A gem of extraordinary worth

Weddings are great excuses for get togethers. Friends, family and people you only ever see at funerals otherwise. It's also nice to get to know people whose families are just as nuts as yours is.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center finds Moveon.org offensive.

"Politics and preparing for a presidential election is one thing, but comparing the Bush Administration’s fight against Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein with the policies of Adolf Hitler is shameful and beyond the pale and has no place in the legitimate discourse of American politics,"

If anyone in this century comes close to the horrors of Hitler it's Saddam Hussein. The penchant of liberal protestors for slinging the Hitler and Nazi label at anyone whom they disagree with have done more to lower the level of discourse in this country than any "Fanatical Right Wing" talk show host ever could.

The memory of Nazi Germany and it's legacy as led by the monster Hitler should cause people anger. Using these memories to help guide civilization to avoid the path of the Fascist or totalitarian state with some sort of handy socially separate scapegoat that can be blamed for all current ills is the right thing to do.

Selecting a whole group of people on the opposite side of an issue from you and labeling them Nazi's and their leader Hitler is moving in the opposite direction. You are demonizing your neibors and friends who for their own reasons disagree with you. Blaming them for all your problems What's next? Riots with true believers vandalizing the establishments of "Nazi" supporters? A Liberal Kristallnacht? Is this the goal of Moveon.org?

Hollywood values are usually expressed in opposition to Western Culture. Hollywood values support multi-culturalism, relativism, and internationalism. The statements by all the usual suspects out of Hollywood reminds me of the Father son chat Dr. Evil had with Scott about his plans for his life.

• Scott Evil: No! Maybe like work in a petting zoo.
  
• Dr. Evil: A Republican evil petting zoo?
  
• Scott Evil: You always do that!
  

Standing up against evil is not normally a high priority unless it is an republican evil.

John Rhys-Davis in an interview on his role as Gimli in the Lord of the Rings Films.

• Jeffrey:
  How much of Tolkien's Catholic beliefs and perspective resonate with you?
  
  
• JRD: I'm burying my career so substantially in these interviews that it's painful. But I think that there are some questions that demand honest answers.
  
  I think that Tolkien says that some generations will be challenged. And if they do not rise to meet that challenge, they will lose their civilization. That does have a real resonance with me.
  
  
  
  
• JRD: g**dammit, I am for dead white male culture.
  
  You do realize in this town what I've been saying [is like] blasphemy...
  
  ...but we've got to get a bit serious. By and large our cultures and our society are resilient enough to put up with any sort of nonsense. But if Tolkien’s got a message, it's that "Sometimes you've got to stand up and fight for what you believe in." He knew what he was fighting for in WW1.
  

This type of statement is unprecedented from a major Hollywood actor. But he does seem to get it. He's got the courage to speak about what he believes, and though he is frightened that Hollywood will black list him for having the audacity to actually speak out he has to put his career on the line.

I knew I'd always liked John Rhys-Davis for good reason.

Read it all! Rhys-Davis talks about his background and beliefs and how Tolkien's work has a message for our time.

"Soft money is bad, it corrupts honest politicians" Says John McCain.
George Soros agreed and backed the lobbying effort to pass the limitations on money in politics. This legislation will prevent unlimited money given to political parties.

Bowing to the calls of get the corruption out of government Congress passed the bill and it was signed by the President. It was an obviously flawed bill with limitations on freedom of speech that were sure to get it declared unconstitutional by any court it was brought up in front of.

Then Soros gave 15 million to the democrats and anti-Bush groups totally bypassing the limitations on soft money passed by congress and signed by the President.

Today the Supreme court in a sharply divided decision upheld the limitations on the first amendment to the constitution in the McCain-Fiengold legislation.

The court has given government an extensive role in the area on grounds that there is a fundamental national interest in rooting out corruption or even the appearance of it. That concern justifies limitations on the freedom of speech, the court has said.

Appearance of corruption? The Possibility of corruption is enough of a threat to remove the Freedom of Speech?

This is an outrage! Freedom of Speech never causes Corruption. What causes and encourages corruption is the LIMITATION of speech! Sunshine laws discourage corruption. Disclosure is the answer, not providing cover and protection for Politicians. If no one will find out how you lie, or what you did, then your actions are protected by a layer of Secrecy. The court has allowed themselves to be swayed by the media support of this bill.

Politicians have granted themselves a newly minted right. The right to not be criticized.

In the 1400's China was a thriving most technologically advanced society on Earth. They were beginning a great exploration of the world by sea using ships that dwarfed the ones used by Columbus. But the order of the Emperor to dismantle the ship yards and to pull back into isolationism caused China to stagnant technologically and fall behind Europe eventually.

It's been 30 years. Many people find it hard to believe that it even happened. But this article in the National Review Online tells us that the upcoming speech by President Bush will advocate a new return of America to the Moon.
I applaud any investment in human space exploration. I'm all for getting out of Orbit, to setting up bases on the Moon, Mars, or the Asteroids. Some people claim that money spent on human space exploration is a waste. They are fools. Our lives are touched every day, especially in America with technologies that came out of the space program. The technological superiority of the United States began with the race to the Moon ignited by President John F. Kennedy. Other countries recognize this and are now considering entry into one of the most exclusive clubs on the planet.

I credit initiatives begun by the European Union as well as boasts made by China for initiating talk about this again. Remember that competition is a good thing. And it's much better than using the same resources to build nuclear arms. I hope they continue their programs and we all inspire each other to greater heights. Stagnation is just a slow road to death.

In order to continue our growth as a species I say we need to become a space fairing race. There are more frontiers and challenges out there for us to overcome. Let's start now.

Staring at a blank page at the start of a new blog I am reminded of the age old conundrum of the scribe.

What shall I carve onto the stone of history?

Who but I will ever view this with comprehension?

How long will this hold any meaning for anyone?

Is it only arrogance that makes me think that my words would have any worth to others, or will they truly hold value for the readers.

Only time and the individuals who chance upon this record will ever provide answers to these questions.

and with a single stroke the labor is begun.