Tuesday

Good morning,

Quote of the day:

“I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought, what good would it do?”

Ronnie Shakes

Down on I-20 near Fort McClellan, Alabama the road surface is in terrible shape. A while back a family of four was traveling east toward Atlanta in an SUV. The parents were in the front and their two young children were in the back strapped into safety seats. A car was coming in the opposite direction and hit a pothole. The pothole had been repaired in the past but was falling apart again. When the car hit the pothole a piece of concrete flew up and crashed into the windshield of the SUV coming in the opposite direction striking the mother in the forehead killing her instantly. Then the concrete went between the two kids in the back and exited through the rear window. What are the chances of that piece of concrete and that woman’s forehead being at the same point in space at the same instant traveling in opposite directions. The odds are astronomical, but it happened.

I have written several times about football players and the results of concussions on their memories in spite of their helmets. One of my subscriber, and a dear friend, reminded me that it was not only football players that received one concussion after another...she asked what about those kids that were physically abused as she was. This really good person has said that she exhibits effects very similar to those football players and there appears to be no cure. There is no question that physical abuse of children has and does exist today and her reminder is one that I will pass on to the rest of us. Be aware of this abomination and look for signs of it. There is a special place in hell for people like these abusers of those that cannot defend themselves. If makes me tearfully angry to think about it.

Final word about Phil Robertson of West Monroe, La. I know there are those that will disagree with me but those that do are merely exercising your rights guaranteed under the 1^st Amendment. That is simply what Phil Robertson was doing. In addition to being very wealthy, the Bill of Rights applies to him also. I think the show is silly but anyone, and I mean anyone that sacrifices ANY of their Constitutional Rights for money is a fool and not worth any of my considerations...I don't think Phil did.

Here is a few other thoughts. I hear other people adamantly proclaim a viewpoint and then try to postulate it by quoting others opinions that agrees with theirs. People are not born with a political, philosophical, religious or nearly any other viewpoint. It is human nature to listen to or read information gathered and constructed by others and then discard the parts that makes them uncomfortable and accept those that they agree with. There is no question that people disseminate descriptions of particular events do so with a certain amount of prejudice making their conclusions flawed. If you are not an eye or ear witness to certain events then you can count on the author writing his version dependent upon what makes him/her feel comfortable with their conclusions...the actual facts be damned. I have read many, many books about certain battles by different authors. You would think they were talking about different battles because of certain events that were added or omitted dependent upon the authors prejudices. The point I am trying to make is if you encounter someone that almost preaches a sermon about what reality is or what will happen in the future is almost certainly prejudicial and has not examined his/her own heart and mind and is merely parroting the thoughts of others. As Socrates said “Know thyself”. Stay suspicious of those that try to guide your thoughts and opinions...they are preaching just to make themselves appear superior when in reality, it is just the opposite...and they are boring as hell.

By the way, that paragon of virtue...the Pope of proper behavior Charlie Sheen has lambasted Phil Robertson for using the Bible as a moralistic guide. Charlie Sheen??? Are you kidding me? Who hunted down Charlie and asked for his opinion? Did this person have an agenda? Who gives a damn what Sheen thinks anyway?

This Date in History December 23

1944 In January of this year a man named Eddie Slovik was drafted into the United States Army. Slovik was originally rejected for the draft because he was a convicted felon (grand theft auto) but the standards were changed when more manpower was needed. Slovic was trained as a rifleman and in August of 1944 was assigned to the 28^th Division which had taken a beating in the last few months both in France and in Germany because of the Battle of the Bulge. Slovic vowed that he would never fight because he hated guns but in October he arrived in France and went in search of the 28^th Division during a ferocious battle and got lost. He found a Canadian outfit and they took him in. Eventually the heat of the battle abated and the Canadians took him to 28^th Division Headquarters. It was not unusual for replacement troops to get lost in the midst of a major battle so Slovic’s tardiness was overlooked. Slovic again told the personnel at Division Headquarters that he hated guns and would not fight and would run away if forced to. He was ignored until the next day and Slovic showed up missing. A day later he came back in but still told his superiors that he would not fight. His commanding officer was fed up and told him he had a choice. Grab a rifle and go into combat immediately or face a court martial. He reminded Slovic that the United States Army in general and the 28^th Division in particular was not in a forgiving mood because of all the casualties they had suffered. Slovic still refused and sure enough a court martial was convened. He was found guilty of desertion and given the death penalty and Slovic was “to be shot to death by musketry”. A stunned Slovic appealed to General Eisenhower for leniency. On this date General Eisenhower signed the order for the execution of Private Slovic. Eisenhower was in no mood for mercy either because of all the American casualties and the “Battle of the Bulge” was well under way where thousands of Allied solders were being slaughtered. In January of 1945 Private Slovic was stood up before a squad of 12 riflemen and shot to death. None of the riflemen even flinched because they believed that Slovic was getting what he deserved. He was the first American soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War.

1783 After the signing of the Treaty of Paris which declared the United States as a separate and sovereign nation General George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the American Army. He told his men this:

"Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task; which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven.”

George Washington wished to go back to his plantation and live the life of a gentleman planter but his country called again when he was elected our first President. As I have said before, we were very fortunate to have the group of Patriots that we had on our side during this time frame. There is no doubt in my mind that all of this is an act of Providence for all of these things to come together as they did when they did.

1862 On this date the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis declared US General Benjamin Butler a felon. This meant that if Butler was captured by Confederate forces he would be hanged on the spot. What happened was that the city of New Orleans was captured by US forces and Butler was made military governor. Butler’s leadership had nothing to do with the capture; it was the expertise of the US Navy commanded by David Porter. Anyway, Butler was a complete horse’s ass during his tenure. He allowed his troops to plunder the civilians personal effects. He also allowed his brother to set up shop in New Orleans and sell contraband that General Butler let him steal. And finally he issued General order No. 28. This abomination stated that if any lady insulted any of his troops, the lady would be assumed to be a prostitute and treated accordingly. In these days the ladies of the South were treated with great respect and honor. This order by Butler was the ultimate insult and President Davis essentially put a bounty on the head of Benjamin Butler.

Born today:

1896 Italian writer Giuseppe Lampedusa. He said “If you want things to remain as they are, they there will have to be some changes.” Huh?

1908 Armenian photographer Yousef Karsh. He said “There is a secret in every man and woman. It is my task as a photographer to reveal it if I can.”

Died today:

1834 English economist Edward Malthus. He said “Population, when unchecked, makes a geometrical progression of such a nature as to double itself every twenty-five years.” That is spooky, y'all, but this was before “the pill”.

1959 English politico Edward Halifax. He said “True merit, like a river, the deeper it is the less noise it makes.” Good thinking, Ed.

Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow.