

Someone may ask, "why do Christians get cancer?" Because human are susceptible to disease.

John 15:2

Jhn 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Fruit bearing is the reason for times of testing.

Vineyards are pruned so as not to waste water on shoots that are not bearing fruit. When pruned, the vines bearing fruit are much more productive than if the shoots were to remain, taking up space and water while yielding nothing of value.

If we are honest, sometimes many Christians get involved in things which are not productive. We run off into dead end streets.

God puts testing into our lives...even when we may not be involved in anything so bad...but because we many not be productive for His kingdom.

The more productive we are, the more opportunities God leads us into in order to become even more fruitful.

A prayer that you might like to pray about this area in your life might be similar to this: "Lord, help me to evaluate areas in my life so that I can be more productive for You and Your kingdom!"

D. Fruitfulness is the Method of Touching Other People With God's Love

It's not about you...it's about others! The fruit that is evident in your life is going to touch other people with love...God's love!

Think about this. Is your fruit consumed only by you? If so, recall that we need to show JOY in our lives!

J = Jesus first.
O= Others second.
Y= You third.

E. Fruitfulness is the Manifestation of Christ Before the World

After Jesus' resurrection to the Father, he no longer makes personal manifestations of himself at these times. He has chosen believers, His church, to be His "body" and we manifest Him to the world.

Help us to bring the presence of Christ into this world! They will know Christ through you.

Unfortunately, sometimes the public doesn't see much of Christ in us. This needs to change in order to accomplish the next sign of fruitfulness in our lives.

F. Fruitfulness is the Means of Glorifying the Father

John 15:8

Jhn 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Jesus directly tells us why we are to bear fruit! It is one of the commands of God that we glorify Him through doing so!

When we bear fruit, we bring glory to the Father. They see evidence of it in our relationship to God.

II. Fruitfulness: What It Is

A. Fruitfulness Is Character - What You Are

Galatians 5:22-23

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,


Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Is there such evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit in your life?

B. Fruitfulness is Conduct - What You Do

Romans 6:20-22

Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.


Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.

The things we do is evidenced through our conduct, behavior, and lifestyle. Should Christian believers be different from the world? What do you think?

C. Fruitfulness is Contributions - What You Give

Romans 15:25-28

Rom 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.


Rom 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.


Rom 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.


Rom 15:28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God owns it all anyway! He has graciously given us so much! Tithing a portion back to him via the church reflects evidence of our charity. Christ is the epitome of giving. He gave His life for us! There is really nothing that we could give that would trump, no less even come anywhere near what Christ has already given us!

If you can be in love with Christ and not give, then we need to remember Matthew 6:21
The heart is evidence of where your treasure truly is!

[Time out from the lesson. Dr. Jeremiah made a comment that reiterates an important truth. People who aren't Christians don't like to worship. I thought about the current "War on Christmas" that is going on in this nation. Of course, the ACLU isn't against the secular celebration of "Happy Holidays," but there is something about that word "Christmas" that bothers them. What is it? It's the worship of Jesus Christ. The ACLU doesn't want any displays of the Nativity on public land. They don't want the Ten Commandments displayed anywhere near a courthouse (despite the fact that our laws in this land were originally derived from such commandments). Atheists are now actively suing to get "In God We Trust" off of our money and "Under God" out of the pledge of allegiance. Why? It is exactly because of what Dr. Jeremiah astutely pointed out in his sermon. People who aren't Christians don't like to worship. They don't like to worship God, in general; and they don't like to worship Jesus Christ, in particular. Their hatred for Christ is very evident in the fact that they allow Kwanzaa, the Jewish menorah and star, the Muslim crescent etc. But any symbol of religious belief in Christ is banned from the public square. Now we know why.]

F. Fruitfulness is Converts - Who You Win

Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.

Have you won anyone to Jesus? Have you tried? If you haven't tried, how can you be successful?

This is the fifth way in a series of five ways to show fruitfulness in your life. If you do A. - D., somewhere along the way, E. will happen.

By the same token, you can't do E. either if you don't do A. - D.!

It is our duty to be Christlike!

Let's recap:

A. Fruitfulness Is the Mark of Your Genuineness as a Believer
Matthew 7:15-20
Matthew 12:33
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 13:5

B. Fruitfulness Is the Measure of Your Walk with the Lord

C. Fruitfulness Is the Motivation Behind God's Discipline

D. Fruitfulness Is the Method of Touching Other People

E. Fruitfulness Is the Manifestation of Christ to the World

F. Fruitfulness Is the Means of Glorifying the Father

II. Fruitfulness – What It Is

A. Fruitfulness Is Character – What You Are
Galatians 5:22-23

B. Fruitfulness Is Conduct – What You Do
Romans 6:20-23

C. Fruitfulness Is Contributions – What You Give
Romans 15:25-28
John 3:16
Matthew 6:21

D. Fruitfulness Is Communication – What You Say
Hebrews 13:15

E. Fruitfulness Is Converts – Who You Win
Proverbs 11:30

Do A through D, and the door will be wide open for achieving E.

