Springtime for Kim Jung Il and North Korea

Someone has written a musical based on life in one of North Korea's labor camps, Yoduk Story. One of the choreographers, Kim Yong-soon was sent to a labor camp for gossiping about Kim Jong Il's love life. The play was written by Jeong Song-san, who also has escaped from the North. One of the big songs is All I want is Rice.

You just can't make this stuff up.

H/T (and title stolen shamelessly from): John Derbyshire at NRO

College Basketball Pt 2

I'm in three pools over at The Irish Trojan's blog. (He went to USC as an undergrad, and is now attending ND Law School) I blew the NCAA men's pool, I have a chance at finishing fourth in the NCAA Women's pool, and have a good chance at winning the NIT pool tonight. Some more minor fame and bragging rights comes my way!

Keith Richards Memorial Plans?

The original walking dead is getting older than ever. There are rumors circulating the more elite New York nightclubs about the disposition of his remains. The main rumor has it that Keith is going to have his body dessicated, and then ground into powder. The powder will then be distibuted to an underground nightclub in London, New York and L.A.

At each of these nightclubs, one of the surviving Stones will ritually cook the powder, and inject the other patrons while Stones albums play in the background. Groupies are even now injecting bigger and bigger doses of heroin to build up an immunity so they won't immediately overdose.

I have Keith in my Deadpool, so hopefully we will find out soon if these rumors are true.

Reliable Sources

I just saw Markos from Daily Kos on reliable sources. First thought, where was the balancing Conservative blogger?

Markos dropped a lot of his leftwing cant during this segment, most of which we have heard before. Some of the more notable:

* There is a Vast Rightwing Conspiracy (tm) and it controls the AM dial, Washington Post, Fox News, and the think tanks.

* There is no liberal media, and the traditional media has been too easy on Pres. Bush.

* Conservatives bully media figures in order to intimidate them, and he vows the Left will now begin doing the same.

This guy is truly delusional.

Gabby Johnson Would Be Proud

Today one of the reporters covering the pro-immigration rallies yesterday came out with this gem:

"They are upset with H.R. 4437 because it would criminalize the undocumented workers who are here illegally."

It's the Economy Stupid!

I was watching Neil Cavuto this morning, and they did a segment on the status of the economy. Everyone agreed that in every way the economy today is better and stronger than during the Clinton administration. But if you only listened to the MSM asnd the Democratic leadership (wow..what a coincidence) you would think we were in the middle of a depression. Everyone (accept the Democratic party activist) acknowledged that the MSM and the Democratic leadership were mischaracterizing the economy, especially when you compare the coverage of today to the coverage during the Clinton administration. The Democratic operative keep harping on the fears of workers, (and someone responded with a great line: "The only people who are scared are those listening to the Democratic leaders"), and spouting typical class warfare talking points.

The truth is, our economy is stronger than ever, and every measure from unemployment, to mortgage rates, to interest rates in general, etc is at historically good levels.

The Iron Lady's War

On March 25, 1982 the United Kingdom officially responded to an Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands. Argentina and the UK had been disputing the ownership of the islands for almost 150 years. The Islanders themselves clearly wanted to remain under the rule of the UK.

Prime Minister Thatcher reacted to the occupation of South Georgia by Argentines by sending a Royal Navy vessel to evict them on this day 24 years ago. The Argentine Navy moved to intercept the HMS Endurance, which then retreated to avoid conflict. Within a week, Argentuna and the United Kingdom were in a shooting war.

I was living in the UK at the time, and the Falklands War had a profound effect on the UK. It brought about a renewed sense of patriotism, but also forced the British public to deal with the horrors of a televised war. A lesser PM would have simply abandoned the Falkland Islands and the people who lived there. Baroness Thatcher is one of the UK's all time greats, and a true friend to the US to boot.

Thanks Maggie, and heres hoping I don't get your points this year.

