With all due respect, Governor Romney, I’m voting for revenge

Short and sweet, Governor Romney, I love my country, but I’m voting for you because of:

• Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods who died because they loved their country, and their pleas for security and later help during the fire fight went unheeded by the incompetence and politics played by the Administration.  REVENGE
• The lies told by the Administration to the American public as to the reason for the Benghazi debacle, as in YouTube video.  REVENGE
• Iran’s continued march to developing a nuclear weapon, the watered down sanctions which have done nothing to halt the development, and Obama’s lack of support for Israel.  REVENGE
• The President’s comment to Medvedev, “I’ll have more flexibility after the election.”  REVENGE
• My tax dollars being wasted on Solyndra and crony capitalism.  REVENGE
• The President’s denial of the Keystone Pipeline to proceed costing thousands of well-paying jobs, and its contribution to our energy security.  REVENGE
• The war on coal being waged by the EPA and the Obama Administration, again costing thousands of jobs in the energy and mining sectors, and raising electricity costs across the nation.  REVENGE
• The virtual shutdown of off shore leasing and drilling for oil on federal lands, thus affecting our energy independence in a world today when it is in our vital interests to not be subject to Mideast oil.  REVENGE
• The Chevy Volt, another government supported boondoggle, for a car that the marketplace has shown no one wants.  REVENGE
• The GM auto bailout that has the taxpayer on the hook for billions of dollars, while the unions supplanted the creditors and Delphi workers lost their pensions.  REVENGE.
• The signing of 140 Executive Orders, many of them for major legislation bypassing Congressional oversight and authority.  REVENGE
• The egregious legislation known as Obamacare, which was passed without bi-partisan support and 3 years later is a regulatory nightmare, and disregards our fundamental rights of freedom of religion and freedom of choice as to our personal health and well-being.  REVENGE
• Dodd-Frank, creating the regulatory atmosphere that is stifling small business and prohibiting smaller banks from lending; for creating refinance nightmares and loan applications for most Americans.  (I should know, I went through the Refi nightmare).  REVENGE
• The down-grading of the nation’s credit for the first time in its history.  REVENGE
• The gutting of the welfare to work requirements, one of the most successful, bi-partisan pieces of legislation.  REVENGE
• The phony, demeaning “war on women,” making issues out of non-issues of abortion and contraception, when women have experienced the largest decline in employement in 40 years under the Administration’s handling of the economy.  REVENGE
• The President’s race-baiting, divisive rhetoric causing fissures and the tearing apart of America’s moral and social fabric, for his own political gain.  REVENGE
• 23 million people who are unemployed, under-employed, stopped looking for work because of the Adminstration’s economic nightmare.  REVENGE
• The record number of people who are food stamps.  REVENGE

And finally, in honor of my father, who would have been 101 today, and who built a factory and business from nothing:

• “You didn’t build that.”  REVENGE

November 6.  The day we take America back.

Cross posted at http://www.political-woman.com

Why Benghazi matters on November 6th

If there are any of you who are undecided yet in this election cycle, I hope the tipping point for you will be the tragedy at Benghazi, and how the Administration has handled its response, or lack of,  to questions that are now pouring in from both the liberal and conservative media.

The anguish that the families of the victims are going through is unimaginable as more leaks about the debacle are coming forth.  The preposterous statement by the Administration that the tragedy was caused by a YouTube video, including repeated statements to that effect by the President before the United Nations, the Secretary of State, and the US Ambassador to the United Nations on five network news shows, has been fully debunked, as documented evidence has shown that the attack was premeditated and the State Dept. knew that fact two hours after the attack had begun.

More importantly, both the US regional security team in Libya and the Ambassador himself in several cables to the State Dept, in the months leading up to September 11, as well as the day itself, expressed concern about a pending attack and lack of security.

Yet, these repeated requests for additional security were denied by the State Dept, despite several attacks by leading up to September 11:

• June 6:   IED thrown at US Consulate in Benghazi
• June 11:  British ambassador’s motorcade attacked by RPG, with two people injured; shortly after, British government shuts their Embassy
• June 18:  Gunmen attack the Tunisian Consulate and burn the Tunisian flag
• August 5:  International Red Cross building is struck by an RPG; IRC removes its personnel and leaves Libya

Since that deadly attack, further evidence has been forthcoming that two unarmed US drones were relaying real time information of the attack back to Washington.  Questions have been repeatedly raised as to why no help was sent, despite three reported requests for assistance by former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods, who was killed in the attack, and that Special Operations forces were two hours away.  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has stated, “you don’t deploy forces into harm’s way without knowing what’s on, without having some real time information about what’s taking place.”  Excuse me, but isn’t that why we have Special Operations forces and Delta Forces, one of which was in Europe, reportedly two hours away?  Isn’t this type of rescue operation their specialty?  Isn’t part of their creed, “leave no man behind?”