Have you been a Christian for a long time and can only think of maybe one person whom you have led to Christ? Remember, in that one "fruit"there are seeds to more fruit! You have no idea what God might be up to in that one converted life to Christ and how much fruit they will bear!

George Smith was a missionary. In all of his journeys, he only knew for sure that he had one convert. It was an 80 year old woman whose conversion led to an entire explosion of converts to Christianity in her village. It 's not about tabulating how many converts. You never know how many seeds you have planted, either!

Have you ever thought about who led two great evangelists; Billy Graham and D.L. Moody to Christ? Look at the fruit they have produced. It's not about taking records and keeping score. The angels in heaven celebrate over each and every convert to Christ... one convert at a time!

But God has called us to do this!

Do people see the imprint of Christ on your life?

Ask yourself, if you were to be indicted as a Christian; how much evidence would be found against you?

You cannot be a Christian without bearing fruit!

Nobody's perfect. It's not about being a "holier than thou" person, either.

The key is this. We must demonstrate the characteristics of Christ through bearing fruit.

We must be born-again (See John 3:1-21) first, then become fruit bearers for Christ.

Stepping Out From Muslim Silence

In my discussions with liberal democrats, I have found that they usually tend to follow the lead of their political leaders without considering why conservative republicans still support President Bush, and the war an terror in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Several days ago, I posted a link to YouTube videos of OBSESSION: THE NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT RADICAL ISLAM’S WAR AGAINST THE WEST.

Funny thing.

Not a peep about it from the liberals who usually post here.

Why not?

IMMEDIATE UPDATE! I JUST WENT BACK TO THE SITE ABOVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THE LINKS AND SADLY, GOOGLE IS PRACTICING CENSORSHIP!!

[addendum: Google has now finished taking over YouTube. They immediately removed most conservative orientated content, including clips of this video. Sorry folks! I have no control over internet censorship!

You can buy the movie on dvd, just check the web. Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West]


"Obsession" is one of the most powerful, expertly crafted and undeniably important films I’ve seen this year. This courageous, utterly gripping expose’ deserves the attention of every American — and merits serious consideration for the Academy Award for Best Feature Length Documentary."

— Michael Medved Nationally Syndicated Radio Host Film Critic, "Eye on Entertainment"


Go Here to view a 12 minute film clip!

Now we see another brave woman stepping out of the echo of Muslim silence to state the truth about how women are terribly treated by radical Islam. She risks her life to do so, too!

In this Reader's Digest article, called Breaking the Silence, Wafa Sultan was stunned when she was asked to be interviewed by the infamous Al Jazeera TV network.

An excerpt:

Wafa was stunned. She was not a professional writer, much less a scholar on the Middle East. Though she had grown up in Syria, she had called California home for 16 years, and her days were now completely devoted to her family.

Then again, she did have strong opinions about Islamic extremism, and she was utterly unafraid to express them. So if Al Jazeera wanted to talk to a wife and mother in Los Angeles about this important subject, sure, why not? Wafa accepted. What no one could have guessed was that she was about to become a controversial new voice in the Islamic world -- and for many moderate Muslims, a model of courage.

A model of courage. Definitely!! When you read her story, I guarantee that you will think so, too.

Wafa Sultan grew up in Baniyas, Syria.

One day, Wafa sat in a lecture hall with 200 other students, listening to her professor of ophthalmology, Yusef Al Yusef. Suddenly she heard the crack of gunfire and then saw her teacher crumple to the floor. A group of men stood next to the body, guns extended, shouting, "God is great! God is great!" in Arabic. The killers, Muslim extremists, quickly ran out, leaving the students staring at their dead instructor.

Deeply troubled by this fundamentalist violence, Wafa was further shaken when she became a doctor in a large hospital. Newly married to an engineering professor, she came home from work with disturbing stories of treating victims of domestic abuse. Women would walk in with black eyes, bruised backs, broken bones. Wafa could mend their wounds and listen to their complaints, but she couldn't discuss openly what she saw as the root cause: a culture that demands total deference to men, amplified by extremist beliefs.

She and her husband moved to Los Angeles CA.

She took part in the social life of the local Muslim community, yet insisted that her children "live the American life." They were taught English from the start, and while they can understand Arabic, the younger two don't speak it to this day. But the culture Wafa left behind was never far from her mind. She started writing opinion pieces on women, Islam and radicalism for the local Arabic press. Wafa was careful not to be openly critical of religion, instead questioning an interpretation of Islam that seemed to breed terrorists and wife-beaters.

