Right As Usual

My university, Cleveland State, made a boneheaded, and over-reaching move this weekend. Tiffany Roberts, chapter president of CSU’s Turning Point USA club, told The College Fix that members of the chapter gathered around 6 p.m. Sunday evening to chalk a 9/11 tribute onto the sidewalks of the public university to honor those killed in the terrorist attacks. Roberts said that around 7:45 a.m. Monday morning, a university employee arrived at the memorial with a power washer and removed the memorial. Like many, Cleveland State University’s Turning Point USA chapter wanted to recognize the 16th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. So members of the pro-capitalist student group gathered Sunday evening to chalk a memorial onto the sidewalks of the public university’s campus, an exhibit that included an  American flag with the words “No day shall erase you from the memory of time” under it. However, the artistic memorial didn’t last long. Hours after it was created, the un...

It was the defining moment of my adult life. It was a sharp break between The Way I Thought It Was, and The Actual Reality. Up to that point, I'd always been a Liberal, Democrat-Voting, Accept that the Left is ON THE "RIGHT" SIDE OF HISTORY kind of girl. It really was a beautiful morning. I was quietly working in my classroom when my husband came in, tears in his eyes. Then, he told me what had happened. This blogger gets it - and expresses it so much better than I. Check out the difference between the Google.com page, and Bing.com - Google has NONE of the doodles it uses for less important days. Bing's page is low-key, and lovely. Share

It's Liberal Logic 101.   Today I woke early, and was catching up, and found this:                 Naturally, as I am Catholic, it caught my eye. The Crusades were a Defensive War.  The Muslims were attacking an ally, who asked for our assistance.  They were not that successful - as the Muslims kept re-grouping and re-attacking over many centuries.  Although the Battle of Tours in October 762 (Christian forces led by Charles Martel, Charles the Hammer) stopped the Muslims from advancing further into France, they maintained their Iberian Peninsula foothold in Europe until 1492, when the combined forces of Ferdinand and Isabella finally pried loose Moors in the Battle of Granada. The Muslims were, in the treaty, free to practice their religion, until 1502, when they were given a choice, convert or leave. Beginning in Valencia in 1502, Muslims were offered the choice of baptism or exile. The majority decided to accept the former, becoming ' New Cath...

Here's a link to a THOROUGH summary of the events of 9/11/12. I'll continue blogging on this issue in the future. WHY is it important?   Here's a link to Neil Young singing about ANOTHER 4 dead.               They didn't have to die.                       Oh, well, is that SUCH a big deal?  As Madam Secretary Clinton <s>said</s> yelled, "What difference, at this point, does it make?"                        

I was taking a break from housework (yes, I do it - no, I don't like it), and found a link - I'm glad I followed it.  It's a fairly comprehensive examination of Muslim writings that are often misinterpreted by non-Muslims. Just one part, about how the Crusades were an "unjustified invasion and slaughter of innocent Muslims". Really? The Facts: The first Crusade began in 1095… 460 years  after  the first Christian city was overrun by Muslim armies, 457 years  after  Jerusalem was conquered by Muslim armies, 453 years  after  Egypt was taken by Muslim armies, 443  after  Muslims first plundered Italy, 427 years  after  Muslim armies first laid siege to the Christian capital of Constantinople, 380 years  after  Spain was conquered by Muslim armies, 363 years  after  France was first attacked by Muslim armies, 249 years  after  the capital of the Christian world, Rome itself, was sacked by a Muslim army, and only after centuries of church burnings, killings, enslave...

I just read the Krauthammer post, and was moved to tell you - go read it. It's a cogent explanation of WHY Obama's policies for the Mid-East make no sense. .Obama defends the vast NSA data dragnet because of the terrible continuing threat of terrorism. Yet at the same time, he calls for not just amending but actually repealing the legal basis for the entire war on terror, the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. Well, which is it? If the tide of war is receding, why the giant NSA snooping programs? If al-Qaeda is on the run, as he incessantly assured the nation throughout 2012, why is America cowering in 22 closed-down embassies and consulates? Why was Boston put on an unprecedented full lockdown after the marathon bombings? And from Somalia to Afghanistan, why are we raining death by drone on “violent extremists” — every target, amazingly, a jihadist? What a coincidence. This incoherence of policy and purpose is why an evacuation from Yemen must be passed off as “a re...