There has been rampant speculation about what the Secretaries of State and Defense, the President, and his national security team knew and when did they know it.  That is not the point of this post here.  Four people died, two of them in defending US soil in a foreign land.  No help was sent to them during the more than 7 hour fight.  Explanations as to what happened, when, and how have been changing repeatedly from the Administration.  And now, there is only silence.  Everything has been put on hold until after the election.   Except for the families.

If you were at Andrews Air Force Base awaiting the return of your son’s remains from Benghazi, and the Vice President said to you and your family, “did your son always have balls the size of cue balls?”, ask yourself, does this man deserve to be returned to the Office of the Vice Presidency of the United States.  The first American ambassador killed in over 30 years, with three other dead Americans, the Consulate still smoldering, and the President flies off to Las Vegas for a campaign fundraiser.  During 2011 and the first half of 2012, the President’s attendance at daily intelligence briefings was at 38%.   Should this man be returned to the Office of the Presidency of the United States.

Presently, we’re witnessing an unmitigated disaster in disaster preparedness and emergency response in New York and New Jersey.  Imagine the note-taking and analysis being done of the situation by Iran, Hezbollah, al-Quaeda, et al.   The next Benghazi may not be overseas.

Benghazi matters.  It matters to you, to your family, your friends and your country.  Remember 9/11.  Both of them.

Slowly losing Chipper — what can you say when your best friend nears the end of his life

I first met him when I picked him up at Reagan National one cold March Sunday in 2002.  The breeder’s husband zipped open his carry-on bag to hand him to me, and in that instant I fell in love with him.  No matter how many pups you may own in your life, there’s always one who sings to your heart.  For me, that always has been and always will be, my Chipper.

My Chipper, “the Chip”

Now, he’s nearing the end of his life.  After 10 years, 10 months, he is rapidly declining.  He was diagnosed with a chemodectoma (heart tumor) in September and has gone blind in his left eye due to glaucoma.  Then I began noticing his behavior was off, staring into space, wandering around the house, not hearing.  I took him to the hospital for a neuro exam, and they delivered the bad news.  I was not imagining his odd behavior; they saw it too.  And the only causes could be brain tumor, meningoencephalitis, or cerebral vascular accident, a.k.a. stroke.

Since Wednesday, when he was diagnosed, he has declined even further, unsteady on his legs, unsure of where he is, and mostly sleeps during the day.  I had initially thought of having an MRI done to find out what exactly was the issue and possible radiation therapy, but my gut instinct tells me I’m too late for that.  After reading about canine brain tumors in a study from the North Carolina State University, I fear the worst. He’s not had seizures, thank God, and I don’t want to wait for one to take hold.  I went through meningoencephalitis with my other Boston Terrier, Poco, four years ago and it’s a horrible disease.  The neurologist and I tried to save her for four months.  I spent over $10,000 trying everything, but she died in my arms at the hospital.

So as I write this, the memories of Chipper, ball-crazy Chipper, come flooding back.  He took his ball-playing very seriously.  He’d bark until you came up to the ball, then he’d back away, crouch down watching you, watching the ball, and at your slightest movement, he’d pounce on the ball, and proudly prance away with the ball in his mouth.  He could run like the wind, even until a few months ago, tearing up the back yard running after my two Shepherds.  Playing tug o’war and refusing to let go of the ball even as they girls would practically swing him in the air.  And now, he can’t see his ball anymore.  When you roll it to him, he can’t seem to tell where it is.  His depth perception is lost.  He can’t discern where the sounds come from.

Chipper was not for the show ring, nor was he a canine hero that saved someone’s life.  His temperament would never let him be a therapy dog, except for me, when he kept me sane when I cared for my mother in her final stages of dementia at 93.  He’s lived up to his name, Chipper.  He’s always been a happy boy.  When he woke up in the morning, that was the signal everyone had to get up.  He’s always been here when I opened the door.  He’s slept atop the quilt covers at night.  He’s been my rock.  He’s been my Chipper.

