America, while you were sleeping…

-We have opened the Pandora’s Box of political correctness, and with no end in sight.
-There have been over 30 million killed; we still cannot agree that two arms, two legs, and a head constitute a baby, but is instead referred to by the pro-choice lobby as “fetal tissue.”
-We have chased God out of the public square, and in His place have erected the hollow edifice of government.
-We have let the mainstream media go unchallenged far too long. The media has now almost become a political party unto themselves, and looks to sensationalize the news on behalf of their chosen political interest.
-We have allowed ourselves to believe that we’re in total control of our government, but are now face to face with the reality of what decades of liberalism has cost—and will cost— all of us in the future.
-We have, for decades now, watched as judges throughout America attempt—and succeed—in making law as opposed to interpreting it. It seems all were lulled into thinking that judges were beyond political calculations. We were wrong.
-We have allowed “victimology” to become a way of life for the country’s so-called minority populace. That would be everyone except white males.
-We have given title and importance to such low-brow political types as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Michael Moore, and other liberal notables.
-We have witnessed the agenda of America’s plastic people in Hollywood. That these actors and the like should be paid any heed at all when their entire lives are wrapped up within the elitist and narcissistic bubble they live in, is simply wrong, and wasteful.
-We have given too much latitude and forgiveness to America’s Islamic leadership and citizenry within the United States. Where were their much-needed voices regarding 9/11? Where the hell are they now?
-We have watched the Congress of the United States—specifically the Republican-controlled House of Representatives—spend the taxpayers’ money as if it were their own. Over 5,500 earmarked or pork-laden spending items is tantamount to theft. Where are the Gingrich Republicans of 1994?
-We have watched the Democratic Party declare that America’s biggest threat is not Osama bin Laden, North Korea, or even Iran. It is George W. Bush. And because of this…
-We have watched as the Democratic Party has, without question, aided America’s enemies through its ceaseless and tireless harangue against the “corrupt” and “scandalized” presidency of George W. Bush. Though nothing has been proven against this president, it is not necessarily intended to. This is done as a spring board for what the liberal Democratic Party hopes for most: the reacquisition of political power.
-We have watched millions of illegal aliens march through the streets of over 60 American cities demanding “immigration rights,” when most Americans know that these marches have nothing to do with “rights,” but with pressuring the Bush administration into granting a circuitous route towards amnesty. And stunningly…
-We have seen the political tin ear of George W. Bush regarding immigration, and it is unacceptable. By his inaction of not securing America’s borders, this president endangers America, a concept that is hard to believe when one views this very same president’s actions in the war on terrorism.
-Finally, we have tragically grown accustomed to the everyday ravages of all of the above, and pay them less and less attention. From the annoyance of trying to remove the word “Christmas” from, well, Christmas, to the ability of the states to take land from one private owner and transfer it to another, (Kelo v. New London) Americans have grown pre-occupied, and calloused.
Don’t look now, America, but your country is in the process of becoming a shell of what it once was. But in actuality, it is we who are becoming shells of what we once were. While you were sleeping, America, the country you once knew has become, in many respects, the stuff of dreams.
Copyright by Vincent Fiore
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Vincent Fiore is a freelance political writer who lives in New York City. His work can be seen on a host of sites, including the American Conservative Union, GOPUSA, ChronWatch, and theconservativevoice. Vincent is a staff writer for the New Media Alliance and a contributing writer for NewsBusters.org. He receives e-mail at: Anwar004@aol.com

Americans have it so good!

Inside city hall, jan. 21, 09

Americans have it so good. We use most of the world’s energy, water, and natural resources. There’s no way to count what we have in the way of the world’s goods. But take away just one of the good things we have and we well let you know about it. I promise.

Like a few weeks ago when our water was off a few hours. And last Saturday when Santa Rosa’s whole system was down. For some that included cell phones. Most of us just didn’t have internet, TV or telephone use.

I was affected like everyone else. I prepared my usual bowl of oatmeal and settled down in front of the tube to watch CSI, one of my favorite programs. All I saw was “This station is temporarily out of order.” That message usually means I have unplugged something. Not this time, Santa Rosa was really down. Well, dang, I can’t watch TV, what to do? What else could I do: I ate my oatmeal in the quietness of the night. Actually it was sort of peaceful.

I learned at Sunday school how it affected others. We don’t like to do without what we are used to having. “What’s wrong with those folks, don’t they know I have to watch the Mavericks tonight?” And we do get vocal with one another.

Once upon a time I lived in a far away land, where the people didn’t have all the nice things that we take for granted. Running water was one thing. Actually, the nationals who didn’t have the civilized houses with pipes in the wall were not as bothered as those of us who did. They carried their water from the neighborhood well, and never knew when the “que” people were out of water.

