Originally posted by polycarp: Like i said. Christian fools are driving people into Islam or away from religion totally.
What can you expect when "christians" support hatred, bigotry, intolerance and go against everything Christ ever taught? They quote a teaching...and then go against it in action.
Fundamentalist christians have done more to create a rising Islam than anybody.
Like Ghandi said, "If I ever saw christianity practiced, I might convert".
Retired Monk
Posts: 863 | Location: West Palm Beach, FL | Registered: 21 June 2007
Originally posted by polycarp: Gerry, there is so much information out about the bogus claims for justified war in Iraq, I'm suprised anyone still believes it. I suppose I shouldn't be.
I wonder how many really believe it, and how many just "mouth" they believe it because they truely agree with the policy of military conquest for resources and a propping up of a dollar that has back-fired.
The deficits from the war are causing the dollar to drop...in contradiction to the justification for propping it up.
Just a matter of time until the Euro replaces it as the international medium of exchange.
Retired Monk "Ideology is a disease"
The Sawdusts and GGs of this world will probably always go with the status quo, thinking that will benefit them. My father had a friend before the war who sympathized with the Germans in WW2. He knew my father did not approve, and when he met my mother on her bike one day, on the way to some farm to get food, he asked her if my father was still fighting the hun. My mother confirmed that he was. To which he responded "J needs to learn which side his bread is buttered on". After the war he was one of the many my father put in jail.
There will always be people that will betray their country for selfserving reasons. And they always wrap themselves in the American flag, or some extreme form of religion.
We will never win this war. The French lost in Algiers. The idea of bringing democracy at the point of a gun should, for any sane person, be an immediate wake-up call. I believe they don't really care. I also believe that WE are causing all this internal strife. Remember the 2 Britons dressed like Arabs in their Toyota filled with explosives on their to a crowded open air market. They were stopped by Iraqi police and jaled. The next day the British came with a tank, rammed the building and freed them. Muslims do not blow up Mosques, only dumb Westeners do, not realizing that for a Muslim to blow up a Mosque will gain him a one way ticket to hell. Remember the Iraqi police officer who was asked to drive a car somewhere, I believe it was a Mosque and upon arrival call "this" number. When he arrived the cell phone didn;t work, so he left his car and asked a stranger if you could use his cell phone to make this call. The moment he opened his mouth and said that he had arrived, his car blew up. He was lucky and able to tell the tale. He subsequently learned from others he spoke to that other "suicide bombings" were the result of similar requests, to drive a car somewhere and then call via cellphone. I guess most others weren't that lucky. International aid organizations claim that there are virtually NO foreigners in Iraq, no AlQuaida, and that the violence is an underground war against the occupier. Suicide bombers are very much against Islam, and I believe those we witness are the result of people being tricked like the Iraqi police officer who lived to tell the tale.
It's sickening in more ways than one.
We will never be able to repay our debt. People are in for a very rude awakening, but you know that already.
Posts: 863 | Location: West Palm Beach, FL | Registered: 21 June 2007
I received this via email just today. I had read about LM and CK previously, but the part about Mr.R may be bogus. But here it is anyway.
Heroes
Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 at age 76 , which is odd, because he always looked to be 76. (DOB: 6/27/27 ) His death reminded me of the following story.
Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery . His marker gives his name, rank(PVT)and service(USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer:
I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent of his Corps experiences. In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award....the Medal Of Honor.
If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery. This dialogue is from 'The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson': His guest was Lee Marvin Johnny said, 'Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded.'
'Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting' shot hauling you down. But,Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew. We both got the cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, where'd they get you Lee?' Well Bob...if you make it home be fore me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!' Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo.'
On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.
After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm. America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened. Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers
"Support mental health, or I'll kill you".
Posts: 825 | Location: West Virginia | Registered: 27 January 2006
I am sorry, but I don't believe in heroes. They are a very American notion to glorify war and make it something honorable. War never is. My father was in the underground in WW2. When I asked him if he was a hero he looked at me and said "Hell no, there's no such thing...you do what you gotta do. Not doing it isn't an option."