Even so, some thought Wafa had gone too far. After one editorial came out, she received a phone call from a man who warned that "even in America, there are limits." The person on the line claimed to be from a prominent Islamic organization. Intimidation of this sort made Wafa nervous and her editors more timid.

Then came September 11. Watching the World Trade Center towers fall on her television screen, Wafa felt enraged and emboldened. "I don't care anymore. I will write what I want," she told David. Too few people were speaking the truth about radical Islam and she, for one, would stop holding back.

This is still true, for the most part, today. Who could blame her if she did hold back? With death threats being hurled towards her and her family every day, she still presses on to share the hard, bold truth.

Earlier this summer, Wafa said she was "in hiding" with her family due to threats she still receives daily. Most are via the Internet. "I will be your killer," reads one e-mail. Another message, left on her answering machine, said, "Oh, you are still alive? Wait and see." Fiercely protective of her children, Wafa tries to shield her youngest daughter from the menacing messages, though the girl is aware of them.

Wafa has also paid a price within the Muslim community in Los Angeles. Before she became a known activist, she had a busy social life with other Middle Eastern women. Today, few of her old friends remain. "They begged me to stop," she explains of the women in her circle. Some feared for her life; others reviled her message. Wafa summarizes their reaction this way: "You can't make any change, so why are you risking your life?"

Her answer is that she is uniquely positioned to reform the culture she came from. She is educated, a gifted writer, a captivating speaker and -- unusual for a Muslim reformer -- a woman. Most crucially, she has the courage to say things that others are thinking but won't express.

Amen Wafa!

She is now focused on a book she's writing, titled The Escaped Prisoner: When Allah Is a Monster. Asked if she will soften her stance to appeal to a broader audience, she replies, "Not under any circumstances." After half a lifetime trapped in silence, she has found her voice.

That's a book that I want to read!

Why Celebrities Have Conflict-Ridden Lives

So. Now we can add Danny DeVito's crazy drunken rant to the list of recent rants done by Mel Gibson and then Michael Richards. As far as I know, Richards wasn't drunk at the time. But Mel and Danny obviously were.

The latest issue of Whistleblower magazine is called Why Hollywood is Insane. Great articles! Wish I could post most of them. But the one that stuck out most in my mind was David Kupelian's "The Secret Curse of Hollywood 'Stars.' In that article alone, we find out why so many celebrities have conflict-ridden lives and dysfunctional families.

It is a very long article, so I will paraphrase and just mention some of the details. But I will quote the portions that will explicitly explain to us why people like Gibson, Richards, and DeVito (plus many others that I could list) acted out the way they did.

Kupelian starts out with a quote from the Ten Commandments in Exodus:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3

He begins the article mentioning the drastic conflict that existed for Judy Garland (who was so talented, beautiful and so "perfect"), and Elvis Presley, whose talent led to his idolization by millions.

Garland, unfortunately, struggled with drug and alchohol addictions, was plagued with self-doubt and tried to commit suicide several times. She was miserable and died of a sleeping pill overdose.

Presley had wealth and fame beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Yet, his inner conflict led him into years of legendary drug use that ultimately caught up with him and tragically claimed his life in 1977.

Kupelian writes:

For every self-destructive superstar who dies such a sad, early death, there are hundreds of Hollywood celebrities who live profoundly dysfunctional, conflict-ridden lives. Drug and alcohol abuse are commonplace and divorce almost the norm. Yet these people seem to possess everything most of us secretly covet - talent, fame, good looks, wealth, adoration.

So what goes wrong? What secret curse afflicts them?

Kupelian goes on to say that he doesn't wish to oversimplify, because each situation is different.

But Andrew Breitbart and Mark Ebner, in their scathing expose' "Hollywood Interrupted," take a stab at answering the question of why superstars are so often full of conflict and their family life so disastrous:

"The short answer," claim the authors, "is ego. Insatiable ego. Constantly massaged ego. 24-hour-a-day concierge ego. 400-thread-count linen at the five-star luxury dog kennel ego. Trading in your pre-fame spouse for a world-class model ego."

I immediately thought of Christie Brinkley. Although her husband wasn't "famous," he married a beautiful, famous, top model. From articles that I have read, she's a wonderful mother and appears to have a level head on her shoulders. So what went wrong? Her husband craved having sex with a teenager?? He threw away his marriage, the chance for his young children to grow up with the family intact, and his reputation just to have sex with a young teenaged girl? Insane! Stupid! Unbelievably selfish!

In fact, as we go deeper into the article, we will see how selfishness and self-worship, and craving for ego-driven idolatry leads to much disfunction.

