All citizens of the USA should remember this!!!!!
I was embarrassed to read that President Clinton and his
advisors have said, "The older generation must learn to
sacrifice as other generations have done"
That's my generation. I knew eventually someone would
ferret out the dirty secret: we've lived the "lifestyle of
the rich and famous" all our lives. Now, I know I must bare
the truth about my generation and let the country condemn us
for our selfishness.
During the Depression we had an hilarious time dancing to
the tune of "Brother Can You Spare A Dime?" We could choose
to dine at any of the country's fabulous soup kitchens,
often joined by our parents and siblings...those were the
heady days of carefree self-indulgence.
Then, with World War II, the cup filled to overflowing. We
had the chance to bask on the exotic beaches of Guadalcanal,
Iwo Jima and Okinawa; to see the capitols of Europe and
travel to such scenic spots as Bastogne, Malmedy and Monte
Cassino. Of course, one of the most exhilarating adventures
was the stroll from Bataan to the local Japanese hotels,
laughingly known as death camps.
But the good times really rolled for those lucky enough to
be on the beaches of Normandy for the swimming and boating
that pleasant June day in '44.
Unforgettable.
Even luckier were those that drew the prized holiday tickets
for cruises on sleek, gray cruise ships to fun filled spots
like Midway, The Solomons and Murmansk.
Instead of asking, "What can we do for our country," an
indulgent government let us fritter away our youth wandering
idly through the lush and lovely jungles of Burma and New
Guinea.
Yes, it's all true: we were pampered; we were spoiled
rotten; we never did realize what sacrifice meant. We envy
you, Mr. Clinton, the harsh lessons you learned in London,
Moscow and Little Rock.
My generation is old, Mr. President...and guilty; but we are
repentant.
Punish us for our failings, sir, that we may learn the true
meaning of Duty, Honor, and Country.
Robert J. Grady, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret), Colorado Springs
REFRESHER COURSE
a. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
b. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
c. Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface.
d. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
e. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
f. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
g. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
h. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.
i. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
j. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.
k. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand.
l. The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.
m 65 Million firearm owners killed no one yesterday.
n. Guns have only two enemies: Rust and Politicians.
o. Know guns, know peace and safety. No guns, no peace nor safety.
p. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
q. 911 - government sponsored Dial a Prayer.
r. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
s. Criminals love gun control - it makes their jobs safer.
t. If Guns cause Crime, then Matches cause Arson.
u. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
v. You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.
w. Enforce the "gun control laws" in place, don't make more.
x. When you remove the peoples' right to bear arms, you create slaves.
y. The American Revolution would never have happened with Gun Control.
z. "....a government by the people, for the people....."
The Ant And The Grasshopper
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FREE MARKET VERSION
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The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his
house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks
he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come
winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or
shelter so he dies out in the cold.
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SOCIALIST VERSION
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The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his
house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks
he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come
winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands
to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while
others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering
grasshopper next to video of the ant in his comfortable home with a
table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How
can it be that, in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is
allowed to suffer so?
Then a representative of the NAGB (The National Association of
Green Bugs) shows up on Nightline and charges the ant with green
bias, and the case that the grasshopper is the victim of 30 million
years of specieism. Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the
grasshopper, and everybody cries when he sings "It's Not Easy
Being Green."
Bill and Hillary Clinton make a special guest appearance on the CBS
Evening News to tell a concerned Dan Rather that they will do
everything they can for the grasshopper who has been denied the
prosperity he deserves by those who benefited unfairly during the
Reagan summers. Richard Gephardt exclaims in an interview with
Peter Jennings that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the
grasshopper, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make
him pay his "fair share."
Finally, the EEOC drafts the "Economic Equity and Anti-Specieism
Act" retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for
failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs. Having nothing
left to pay his retroactive taxes, the ant's home is confiscated by the
government.
Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a
defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel
of federal hearing officers that Bill appointed from a list of
single-parent welfare moms who can only hear cases on Thursday's
between 1:30 and 3PM. The ant loses the case.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of
the ant's food while the government house he's in, which just happens
to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him since he doesn't know how
to maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow. And on the TV, which the
grasshopper bought by selling most of the ant's food, they are showing
Bill Clinton standing before a wildly applauding group of Socialists
announcing that a new era of "fairness" has dawned.
"In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
"In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
"Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
"China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
"Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
"Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
"Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated' people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated."
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, ask them "Who do YOU want to round up and exterminate?" With guns, we are citizens. Without them, we are subjects.
P.S."Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence." -- Vince Lombardi
Something to think about... Don't let the liberal media control your mmind with their propaganda blitz. They want to blame crime on gun ownership to justify eventual gun confiscation, but their soft on crime law enforcement and pro-violence and immoral entertainment industry is the real cause.
Most of the politicians in both parties are controlled by the liberal establishment. In effect, we have a one party system. They deserve academy awards.
The Bible says, "A strong man armed protects his home."
At least one Republican has some guts.
THE RAID IN MIAMI
Sen. Mack (R-FL), U.S. Senate, April 26, 2000
Mr. President, in the early morning hours of Holy Saturday, a
little piece of America died. America's shining beacon of freedom
faded in the Florida sky as many of us grieved over the
astounding actions of the United States Government. This
administration betrayed America's past and joined history's
inglorious list of governments that have chosen to use excessive
force against its own law-abiding citizens.
Our founding fathers believed in a Government of, for, and by,
the people, a Government designed to serve and benefit the
people, not to serve and benefit the needs of Government, and
certainly not to substitute brute force for the rule of law.
These are reminiscent of the tactics used by tyrants and despots.