War is hell and there is absolutely NO reason on earth to engage in war at this day and age unless it is for alterior motives, such as for the interest of Corporate America, in which case it is a war crime.
Posts: 863 | Location: West Palm Beach, FL | Registered: 21 June 2007
Originally posted by Coalage500: You are certainly entitled to your opinion.
It is the American soldiers who STILL make it possible to have freedom to express one's views.
Depends on which country he is in and what he is doing there and what the views are.
German soldiers made it possible for those in occupied France to express their views...as long as they reflected the views of the Reich.
Iraqi's can express their views as long as they express the views of the American Occupation...otherwise, off to Abu Ghreb. Expressing views with a bomb rather than words tends to avoid time in prison.
A "hero", to me, is a personal thing. Someone I honor for their influence on my life personally. Sometimes, like Thoreau, they have also influenced others, and the "personal hero" is shared. I would replace the word "hero" with a combination of "honor-respect-mentor". Guess the word hero has a different meaning for me than is usually defined.
Retired Monk "Ideology is a disease"
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
Iraqi's can express their views as long as they express the views of the American Occupation...otherwise, off to Abu Ghreb. Expressing views with a bomb rather than words tends to avoid time in prison.
That's a LIE, polyAMEnesty.
You are a most unappreciative American. Each American soldier is willing to DIE for YOU! They are in the most dangerous place to be (besides the mother's womb) on the face of the earth. They have taken an oath to keep you and the rest of human civilization SAFE! You making these kinds of remarks is treasonous in my opinion. If our troops Embarrass you, why don't you find another country?
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
It's great to read the deep, insightful exchange of ideas presented by this thread. I thought that patriotism had faded away, however, here is the old saw about our troops fighting for our freedom. Our troops are trapped in a war which the "leaders" do not plan to "win". Continuous warfare is the future of the corporate nation. Some of our people are trapped by an idealogy which may have "worked" in the 19th century, but which is seen now as simplistic faith in authority.
" Government is the entertainment arm of the Military-Industrial-Complex."- Frank Zappa
Posts: 261 | Location: Erehwon | Registered: 09 March 2006
Originally posted by Don Smith: It's great to read the deep, insightful exchange of ideas presented by this thread. I thought that patriotism had faded away, however, here is the old saw about our troops fighting for our freedom. Our troops are trapped in a war which the "leaders" do not plan to "win". Continuous warfare is the future of the corporate nation. Some of our people are trapped by an idealogy which may have "worked" in the 19th century, but which is seen now as simplistic faith in authority.
You got it Don.....this is not about winning but about perpetual conflict which will benefit corporate America. That's why we went in there in the first place.
Posts: 863 | Location: West Palm Beach, FL | Registered: 21 June 2007
It is the American soldiers who STILL make it possible to have freedom to express one's views.
Where do they make that possible???
Freedom of speech or to express one's views is a matter of law in every western country where they have FAR greater freedoms than we have here, and ALL without interference from American soldiers. Iraqis had FAR greater freedoms than do any of the other Middle Eastern countries. Are we going to invade them too? So it is all about providing the Iraqis the freedom to express their views. Do you know what has happened to those Iraqi's who have expressed their views on the American presence there? They are in Abu Graib! Do you know what the rest of the western world calls the United States?
A police State!!!
Posts: 863 | Location: West Palm Beach, FL | Registered: 21 June 2007
Iraqi's can express their views as long as they express the views of the American Occupation...otherwise, off to Abu Ghreb. Expressing views with a bomb rather than words tends to avoid time in prison.
That's a LIE, polyAMEnesty.
You are a most unappreciative American. Each American soldier is willing to DIE for YOU! They are in the most dangerous place to be (besides the mother's womb) on the face of the earth. They have taken an oath to keep you and the rest of human civilization SAFE! You making these kinds of remarks is treasonous in my opinion. If our troops Embarrass you, why don't you find another country?
GG, is you don't like the truth, change it. If people in Iraq oppose the U.S., oppose an unwarranted arrest, oppose unwarranted breaking into their homes, they are sent to prison. That, GG, is not freedom.