There is a saying similar to the following: Many believe that the greatest tragedy in life is not getting their hearts desire. But sometimes it turns out that the greatest tragedy in life IS GETTING THEIR HEARTS DESIRE. Be careful what you wish for! It matters what that desire is! It matters whether it is God-directed or ego-directed!

According to Breitbart and Ebner:

...Every celebrity, by design and necessity, is a narcissist. The desire to become a star requires an incredible appetite for attention and approval. To achieve fame and its accoutrements takes laser-like focus and a nearly commendable ability to stay self-centered in the service of the dream. Maintaining celebrity is a 24-hour-a-day process requiring a full-time staff to solidify the star's place at the top of the social pecking order. An impenetrable ring of "yes" creatures - including assistants, publicists, managers, agents, hair and make-up artists, stylists, lifestyle consultants, Pilates instructors, cooks, drivers, nannies, schedulers, and other assorted caretakers - work round-the-clock to feed the star's absurd sense of entitlement. Celebrities focus on the minutiae of self all the time - and they make sure that no distractions like airplane reservation snafus or colicky babies interrupt this singular focus. This often extremely lucrative self-obsession invariably becomes downright pathological. ...

Massive ego and narcissism may be the primary ingredients for achieving and maintaining Hollywood success, but they are also the No. 1 cause of the gradiose foibles in their storied, disastrous personal lives. The full-time job of parenting requires absolute selflessness. In contrast, the full-time job of celebrity requires absolute selfishness. The two by definition do not naturally co-exist. Yet, because of their fame, money, and social power, stars somehow think they can defy the odds and maintain a high level of professional success, and still raise healthy families in the process.

No wonder so much rotten fruit is hanging from the dysfunctional celebrity family tree.

But Kupelian goes a whole lot deeper. He shows that living off of approval and applause may feel great for a time, but it also produces great problems.

When it comes to being worshipped, human beings just don't make very good gods, something the Good Book warns about repeatedly. Worship is meant for God alone. But when humans are idolized and worshipped - and when they lower themselves to accept that homage and bask in its glory - major conflict mysteriously appears within the idolized "star."

This is where it gets really good. In fact, when you finish reading this portion, you will probably not only find out why some Hollywood celebrities are basket cases, but you may find out something really important about ourselves that we may not have ever realized before!

'Those 2 impostors'

What could possibly be wrong with the good feelings we get, the ego warmth, the inner glow to our pride that we derive from basking in the approval and adulation of others? And how could celebrities overdose and self-destruct on large quantities of this "drug" of false love/praise?

Before we launch full-bore into answering this question, let's set the stage by recalling the line from Rudyard Kipling's stirring poem, "If," where he says:

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same...

"Impostors"? How can triumph and disaster both be impostors? Hold that thought, while we skip down to the last stanza:

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - or lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you ...

Wait a minute. We all know to watch out for "foes," but how can "loving friends" possibly hurt us?

Kupelian explains this mystery by referencing his book, "The Marketing of Evil," where he tells us that we can't always trust our feelings. Feelings are exactly what the evil marketers appeal to so that they can make bad things appear to be good, and end up selling us "corruption disguised as freedom."

He writes:

After all, if you think what feels good is good, and what feels bad is bad, you have a problem, because lies often make you feel good - and so does heroin, and so does sex with a stranger. You also have a problem with truth - because truth often hurts.

[W]e have a noble nature and an ignoble nature. The noble nature is patient, kind, honest, courageous, unselfish, thoughtful and temperate. The ignoble nature is angry, resentful, selfish, lustful, greedy, cowardly, envious and vengeful. And of course, following the feelings of this dark side is what gets us into trouble.

If we are honest, each of us are saddled with both natures to one degree or another. Kupelian shares that, "good and evil are everywhere in this life, and each of these has a spiritual source which beckons to us, without words, to follow its leadings." (bold mine)

Which side enlarges and dominates our lives? How do we get the noble side to grow and the ignoble side to grow smaller, even wither away and die?

Kupelian writes:

The greatest being who ever walked this earth, Jesus Christ, answered this question in His very first recorded word of ministry: "Repent." (see Matthew 4:17)

"Repent?" Good grief, isn't that one of those archaic Bible words that means we have to wail and gnash our teent and clothe ourselves in sackcloth and ashes?

No. To repent just means you simply look honestly in the mirror and see your own flaws and weaknesses and don't make excuses for them, don't deny them, blame someone else for them or justify them. You also don't condemn yourself for them. But rather, you just plain old acknowledge your faults honestly and allow yourself to experience the natural sadness and contrition that accompany your awareness of them, and quietly cry out to God to help you to change. And change comes.

But - you cannot change for the better (and I don't mean superficial change, but rather, transformation at your very core) if you don't repent. And you cannot repent if you can't see wrong in yourself. And you can't see what's wrong with you if you are high on the anesthetizing "drug" of false love.