The decisions by this administration that led to the events of
last Saturday will be remembered as a day of shame in our
American history.
My comments today are not directed toward the law enforcement
officers who carried out the operation; I understand they are
charged with a duty and must follow the directives of the
Attorney General and the President of the United States. My
comments today are not directed at the ultimate disposition of
Elian's residency or custody, and they are not intended to be
partisan or political, but they do go directly to the heart of
who we are as a Nation and what we expect of our Government.
As most people know, the Elian Gonzalez matter is pending in
Federal court. Just last Wednesday, the Eleventh Circuit Court of
Appeals ordered that Elian Gonzalez must remain in the United
States during the review of his Federal court case. The opinion
of the court suggests the INS and the Department of Justice were
wrong in not granting Elian an asylum hearing. In the final
footnote of the opinion, the court encouraged the parties to
avail themselves voluntarily of the Eleventh Circuit's mediation
services. The court believed that mediation was an appropriate
avenue to resolve this heart gripping situation.
The Attorney General did not listen to the court. She was
obsessed with reuniting Elian with his father at any cost.
Perhaps she would have been wise to listen to the words of Daniel
Webster: 'Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint.'
Perhaps she should have listened to her own words: 'I'm trying to
work through an extraordinary human tragedy. And the importance
of working through it is that we do so in good faith, without
violence, without having to cause further disruption to the
little boy.' This statement was made nine days before the raid.
The night before the raid, mediation between the Department of
Justice, the Miami family and Juan Mogul Gonzalez had gone on
all night and into the wee hours of Saturday morning. Even as the
negotiations continued on the telephone with all parties, agents
of the administration dressed in fatigues and masks exploded into
the home of Lazro Gonzalez with machine guns drawn--and one
machine gun that was pointed dramatically in the face of a
screaming child.
The Government held all the power, and the Government used
intimidation to force a family, a loving caring family, into a
corner. Remember this is the family originally selected by the
Attorney General to care for Elian.
The administration offered ultimatums when fair mediation was
needed. This administration resorted to the power of a machine
gun to intimidate an American family. What possible benefit could
come from this act?
Tactics such as these deserve a full explanation.
Why would the Department of Justice stage a raid when mediator
Aaron Podhurst stated that a deal between the parties was
'minutes to an hour away'? Why would they be so impatient with a
solution so near? The Attorney General said that they had a
window during which to conduct the raid of Saturday through
Monday. Why could they not have waited for negotiations to play
out?
What credible information existed to suggest this level of force
needed to be used?
Another question that deserves fuller explanation speaks to the
impact of the raid on the boy. Wouldn't any psychologist or
psychiatrist who actually examined the child say this action
would further traumatize the boy? But sadly, the INS team of
experts never did examine the boy to make an informed evaluation.
How could such tactics possibly be in the best interests of a
child who has suffered so much? What right did this
administration have to add this trauma to the terrible loss Elian
has already suffered? And why did he have to suffer at the hands
of the people who are supposed to defend the rule of law, the
INS, the DOJ, and the President of the United States.
Let's think for a moment about the decision the father and the
Justice Department made in putting Elian's life at risk with the
plans for the predawn raid. I have never questioned the father's
love for the boy, but I cannot imagine any father would choose to
put his son's life at risk a second time. But it is not an
unloving father who put his son in harm's way-the father is as
much a victim as Elian in many ways. The father had a simple
choice: travel to a safe house in Miami and have Elian
voluntarily transferred into his custody or insist on remaining
in Washington and have the U.S. government seize his son in a
violent, dangerous raid. Just as it wasn't the father's decision
not to come to his boy's side for the first four months of this
ordeal, it was not his decision to remain in Washington, forcing
a raid at gunpoint. Castro would not allow the father to travel
then and he would not allow him to travel last weekend.
President Clinton promised my colleague Senator Graham that Elian
would not be seized in the middle of the night, and now we must
ask again, why did he promise one thing and yet do another?
Elian deserves access to all of his legal options, Elian deserves
an asylum hearing, and he deserves the protection of U.S. law.
Yet that is for another day. The use of force must be dealt with
today. Does the end justify the means? Will these means ever be
justified?
There have been accusations of playing politics with this issue.
But perhaps we ought to recognize what several of the Attorney
General's long-time supporters have said. The four mediators from
Miami that were involved in the negotiations with Janet Reno have
clearly challenged the administration's characterization of the
events of last Saturday. They said they were close to an
agreement and felt confident a peaceful solution could have been
reached.
We cannot simply sweep these issues away and dispense of them in
the name of politics. This is a long, sad story and I'm sure many
would wish it would simply fade away. But if we accept and
commend the actions of our government for acting hastily in
choosing excessive force over peaceful mediation, we have
traveled down a very troubling road. We dare not condone such use
of force to settle legal disputes. This strikes at the very heart
of the balance of power and the integrity of our judicial
process.
This child and no child should face the intimidation and trauma
of an automatic weapon in his face--especially when perpetrated
by the American government--a government that has always stood
for freedom and human rights throughout the world. As a father
and grandfather, I am heartbroken for the frightened, vulnerable
child in that photograph. My hope is that no other administration
official utter the words, 'I am proud of what we did' and instead
express regret and sorrow for the trauma and pain suffered by the
entire Gonzalez family.
What happened saddens me as an American, a father, and a Senator.
Mr. President, last Saturday morning, a little bit of America
died in that raid and I hope we never again dim the light of
freedom for those who look to us for hope. I yield the floor.
Published in the May. 1, 2000 issue of The Washington Weekly
Copyright 2000 The Washington Weekly.
Now Free Access to All Stories at http://www.federal.com