And They Call Themselves A "Church of Jesus Christ"?

I just read a story by Paul Foy of the Associated Press about a statement released by a ranking Mormon official that expressed "profound regret" over a massacre of 120 people crossing Utah in an attempt to reach California back in 1857. However, the church leadership was quick to point out that they were not "apologizing" - only expressing "profound regret" that some church members were involved in the massacre. Well, "isn't that special?" - as the SNL "church lady" would say. Mormons call themselves "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Jesus? Saints? huh? where? HOW? ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FREAKING YEARS have passed, and the leadership of this so-called "church" cannot bring itself to APOLOGIZE for the church's part in the slaying of 120 INNOCENT, UNARMED people 150 years ago!! This is as bad as the Catholics not apologizing for the Crusades. Who is the Jesus that these people are following? Really - I want to know, because it certainly cannot be the Jesus born among farm animals in Bethlehem and raised as a carpenter's son in Nazareth. It cannot be that Jesus. It cannot be the Jesus who spoke the words, "love your neighbor as yourself" and "what you do to the least of these, my brothers, you do to me." They cannot possibly claim to be following that Jesus. THAT JESUS must be weeping at the words and behavior of these so-called "church leaders." Surely the harsh words that Jesus spoke to the Jewish leaders of His time must be coming from His lips once again.

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." - Matthew 12: 36-37

I'll Say It Again, Putin Is Dangerous

Putin is proving me right. In my July 16 post "Russia More Dangerous Under Putin..." I stated that Putin is proving himself to be a despot. He has decided to give us more evidence. In this AP video report, we are told that Russian bombers armed with nuclear warheads are again patrolling the oceans. In fact, British fighter jets had to turn away one of the bombers as it approached Britain's airspace. The patrols bring the bombers to within striking distance of the U.S. In addition, Russia is participating in peaceful "war games" with China. All of this poses a huge risk for the free world. Have we heard even a "peep" from GWB? No. Putin is GWB's kind of guy. 

The Forgotten Soldiers

As we hear the daily news from Iraq, many of us pay attention to number of soldiers killed in a recent attack. However, most of us ignore the other number - the number of wounded. This war is creating an epidemic. As of this date, September 10, 2007, the Pentagon has reported 27,767 soldiers wounded in Iraq. However, some experts believe that this number is low because it may not include those soldiers who are sent back into the field after recovering from an injury. These experts have estimated the actual number of wounded to be anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000. Still, if we accept the Pentagon's official count, it is certainly not negligible. These are soldiers who need extended medical treatment and rehabilitation. Many are not able to hold jobs after returning to civilian life. According to a recent AP article, thousands of soldiers have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and 20% of them will suffer "prolonged or lifelong symptoms and need continuing care." The article focuses only on that one type of injury - TBI. There are thousands more who have lost vision, hearing, use of limbs, etc. also facing the same need for continuing care. Does Bush care? No. The funding under his administration and the former Republican controlled Congress allowed horrendous conditions to exist in our Veterans Hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Things are improving, but the deficit created by GWB and company is monstrous and will take decades to correct. Of course, that is assuming that Americans are intelligent enough not to put another war-mongering puppet into the White House. And that is a big assumption to make.

George Will - Out Of Touch With Reality

I just viewed this video:

It does not seem to matter how many of the facts hit George Will in the face. He still cannot understand their meaning. The only people doing better under George W. Bush are the wealthy, and not the regular top 25% of Americans, but the very top 5%. But Will remains "willfully" blind, saying that we have a healthy economy. Wrong. The "economy" is not just corporate earnings, George. The economy is how the average American is doing. If you and your neo-con buddies are all willing to completely ignore how the majority of Americans are faring, then you will soon find this country suffering another revolution, and it will not be a revolution based on political ideals but on financial realities. I suggest that the powerful, wealthy, elitists of this country wake up before the rest of us wake you up. The latter will be rather unpleasant.

Are People REALLY This Stupid?

I just read a news article about 6 nuclear warheads mistakenly flying over the U.S. There was a poll included in the article asking people if they would describe the incident as "alarming." Ok, first - how does a B-52 bomber become "armed with 6 nuclear warheads and flown across several states"? Duhhhrrrrr... don't we have our nuclear warheads clearly marked? Are they not clearly separated from other bombs? How could they possibly have "mistakenly armed" a bomber with nuclear warheads?! That's the BIG STUPID! The other stupid thing is that apparently more than 6600 people (at the time this post was written) are not alarmed by this story - 34% of those who took the poll. REALLY? It does not alarm them that a mistake like this could happen. It does not alarm them that a B-52 armed with SIX NUKES may have flown over their house. It does not alarm them that B-52s are old planes and have had their share of problems. None of this alarms them. FREAKING AMAZING!! The fact that 34% of the people who answered the poll were not alarmed by the story is in itself alarming to me. A full one-third of the people who read the story and took the poll are not intelligent enough to be concerned by what they read in the story. Oh - by the way - the top story on MSNBC tonight was not this, nor the Republican debate. It was "Pavarotti Dies." I am not unsympathetic to those who loved Pavarotti and the wonderful gift he shared with us all, but greater men have died with barely a jot from the press. God help us.

P.S. I think I see how the next "terrorist attack" is going to occur.

If Ron Paul Does Not Win the Republican Primaries

I know that most Ron Paul supporters do not want to begin to entertain the idea that Dr. Paul may not win the Republican nomination for President. However, I pride myself on basing my ideas and decisions on what is real. In keeping with that principle, I must consider the possibility that Dr. Paul will not be the Republican nominee. If that is the case, I can only pray that he runs as an independent because the hole that he will leave in the race for President of the United States will be a very large one. He is the ONLY candidate who has been CONSISTENTLY:

• Pro Individual Rights
• Anti Big Government
• Pro Entrepreneurship & Free Trade
• Anti War
• Pro Life
• Anti Tax & Spend
• Pro States Rights
• Anti Federal Handouts
• Pro Internet Free Speech (and all free speech for that matter)

There is no one except Dr. Paul in the Republican race who still believes in the rule of the law and the Constitution of the United States of America. He is the only Republican in the race who truly stands for the values on which the party was created. Without him in the race, I will be left once again without a candidate for whom I can cast my vote. If you believe in the values that I have listed above, PLEASE contact Dr. Paul's campaign and offer your assistance, and donate if possible. Do not think it is impossible to restore what the founders of this nation created. Dr. Paul is giving us the opportunity to become a beacon of hope to the world once again. Believe - then act upon your beliefs.

Market Makers Predicting Another September Attack?

In a piece by TheStreet.com's Steven Smith and Aaron L. Task, the authors do anything but dispel suspicions (despite the title "Dispelling the Bin Laden Option Trades") about why there are currently about 63,000 open S&P 700/1700 box trades. They give some possible scenarios but no real explanation for why there would be such a high volume at the 700 level which is 50% below the S&P's most recent close of 1473.99. Is a September Surprise imminent from this Bush Administration which has already folded and burned the Constitution of the United States of America? I suppose all we can do is wait and see, but I pray to God that if it does happen, the citizens of this country will finally wake up and take to the streets before the last bits of freedom we have left are destroyed.