Like Benghazi - initially, just another outrage in a Muslim country.  Aggravated by the fact that it caused the death of 4 people - 1 ambassador (who was the chucklehead that thought it was a good idea to post a known homosexual - however competent - in a country that HATES gays, and will cheerfully execute them?  They might as well have painted a target on his forehead), and 3 other men, who gave their lives to keep him safe. The men certainly went above and beyond what they had to do, and fully deserve medals for their efforts. Instead, their families got this gross question from VP Joe Biden:  Woods said Biden came over to his family and asked in a “loud and boisterous” voice, “ Did your son always have balls the size of cue balls ?” Nice way to talk to a grieving family. /sarc But, that wasn't the worst part for the family. The grieving father also described his brief encounter with President Obama during the ceremony for the Libya victims. “When he finally came over to where w...

Many political stories are like icebergs - only a small portion of the whole is above water.  The vast majority is never even seen. Watergate was like that - we got some tantalizing glimpses of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, but much of the story stayed hidden.  Even the unveiling of Mark Felt as the long-hid Deep Throat unleashed only a few facts not already known.  It did, however, reveal his vile and tawdry motivations - not to save a country, but to get back at the one who didn't put him in charge of the FBI - a good decision, as it turned out. Some have since argued that the mastermind behind the entire Watergate affair (including the original burglary) was John Dean.   His wife had roomed, before their marriage, with a known prostitute.  Dean was said to have been concerned that compromising pictures of her existed, and were in the Democratic offices.  Hence, the burglary. The site Gates of Vienna has been running a multipart series, analyzing what is known about the Beng...

How about a new musical? "Springtime for Islamicists and the Mid-East!" Filled with the antics of those wacky head-thumpers: Blocking roads to traffic 5 times a day Forcing women - Muslim or not - to veil.  Those refusing will be given the "smiley" - slashing the face from mouth to ear.  They'll veil after THAT!  If they need more persuasion, rape any unaccompanied woman on sight, and invite your Muslim brothers to join in on the FUN!  Any "woman" over the age of 6 is OK for the "sport". Looking for insults to the "Prophet", the Quran, and any aspect of Islam.  If they can't find an insult, MAKE ONE UP! When the "insult" is uncovered, go riot in the streets, being careful to rape, torture, and kill any Christians and Jews - whether they had anything to do with the "insult" or not. Burn the US flag - this is getting tiresome - can't they outsource it to Americans?  We have MANY who would be THRI...

This article details some of the background.  As the President and Sec. of State say, "Make no mistake" - I'm anxious to see whether or not the eventual retribution gets to this level.  I'm skeptical about that. The Salafist Nour party unquestionably carries responsibility for the embassy attack in Cairo. These two men should be questioned by authorities. One of them (Bakkar) is actually scheduled to be in the United States in the coming days. Make no mistake; the notion that these riots were spawned by an anti-Islam movie is completely and totally fallacious. It is not about the movie; it is about never letting a crisis go to waste. It is all about intimidating countries into implementing laws designed to extinguish free speech rights. The film is nothing more than a tool to be used to exploit politically correct inclinations. In the future, pay close attention to the group: Dar Al-Hekma (House of Wisdom) This is the extreme group that is one of the ones that would...

It appears that government officials may have been involved, according to CBS News. Wanis al-Sharef, a Libyan Interior Ministry official in Benghazi, said the four Americans were killed when the angry mob, which gathered to protest a U.S.-made film that ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad, fired guns and burned down the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. He said Stevens, 52, and other officials were moved to a second building - deemed safer - after the initial wave of protests at the consulate compound. According to al-Sharef, members of the Libyan security team seem to have indicated to the protesters the building to which the American officials had been relocated, and that building then came under attack. Stevens, 52, was the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since 1979. A Libyan doctor who says he treated Stevens told the Associated Press Wednesday that the diplomat died of severe asphyxiation and that he tried for 90 minutes to revive him. Ziad Abu Zeid said Steven...