College Basketball

Since when did they stop calling palming the ball? I have seen bits and pieces of lots of different NCAA and NIT games, and in nearly every one I have seen players palming the ball while dribbling it up the court. Is this just normal now? did they get rid of that rule?

What About Real Women?

In a column on TownHall.com, Jeff Jacoby takes the Men's Roe V Wade case to task. Now I've written previously on this blog about my thoughts, and in comments sections all over the internet. I agree with the basic premise of Matt Dubay and his lawyers: under current law, men are treated unequally and inequitably when it comes to reproduction and family law. My summation is : Women have many reproductive rights and few (no) responsibilities. Men have few (virtually none) reproductive rights and many responsibilities. I have laid out my case for this in my earlier post.

The basic premise of Jacoby's column is that real men support their children. I agree with this also. I believe both parents have a moral obligation to provide their children with the best possible environment to grow up in.

However where is the discussion of what a real women does? I believe a real women nutures and protects her child. She doesn't kill it in her womb, she doesn't abandon it in a closet, or even in a hospital ER. If she can't provide for it, she gives it up for adoption. I can hear the gasps flying up all over the blogosphere: "How dare you judge a woman's reproductibve choice!" My answer: Why the hell not? If it is OK (and I think it is) to state that a real man lives up to his obligations and supports his child, then why can't I say a real women lives up to her obligations and gives birth to her child?

As Jacoby says, when a man consents to sex (and sometimes when he doesn't or can't consent) he obligates himself to the possibility that the women will become pregnant, and he will have the responsibility to support his child. Why is it however that when a women consents to sex, she doesn't obligate herself to the possibility that she will become pregnant, and have the responsibility to give birth to her child?

The main argument that supports mandatory child support is that you do not punish the child, and must look after the interests of the child. This argument also supports mandating the woman to give birth to her child, which is why the Left is so insistent with it's nonsensical argument that the fetus is not human.

Jacoby places the blame for the status quo on "predatory males". I agree they are a problem, but I place as much blame on irresponsible women.

If all men behave like real men, and all women behaved like real women, the world would be a much better place.

If you are ever wondering what to get me.....

I want one of these......

Dr. Who Pt. 2

Well, I just saw the first episode. It was much better than I expected. The new Doctor is not as good as Tom Baker the Fourth Doctor, but not bad. He is the Ninth version of the character. (The character under goes periodic reincarnations that change his appearance, allowing new actors to play the role) The actor's name is Christopher Eccleston. The sidekick, Rose Tyler, is one of the best the Doctor has had. (I am not a dirty old man, she's only 17 years younger than me.) Her name is Billie Piper. She reminds me of a young Olivia D'Abo. (Whom I have lusted after ever since Conan the Destroyer and she is only 2 years younger than me.)

Unfortunately a little research has revealed that this Doctor only lasts for one series. (At least Rose continues to hang out with the next incarnation.)

Gaelic Gaul

Irish Prime Minister Ahern met with president Bush today, and used the occasion to push the US to give amnesty to our Irish illegal immigrants. I can't believe he could do this with a straight face.

In the 1990's Ireland's economy began to boom. The land of perpetual emigration began to experience immigration for the first time. How did they react?

Well in Jan. 2003 the Irish Supreme Court said that non-citizen parents of children born in Ireland were not entitled to permanent residence. In June 2004 Irish voters passed a referendum that stated that children born in Ireland to non-citizens were not entitled to automatic citizenship. (I can only wish we could accomplish that here)

And there is this: "In recent years, Ireland has passed a number of laws aimed at combating illegal immigration. Together, these laws provide a legal basis for deporting non-nationals in violation of Ireland's immigration laws, ban the trafficking of illegal immigrants and the carrying of a passenger who does not have proper immigration documents, and financially penalize or imprison employers and workers who do not comply with the Employment Permits Act 2003. In addition, illegal residents' access to some state benefits has been restricted." (link)

And this: "In a new crackdown on illegal immigration, more than 200 police officers raided homes in Dublin and arrested 39 people. The searches are to be extended nationwide in an effort to find and deport the 2,610 people who have not left the country since their applications for asylum were rejected. Some 310 people have been deported since January; about 10,000 people, mostly from Africa and Eastern Europe, request asylum in Ireland each year." (link) (Again, I can only wish)

PM Ahern, you are a hypocrite.