However, since I understand you support Bush doing searches here without warrants, I certainly understand your support of breaking peoples doors down without a warrant. Calling it freedom, however, I don't understand. Sending people to prison for objecting when no wrong-doing is discovered, I don't understand either.
Retired Monk "Ideology is a disease"
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
Our troops are trapped in a war which the "leaders" do not plan to "win".
That may be according to the democrat party but that certainly does not represent the views of most Americans who understand that Islamofascism in on the move, they mean what they say. Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth and then they are coming for olde sam -. You doubt their words - you doubt their intent. Look back to their attacks since the '70s - '90s. Except for the Gulf war we were silent while Americans were being killed by Hizbullah and other factions of Al Qaeda. Than along came 9/11. None suspected they would come onto American soil. They kept invoking and we kept silent. The Koran mandates jihad, a world caliphate. You ready to convert to Islam? I'm not!
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Sending people to prison for objecting when no wrong-doing is discovered, I don't understand either.
Who are these people, poly. You make alot of statements without facts.
quote:
However, since I understand you support Bush doing searches here without warrants, I certainly understand your support of breaking peoples doors down without a warrant. Calling it freedom, however, I don't understand.
This is what I believe to be truth, poly, defeat is not an option for human civilization. That's the reason for the war against al Qaeda. This war is like no other; it's going to be a long war and the reason it has even progressed to the point it has is because of political appeasements, treating terrorists as criminals, considering the terrorists are soldiers AND TERRORISTS ARE NOT SOLDIERS, the twisting of the facts by major media sources, most of all it is about winning the next presidential election. Victory is more important in the next presidential election for the democrats than victory to be free, and not enslaved with Islamofascism.
You are so tightly wrapped in surrender, in waving the white flag, in forcing failure of our troops, retreat, and announcing victory to the enemy that one can only ask, what's your REAL point?
Ask yourself why the major news sources DO NOT interview American soldiers re-enlisting for the 2nd and 3rd times? Ask yourself why news sources do not interview the families of American troops at home and how they are willing to sacrifice in order to support their loved ones efforts to keep America and the world safe from a very evil force fast spreading right in our own country? Dare to ask, poly? There are countless heart warming human interest stories of the Iraqi people's gratitude for what America has done for them. Major news sources fear these stories leaking to the press.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
".. An Iraqi man saved the lives of four U.S. Soldiers and eight civilians when he intercepted a suicide bomber during a Concerned Citizens meeting in the town of al-Arafia Aug.18.
The incident occurred while Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, were talking with members of the al-Arafia Concerned Citizens, a volunteer community group, at a member’s house.
“I was about 12 feet away when the bomber came around the corner,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Kane, of Los Altos, Calif., acting platoon sergeant of Troop B, 3-1 Cav. “I was about to engage when he jumped in front of us and intercepted the bomber as he ran toward us. As he pushed him away, the bomb went off.” […]
“[The Iraqi citizen] could have run behind us or away from us, but he made the decision to sacrifice himself to protect everyone. Having talked with his father, I was told that even if he would have known the outcome before hand, he wouldn’t have acted differently.”
“I spoke with the father,” [D Co. Commander Gilbert] said. “He said he has no remorse in his son’s death because he died saving American Soldiers.” Later that night, the Concerned Citizens group contacted the local National Police director, Lt. Col. Samir, with the location of the al-Qaeda cell believed to be responsible for the attack. The National Police immediately conducted a raid that resulted in four arrests.
Selfless sacrifice, not just for his fellow citizens, but for the men he viewed as liberators not occupiers. It would seem that the Arab ability to shake off the yoke of dictatorial oppression is a lot easier than some have estimated. More to the point, it serves as a reminder that steadfast, resolute defense of life, liberty and equality for all men, is indeed recognized universally as something worth fighting and dying for."
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
It's a tough, but heartwarming story...with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq ..
John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
What is the little girl's name? Seems as if, not only has her immediate family has been slaughtered but also her extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins) as well.
If it is just John Gebhardt and the nurses, her extended family either doesn't know where she is or they no longer exist. If it is the latter, ...
What is the little girl going to do when John Gebhardt has to go back to work? How long is it until John Gebhardt can be rotated home?