Every time this past week when I’ve tried preparing myself and imagining the house without him, I dissolve into tears, and pray to God for just a few more days.  I am so grateful to Him that He blessed me and gave Chip into my care.  The best possible for Chip would be for him pass away peacefully in his sleep.   But, I pray that God will give me the strength to make the right decision for Chip and know when that time has come.  I couldn’t bear for my best friend to suffer, and I don’t want to see him in seizures.

Poco went across Rainbow Bridge February 13, 2008, and I know she’s waiting for her best bud.  She’ll look after him there as she looked after him while she was alive.  That gives me comfort, and it gives me peace in knowing what I will have to do in the coming days.

Malala Yousafzai – Update on her condition and then some

There are some headlines that catch our interest for a few seconds, and then we skim through the stories, while others strike a nerve.  You can already guess which category the story of Malala Yousafzai fall into.   Through my Twitterfeed @political_woman, I found some updates that I’m sharing with you.  It appears she is has moved from critical to satisfactory condition with 90% brain function.  The Pakistani government is taking her shooting very seriously, as noted in an earlier post with a reward the equivalent of $100,000 for information leading to her shooters.  The bright spot, as noted in the article is this:

In Karachi, Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said a school named after Malala would be upgraded to higher secondary level to honour the teenager’s dream of education for all girls. He made the announcement when he joined students at the school to pray for Malala.

However, for many like Malala, and quite frankly, all of Pakistan and the entire region, the problem won’t be eradicated until the Taliban is.  Upset by the news coverage, the Taliban chief is instructing his followers to target the media and personalities for personal attack, and that Yousafzai’s own attack was plotted mob-hit style.

After reading about the Taliban’s attack on Ms. Yousafzai, I remembered reading an article about the US State Dept. attempting to negotiate with the Taliban to end the war in Afghanistan as we withdraw our troops.  The point being, we’re negotiating with an enemy, that has harbored 9/11 masterminds, has been responsible for the terror and repression of thousands of civilians, the deaths of thousands of civilians, US and NATO service members, that follows a belief system that belongs in the stone-age, and we in the West, wonder why we have Malala Yousafzais.  And so we negotiate.

The objectives of the United States mirror those of the international community more broadly: The Taliban should pursue their objectives through political rather than military means, they should accept the Afghan constitution, and they should renounce al Qaeda. For their part, the Taliban demand that all foreign troops leave Afghanistan, that all Taliban prisoners be released, and that the international community recognize the legitimacy of their movement and lift the U.N. sanctions first imposed on them in 1999.

As for the other key players, whose explicit or tacit agreement will be essential to the success of any agreement, the Afghan government wants a political process under its direction that will allow a continued share of power for those who hold it now. The Pakistani government wants to have a seat at the table, or at least full sight of any negotiations, so it can continue to promote its interests in having a government in Kabul that it can influence, or at the very least one that is not susceptible to the influence of India. Islamabad also wants a clearer understanding of what the U.S. sees as the end game in Afghanistan. Finally, Qatar wants to play a supporting role without being caught in the middle if something goes wrong.

You have read the article to fully comprehend the various factions within the Taliban, how precarious the entire Afghanistan negotiations are, why we’re in a no-win situation.  Like Vietnam, the US wants to honor its  dead and wounded, by not leaving a cause undone that so many gave their lives for, and yet we are also conscious of the living, whom we want to ensure stay that way.

Having lived abroad for a number of years, working in a former communist country and the Middle East, I’ve always been aghast at the way the US seems to stumble and bumble its way into situations and cultures that it knows little to nothing about.  Then, the situations unfold into crises that cost the lives of Americans and tear families emotionally apart.  Will we ever learn.  If North Africa is the latest example, the answer is, no.  And Malala Yousafzais are shot and Americans die.

Cross-posted at http://www.political-woman.com

Malala Yousafzai – a study in courage, but Joe Biden says the Taliban is not our enemy

Fourteen year old Malala Yousufzai lies in a Pakistani military hospital, critically injured after being shot in the head and neck by the Taliban.  The Taliban admits shooting her, and vows that if she survives this time, the next time she won’t.

Malala Yousafzai – critically wounded by the Taliban 2 days ago

What is this young girl guilty of?  She wants to go to school and believes in education for the women of her country.  Malala gained international notoriety at age eleven, after writing for a BBC-sponsored blog about the Taliban’s atrocities in the Swat Valley of northwest Pakistan where she and her family reside.  In the face of threats to her life, she’s continued to give interviews, hidden books, and faced down the Taliban.  Until now.

