Heroic Dreams

2007-01-26T17:43:00.000-08:00

Why is it so difficult for the Western anti-war left to understand what the Saudi Arabian Wahhabis get with no difficulty. Plant your ideas in the middle of a culture and water them, and watch them grow. The Bush plan in Iraq is to plant democracy and to watch it grow.

The Wahhabis have planted their jihadist ideas in Europe and America. They are watering these ideas and watching them grow, providing jihad literature, videos, funding for mosques and schools etc.

Bush has planted democracy in Iraq. He is trying to water it and watch it grow.

And yet the left seems clueless about this. “WMD!” they cry. Or, “Saddam was a secularist! He had nothing to do with Al Queda.” Or, “Iraqis were better of under Saddam.”

Bush is a terrible communicator. But his vision is correct. We cannot win against Islamist Totalitarianism by the slaughter of millions. Nor can we wish it away, pretending it doesn’t exist. The jihadists encompass the Shia in Iran, and with them Hezb’Allah in Lebanon, as well as the Wahhabi Sunnis in Saudi Arabia, and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. (Future Jihad by Walid Phares)

Bush is establishing a beachhead in Iraq from which to fight the war against Islamist Totalitarianism. He plans to fight it from this location with ideas, with freedom.

Bush’s vision is not new. Reagan, a far superior communicator, shared the same vision. It is a vision of the supremacy of freedom, based on historical proof. Speaking to the Houses of Paliaments in the UK Reagan states: “The hard evidence of totalitarian rule has caused in mankind an uprising of intellect and will…there is a unifying thread of rejection of the arbitrary power of the state. The refusal to subordinate the rights of the individual to the suprastate..” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHuqAORSerE)

Reagan was specifically talking about communism and El Salvador but he could easily have been talking about Islamic Totalitarianism and Iraq.

The Bush idea is that a viable democracy in the Middle East will starve the roots of Islamic Totalitarianism. History has shown that people choose freedom over enslavement.

Does the left have any other idea? In the UK, it’s denial, denial, denial. In the US, the same thing. Obama wants universal health care. Hillary wants to win. Edwards is running on rich people in America sharing their wealth with poor people in America.

If your head is buried in the sand and Islamic Totalitarianism is allowed to proliferate will you notice?

2006-09-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

Love That Dog
(Sharon Creech)

Love that dog,
like a bird loves to fly
I said I love that dog
like a bird loves to fly
Love to call him in the morning
Love to call him
"Hey there, Sky!"

Dedicated to my little dog, Rocky. Rest in Peace
9/28/06.

2006-09-22T23:13:00.000-07:00

Slouching towards Bethlehem
W.B Yeats

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in the sands of the desert.

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

2006-09-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Drunken Mohammed

Mohammed is a drunk and we all know this. And when he drinks he is mean and nasty. I lie in bed awake at night, afraid, and I pray to God someone will stop Mohammed some day. And sure enough, one day, a miracle. My prayers are answered. The brave Pope calls out to a drunken Mohammed and tells him to stop beating on us. But Mohammed’s enablers – the New York Times, etc. - chime in. They tell the Pope that he should be quiet.

Drunken Mohammed's enablers say that the Pope was either “stupid” or ill-advised to speak as he did about Islam. We all know, afterall, that Mohammed is an alcoholic and will beat us to a pulp if we so much as whisper his name when he’s in a state. And he’s often in a state. We know better than to "poke the snake." The snake bites, especially when he’s drunk. And he is often drunk.

The Pope should apologize and we should all go upstairs to our rooms and quietly shut our doors and not come down again until we promise not to whisper, or giggle, or bat our eyes at Mohammed. For he is the King, the Ruler, the Almighty - the maker of all the rules. And we must not make him mad. No. No. No. The enablers tell Mohammed that the Pope is sorry, so sorry. They do not defend the Pope. Nor do they tell Mohammed to back off. They say that next time the Pope will be better, we all will be better. We will not offend again.

2006-09-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Dear God, Send Us A Leader

We need a leader. And we need him now. I’m pretty sure it has to be a “he” because fighting the likes of blood-thirsty radical islam is going to require a lot of testosterone. I don’t care what feminists say – I love my life, my country, my Judeo-Christian values and heritage. I want them to prevail. Whatever it takes.

Nixon once said that a great political leader requires “head, heart and guts… that is, smarts, compassion and courage.” With smarts and courage, no compassion - you get Russia’s Peter the Great. With only smarts and compassion, no courage - you get Neville Chamberlain. Waffling Bill Clinton had no courage. Jimmy Carter is all compassion (always for the other guy). … you get the point.

You could make the argument that President Bush has too much compassion and not enough brains. I don’t mean book smart - I mean street smart. I don’t understand why he apologized to the radicals during the Cartoon kerkuffle. Or why he hasn’t replaced Condi, because as great as she is, we lost ground during the recent Israel/Lebanon war. And why doesn’t he recognize that our Southern border is no longer a trade issue but a sovereignty issue?

