A chill wind

Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by activist judges.

Bush calls for a constitutional amendment because marriage is a "sacred" institution. Perhaps he has forgotten one of the amendments that already exists. It begins: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."

Will he seek the repeal of the First? He must, if he wishes an amendment that respects the "sacredness" of marriage.

America is not too many steps from theocracy. "Activist" judges are looking like its best hope these days, with the media rolling over and the people all too willing to empower vicious "faith-based" demagogues.

A chill wind is blowing.

Our government will continue to support faith-based and community groups that bring hope to harsh places... Taking on gang life will be one part of a broader outreach to at-risk youth, which involves parents and pastors, coaches and community leaders

A careful listener or reader will have noted that the government is pledged to support groups in a particular order. The faith-based come first. The message is clear enough to any that want to hear it: "religious groups can expect to be first in the queue when we're doling out funds".

The onlooker reminds himself that America is the beacon of secularism in this world.

Our country is still the target of terrorists who want to kill many and intimidate us all, and we will stay on the offensive against them until the fight is won.

Who are they? Where are they?

It is time they gave details. The threat has become so vague that surely even the least sceptical must ask themselves where are these terrorists? What are they doing? How are they able to strike in Iraq practically daily but in the USA, which we keep being told, they wish to intimidate, they cannot muster even one suicide bomber?

The WTC bombers were able to saunter through customs and there are no greater restrictions now than there were then. Where are the fanatics who have entered the USA on legitimate visas and then assembled the wherewithal to attack passers-by?

Atta was middle class, we were told. Jarrah was middle class. They did not look like anything more frightening than engineering students, lawyers, etc.

Where are they? All in Guantanamo or Iraq?

But this is a "global network of terror", well funded and tremendously well equipped, not afraid of death and desperate to kill Americans.

Where are they hiding? Why aren't they killing us?

Zarqawi isn't even Al Qaida, although he's started calling himself that. He's all there is, more or less, in Iraq. A handful of others. The rest are Iraqis.

The United States has no right, no desire and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else.

But it does. It wishes everywhere to become a "democracy". It wishes everywhere to open up to its corporations.

If Saddam had no WMDs and posed no threat to America, which he did not and did not, they knew then and even the blindest knows now, why did we invade his country? To free his people and bring democracy, we're told.

What is that if it is not imposing your form of government on others?

posted by Dr Zen @ 1:40 pm