The Use of Torture

If Torture Works, God Must Approve

It is utterly fascinating to watch this country mature in its leadership role in relation to the rest of the world. No wonder so many countries hate everything about us; they are just so jealous of our moral and religious values that they do not appreciate the methods we are sometimes forced to use in order to maintain peace among and between nations.

The latest thing that has been questioned is our government’s use of torture in order to converse with citizens from other countries with other beliefs. I heard today that it was our revered ex-Vice President himself who came forth to defend this nation in its time of trial when it is accused of using torture in order to protect us from our many jealous enemies. How can we possibly think of charging him or our beloved ex-President with having condoned a perfectly reasonable means of self-protection?

I wrote recently about the right to bear arms, stating courageously that it is my opinion that anyone of any age be aloud to arm himself. As a result of the ex-Vice President’s defense of a policy in use by the previous administration, I want to add it to my concept of how all Americans can and should put that policy into effect for the present and the future.

Starting with the youngest among us, those who have just come into this world, it is a must that the rest of us begin our training early with regard to our attitudes toward others of our own kind, gradually branching out into our views of the rest of the world. Some of these traits are already beginning to become a regular part of all human beings, as is apparent in young children at school who seem to enjoy tormenting other children just for fun. I was somewhat overweight when I was in the 7th grade, and I remember vividly being called “tub-o-guts” by a group of boys. It was really good practice for them, and I’ll just bet that they all grew up to be devoted gun owners.

But now we live in a very dangerous world, and I can just imagine how hard it would be for someone who hates us to hold back any plans for doing us harm if we just torture him enough. Some of these evil men are really tough, but if you think about how you would react to such treatment, they simply will not be able to hold out, so long as we can hold out on increasing the type and length of the torture. The knowledge by the rest of the world that we engage in torture will certainly get out, which may lead to a slight increase in the use of torture by our enemies, but our cause will prevail, because, as the whole world knows, we are a Christian Nation.

ARW
4/22/09

Same Sex Marriage

The Problem Is Mass Marriage in Public

Marriage is a sacred ceremony to most people, attended by close family and friends. It is a private procedure, made less sacred only when it is an Event publicized for the information and edification of the uninvolved public.

Because same-sex marriage is unusual to most of the public, photographers find it an interesting subject to catch as a large group of newly-married same-sex strangers emerge from a public office and immediately engage in elated kissing on the steps of the building.

If you think about it, however, the same procedure by a large group of heterosexual newlyweds involves the unconnected audience with the same feelings of discomfort. The
occasion becomes a sort of carnival freak show with sexual overtones. The marriage of either couple, whether in a church, a home, or a public office, is and should remain a ceremony attended only by family and friends.

Come off it, those of you who are interested in such displays, and also those of you who cheapen yourselves by participating in such an event.

And especially those of you who feel you have the right to continue to try to determine how the lives of homosexuals should be contained and ruled. And most of you who do this do it in the name of Christ and God. You make me sick!

ARW
4/20/09

Pets in the White House

The New Member? Of the Family

The most amazing demonstration of human incompetence and failure of understanding between human beings and animals that I have ever seen took place today at the White House. Beau, the Portuguese water dog was introduced to the family, and to about 50 obnoxious media photographers, as well as to the world during the poor dog’s first hysterical trip around the spacious outdoor world surrounding his new home.

Evidently neither of the two adult Obamas had ever had a pet, so the dog was as new to them as he was to their children. Either none of the photographers had ever had a dog, either, because they were far more interested in the photos they could get than in what effect their phalanx may have had on the puppy.

Wolf Blitzer, on CNN, asked a “dog whisperer” guest questions that only a person who had never even heard of such an animal would ask. And a woman dog training and performance expert was interviewed in the studio. She had a dog of similar breed and age with her at the time, and the dog wrapped himself around her legs until he had to be removed. Both of these people were involved in training dogs for wealthy families. The man must have been a dog psychiatrist, while the woman emphasized training and obedience.

Beau was introduced to his new environment moments after reaching his new home, and he was too interested in his new and boundless grounds to be bothered by all the ridiculous humans around him. If he had been a timid dog, I cannot think of a more frightening experience for a new dog to go through.