California Governor's Race

Well I just saw the first ad for a rather obscure Democratic candidate, Steve Westly. (The ad is called "character"

"I opposed apartheid in college." (pander to the black vote, check.)

"I support privacy rights, and the right to an abortion." (pander to the feminist vote, check)

" I believe in global warming" (pander to the environmental wacko vote, check)

" I wanna give more money to education". (pander to the teacher's union, check)

(quotes are my characterisation of his positions)

Ther only ones he left out were the Hispanics, but he probably figures Angelides is going to get most of their votes anyways.

St Paddy's Day

I'm reading Rutherford's The Rebels of Ireland, the corned beef is in the crock pot, (cabbage and potatoes ready to go in first thing in the morning) and the rum and Coke is ready to be poured. (while I like Guiness, I'm not much of a beer drinker)

Eat a Tasty Animal For PETA Day

Let's see, I had sausage and eggs for breakfast, chicken breast for lunch, and I'm having beef for dinner. Maybe I'll have a late night snack of tuna to round it out.

EATAPETA

The Dixie Chicks

First let me begin by saying I used to be one of the Dixie Chicks' biggest fans. I jumped on their bandwagon way early, and I had their first two CDs and was about to buy their third when it happened.

Secondly, let me state that I believe in free speech, and they had the right to have and express their opinions.

But to go on stage in time of war when you are overseas, and badmouth our president steps over the line for me. If they had made the comments in the US, I still would have been upset. But I probably could have dealt with it. As it is, their actions, and the way they reacted to the controversy, upset me so much that I literally cannot listen to them anymore. When I hear them I get angry all over again.

They made a serious miscalculation career-wise also. Country music fans are very patriotic, and they made the mistake of getting in a pissing match with Toby Keith who had several patriotic songs out at the time.

They have just released another album, and their first single is unrepentent at best.

I wish them well. They are very talented. But they have lost this fan for life.

Is Pres. Bush Meadowlark Lemon?

Sen. Norm Coleman has issued a press release stating that Pres. Bush's entire cabinet should submit resignations, and that Pres. Bush should accept most of them. The justification for this is the administration's poor performance, especially in getting out the administration's message. A couple of commentators were discussing this on Fox this afternoon, and one came up with a great analogy. He said that the Bush administration is the Harlaam Globetrotters and the Democrats are their traditional patsys, the Washington Generals. His point was that the Bush administarion should be making the Democrats look stupid and ineffectual, with ease. But what he and everyone else on the show failed to note was that in this case, the scorekeeper and ref (MSM), who are supposed to be neutral, are actually on the side of the Generals. That's why it is a close game. That's why the economy which should be a slam dunk is instead called as hanging on the rim. That's why the record on terror, which should be a three pointer is instead called palming the ball. That's why what should be a blow out is instead a close game in the fourth.

(how's that for dragging an analogy to death?)

Roe V Wade For Men

The issue of Reproductive rights, especially as they concern men, has recently been a hot topic because of a court case filed in Michigan by the National Center for Men. It has cropped up all over the blogosphere, and I have been engaged in a debate about it with a blogger named Darleen on her blog. I have decided to revise and extend my remarks in a longer post here on my blog.

The first issue to dispense with is the rights of the child. I believe the child has the right to life, and a moral claim to support from both parents. I believe fathers and mothers should both be involved in raising a child emotionally and financially. But a moral claim is not the same thing as a legal right. I oppose abortion, and enthusiastically support adoption and even orphanages.

The core issue is reproductive rights and responsibilities. They differ vastly depending on a person's gender.

Let's begin with reproductive rights. These rights begin with the right to consent to sexual relations.