Perhaps you are more familiar with that other feel-good "drug," which has the same effect of making you invulnerable to seeing your own faults. It's called hate.

For example, the main reason Islamic culture is so notoriously non-introspecitve, blaming everyone and everything else for its own gargantuan problems, is because so many Muslims (though obviously not all) have been pumped up with hate. Hatred for Jews in particular and all "infidels" (non-Muslims) in general, as well as hatred and blame toward women, or toward the other varieties of Muslims, and so on, renders them literally unable to see themselves and their faults. Their hatred acts like a narcotic drug that takes away their conscience-pain and recognition of their faults that would otherwise naturally impress itself on their minds. they are filled instead with the ecstasy of false righteousness based on infidel-hatred.

Wow! What an insight! They are filled with the ecstasy of false righteousness based on infidel-hatred! If that's not Satan's calling, I don't know what is! Of course, the Islamo-fascist terrorists are examples of the extreme concerning "false righteousness based on infidel-hatred," but we can clearly see that false righteousness, in and of itself, can lead anyone to do anything evil!

Taking this a step further, we can recognize the truthfulness of the Bible.

Christian writers can choose to focus on one aspect of God while ignoring the other. Many love to write (and the audience loves to read) the books that uplift and encourage us with Scripture. However, the books that don't necessarily focus on the Good News of the gospel, but also focus on our sinful, unrepentant hearts, while showing us how separated we are from Holy God, are the types that usually aren't the best sellers.

The Way of the Master book is one that would never reach the level of readership that, lets say, for example, The Purpose Driven Life book has. Why? Because The Way of the Master book focuses on the Law of God, His judgment, and our need for repentance!

Going back to the article. Kupelian states that many of us know how hate can make you "high," and blaming and resenting others "blows your mind clean" of any awareness of your own problems. But he asks this all-important question:

But do we also recognize that getting high on the "drug" of false love, adoration and unconditional approval - everybody telling us how wonderful we are all the time, and our believeing it - also can render us virtually unable to see our own flaws?

I think that Eve fell for a type of "false love" when she was tempted by Satan. Her "drug" was temptation through two physical desires, as well as the spiritual desire to "know evil." She had already experienced all the good that God wanted her to have. But she heeded Satan's lure of "unconditional approval" (e.g. Satan telling her, 'C'mon Eve! You will not die!'), so to speak, his lure of false adoration (e.g. 'your eyes will be opened and you will be like God') and put her good relationship with God in jeopardy (loss of spiritual connection) and dire straits (physical death, with the possibility of spiritual death - separation from God forever) by acting upon the lies of Satan.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:


Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.


Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (bold mine)

To make matters worse, Adam, having eaten of the same forbidden fruit blamed Eve for offering it to him. Thus we had history's first incident of hatred and blame.

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Kupelian goes on to describe why people get involved with drugs, alcohol, pain-killers etc. and how the approval of others can act upon us exactly like a drug, anesthetizing us from feeling the pain of our problems. And we become addicted to it! He describes the "wicked cycle" of it all, and as the "pain killer" wears off, our need for the "drug" of approval (or hate!) can cause one to descend into madness, or even suicide.

It's the reason that hate often boils over into violence (if it doesn't destroy us inwardly first), because it has nowhere else to go...and is ever growing. This is what leads many celebrities to embrace false religions (Scientology, New Age etc.). Getting high on either of these "drugs" (of false love or hate), we become deluded, egotistical and prideful, and very, very blind to our faults - making us blind therefore to pretty much everything else.

Ah! So THAT'S why so many celebrities marry the wrong person in the first place and end up divorcing them shortly thereafter!

Now hold onto your hats. The next paragraph is sure to inflict the ire of some who read this blog!!

Kupelian writes:

Fortunately, the opposite is also true. What I've discovered in this life is that if you are sincere enough to face yourself and patiently bear the pain of seeing your own imperfections on a moment-to-moment basis, you'll pretty much understand everybody else - at least as much as you need to understand.

Wow! That's huge! It reminds me of what Jesus said in Luke:

Luk 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull
out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Casting out the beam from one's own eye will then help us see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye! But many would claim that's "judgmental." Well yes and no. It's a form of showing another their need for repentance, just as I had my own need for repentance! Jesus is giving us permission to "pull out the mote from thy brother's eye" (meaning, point out their need for repentance too!!). When, as born-again believers in Christ, we have taken out the "beam from our own eyes" (meaning, already know the need for our own repentance!) and now see clearly because of what Jesus has done on the cross and what God's Word says; it is then that we see the need for all to do the same in order to be saved! It's not my righteousness that gives us this command, it's Jesus' righteousness that allows us to "see clearly."

