"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson

Now maybe that pretty much tells you all where I come down on this topic.  The actions of the Congress and President Bush were right.  I want to thank Terry Schiavo for what she has done and hopefully this will open the eyes of some people and bring them back into the fold.  What has Terry done?  She has turned the light of truth on the liberals, showing us their true colors.  If she were a convicted murderer on Death Row, she would have access to the federal courts.  Her crime is being disabled... last time I checked that wasn't a crime.  It occurs to me that that "removal" of undesireables has occurred at other times in our world's history, Nazi Germany being one.  Am I calling the liberals Nazis?  Honestly I am not sure, but I will give it some more thought and get back to you on that.  What I am saying is this case, the liberals who claim to be so compassionate for all, are willing to let this woman starve to death, just as they are willing to let an unborn child's life be snuffed out because it's birth would be inconvenient.  When will all of America wake up and see them for what they are???  Soon I hope, very soon.

Yes NO HOPE LOSERS is the new meaning of the NHL acronym.  The incredible stupidity and greed of both sides as well as the absurd expansion of a league already in trouble in recent years has now come to the point of cancellation of the entire 2004-2005 NHL season.  The Stanely Cup has been awarded every year since 1919.  The last time there was a season cancelled was due to a major outbreak of influenza.  This time it is due to greed.  This could be the beginning of the end for the NHL at least as we know it today and so be it.  I feel no pity for the players or the owners but sadness for the fans like myself who enjoy hockey.  Yet there are those for whom we should all should feel compassion for...those folks who relied on those 41 home games and hopefully playoffs for their livelihood.  Those folks who work the concession stands and clean the arenas.  The parking attendents and a host of other folks who work behind the scenes at these events.  Guess what folks...they don't get salaries. They get paid for the hours they work which thanks to the self-centered owners and players throughout the league, will be ZERO HOURS and ZERO PAY.  Congratulations NHL and NHLPA.  Great job!!!  I will be watching minor league hockey from here on. The players and owners there remember the hand that feeds them. 

As I sit here and bask in the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl victory, I also think about how nice it would be if our government operated in the same manner: one focus…one mind…one goal….   For those who don’t know, the New England Patriots have achieved what most teams only dream about, 3 Super Bowl victories in 4 years.  Quite an accomplishment in this day and age of free agency and all.     Now let’s take the football element out of it and see what is behind all of it.  Let’s see,  hard work, team work,  singular focus on a solitary goal, selflessness, non-egotistical, ethical, civic oriented, mutual respect, responsibility.…  Hmm. All things  which I think most would agree are the ingredients for a solid character assessment and success.  Living proof of this theory is the New England Patriots.   What would our government and subsequently our country be like if these, dare I say, values be brought to the forefront and become the focus of our government,  a set of core values to measure  the actions of our government and nation as a whole and individually.  Would that be a bad thing?  I think not….

THE MARK OF LIBERTY

    The events of Sunday January 30th, 2005 should go down in history as the rebirth of a nation, a nation at last free from tyranny and and taking its first baby steps toward democracy.  While we mourn the price we as a nation had to pay to help reach this momentous day, we should still realize that although the price was high, the mark of liberty, the purple finger of an Iraqi, gives our loss incredible value.   While the loss of our loved ones cause pain and grief, it should also bring to each of us incredible pride and solace for we the American people have helped to provide freedom to a part of the world which had not known any freedom for decades.  Will it last, will this fledgling attempt at democracy withstand the onslaught of those who would bring it down?  Who knows? Certainly not I and probably not anyone except maybe God or the Creator or whomever you choose to believe in.   The good news is this my friends.   Without the efforts of our fine young men and women in our military that purple thumb, that mark of liberty would not exist and any hope of democracy i Iraq or anywhere else would not have a prayer.  That is something you can indeed be proud of.  Thank you American and coalition forces for standing tall and bringing the opportunity for democracy to the Iraqi people.

     Once again, the United Nations has stomped on our tail, calling us "stingy".  Now the last time I checked, "stingy" meant cheap.  Speaking only for my self I don't feel cheap, how about you?

    & nbsp;Since I don't feel cheap then I guess I must protest.   We as a nation are so very far ahead of every other nation in foreign aid that it is not even close.   Heck even give food to our enemies.   I think the UN could do more in it's own behalf.   How about all of that money which was scammed out of the "Oil For Food" Program?  Can't they cut some of that loose?  Come on Khofi? 

     Seriously, I am all for foreign aid to those nations that need help.  However the biggest problem which confronts the whole process is corruption in the receiving country.  In short the people that need don't get it.  Whenever our nation provides aid to a foreign country we should also retain authority on its distribution.  If the receiving nation refuses to allow that control, then the aid should be denied.  Sounds harsh, but I believe it is a necessary evil.  As it stands now, we drop it on their doorstep and who knows where it winds up from there.  In addition, the aid povided should be food as well as other things that will help that country get back on their feet in the shortest amount of time.  Whether that is teams of doctors or shipments of medicine or a number of other things it should be comprehensive.  Once the aid arrives it should be under our strict control and we, the United States, should decide where it goes and when.  What other nation possesses the capabilities we do for transport and deployment of aid where needed?  Easy answer....no one.   So what am I saying here?  I realize I am rambling a bit, but bear with me.  What makes more sense?   Dropping tons upon tons of aid supplies and leaving it up to relief organizations to safeguard and distribute where it is needed most or for us send in a team with the aid supplies to assess the situation and provide security and delivery of the supplies where they are needed most.  For me, the latter is the right answer.  Would it cost more money from us? Maybe, maybe not.   We may find that we would not need to send as much if it was delivered where it is needed most and cut out the pilferage and corruption that is rampant in many of these countries.  Let me know what you think.