http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-mount-dora-songwriter-video-20091224,0,6375426.story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x_SvCH1K3Q

God bless our troops.

http://thepeoplescube.com/red/viewtopic.php?t=1658

(I’m always the last to get the word.)

Still, I ~hate~ it; I hate that those who wag the accusing finger have set up a presumption of guilt in this country that turns the bill of rights on its head: We must prove ourselves ~innocent~. I am especially sensitive to this, because I am a Southerner and, of course, there is historic guilt. I used to hear Larry King (a true scumbag) in his more raw radio days cocked and loaded night after night willing to call anyone — especially Southerners — who did not tow exactly the Teddy Kennedy line, a racist.

And then there is the problem — happily somewhat faded now — that any defensive statement might evoke drippingly sarcastic comments like, “Sure…I know…some of your best friends are black.” Even now when that is rarely said, those of us who are especially sensitive in this area can still detect it in the air or from a arched eyebrow.

I am rereading Allan Bloom’s Closing of the American Mind and he makes a telling point about early 60s college students who went South to participate in civil rights demonstrations. First, it must be acknowledged that their action was virtuous and made a contribution to the putting right of a great moral shame.

Unfortunately, though, it was not a sufficient act to earn a lifetime badge of righteousness. In fact, to many of the students it was a big adventure and involved little danger. It was a thrilling crusade, and it had no cost for them. They were all righteousness and they were confronting evil-doers.

Many, many of them have never gotten beyond that moment, the most thrilling of their lives. Chris Matthews would be this type. They live to smite those racist evil-doers again, sing the old songs, feel the thrill and romance of it all. And so they look everywhere for racist evil-doers, especially among Southerners.

So I try hard not to play, not to let the accusatory righteousness that they have permanently embedded in the culture bait me into denying something of which I am not guilty and is not even on my mind. Something that is on ~their~ minds. But sometimes, as I said, I have to say — like you and rocketman — “Hey, I’m not a racist.”

On December 26th, 2009 at 11:07 am, rocketman said:

Very well said, Rocketman…and by the way, I don’t hate Obama because he is black, I hate him because he is RED. Pure and simple. Playing the race card is no longer working, but some people continue to try it anyway.

For our president, Barak Obama, I’d want him to know that I recognize that he is still a young man, not yet fully formed in all his ideas and dispositions. I think a time out of the maelstrom would be good for him, a time for calm and reflection.

I’d wish him a winter vacation at the Stanley Hotel were he would have time and space to grow and, if needed, receive a little correction.

This was my favorite Christmas message as a kid. Times were bad both here and abroad. Some how, this message was very comforting during that tumultuous time.

William Anders
“We are now approaching lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Jim Lovell
“And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Frank Borman
“And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.”

On December 26th, 2009 at 9:33 am, SixDegrees said:

Wow…you are one sick dude! How sad to be so steeped in anger (pointed in the WRONG direction, I might add)! This is a thread about Christmas and God’s Son. Why would you tarnish it with your hate? May God grant even the likes of you peace for your tortured soul.

“God rest you Merry Gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we had gone astray.

Oh! Tidings of comfort and Joy!!!”

good will toward men

Well, except around here. Here, we expect you to whip yourselves up into spewing, mouth-foaming hatred over each and every tiny, insignificant thing done by anyone at all who disagrees with us in even the slightest, most trivial ways. Because the constant niggling over the First Lady’s dress, the First Family’s Christmas ornaments, the First Dog, fictitious rantings about the personal lives of appointees and utter fabrications over non-existent international protocol, the duly elected Congress and conspiracies swirling around vaccines makes us look totally awesome and superior in the eyes of…everyone who already agrees with us. Just like linking to and providing unquestioning support to neo-Nazis, white supremacists and outright racists puts such a gleaming polish on our positions.

Just like the hypocrisy oozing from the referenced quote puts us head and shoulders above the vast majority of reeking commie Americans.