This is why following God's Word is crucial. If we follow man's word over and above God's Word, then we are elevating "our thoughts above His thoughts." And Scripture tells us that His thoughts are far above ours! We need His written Word as a guide in our lives so that we don't go astray! It's easy to go astray (or be led astray by false prophets, leaders, teachers etc.) when one is ignorant of God's Word.

Kupelian writes:

It's as though God just wants us to look at ourselves honestly and to repent of our sins and seek Him and His righteous way - and as a fringe benefit, He is happy to "throw in" an authentic understanding of everything else in life. No extra charge. It's the icing on the cake - the cake being our own, sincere self-examination.

Well guess what? We cannot have that twin blessing of understanding ourselves and others if we're coked-up on the praise of others. Again, it's not the praise and worship itself that hurts us, but the way we deal with it. If people praise you for something you've done, but you don't stoop down to "suck up" the praise and build your self-image with it, then you won't be hurt by it.

So, we see that it's a matter of human praise "keeping it's place" within our lives and not being blown out of proportion and entered into the domain that belongs to God alone...worship.

Kupelian goes on to describe how excessive praise hurt him earlier in life. He also included other examples. You can personalize such an experience by recalling a time that someone praised you so excessively that you felt uncomfortable. Why is it that we can feel awkward when that happens; just like we can feel very bad emotionally when someone criticizes or condemns us? Why the discomfort?

The more approval-oriented we are, the more we feel hurt by criticism - and to the same degree. You might be saying "So what?" The reason is because whenever we build our pride, we're growing in conflict with God.

Kupelian writes:

If we take that "drug" of worship into us, it just enlarges our problems.

Remember, what keeps us sane, happy and moving in the right direction in this life is living in the light of constant, good-natured self-awareness. And that self-awareness - with our conscience brightly shining through it - becomes the regulator of our life, and makes our perceptions and decisions right and wholesome.

[W]hen we worship a celebrity [Christine adds: or anyone else, for that matter] as a god, like millions did with Elvis, we're robbing them of this precious relationship with the real God. Although a part of them love (is addicted to) the "drug" of praise, another more innocent part of them longs to be treated normally, honestly, soberly.

[B]ut we can learn something from what happens to those humans we worship. It's not a coincidence that Hollywood celebrities so often become dysfunctional, ultraliberal weirdos. Our worship of them is hurtful - to us, but especially to them.

Yes. Not all celebrities fall into this trap and become basket cases. Although their fans serve up the "drug," they accepted it gracefully, without crossing that line that could lead them to destruction.

There are many "stars" who have the right attitude. They are humble, grateful, with both feet firmly planted on the ground. They recognize that "Triumph" and "Disaster" are both impostors. It's what Kipling was pointing to when he wrote:

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!

C-Span and Letters to Mahmoud

Sometimes I enjoy watching C-Span, and other times I don't. The hosts are unapologetically leftists and seem to enjoy quoting the New York Traitor (a.k.a. Times) in all it's attempted America-destroying glory.

This morning, however, I appreciated listening to Bing West. Bing served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Reagan administration. You can read much more about him at his website.

He shared something today that I had not previously been aware of. He said that the one thing over in Iraq that angers our military, the Iraqi military and police, and the Iraqi people is the "catch and release" habit when perpetrators are discovered planting bombs. They generally only get 4 months in prison and then are released! I thought that was absolutely crazy! Why release these people so soon...they will only do it again! But then he shared the reason why. Because of the media firestorm and over-blown reporting of the Abu Ghraib incident, no one on the ground there wants to get involved in prolonged imprisonment.

This is nuts, people. Our MSM here generated that over-blown fiasco (Yeah...it needed to be reported but come on! The extreme hype was totally unnecessary!) and they can now be considered responsible (IMO)for many of the additional deaths of our soldiers, the Iraqi soldiers and police, and the Iraqi civilians!!

I know. You visitors who are on the opposite side of this war and the issues surrounding it are probably gonna blast me for saying that. But I don't care. It is absolutely true.

In fact, I believe that history will one day show how the war protestors, the MSM, and the Vietnam era naysayers who have openly and harshly opposed our brave military's efforts in this war will one day be exposed for what they are. Cowards and enablers of the terrorists! This is whether they believe it or not.

Bing West had many great things to say during his 20 minute interview. Some of the callers had sensible things to say, too. Other callers just spewed their regular hate mantra for President Bush and exposed (to me, at least) their ill-conceived notions that we shouldn't have gone into Iraq in the first place (get over it!!) and that we should pull out (in other words, they don't care if we win), and worst of all, their ignorant and false illusions that the terrorists might just leave us alone if we did so.

Contrast Mr.West with the next guest on C-Span, Wesley Clark.

I couldn't believe my ears when he said that we should enter into talks with Iran and Syria regarding Iraq.