A woman has the right to consent or decline to engage in sex. If a man has sex with a woman without her consent, this is the crime of rape, and it carries severe moral and legal sanctions. A man also has the right to consent or decline to have sex. However if a woman has sex with a man without his consent there is rarely a prosecution or any moral sanctions. In one case of apparent rape of a male by a female (S.F. v. Alabama ex rel. T.M., ) the courts actually forced the male rape victim to pay child support. Note also that it is possible for a man who believes he is engaging in consentual sex to be found guity of rape because it is determined later that even though the woman consented at the time, her ability to give consent was in some way hindered. (I.E. she was drunk at the time)

It is illustrative to examine the differences in how statutory rape is handled by gender. Men who rape underage girls are "perverts", and usually receive severe jail sentences. Women who rape underage boys are "troubled" and often receive probation. (Quite often we are told that the boys involved got lucky, but we are never told that the girls got lucky) It must also be noted that male victims of statutory rape can be forced to pay child support. (San Luis Obispo County v. Nathaniel J. is just one example) In the one known case involving a female victim (Cf. Division of Child Support Enforcement ex rel. Esther M. v. Mary L) the courts ruled that the mother was not responsible for child support.

Once the decision to have sex is made, the issue of birth control comes up. The courts have ruled that even if the women commits fraud by lying about her fertility, or use of birth control, the man can be forced to pay child support. One of the main arguments supporting this is a 14th Amendment argument stating that it would create two unequal classes of children, those entitled to paternal support, and those not. The woman can also lie about her intention to have an abortion. Often a man is presented with a child he knows nothing about years after the birth, and is forced to not only begin making child support payments, but to make retroactive payments back to the date of birth. A man can also be forced to pay child support for a child that is not biologically his, say in the case of adultry during marriage. (http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1133517916151 as one example)

Once conception occurs, the man no longer has any reproductive rights. (with one exception noted later) The courts have consistently ruled that a man cannot force a woman to have an abortion, or prevent her from obtaining one. Obviously under current law, a woman can choose at any point prior to birth to have an abortion. A woman can also choose to give her child up for adoption after birth. (at this point a man's only post conception right comes into play. In most cases, {but not all} he has the right to assume custody rather than allow an adoption) If a woman keeps the child she can force the man to become financially liable, with or without his consent. She usually has the right to go to court and place severe limitations on the father's parental rights. Rarely is a man able to dictate a woman's parental rights.

It must also be noted that a woman can impregnate herself with a man's sperm without his consent, and the man is still forced to pay child support. This includes cases in which a woman preserves sperm from oral sex and impregnates herself. (http://writ.news.findlaw.com/colb/20050309.html) There are cases in which the man and woman make a contract in which he agrees to provide her with sperm, and she agrees to free him from all parental responsibility including support. (Estes v. Albers and Straub v. B.M.T. by Todd) The courts have ruled that in these cases the father is still liable for child support.

It is simply undeniable that current reproductive and parental laws treat the genders inequitably. Women are given Rights with few responsibilities while men are given responsibilities with few Rights. I believe that the best solution would include limiting some of the woman's rights, and limiting some of the man's responsibilities.

Update 3/16/06: There is also a Supreme Court case (International Union, United Auto Workers v. Johnson Controls, Inc) that says an employer may not discriminate against pregnant women (even to protect their fetus). However there are laws and cases all over the country that allow employers to give pregnant women preferential treatment (such as extended sick leave, allowing them to change jobs if they wish, and protecting their jobs while they are out).

Two and a Half Men

This show is really well written and acted. Charley Sheen can be quite funny. Tonight's show featured Jon Lovitz singing a jingle called "Save the Orphans." If you haven't seen the show, you ought to give it a try.

What the Hell?

I was checking through my hits tonight and came across this. Someone has translated my blog into pimp! Farking hilarious! Hell, I write better in pimp than I do in English!

Update 3/14/06: Here my blog is in redneck.

Watch Out Emeril!!