It was obvious that this was an entirely new experience for the Obama family, so I don’t blame the President for making a mistake in judgment. I revere him as a man and a man fit to be my president, so I forgive him for his lack of training in this instance. I hope he will find it an entirely happy period of training for himself, his family, and for Beau.

But it’s not too late! Here is the thing he should have done in the first place, and what he can still do now:

For moral reasons, and especially because it was what he first said he would do, he should have adopted a homeless dog.

He can still do that, both for the sake of the homeless dog, and for Beau’s sake as well! No dog should be the only pet in a home that can afford it. A dog needs a dog companion, just as people need people. NOW is the time to get Beau a companion, before he becomes a spoiled celebrity dog. And there is nothing more devoted than an animal that has been rescued. Pets should be beloved members of a family, not celebrity accoutrements.

And for heaven’s sake, do not have your dog(s) go through a regime of “training and obedience!” Try to train them not to pee on the furniture, but let them be REAL dogs, and love them for their mistakes and their quirks.

As a dog and cat rescuer all my life, most of which I have found abandoned on freeways, I can tell you how desparate is their need and how grateful is their response. I would be very surprised if there is anyone who drives on freeways anywhere who has not seen a lost or abandoned dog walking hopelessly along the road. It breaks my heart to even say that, for it brings back memories of so many that I have rescued, and the few that I was unable to help. One of my most memorable rescues was of a dog trapped between two of the three tunnels between Oakland and Contra Costa County during the morning traffic hours. I got out and opened the back door for him, and he jumped in and put his head lovingly on my shoulder, as the angry driver behind me held his hand furiously on his car horn.

I wish all people would respond the way I and other rescuers do. For those who feel as I do, it is a truly lifelong spiritual experience.

Good luck with your dog(s), Mr. President, and I wish him (them) a long life as beloved pet(s) rather than as another sightseeing experience at the White House.

ARW
4/18/09

Appalling Republican Questioning

Appalling Republican Questioning

I tuned my TV in to the rebroadcast of the hearing on Immigration Activity: Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality Act. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act today. (Best I could do, but I guess you can find it if you need to.)

It was chaired by Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren, with Republican Rep. Steve King as the ranking member. I could not believe my ears when I realized the direction in which he was going. Thank God that Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Democrat, Illinois 4th Dist., chose to be sure that the hearing and the public could understand what was really going on.

There were three witnesses on the first panel, two Hispanics. One, an older man, has been a citizen for many years. The other, a young man in his twenties, who was born here. The third witness was an American whose daughter and another girl were killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk. The two hispanic men have been arrested or otherwise hassled by law enforecement officers numerous times, chosen because they looked hispanic rather than that they were doing anything wrong. (As an aside, can you imagine how nervous you would be if you were testifying before a government panel, even if it had nothing to do with you?! Talk about courage!)

The other witnesses and the entire panel expressed their sorrow for the father’s loss. But Rep. King chose to dwell on the fact that his daughter had been killed by an illegal immigrant, rather than that she had been killed by a drunk driver.

There are a couple of things that should be pointed out here. First of all, there was a lot of testimony about the fact that most of the people in prison down south are Mexican. They are the only country that borders on ours, except for Canada, a largely white country with a totally different relationship with ours. As the world population (my “favorite” subject) swells, and its resources and education decline, it is desparation that drives peoples all over the world, especially in this case, to seek a different life. It should be obvious that the jails would contain mainly desparate Mexicans. Sure, there are a lot of vicious criminals down there, but the U.S. has its own supply to worry about as well.

Rep. King’s whole point was that if the drunken driver had not gotten here illegally, the dead girls would still be alive. For God’s sake, have you any idea how many people are killed in this country by other natural-born citizens of this country every year?! This hearing was supposed to be about illegal immigration, not drunken driving. That should take place in another court!

ARW
4/4/09

Murder, Mass and Otherwise

GUNS

Well! From the recent news on all the media, there has been a great deal of shooting lately, with increasing mass murders.

I thought the right to bear arms referred to “a well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State.” What that has to do with random shooting and mass murder is not completely clear to me.

If the current use of the right to bear arms is really in accordance with Amendment II, it seems only fair to me that anybody of any sex, any age, and any motivation should feel free to load up!

ARW
4/3/09