Is John Gebhardt thinking of adopting her? If so, it would be best if they come home together to keep trauma to a minimum.
Posts: 771 | Location: Winnipeg | Registered: 06 September 2001
Heroic Catholic Priests and Nuns who Saved People from the Holocaust is a compilation of true stories of rescue by Catholic priests and nuns in Europe during World War II.
Based on documented accounts, these stories depict how goodness can prevail even in the darkest times. The heroism and sacrifice of the priests and nuns whose stories are told in the book have been recognized and honored by the Yad Vashem, the Holocaust documentation Center in Israel and by the Catholic church.
"Sally Rogow provides 15 moving stories of priests and nuns who helped protect Jewish refugees in multiple countries during World War II and the Holocaust. Her stories are chosen from men and women who have been honored by the Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Center in Israel.
Many of the courageous men and women of these stories are not very well known in the United States. Their deeds give insight into being the light of Christ when the consequence could be suffering and even martyrdom. These heroic stories span the countries of Poland, Hungary, France, Belgium and Italy, and they show the courage of everyday Catholics in extraordinary circumstances."
The reviewer doesn't mention that the book is extremely well-written, contains end-of-chapter sources for continued reading or further research, and is suitable for both middle and high school libraries. link
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
New Jersey Voters Reject $450 Million for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- In a defeat for embryonic stem cell research proponents, New Jersey voters rejected a ballot measure Tuesday that would have forced taxpayers to spend $450 million on the destructive research. Pro-life groups campaigned against the proposal because it would also have funded human cloning experiments.
Residents of the northeastern state defeated Public Question # 2 with 53 percent of the vote coming in against it.
Marie Tasy, the head of New Jersey Right to Life, told LifeNews.com the result is a major defeat for Governor Jon Corzine, who personally campaigned for this Question and contributed $200,000 to a shadow group which ran radio ads and made phone calls featuring Michael J. Fox.
The pro-life group challenged the ballot referendum in court for its deceptive nature and ran radio ads featuring Police Detective Steven McDonald who was shot in the line of duty.
Detective McDonald urged a No vote on Public Question # 2, saying that embryonic stem cell research has yet to find any cures for patients and may not for decades.
"Today's vote is a victory for New Jersey citizens," Tasy told LifeNews.com.
"This was an ill-conceived plan from the beginning. In the end, the people recognized that this $450 Million Boondoggle was politics masquerading as science and soundly rejected it," she said.
Others responding to the vote agreed that taxpayers sent a clear message that the state didn't need to borrow and spend such a huge sum of money in a time of fiscal crisis.
Steve Lonegan, a conservative Republican who also opposed the measure, told AP that "It's a reinforcement of our values and a rebuke to the governor. The taxpayers are saying enough is enough."
Senate President Richard J. Codey, a Democrat who contributed $100,000 from his leadership PAC to run radio ads backing the unproven research, spun the results as not being a referendum on the research itself.
"The taxpayers of New Jersey are not against stem cell research," he said. "It's clear. The message we're getting is put your fiscal house in order and then do these things."
..Fairleigh Dickinson University conducted poll of voters' attitudes on the topic and found that 47 percent of state residents back the proposal while 38 percent are opposed to it.
The polling results showed a movement in the pro-life direction as a previous Rutgers-Eagleton poll found a 57-36 percent split in favor of the proposal.
New Jersey Right to Life also filed a lawsuit against the ballot proposal because it fails to disclose that the money will also pay for human cloning.
They also say the proposal does not tell voters that the bonds will be paid through higher local property taxes if sales tax revenues are insufficient. The state appeals court ruled against the challenge.
CARMAN'S Harry Cochran was a First World War hero of a different kind. Unlike Manitoba's Billy Barker, Cochran did not shoot down the Kaiser's planes.
Instead, he saved a German child from drowning, and for that the enemy decorated him.
No other Canadian can claim that honour.
The private with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was a farm boy from Carman who had signed up as a raw teen for the front.
In France, Cochran was captured as a prisoner of war. While in custody, he earned the respect of his German jailers -- and a medal.