But I don’t want to critique Bush – I am grateful to him for his honor, for the fact that he keeps his promises, and for his great desire to protect and serve our country.

In 2 years – who will lead us? Because, you see, we are in very grave danger here.
And if I can see it - I am neither cynical nor particularly shrewd or clever - if a person as gullible as I can see it – then, believe me - the danger is real and imminent.

Dear God, find us a leader. Dear God, I pray to you. Find the United States of America a leader who can meet the radical islamists on the battlefield, and who will prevail. Amen

2006-06-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy

Zarqawi is dead and there are photos and articles all over the web. I recently spotted a picture of Zarqawi holding up the head of one of his victims, a beheaded hostage. I looked at the picture. The head dangles by its hair at the end of Zarqawi’s outstretched arm. Zarqawi looks empty, as always. He might as well be showing off a fish, for all he cares. I back away from the image, close my laptop and I go into the kitchen for some coffee.

For one brief moment, I convince myself that the gruesome image of Zarqawi was probably photoshopped. The photo reminds me of elaborate illustrations from old-fashion children’s books, those fantastic pictures featuring firebreathing dragons chasing screaming villagers and ugly giants clutching terrified children, blood dripping from their gigantic lips. Zarqawi and the head cannot be real.

Then, I think of other beheadings, the ongoing discoveries of Saddam Hussein’s shallow graves, children wearing suicide vests, New Yorkers jumping out of the World Trade Center and falling through the sky. And I realize that no amount of wishful thinking can change the fact that reality actually has alot in common with the old fantastic monster stories; dragons still do roam the earth ready to consume the unsuspecting and ogres still do walk among us ready to grab the unsuspecting.

And I realize, once again, that I am grateful for the United States Marine Corps.

On 6/12/06 Hot Air's Michelle Malkin interviews
2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano

From the time I was a young boy I wanted to be a Knight. And there was something about maybe growing up in Hell’s Kitchen where violence was prevalent, but the idea that there had to be order in the chaos and that even as the world around me was tough, that there would be some kind of a mitigating force for good. And chivalry kind of struck me as a code that tried to order chaos and it was something that was very appealing to me and as I grew, I looked for that in a modern day institution and that ultimately became my love for the Marine Corps.

It’s interesting that Lt. Pantano mentions chivalry and Knights when talking about the Marine Corps.

The ancient story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table begins in Britain at a time when Force Majeur has its hold on country – a time when “Might is Right” and when England’s vast forests are thick with bandits, dragons, and damsels in distress. Evil Black Knights roam the countryside and lob off the heads of helpless victims. Like Zarqawi, the Black Knights raise the heads high, holding them in one hand, dangling them from the hair. Buildings are burned and villagers flee on foot; others jump to their deaths from castle turrets. Britain is divided, deadly and dangerous. In short, there is chaos.

King Arthur and his Knights fight to bring order to this chaos, to rescue the oppressed and to conquer evil. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is the story of violence used to temper tyranny.

The Knights use their superior strength to enforce the laws of the land, to ensure justice and to build a stable and unified country. Violence is used for useful ends and law and order prevail. This great story provides the background for the emergence of Great Britain from the oppressive Middle Ages and for its transition into an Empire and a civilizing force throughout the world.

So now it’s 2006, and I’m looking at an internet photo of Zarqawi. Zarqawi and those who will follow him are as tyrannical and monstrous as any Black Night or Dragon presiding over the woods during the days of King Arthur. But, thankfully, we have the Marines willing to bring order to the chaos, soldiers willing to use their superior strength to free the oppressed and to protect the weak. Because of the United States Marine Corps, I know that tyranny will be harnessed, evil will be beaten back and freedom and justice will prevail.

Dragons, run for cover if you can. Damsels, sleep well tonight. God bless the United States Marine Corps. I extend to you my deepest thanks.

No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy.

2006-03-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

Osama bin Domino’s Pizza and the hypocrisy of The Daily llini

Eric Naing writing for The Daily Illini in a piece called Osama bin Domino’s Pizza equates Tom Monaghan, a devout Catholic and the founder of Domino’s Pizza to Osama bin Laden. Never mind the fact that the two men are in no way similar. Osama bin Laden specializes in suicide bombers and has declared Islamic jihad on the West. Mr. Monaghan sells pizza, and is involved in a new housing development which will include stores, a Catholic Cathedral, and a school.

Naing labels Mr. Monaghan a “fanatically devout Catholic” and says that he intends to “impose his will” on the new housing development which is called “Ave Maria. ”
Ave Maria is described as a place where “religious extremists control all aspects of life…” Naing ignores the fact that residency in Ave Maria, like any other community in America, will be totally voluntary. People won’t be forced to live in the community of Ave Maria. On the contrary,they will probably have to pony up a fair amount of money to buy a house or piece of property, like any other neighborhood in America.