When Wesley Clark recommended that we should negotiate with terrorist enablers, he lost all credibility with me on this subject.

*[Update: While viewing Michele Malkin's blog, I found another reason to doubt Clark's credibility. ]

**[Second update: In a related matter, check out Malkin's latest eye-opening blogpost that reveals rumors and reporting in Iraq.]

According to the responses to Ahmadinejad's letter to the American people, it seems to me that even the most ordinary Americans understand how foolish and unwise such an endeavor, as Clark poses, would be!

Here are some of the best responses:

Dear President Ahmadinejad:

Thank you for realizing that we are, indeed, "Noble Americans." We want peace, equality, and freedom of speech for everyone. We are willing to fight for it, even to die for it. We boldly show our brave faces in combat, proudly wearing the uniform of democracy and freedom. You, on the other hand, wish destruction on God's people, and deny equality to many and freedom of speech to all. You support fighters who, like the cowards they are, hide in the shadows to attack innocents at opportune moments, only to retreat into the shadows when faced with the brave soldiers of the Coalition forces. You, sir, are not noble and do not have the right to count yourself among the ranks of those of us who are.

Carol
Robbins, NC

Dear Mr. President,

You are apparently not a student of the United States, or you would realize that the incoherent rant you spew in your letter serves only to galvanize Americans. While Americans disagree on many subjects, so do the citizens of your country. The difference is, Americans are afforded the liberty to say so, while oppressive rulers such as yourself cower at the thought of free thought in your own country

If you expect to be taken seriously, to be treated more than a little man with a Napoleon complex then you will need to start with excluding the religious zeal from managing your country and your foreign policy.

If you care about the people and country you lead, learn to become part of the world community, and you will have an impact.

— John (Grand Rapids, MI)

Dear Mahmoud,

This is great stuff! I really mean it! Have considered trying out as a contestant on "Last Comic Standing?" As long as you brutally repress freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of conscience in your country, please allow me to laugh at your criticisms our political process.

Keep it up!

— Noel

President Ahmadinejad,

I may not be on the same side as our president on some things, like his being too weak on the Mexican border issue. But my biggest compliant is that he hasn't gotten rid of you!

— Kathy (Atlanta, TX)

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

A major difference between the West and the Middle East is the value of "truth." The U.S. values the truth and expects our leaders to also. What you have given us is propaganda that you would expect your people to believe because they do not know otherwise. Sir, please do not confuse me with your own subjects. We might not like what our leaders do sometimes but we know the truth because we have access to alternative opinions. Because we hold the truth and liberty in high regards, we can freely challenge our leaders, both religious and political, without the fear of reprisals.

— Tim (Texas)

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

Your letter to us, the American people, is filled to the brim with pure propaganda. Your actions in promoting sectarian violence and fundamentalist beliefs keep your women as third class citizens, mock God who is love, and fly in the face of truth itself. We saw your actions in holding Americans captive in our embassy, promoting and supporting terrorists who regularly rocket civilians in Israel, holding back truthful and honest news so it cannot reach your people, inhibiting all free expression in your own country, among so many other negatives. Our letters to you will, no doubt, never see the light of day in your country, because you fear truth. Your letter to us, the American people, is widely circulated and readily available, because we have true freedom of the press.

— Jim (Brooksville, FL)

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

If you truly believe we true-blooded American people can be influenced by the likes of you and your letter, it is just a fabrication of your sick mind.

— Bob (Nevada)

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

I, like most Americans, will not believe your propaganda and your feeble attempt to turn us against our own country. You say you are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world, but you blatantly allow the training of individuals who carry out the most inhuman actions against mankind. How do you condemn terrorism while empowering it? Count your blessings you are still there. Don't send us anymore of your lies.

— E.C.

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

Your letter to the American people, in the same vein as your letter to President Bush, is absolutely transparent and seeks to play on apparent factions and weaknesses here within America. As you will see from some of the posts on this site, there are those who are ready and willing to take the bait. They are supposed patriots, who play right into your hands and point to liberals and Democrats as the opposition and the enemy. Luckily, as our nation's history has proven time and time again, when faced with an external threat such as the very real one that you and your brethren present, we will unite and be triumphant. The talking heads and pundits do not speak for your average American, and we see straight through your gimmicks and lies.

— Chris

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

Reading your letter was the funniest thing I've heard all year, and my opinion is you're scared to death. Why? Because you're next!

— Jay

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

President George W. Bush is a leader and a man of integrity. You are not a leader, because you are not truly leading your people to peace and prosperity. Your letter reveals what we already know — that you have no integrity. If you continue to push the Western world, we may see whether you are a man or a mouse like Saddam, who had to be pulled from his rat hole.