"He was the only Canadian to be decorated by the enemy," said Carman-area historian Les Allison, who has made it his mission to chronicle the feats of Manitoba soldiers in the Great War.
Cochran was among the 85 men and boys that Carman never saw again, and his story stands out because he did not die on the battlefield. Given what he suffered, that in itself was a miracle, Allison said.
Cochran's story picks up June 2, 1916, the day his German captors found him gravely wounded in a shell hole.
Allison says Cochran was found by stretcher bearers. He'd been shot through the left lung, near his heart, and had been lying in a pool of water in that hole for days.
He was barely alive when he was taken prisoner.
Months later, Cochran had recovered enough to write his parents back home. He penned a rosy picture of convalescence to get his letter past the German censors.
Other POWs whose letters home were not censored told a different story. The cruelty suffered in those camps was every bit as bad as in the Japanese prisoner of war concentration camps in the Second World War.
Cochran recovered, even though he was forced to work as a farm slave at Heilsbronn, Germany. On a bitterly cold day in January 1918, he performed his act of heroism. Cochran saw an eight-year-old child fall through the ice nearby.
Without a second's hesitation, he jumped to the rescue to pull the child -- blue with cold and not breathing -- out of danger. Perhaps he was thinking of kids back home. For sure, he was not thinking of the drowning child as his enemy.
Then Cochran resuscitated the boy.
His German guards reported the bravery up through the ranks and, that summer, on June 20, 1918, the general of the cavalry for the German army awarded Cochran the German Bavarian Cross of Military Merit 3 Class.
"Harry Cochran was the only Canadian decorated by the enemy for saving a civilian whilst a prisoner of war," Allison said.
Cochran almost made it home. On Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918, he was made a free man and he returned to France. Christmas Eve, 1918, Cochran wired his parents that he was headed to England and then home.
Four days later, on Dec. 28, Cochran died at age 23 of the Spanish flu and complications from his war wounds.
His medal and his story is commemorated at the Calgary home of the Princess Patricias.
In a way, his family continued the military tradition he started. Cochran has a descendant by marriage who is a regimental officer in his old regiment, the PPCLI. "His grandson-in-law is scheduled to go to Afghanistan. He's working his way up to major," Harry's niece by marriage, Alfhild Cochran, said from Carman.
At 85, she is the keeper of a cherished photo of Harry and the medal. "I have five children and it will go to them. They're interested in family history."
Alfhild also carries a few innocent memories from women who knew Harry in the years before the war. They were moved to tears by his angelic voice, she recalled.
"He was a real character. And a beautiful singer. He used to make all the ladies in church bring out their handkerchiefs when he sang," Cochran recalled. "He was worth remembering."
Two men defending American's freedom have been denied freedom. On this Thanksgiving Day, we need to remember Ramos and Compean's brave service and demand their release from prison. Let's say a prayer for their families who suffer greatly from this grave injustice. ***********************
"PARDON RAMOS AND COMPEAN NOW!
Tell Congress to Free Border Agents Ramos and Compean.
Alert: More than 30 conservative leaders, including one of President Bush's long-time friends, have signed a letter urging Bush to pardon imprisoned Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.
The move follows news that the drug smuggler in the case, Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, was arrested last week at the Mexican border for alleged drug offenses committed while under immunity to testify as the star witness.
The leaders calling for a pardon include Paul Weyrich, chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation; Phyllis Schlafly, founder and president of Eagle Forum; Morton Blackwell, chairman of the Conservative Leadership PAC; Frank Gaffney, Jr., president of the Center for Security Policy; and David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union.
Among the signatories of the letter – to be delivered to the White House today – is U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jim Martin, president of 60 Plus Association, whose ties with Bush go back to 1968.
Ramos and Compean are in solitary confinement in federal prisons serving 11- and 12-year terms respectively for shooting Aldrete-Davila as he fled across the border on foot after bringing 750 pounds of marijuana across the Texas border.
The letter chides Bush for being silent and inactive toward previous calls for him to pardon Ramos and Compean.