Dinner tonight:

2 Dining In breaded chicken breasts topped with a package of Stouffer's cream chipped beef.

Roy Orbison

I was just channel surfing, and came across a great concert on PBS. It's all in black and white. It's Roy Orbison singing. In the background I picked out Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Rait and I'm sure there are others I don't recognize. Roy was truly one of the greats. As far as I am concerned, he is the Man in Black, not Johnny Cash. (although Cash was great also)

Battlestar Galactica Pt 13 (spoilers)

First of all, October??!!?? I have to wait until next October?

With that out of the way.....

1) A new model of Cylon..Dean Stockwell. Puts whole new irony into his counseling sessions with Chief Tyrol.

2) Roslin continuing to keep an eye on Hera on New Caprica. Will the Cylons find out about her? What happens when they do?

3) The resurrected Caprica Six, together again with Gaius. Can that plot line get anymore convoluted? Will Baltar's treason be revealed?

4) The resurrected Galactica Boomer (Tyrol's Boomer) Will she and Tyrol meet? What happens when they do?

5) Where's the Caprica Boomer (Helo's Boomer) ? Is she still in the brig on Galactica?

6) How many people were on the ships that jumped out?

7) What's going on on Caprica and the other colonies? Did the Cylons return or are they empty?

Tonight's episode was much better than last week's. It wasn't as good as the season 1 finale, or the finale for the first half of season 2, but it left me impatient for more, which is what it was supposed to do.

The Day After

The Day After was one of those semi-hyterical apocalypse movies that came out in the 1980's. For some reason the Sci Fi channel showed it tonight. I remember watching it at the time and thinking how dumb it was. Some quick thoughts:

1) I was surprised at how many famous actors were in it, many before they became famous, some on the downslope of their careers. All the cars and clothes look ancient.

2) It's amazing how heavy handed the propaganda is. Completely unsophisticated. The Left could do much better now.

3) The main message was supposed to be that the US was going to provoke a war if they insisted on stationing Pershing medium range missiles in Europe. Well President Reagan did move forward with those plans, and history has shown us who was right, President Reagan or the appeasement Left. But at least one thing is consistent, the Left is still blaming the US for the world's troubles.

4) When this movie came out, I was living on a NATO first strike base. (meaning the Soviets had targeted the base for destruction with chemical and nuclear weapons during their first series of attacks) I regularly saw and participated in drills that simulated such an attack. I actually had nightmares of dying in such an attack. But even as a teenager at the time I knew enough to reject the idea of appeasement, and completely supported President Reagan. I had to put up with the morons from the CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) picketing in front of my base. We had tactical aircraft, A-10's stationed there. The A-10 is incapable of carrying nuclear weapons.

5) Crap like this makes me appreciate movies like Dr. Strangelove all the more. Even with Dr. Strangelove I oppose the message, but at least it is well done.

Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey is one of my Deadpool picks this year. Three of my picks this year are Sci Fi writers: her, Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke. All three are Damon Knight Grand Master Award winners, which commemorates the greats in Sci Fi.

I grew up reading Anne, eagerly anticipating the next installment in her Dragonriders series. Anne was one of the first Sci Fi authors I remember to work in shared universes with other authors (always with other female authors). She is a pretty ardent feminist, (although this is rarely mentioned in discussions of her life) in fact her first work was written to rectify what she saw as a lack in strong female protangonists in Sci Fi.

Suddenly, three years ago her Dragonrider books began appearing with the name of one of her sons, Todd, on the cover. That was when the sad truth emerged, that Anne is in failing health. The last three books in the series are all co-authored by Anne and Todd, but stylistic and content differences lead me to believe that Anne's inclusion is a polite fiction. At best she contributed a plot outline.

Sadly, the most recent photo of Anne I could find, from Aug 2005, seems to show her increasing infirmities. She is one of the all-time greats and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for the hundreds of hours of enjoyment and wonder she has brought me.