The shooting of this young girl has ignited outrage in Pakistan, and as her condition remains critical, Pakistani authorities have offered $100,000 for information leading to the capture of her shooters.  The Pakistani military has been fighting the Taliban in the Peshawar province since 2007.

Backtrack to December 19, 2011, where Joe Biden in rare form, delivers the following statement in a Newsweek interview:

Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy. That’s critical. There is not a single statement that the president has ever made in any of our policy assertions that the Taliban is our enemy because it threatens U.S. interests.

Really Joe?  You don’t think the medieval, stone-age Taliban, an affront to all humanity, is our enemy?  The push-back from this quote was the usual “taken out of context,” but the damage lies not in the quote itself, but in how the US has handled its entire Middle East policy.  While Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton, and Obama bloviate over utopian premises, the Middle East burns, people die, and American strength grows stagnant.

Malala Yousafzai represents the strength and courage that people somehow find within themselves, to stand up and fight back against repression and terror.  A strong America should be there to help, if not with weaponry, then certainly with words of encouragement and hope.

Paul Ryan, you and Mitt Romney will have your hands full come November 7, and more than America is counting on you.

Sean Smith is dead, killed at Benghazi. His mother is waiting for answers, waiting, waiting….waiting…

If you have a son (or daughter), give them a hug today.  You’ll be able to do something that Mrs. Smith no longer can.  Pat Smith is the mother of Sean Smith, one of the four Americans killed in the terrorist attack of the US Consulate at Benghazi.  She gave a brief interview to CNN’s Anderson Cooper, shown below, and describes her meetings with, and the words of,  the President, Secretaries of State and Defense, and Amb. Rice.   If you can watch this without tears in your eyes, or feelings of outrage, you’re a better person than I.

There is a moral bankruptcy about this Administration, whose members put political self-preservation above national security and human interest, as personified by a mother’s anguish in not knowing what happened to her son.  The mainstream media, CNN, NBC, CBS et al, are finally broadcasting the deceit and the facts of what was known, by whom, and when it was known.

After watching Mrs. Smith’s interview and asking yourself, what I would do if this nightmare was happening to me and my family, there shouldn’t be any doubt when you go into the voting booth on November 6th.

The Story of Lennox – How an Innocent Dog paid the Price so Government Bureaucrats could Save Face

Despite a personal plea from Northern Ireland’s First Minister, an offer to re-home the pup in the United States by popular trainer, Victoria Stilwell, and an outpouring of support and pleas from literally hundreds of thousands of global supporters, the Belfast City Council (BCC), decided to carry out their decision to euthanize Lennox, a dog whose only transgression was that he resembled a pit bull.

I’ve been following this story for over two years.  The dog was taken in May 2010 from its family in Belfast, Northern Ireland, because Northern Ireland passed breed specific legislation (BSL) and Lennox appeared to fit the requirement.  The dog was then incarcerated for over two years until it was euthanized Wednesday, January 11.

Lennox – R.I.P.

This story is heart-wrenching for the family who fought for over two years to free their pet, and for the literally hundreds of thousands of global “Save Lennox” supporters who deluged the Belfast City Council with emails, letters, and phone calls, both polite and unfortunately, in some case abusive.  The Belfast City Council, in its decision to incarcerate and destroy Lennox, relied on erroneous testimony from its dog warden, who was not a qualified animal behaviorist, and in fact was photographed with this “dangerous” dog.   Following is an excerpt from the Barnes’ family’s petition to the First and Deputy Minister of Northern Ireland:

Lennox is a loveable 5 year old family member. He’s an American Bull dog cross that we have owned since he was a little pup. On Wednesday the 19th May 2010 he was taken from our family home by Belfast City Council as they believe he falls under the dangerous dogs act for Northern Ireland. The Council, without seeking any proper professional guidance declared Lennox to be a breed of “Pitbull Type” and so they wish to kill him simply because he has the appearance of said breed. Lennox has never attacked anyone or anything yet the council have removed him from his home

Two years of campaigning, meetings, and legal battles by the family and its supporters failed to convince the BCC that they erred in removing the dog from the family.  The Council, rather than admitting their error, showing some humanity, and using an available exemption to the law that was available, instead dug in their heels, and catapulted the story into a worldwide cause celebre and public relations nightmare.