"We sincerely feel that your inaction and lack of immediacy to personally address the inhumane treatment of these two agents runs counter to the tenets of a compassionate conservative and the Christian values that many of your supporters find a sustaining beacon of your presidency," the letter said.
The leaders focus on moral concerns, choosing not to argue legal points. The principal concern is that the border agents' lives are at risk in their continuing incarceration.
In February Ramos was beaten by inmates after he was placed in the general prison population at the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City, Miss.
Since then, the two men have been placed in solitary confinement to prevent further attacks by inmates.
The conservative letter objects, arguing the solitary confinement Ramos and Compean have endured now for 10 months represents "an inhumane treatment and gross injustice that is worse than the terrorists and enemy combatants receive at Guantanamo Bay."
Charges by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., that terrorists at Guantanamo Bay have more privileges, including communal living, generous food privileges, ample exercise time and showers, while Ramos and Compean are being detained in concrete slab solitary confinement maximum security cells with no food or reading privileges, one hour per day allowed for exercise, and only three showers weekly and none on the weekend.
At one point, Ramos reportedly lost 30 or more pounds, and his family was concerned he was not receiving needed medications.
The letter from the leaders charged Bush's inactivity on the Ramos and Compean case has placed in doubt his administration's commitment to border security.
"As Ramos and Compean sit in solitary confinement 23 out of 24 hours every day," the letter continued, "the failure to personally intercede on their behalf sends a chilling message to other Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officers who will now question their own professional judgment, mute their response and make our borders less secure."
The letter contrasted the immunity given Aldrete-Davila and the harsh punishment inflicted upon the Border Patrol agents.
"When an admitted illegal alien drug smuggler who repeatedly brings drugs into this country is given government immunity to testify against the very law enforcement officers hired to stop him," the letter stressed, "the American public sees the scales of justice tilting the wrong way."
The letter calls upon Bush "to demonstrate your compassion and willingness to forgive" and immediately consider pardoning Ramos and Compean..."
____________________________ Now where are the ACLU types who have gone all out defending terrorists and their rights? Such contradictions from a SO-called American organization from the get go that hates American values.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
"When December 6th comes around, many of us remember receiving small gifts from Saint Nicholas in our shoes. It's close to Christmas too, so we can sometimes be tempted to think of Santa Claus at this time. It's interesting to look a little more closely at one of the favorite Saints of all time and the story behind his generosity and gift-giving.
Nicholas is the national saint of Russia and Greece and churches named after him number in the thousands - more than 400 in Great Britain alone. He is the patron saint of judges, murderers, pawnbrokers, thieves, merchants, paupers, scholars, sailors, bakers, travelers, maidens and poor children. He is also known as the friend and protector of all those in trouble.
Saint Nicholas was born in the Middle East in the fourth century. He grew up to become the bishop of Myra. His hometown was Lycia, near the coast of what is now Turkey. Legends tell of his love for children, his kindness and the miracles that have been attributed to him.
The most famous story about Nicholas tells of how he helped three unfortunate young sisters who all had suitors but had no dowries because their father, a poor nobleman, could not raise the money. Because of this, they could not marry.
The Bishop Nicholas was a shy man and did not like to give money directly , so he thought of a way to give it anonymously. When the first daughter was ready to marry, the good bishop tossed a bag of gold into the house at night. Later, when the second daughter prepared to marry, she too received a mysterious bag of gold. When the third daughter prepared to marry, the poor nobleman and father of the three girls was determined to find out who had been so generous. So he kept watch and saw the bishop drop another bag of gold into the house.
It has been said that Saint Nicholas climbed on the roof and dropped the third bag of gold down the chimney where it landed in a stocking hung to dry, giving us a reason to hang up Christmas stockings today. When the father saw what had happened, Nicholas begged him to keep the secret, but, of course, the news got out. From then on, whenever anyone received an unexpected gift, they thanked Nicholas.
Six hundred years later, the Russian Emperor Vladimir visited Constantinople and heard all the wonderful stories about Bishop Nicholas and decided to make him the patron saint of Russia. The stories even spread to the Laplands - to the people of the reindeer sleds.