Sons and Daughters

This is the new show getting all the buzz. I just saw the first two episodes, and to be honest, I don't know what I think about it yet. The show is definitely different, and parts of it funny. Let's see how I feel next week.

White Boy Rap

Apparently it all started on Saturday Night Live. (which to be honest I have stopped watching...is it still funny, or has it returned to the sucky days?) They did a rap song.

Like all things rap, there soon developed an East Coast/West Coast rivalry.

Feeling left out, some Indiana boys decided to enter the fray.

Word.



(h/t: The Corner)

Final Frontier Pt 2

I have written previously when NASA announced the approaching end of the shuttle program of my belief that the AF had a secret spaceplane program. Now comes word that the AF is shelving it's spaceplane from Aviation Weekly, a well-respected aviation magazine.

I repeat my earlier assertion, that we have an operational spaceplane. The only way the US government would discard this asset, is if there was a better one available.

This information, combined with the recent success of Spaceship One lend hope that the exploitation and exploration of space is finally just around the corner.

(h/t: Captain's Quarters)

2006 Academy Awards

I could not care less.
I did make a prediction back in January though. I haven't seen any of the movies though, and now everyone is saying it's between Crash and Brokeback Mountain.

Battlestar Galactica Pt 12

Last night's episode was completely underwhelming. I can only hope that it was the boring "set up" episode and next week's 90 minute finale is the payoff.

Here are my hopes:

1) The Caprica rescue team meet up with the reincarnated Caprica Six and Galatica Boomer. Imagine the Galactica Boomer (who is now on Caprica) meeting up with the Caprica Boomer (who is now on Galactica...but actually is also on Caprica at this moment....maybe I'll have to start calling them the Tyrol's Boomer and Helo's Boomer)

2) Another human model Cylon is exposed. Preferably a re-occuring character from the series. ( My personal wish would be either Gaius or Tyrol.)

3) A messy death for another of the Biers model Human Cylons.

Conflicting Civilizations Pt 3

This was sent to me by a member of my family.