The Council’s intransigence and ignorance was apparent when they refused to meet with Victoria Stilwell, who presented them with a viable alternative of rehoming the dog in the United States at no cost to the Council.  Instead, the public humiliation of the past two years from the media attention and the ongoing petitions and efforts by the family and its supporters, only hardened their positions and apparently, their hearts.  The family was not permitted a final visit nor to even see the remains of their beloved pet.  They cowardly hid behind the law, rather than do the right thing.

When I look at this story in its entirety, I am reminded of the words, “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”   It’s a clear example of when bureaucrats make mistakes, cannot or refuse to admit them, and then ordinary people pay the price.

There are lessons to be learned here, about people, their government and bureaucracy, and when the latter two spin out of control.  We are already experiencing our own forms of “Lennox” as government slowly creeps and intrudes into our lives, until we, too, will one day pay the ultimate price.  The loss of our freedom and liberty.

Rest in peace, Lennox.  Your struggle is over.  Our’s is just beginning.

Cross posted at http://www.political-woman.com

The story of “David” who wouldn’t give up “Hope”

Haven’t written for a while since I’m knee-deep in my own hound problems.  But they are miniscule  when compared  to a story that caught my attention on the website, “LifewithDogs.tv“.

We all come across stories out of the blue that impact us in emotional ways.  This particular story was passed on to the Lifewithdogs website administrator.  The author first met “David” in early February while bicycling in below zero weather in Boulder, Colorado.   He stopped to talk with him and learned that “David” had suffered a severe back injury in his job which left him unable to work, and hence, he lost his apartment and found himself living on the streets in Boulder.  While he could easily find warmth in many of the homeless shelters in the city, the problem was that he would have to give up “Hope”.

Hope, it turns out, is his German Shepherd that he’s had since she was a pup.  If he had to live on the streets to be with her and keep her safe, then he would so.  You have to read the full story here, to understand the emotion and bond a man has for his dog.

The author was so moved by this man’s plight, at the end of his post, he inserted a “Chip-in” widget because so many readers had contacted him asking how to help.  To date, readers have donated over $5000 to help “David” and Hope. You can also read an update to the story and how David plans to use the funds.

There but for the grace of God, go I.

Remembering “The Greatest Generation”

Today is my mother’s birthday; she would have been 98.  I’m glad she’s not alive to see what her beloved America has become.  She wouldn’t recognize it, but she would understand.

Mother (c.1990)

My mother and father were both first born of immigrant parents. Neither of them finished high school. They were married in 1936 at the height of the Depression, and their marriage lasted 62 years, with neither one of them ever straying. Practically unheard of today.

My father lived his American Dream, but it came much later in his life. He finally took the plunge and started his own business at age 55. When he finally retired 18 years later, due to his health, his rented one desk with partition, had turned into a multi-thousand sq. ft. factory. I ask myself, could he and others like him, achieve that success today? Still, I believe the answer is yes, but with much greater difficulty.

Every generation goes through its watershed moment. For my parents, it was the Great Depression followed by the Second World War. For me, it was Vietnam and the resulting craziness with the hippie culture, followed by Watergate. Others point to the Berlin Wall/end of the Cold War, or to 9/11.

These watershed moments have their greatest value in our lives by how we get through them, not only economically, but culturally. The Great Depression photos of the long bread lines are but faded memories for many, yet during those times it seemed that people had to toughen up, pull together and help each other as best they could. It was that same toughness that brought my parents and grandparents through WWII.

Today, we are experiencing another watershed moment. We are watching the chipping away of individual freedoms and the corruption of the American Dream, not only for some, but for everyone. The values that people, like myself, grew up with in the “leave it to Beaver” generation are now scoffed at and ridiculed. Self-reliance, individualism is sacrificed to the “team” and the “committee.” And if we do succeed, by our own labor and efforts, we’re now told we have to share our success with others, because it’s “fair.”

How ever each one of us defines our “America,” our instincts tell us that there’s something going terribly wrong, and that’s why we, as a people, are so unsettled this election year. We hear the divisions that are being purposely created. Have you noticed that when we listen to speeches, or politics are being dissected, that we hear “women”, “Latinos,” “Blacks,” “gays,” “Catholics,” “the 1%,” “working-class whites,” but what we don’t often hear is “us” or “we?”

I lived and worked abroad in countries where people for generations lived under communism. I saw first-hand what I term, “equality in poverty.” This is why I recognize the signs and understand this is the most important election of our lifetime.