— Jon (Tennessee)

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

You are crazy, and you should stop trying to make people think you aren't. You should know, as a former terrorist, who held our citizens hostage for 444 days, that this type of letter only makes the American people have more resolve to finish our job in Iraq with honor. I, as an American and a God-fearing person, can only pray that you fall prey to the same terror that you support!

— G. P. (California)

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

You are over-playing your hand. You are the president of a repressive third world nation. We do not take you seriously, and you embarrass yourself each time you behave as if the free world actually cares what you think.

— David

President Ahmadinejad,

Your letter to the American people is a lie and an abomination! You must realize that the American people are not fools or idiots and will not heed a word of it ! You have wasted your time. The atrocities you have committed clearly speak for you. Obviously, your letter is a piece of propaganda for use in the Islamic community in an attempt to convince Muslims what a great and worthy person you are. You will make your letter available for all Iranians to read, but would you allow a letter from President Bush or the American people to be read? No, of course not and we know that. I pray that the time will come, when you are just a bad piece of Iran's history. I hope that time comes soon!

— Angela (San Francisco, CA

President,

You say the violence in Iraq is the responsibility of the United States when it is you who are instigating the killing through your radical Shiite proxies. Americans are not so stupid as to fall for your lies.

— Craig (Houston, TX)

These letters are all good, but this one has to be my favorite so far:

Mr. Ahmadinejad:

The day you stop having rallies calling for the destruction of America, the day you stop funding terrorists who seek to kill and destroy Americans, the day you stop threatening America with "the sword" if we don't convert to your twisted religious doctrine, then I MIGHT think there's some credibility in your letter. Until then, your letter will serve best in various restrooms across the USA.

— Sam

As I was reading through your letter to the American people, I could not help but to think of our past service men and women that had to listen to the same rhetoric from Tokyo Rose during WWII. I do not believe for a minute that the Iranian government has our best interest at heart. I believe that you and your government are a sponsor of world terrorism and that the Iranian government is a major player in the suffering that is being happening to the people of Iraq at this moment. I have no dislike or hatred of the Iranian people. I believe that they are as peace loving as we are. You cannot call for the destruction of free countries such as the U.S. and Israel and the annihilation of a race of people and still call yourself peace loving.

Your letter to the American people was ill conceived, disrespectful and insulting to myself and many other Americans. Yes, I disagree with some of the policies of our own government. But unlike the people of Iran, I have the freedom to voice my opinion. Thank God for that.

— Jim (Barberton, OH)

OK...THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE LETTER:

Dear Mahmoud,

Let’s see… Violent revolution and hostage taking in the 70’s, atrocities in the 80’s (war with Iraq – we watched you two use mustard gas on each other and maul one another’s POWs), religious police, persecution of non-Muslims, funding of killers (Hamas, etc.), death threats against world leaders and whole countries (your speeches on your TV station, bub) … need I go on? We have a popular saying here in the US: “set the crack pipe down and step away slowly”. No, maybe we’re not a perfect country. However, we sure as hell have your madcap delusions of martyrdom beat. Hey – you know, I’ll bet you could give Borat a run for his money doing standup over here!

— Steve (Venice, CA)

Nice try Mahmoud. We Americans are much smarter than you think. Deep down inside you won’t be happy until you overtake us. However, we will never be forced to live under Dictators... You are the crazy man in the attic and freedom always perseveres. We still haven’t paid you back for taking the hostages. I wouldn’t sleep well at night if I was you. We see you for what you are, a fruitcake who will eventually do himself in. Nighty night.

— Nicholas

[NOTE: Glad to see the "Dear President" salutations are gone!!]

There are many more good letters at the site. I'm sure that the list will grow as the day goes by. For now, I will end this post with this letter:

To the Iranian President,

Tens of millions have been freed under the actions of the United States since the 1940’s. No other nation can make this claim. We stand on the side of good. The actions of the U.S. are honorable. If not, why do so many flee your country and come to ours for freedom? Why does your country vow the destruction of Israel if you are God fearing and promote peace!

You are a coward…this we all know!!!!

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Update at 11:57 a.m. PT: Another great blog post with links telling us to Wake Up America: Enemy Propaganda From Our Media! This excerpt from the post reiterates my thoughts about the traitorous, treasonous NYTimes:

A good point and one the AP should heed.

We will end up following rumors instead of hunting terrorists and criminals.

This comment is very telling, the AP in their carelessness and refusal to admit that their longtime source is either entirely made up, or a fraud at best, is endangering the mission in Iraq. Once again as I pointed out about the NYT, this should be considered treason.

In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to one's nation or state. A person who betrays the nation of their citizenship and/or reneges on an oath of loyalty and in some way willfully cooperates with an enemy, is considered to be a traitor.

These media outlets should be held accountable when they endanger American soldiers lives.