[Editor's Note: Below are selected excerpts from Brigitte Gabriel's speech delivered at the Intelligence Summit in Washington DC, Saturday February 18, 2006].
We gather here today to share information and knowledge. Intelligence is not merely cold hard data about numerical strength or armament or disposition of military forces. The most important element of intelligence has to be understanding the mindset and intention of the enemy. The West has been wallowing in a state of ignorance and denial for thirty years as Muslim extremist perpetrated evil against innocent victims in the name of Allah.
I was ten years old when my home exploded around me, burying me under the rubble and leaving me to drink my blood to survive, as the perpetrators shouted “Allah Akbar!” My only crime was that I was a Christian living in a Christian town. At 10 years old, I learned the meaning of the word "infidel."
I had a crash course in survival. Not in the Girl Scouts, but in a bomb shelter where I lived for seven years in pitch darkness, freezing cold, drinking stale water and eating grass to live. At the age of 13 I dressed in my burial clothes going to bed at night, waiting to be slaughtered. By the age of 20, I had buried most of my friends--killed by Muslims. We were not Americans living in New York, or Britons in London. We were Arab Christians living in Lebanon.
As a victim of Islamic terror, I was amazed when I saw Americans waking up on September 12, 2001, and asking themselves "Why do they hate us?" The psychoanalyst experts were coming up with all sort of excuses as to what did we do to offend the Muslim World. But if America and the West were paying attention to the Middle East they would not have had to ask the question. Simply put, they hate us because we are defined in their eyes by one simple word: "infidels."
Under the banner of Islam "la, ilaha illa allah, muhammad rasoulu allah," (None is god except Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) they murdered Jewish children in Israel, massacred Christians in Lebanon, killed Copts in Egypt, Assyrians in Syria, Hindus in India, and expelled almost 900,000 Jews from Muslim lands. We Middle Eastern infidels paid the price then. Now infidels worldwide are paying the price for indifference and shortsightedness.
Tolerating evil is a crime. Appeasing murderers doesn't buy protection. It earns one disrespect and loathing in the enemy's eyes. Yet apathy is the weapon by which the West is committing suicide. Political correctness forms the shackles around our ankles, by which Islamists are leading us to our demise.
America and the West are doomed to failure in this war unless they stand up and identify the real enemy: Islam. You hear about Wahabbi and Salafi Islam as the only extreme form of Islam. All the other Muslims, supposedly, are wonderful moderates. Closer to the truth are the pictures of the irrational eruption of violence in reaction to the cartoons of Mohammed printed by a Danish newspaper. From burning embassies, to calls to butcher those who mock Islam, to warnings that the West be prepared for another holocaust, those pictures have given us a glimpse into the real face of the enemy. News pictures and video of these events represent a canvas of hate decorated by different nationalities who share one common ideology of hate, bigotry and intolerance derived from one source: authentic Islam. An Islam that is awakening from centuries of slumber to re-ignite its wrath against the infidel and dominate the world. An Islam which has declared "Intifada" on the West.
America and the West can no longer afford to lay in their lazy state of overweight ignorance. The consequences of this mental disease are starting to attack the body, and if they don't take the necessary steps now to control it, death will be knocking soon. If you want to understand the nature of the enemy we face, visualize a tapestry of snakes. They slither and they hiss, and they would eat each other alive, but they will unite in a hideous mass to achieve their common goal of imposing Islam on the world.
This is the ugly face of the enemy we are fighting. We are fighting a powerful ideology that is capable of altering basic human instincts. An ideology that can turn a mother into a launching pad of death. A perfect example is a recently elected Hamas official in the Palestinian Territories who raves in heavenly joy about sending her three sons to death and offering the ones who are still alive for the cause. It is an ideology that is capable of offering highly educated individuals such as doctors and lawyers far more joy in attaining death than any respect and stature, life in society is ever capable of giving them.
The United States has been a prime target for radical Islamic hatred and terror. Every Friday, mosques in the Middle East ring with shrill prayers and monotonous chants calling death, destruction and damnation down on America and its people. The radical Islamists’ deeds have been as vile as their words. Since the Iran hostage crisis, more than three thousand Americans have died in a terror campaign almost unprecedented in its calculated cruelty along with thousands of other citizens worldwide. Even the Nazis did not turn their own children into human bombs, and then rejoice at their deaths as well the deaths of their victims. This intentional, indiscriminate and wholesale murder of innocent American citizens is justified and glorified in the name of Islam.
America cannot effectively defend itself in this war unless and until the American people understand the nature of the enemy that we face. Even after 9/11 there are those who say that we must “engage” our terrorist enemies, that we must “address their grievances”. Their grievance is our freedom of religion. Their grievance is our freedom of speech. Their grievance is our democratic process where the rule of law comes from the voices of many not that of just one prophet. It is the respect we instill in our children towards all religions. It is the equality we grant each other as human beings sharing a planet and striving to make the world a better place for all humanity. Their grievance is the kindness and respect a man shows a woman, the justice we practice as equals under the law, and the mercy we grant our enemy. Their grievance cannot be answered by an apology for who or what we are.
Our mediocre attitude of not confronting Islamic forces of bigotry and hatred wherever they raised their ugly head in the last 30 years, has empowered and strengthened our enemy to launch a full scale attack on the very freedoms we cherish in their effort to impose their values and way of life on our civilization.
If we don't wake up and challenge our Muslim community to take action against the terrorists within it, if we don't believe in ourselves as Americans and in the standards we should hold every patriotic American to, we are going to pay a price for our delusion. For the sake of our children and our country, we must wake up and take action. In the face of a torrent of hateful invective and terrorist murder, America’s learning curve since the Iran hostage crisis is so shallow that it is almost flat. The longer we lay supine, the more difficult it will be to stand erect.


Brigitte Gabriel is an expert on the Middle East conflict and lectures nationally and internationally on the subject. She's the former news anchor of World News for Middle East television and the founder of AmericanCongressforTruth.com.