Our parents didn’t work, scrimp and save, as many of us have as well, so that we can hand our children and grandchildren $16 trillion in debt and counting. Our natural resources remain in the ground, while new drilling permits have slowed to a trickle, yet we’re told to expect $4-$5/gal to be the new norm. Forty-nine percent of Americans pay no income tax, 42.5% of unemployed Americans have been out of work six months or longer, the number of unemployed, working part-time, or given up looking for work is at 14.5%. And just this week, one of proudest achievements of American technology and ingenuity, the space shuttle and manned space flight, was relegated to the Smithsonian.

Space shuttle Enterprise atop a 747 in New York (Michael Heiman-Getty Images)

Yes, my mother, if alive today would understand. She, my father, and millions of their generation knew that freedom, economic and personal, comes at a price. We don’t always get what we want, life isn’t always “fair.”

My dad always told me, “no one owes you a living.” When we go into the voting booth in November, we’ll make our choice. We either continue down the path we’re on to a larger, more intrusive Government, leading to more “fair” entitlements and eventual bankruptcy, or, we strike a blow for the return of limited government, based upon individual liberty and self-reliance.

If we make the right choice, then we’ll have earned the mantle from the “Greatest Generation.”

Easter Sunday and Freedom

Cross-posted on www.political-woman.com

I am a Catholic, but I practice my faith in my own way.  I’m not a church-goer, nor do I wear my faith on my sleeve.  Religion for me is private and personal.  I’ve known too many people in my life who never miss Mass, and belong to every Church society, but when it comes to helping a neighbor, or waving a hand in a friendly hello, they’re nowhere to be found.

This year, I look at Easter Sunday differently.  It has the same religious meaning for those of faith that it’s had for 2012 years.  But, given this year’s Obamacare mandate on contraception, and this morning’s column, “What Would Jesus do at the Masters?“, by New York Time’s columnist, Maureen Dowd, I’m feeling more uneasy about not only individual religious freedom but individual freedom, in general.

I’m one of millions of Americans who believe our country is “exceptional.”  When you consider that we are a nation of people, comprised of immigrants from every country and culture, in this world, and we live together, for the most part, peaceably, that’s truly remarkable.

But as much as we are a nation of inclusion, and some would like to achieve the utopian “one big happy family,” we instead are coming closer and closer to the “tyranny of the majority” as eloquently and presciently written in John Stuart Mill’s essay, “On Liberty.”

The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion.

Protection, therefore, against the tyranny of the magistrate is not enough; there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling, against the tendency of society to impose, by other means than civil penalties, its own ideas and practices as rules of conduct on those who dissent from them;

Easter Sunday is the greatest religious holiday in all of Catholicism and Christianity, because the Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith.  And, the tenets of that faith, for Catholics, whether involving contraception, abortion, the sacraments, are interpreted by the Pope through 2000 years of religious faith and history, and implemented through the Church’s cardinals and priests. Many Catholics, including me, don’t always agree with the edicts.  We selectively choose to obey those which our individual conscience and circumstances dictate, and we privately make peace with our God.

The Catholic Church and other Christian faiths are increasingly coming under the microscope and scorn of secularism, in the name of inclusion and political correctness.  We must not offend anyone, and everyone must belong.  But in this spirit of equality and “fairness”, that word that has invaded every day lexicon, we are in danger of losing our individual right to believe, to associate, and to the protections under our Constitution, of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Maureen Dowd is sarcastically vehement in her denunciation of Augusta National Golf Club, calling on companies who sponsor the Masters to cut ties until women are allowed membership.  It’s not that women are denied golfing at Augusta, they’re probably on the course every day.  But, it is club policy that women cannot hold individual memberships.  Augusta is a private club, and its policy decisions are subject to its membership and its Board.  If they choose to carry on that policy, it is their right to do so, without being held up to virulent public scorn and undue pressure as exhibited by Ms. Dowd.

We also are witness to the personal tragedy of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, both of whom have been tried in the court of media and public opinion.  Their individual rights as human beings have been excoriated repeatedly, before all facts are known.

There is a reason why our currency, our courts, and our Capitol, bear the words In God We Trust.  This Easter Sunday, hopefully brings a renewed effort to respect religion, because when you respect religion, you respect the rights and freedom of the individual.

So what would Jesus do at the Masters?  Well, Maureen, He’s probably deciding whose prayers to answer for a hole in one.

Amen.