We learned what others did in those times and went down to waterside where we could get pig feet barrels for three dollars each. Empty barrels, that is, although the feet were sold down there, too. I never knowingly ate pigs feet, but barrels came in handy when the water went off. We put one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. That meant we had about sixty gallons of water to use for usual things. Hopefully the water would come back on before the barrels were empty. Yes, we did clean the barrels before we used them. Although the feet don’t smell as bad as other parts of the pig’s anatomy.

We often took our showers beneath the eve of the house during a nighttime downpour. It rained often; Liberia gets over 250 inches during the six-month rainy season. And very little in the dry season. In fact, during the dry season the St. John River (the city’s water source) got so low that at high tide the ocean would rush up the river. Which meant the water in the pipes was salty.

If the water was off, the electricity was probably off first, since it takes electricity to run the water pumps. We had to be ready for that as well. The candle factory did well, there was always a demand for their product. Just plain candles, not the smell good, decorator type, and only one variety at that.

Before the coup in 1980 there was a paint factory that sold white, black, red, green, and blue. If you wanted something in between you better know how to mix basic colors to get what you wanted. Time in Liberia was measured BC or AC: before the coup or after the coup. A split second was the time it took the taxi-man behind you to honk after the light changed to green. The owner of the paint factory was among those lined up on the beach and “executed.”

Liberia was once a peaceful, laid back place, called Little-America. After the coup, however, things deteriorated until the civil war broke out in 1988. Then all the que people had to leave, many with only the clothes on their back. Finally, after all these years things are slowly getting back to normal. Although, water and electricity are not available for most of the population. The taxi men now have cell phones, considering they never had regular phones, this is great. And since there is no electricity, there are no green lights to bother with. Beep-beep.

FYI: I was a missionary in Liberia.

Curfew in Munday

Insde City Hall, January 28,
2009

Maybe I have forgotten just how much fun it must be to stay up late, or out late. I went through this with my youngest son, who loved to be out running around at all hours of the night. I told him then, “After midnight, the only people out are the ones who are up to mischief and the police, and you are not a policeman.”

Munday teenagers take notice: you are not invisible. In fact you are very noticeable. Some are carrying little green slips in their pockets, because they are afraid to tell their parents about the citation.

I’ve written about this before, but here we go again. Munday has an ordinance that spells out curfew hours. School nights the curfew is 11:00 p.m. to 6 a.m.. I’ll spell out the days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday and Saturday it’s 12:01 a.m. until 6 a.m. This next part is a surprise to most: Between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday when our schools are in session, there is also a curfew. If teenagers aren’t in school, they should be off the streets.

Minors cannot be in public places during curfew hours; public places are off limits. Parents or guardians who are with minors in public places during curfew hours are also committing an offense.
Since Munday has no juvenile court, all minors cited for curfew violation will be tried in Municipal Court.

A parent or guardian of the minor who violates this ordinance is, if convicted, subject to a fine not to exceed $500.

The owner, operator or employee of an establishment who violates this ordinance is, upon conviction, subject to a fine not to exceed $500.

A minor may be prosecuted in Municipal Court for a violation of this ordinance and upon conviction can receive a fine not to exceed $500. Court costs for an ordinance violation is $54.

Curfew violation is not taken lightly, it is a serious offense. When buildings are burgled, cars broken into, and vandalism occurs, minors seen running around town late at night are prime suspects. So, parents, drill this into your minor teenager’s head. They need to think about what they are doing or what they intend to do.

Thinking is not that difficult, it does, however, take a little practice. Parents try this exercise at home: set aside 15 minutes a day for your children to practice thinking. Give them something to think about, then test them. If they can’t tell you what they were thinking about, do it again. In fact, do it until they can tell you. No interruptions please, give them to time to complete their assignment.

On a lighter note: In Sterling, Colorado, cats may only run loose if they have been fitted with a taillight. In Florida if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle. In Pennsylvania guns, cannons, revolvers or other explosive weapons must not be fired at a wedding. In Racine, Wisconsin, firemen must not be woken up when they are asleep.

I haven’t given up on Judge Roy Bean, so be patient, he will show up again.

Court hours are now 8:15 -12, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Special arrangements can be made by calling the office, 422-5220. If you call this number and leave a message for someone else at City Hall, they may not get it for a day or so.


I apolgize for being absent so long. No real excuse, but I did go through a time with gout and not wanting to do anything.

Why did I write about the curfew again? I have touched on the drug problem and teenage crime recently in my articles. I believe this all goes together. The drug problem at high school is probably worse than I had imagined. Evidently there is no discipline at all. At least three girls are pregnant: when asked about it, superintendent Dillard said he didn't know about it. We are close to losing our schools altogether, the state will not allow this type of management to continue. Pray for these problems and for the people involved.