But don’t count on the ACLU defending Mr. Monaghan and Ave Maria’s right to exist. Both the ACLU of Florida and Planned Parenthood are already unhappy. Consistent with Catholic values, birth control probably won’t be sold in the town and pornography will be discouraged.

Naing writes: “…the town’s pharmacies will not be allowed to sell contraceptives such as birth control or condoms, and its television station will not broadcast any so-called “X-rated” programming. Presumably school children, in lieu of proper sex education, will be taught to avoid ….premarital sex…”

So, because Mr. Monaghan’s Catholic values are not shared by Naing, Naing equates Mr. Monaghan to a terrorist and maligns the future housing development called Ave Maria.

This is where the true irony of this story begins. Will Mr. Monaghan and any Catholics who read Naing’s essay rise up in anger, burn a building, threaten to behead or riot in the streets? I am certain they will not.

But it was only last week that the prior Editor of The Daily Illini, Acton Gorton, and the prior Opinions Editor, Chuck Prochaska were put on permanent leave for republishing the Danish cartoons. They republished the cartoons not to offend but because the cartoons were newsworthy; Acton Gorton even took care to note that the cartoon were “bigoted and insensitive.” Despite his sensitivity to the Muslim feelings, there were complaints from the Muslim community . Because Radical Muslims worldwide have risen up in anger, burned buildings, threatened to behead cartoon publishers and have rioted in the streets, Acton and Chuck were put on permanent leave, and the paper issued an apology.

What are the students at the University of Illinois learning from all this? First, they learn that you can say whatever you want about Christianity and Catholicism without any recrimination.

Second, they learn that bullying works; they learn that “might is right.” They learn that if you are sincere and believable when you threaten, you will most likely get your way.

Sadly, they learn that free speech and the rule of law are not to be taken too seriously.

Most importantly, they learn not to criticize Radical Islam. All other religions may be studied critically and spoken about in a frank and, if one likes, insulting manner. But not Radical Islam. Radical Islam must be blindly respected and must not be held accountable.

They learn what totalitarianism is.

2006-02-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

2006-02-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Old Europe's Tolerance of the Intolerant -- Has It Reached the Tipping Point?

For months now I have been following the dhimmitude struggles in Old Europe: the murder of the Dutch filmmaker, Theo Van Gogh, the lawlessness in the French "no go" zones in the banlieus, the banning of Piglet figurines from office cubicles by the Dudley Council in West Midlands, just to name a few. Old Europe's continued tolerance of the Intolerant has seemed unbelievable to me.

AND I find no substantial reporting of this in the MSM. I follow this on the blogs. Only blogs- Citizen Journalists, if you will - seem willing to ask hard questions, like: Why would Europe put up with this? How can they stand by while their freedoms and governmental authorities are undermined?

Yesterday, newspapers in France and Germany joined the paper in Denmark by publishing the tame and innocuous cartoons which have caused such distress in the Muslim community. Today, the editor of the French newspaper has been fired and violent threats are made in Gaza.

I think Old Europe just reached the tipping point. The point where it can no longer ignore the obvious: that freedom is not free, and that they are personally going to have to fight for it. For some time now much of Old Europe has been slumbering under the illusion that American men and women could and would do all the heavy lifting, sacrificing both life and treasure, while they stood idly by, criticizing or on holiday. But something changed yesterday when French and German newspapers decided to publish the cartoons. I think Old Europe is now engaged and I don't think there will be any turning back.

When will the MSM take note?

2006-01-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

RE: Joel Stein and the Los Angeles Times:

Well, I went to the carwash today and I made sure that I picked up one of those "I Support the Troops" car magnets in the shape of a ribbon. I'd been meaning to get one for my car for some time now, but I kept forgetting.

Joel Stein says that these magnets are hypocritical; he does not support our troops, and he takes pleasure in saying so. Glib and incurious, Joel Stein is very childish. And he knows very little about the military. Does he write that he doesn't support the troops simply to draw attention to himself, to promote his career? Maybe he feels guilty because he doesn't understand gratitude, or the military. Could this piece could be an unconcious attempt to rationalize? Or maybe he is just extremely self-absorbed - too much MTV - and disconnected from the hard, cold facts of life.

What surprises (troubles?) me, though, is the fact that the Los Angeles Times has given this boy-man a pulpit from which to joke-preach. I thought the LA Times was a grown-up paper. There are many wonderful writers, columnists, and humorists around. I read them daily surfing the the blogosphere - why, why give Joel Stein a column? His writing is not funny, nor is it insightful; it is superficial and mediocre.

Seriously, were it not for the blogosphere, the dearth of adequate local newspapers in Los Angeles would be insufferable.