From FoxNews:  The Fast & Furious report is out - it targets the persons that directed the operation - NO - Holder isn't mentioned as one of them, but I'm hopeful that the ones in the report will spill their guts.   Protestors storm US Embassy in Cairo:  I saw this, and had a sinking feeling - it all does seem like a horrible replay of the Carter Years, doesn't it? Supposedly, the attack was due to a film that they felt insulted the Prophet - ANYTHING that is said about their "prophet" they consider a grave insult. The US response: An embassy operator told CNN that the facility had been cleared of diplomatic personnel earlier Tuesday, ahead of the apparent threat, while Egyptian riot police were called to help secure the area. The U.S. Embassy said in a statement Tuesday that it "condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims -- as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions." "Re...

Who we are remembering:   They will be Forever Young If, seeing the coverage, you begin to despair: They Found a Safe Haven This all didn't happen in a vacuum - let us not forget, the enemy is Jihad, and it's adherents. Osama was NOT the only threat - removing him is NOT an end to the threat.  Eliminating him should mean more than "bragging rights". Some unsung heroes - on 4 legs.  Another reason for Islamicists to hate dogs. They are, indeed, man's best friend.

The Corner has the statement from their spokesperson, Debra Burlingame.   The 9/11 Families site is here. Muslims have worshipped in New York without incident both before and after the attacks of 9/11. This controversy is not about religious freedom . 9/11 was more than a “deeply traumatic event,” it was an act of war . Building a 15-story mosque at Ground Zero is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah. Those who continue to target and kill American civilians and U.S. troops will see it as a symbol of their historic progress at the site of their most bloody victory. Demolishing a building that was damaged by wreckage from one of the hijacked planes in order to build a mosque and Islamic Center will further energize those who regard it as a ratification of their violent and divinely ordered mission: the spread of shariah law and its subjugation of all free people, including secular Muslims who come to this country fleeing that medi...

It's very early in the morning, and I couldn't sleep. I've not been that active in blogging lately - just, no time. By the time I reach home, I'm almost ready for sleep. Last night, I was so tired I skipped dinner, and, shortly after, went to bed. Today, at school, the ROTC program and the band will be putting on the ceremony in the quad. I'll take my Global Leadership group (kind of like a homeroom, but more) outside to listen. Other than that, I have no plans for the day.

I was updating my blog. As the page was loading, I caught a glimpse of the memorial above. We all try to keep children out of harm's way. We may spank them for dashing into the street, but that's our way of trying to ensure that they couple the spanking with the danger of streets. We immunize them against common childhood illnesses. We make them stay inside when it's too cold, and feed them vitamins to keep them healthy. We even bring up difficult subjects - such as not talking to strangers, and "good" touches" vs. "bad" touches. Sometimes, its hard to anticipate all the dangers that an unwary child may encounter. But, generally, in the arms of parents, they can rest easy. Not Dana Falkenberg. Her parents couldn't have anticipated that a short plane ride would be the last of her young life. Their side: kill an innocent, and think it of no consequence. Our side: serve and protect. To the end.

This ship was built using scrap steel from the World Trade Center. The above quote comes from PC Free Zone , where I also found the photo. The ship's motto? "Never Forget"

Every day, when I log on, the first thing I see is the rotating memorial to the 9/11 victims. I spend a few moments reading their information, and comparing their ages to mine. They are all too young to have died. I was thinking about them yesterday, and I realized that, for me to have seen all the faces, and paid my respects, it will be almost a decade. So, my plan is to keep the memorial up for quite a while.

Little Green Footballs showed the design of the AZ 9/11 memorial. He points out that it bears a striking resemblance to a crescent. You decide. I do understand that many architects want to incorporate "flow" into a memorial. Certainly, a circle is conducive to that effect. But, why the assymetrical rendering that so resembles a crescent? Given the nature of the attacks, it would seem sensitive to avoid any similiarity.

I've only recently become aware that there are sizable numbers of people who believe that the WTC was brought down, not by Islamic fanatics, but by carefully planned and detonated explosive devices. Popular Mechanics devoted considerable space in their magazine to debunking the loonies sad examples of Prozac-deprived paranoids the seriously technology-challenged. To no avail. The true believers keep growing. It's hard to understand why, when the scientific evidence is so clear. Aha. That's it. I understand. The average person's ability to understand complicated scientific concepts is sorely lacking. And I oughta know. I'm a physics teacher.