The three bags of gold Nicholas gave the sisters made him the focus of merchants in northern Italy. Statues and pictures had shown him holding the three bags and when taken as the patron saint of the merchants, the bags became gold balls, representing money lenders and today, pawnbrokers.
The anniversary of Nicholas' death, December 6th, either 345 A.D. or 352 A.D. Follow some of the Saint Nicholas links for more about this popular Saint."
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
1. Joseph Wilson, days before the March 2003 invasion, stated on ABC Nightline, and other national venues, that he was certain Saddam HAS wmd, chem and bio, (only uncertainty is how close on nuclear), and the fact that Saddam HAS wmd was reason NOT to invade (in his analysis).
2. At least 150 metric tons of yellowcake was found by our soldiers at the previously ultra barricaded top secret Saddam research facility at Tuwaitha, Iraq in early April 2003.
3. The terrorist training camp at Salman Pak, near Baghdad, during Saddam's iron rule, did indeed include a passenger jet airline fuselage for perfecting hijacking techniques with nothing more than plastic knives, if necessary.
4. Abu al Zarcawi did indeed do the "boogie to Baghdad," as predicted by Richard Clarke, after our superb military drove out the Taliban in Afghanistan.
5. Al-Qaeda field manuals found in hastily deserted "safe houses" in Afghanistan, found by our troops, included a lot of chemical bomb making expertise heavily drawing on Iraqi know how.
6. Former defense Secretary Cohen testified that Clinton decided to take out the Sudan "aspirin factory" after confirmation that Saddam's top chemical weapons officer spent a lot of time in Sudan at their invitation.
7. The suspected mobile bio weapons lab showcased by Colin Powell was later found, scrubbed down, with no confirmation that it had indeed been a mobile lab (which does NOT equal PROOF that it WASN'T.)
but few seem to remember or comment on the related fact that the audio intercepts from the panicked Iraqi officials in this "out the back door as they're coming in the front door" scenario demonstrate desperation to make d--n sure this thing isn't seen or found or Saddam will have us all killed, etc. If it was never anything, why the panic?
8. Tenet wrote recently in his book that he was upset at the "16 words" in Bush's state of the Union, NOT because they were inaccurate, as the CIA knew Saddam had 400 metric tons of yellowcake, but rather because he considered it OLD NEWS, and Bush (in his opinion) could have used other things for a stronger case.
9. Why were dismantled pieces of a forbidden Al Samoud chemical warhead missile, that had been confirmed by ID numbers, etc. as having been in Iraq up until just before the war, found by chance in a garbage dump in AMSTERDAM? What else may have been in those unprecedented and unusually large convoys crossing the border out of Iraq with unusual frequency, from October 2002-March 2003?
10. Why is Czech intelligence dead certain, to this day, that Mohammed Atta met with a high ranking Iraqi foreign minister type in Prague, even after hearing our CIA's reasons for skepticism on this issue (which automatically means left wingers, usually deriding the CIA, will suddenly vouch for it on this)?
11. Why did John Kerry, say that anyone who didn't think Saddam was dangerous and needed to be disarmed didn't measure up as Presidential material? (Said in late 2003, referring most immediately to Howard Dean)
12. Why did Rolf Ekeus ( a predecessor of Blix as chief UN weapons inspector, also Swedish, in the mid 90's, say that Bush and Blair were "more than justified" in invading Iraq after Saddam's unchanging defiance and deceptive cat and mouse games?
13. Should have "given the inspectors more time?" Maybe. Debatable.
After getting kicked out in 98, after being completely prevented from entering some extremely suspicious sites, (why, if no "there" there?)
What, pray tell, convinced Saddam to let them back in in late 2002?
14. Why did we not heed Joe Wilson's opinion, early March 2003, that it would be best not to invade Iraq BECAUSE SADDAM HAS WMD?
(curious how he wasn't singing that song by July 2003, considering his instant canonization as the voice of fearless integrity by those conveniently demagogued into forgetting, or not wanting to know "inconvenient" details.)
Must be those worth nothing rotten corporations, lust for oil (thanks to the invasion, gas in the U.S. is now 55 cents a gallon!)
Posts: 25 | Location: USA | Registered: 08 March 2007
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