Sunday, February 18, 2007

 

THE DEVIL AND MR. BUSH

Our unelected (not counting Florida first and Ohio second) president has just had two "moles" removed from his temples. The Militant Moderate was anxious to research more deeply into the event, fearing there was more to this than met the eye.

He recalled the eloquent and disturbing testimony of none other than Venezuela president Hugo Chavez, saying that he smelled smoke and sulfur around the environs of the rostrum whee Mr. Bus had spoken at the United Nations Assembly hall. While not much credence is generally given to those statements by Chavez, one does begin to wonder about whether these growths removed from Mr. Bush's temples could have been the beginnings of a pair of horns.

This would explain much for those among us who are believers in spirits, demons, and personifications of Satan. Also, those among us who are very much into prophecies, either the Bible or Nostradamus, might have concern. We are not sure that Mr. Bush fits the prophecy about the anti-Christ, but he has shown himself to be a highly attractive personality to segments of our society -- corporate business, the very rich, religious zealots, and rednecks. And, Mr. Bush's foreign policy certainly has been one in search of an Armageddon somewhere in the Middle East.

However, upon further research, the Militant Moderate finds that both these growths were on Mr. Bush's left temple. That undermines the theory above. No devil has two horns on the same side, but the fact that these were on the "left" side seems a bit bizarre. Yet, several theories are possible to explain that condition.

One might be that his left brain is showing some exterior signs of internal deterioration, while his right brain has been strained by challenge. It might be, also, that these are simply symbolic of all his afflictions -- which come from "the left."

Th rumor is that one of those moles had been named "Pelosi," and the other was named "Reid." That rumor has not been validated. Nevertheless, since the surgical removal of these named growths on the left side of Mr. Bush's head, Secret Service personnel protecting the Speaker and the Majority Leader have been alerted.

There is yet another theory, advanced by some who recall Mr. Bush's first presidential election. Who can forget the mysterious rectangular lump in the back of Mr. Bush's coat during that first debate? That was never properly explained, although it was visible to all of us. Suspicious pundits in the media tabbed it to be a "prompting device" to help the candidate electronically with cues to overcome his information gaps.

Could this so-called surgery for removal of moles really be a subterfuge for the removal, replacement, or implantation of nanotechnology devices by which Mr. Cheney and Mr. Rove control Mr. Bush's thoughts and actions? Coming just now, there appears to be a sinister aura around this. Sure, it seems simple, almost casual reporting of something akin to an everyday event. But who knows?

Let this be a warning to the neo-cons in and around the White House. We are watching you! We know that nothing you do is ever just as it appears.

Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate


Wednesday, February 14, 2007

 

IS JUSTICE ALWAYS JUST?


The Militant Moderate reads from several newspapers, some hardcopy and some on-line. On occasion he reads articles and views TV news accounts involving crime and punishment. Realizing that not everything about these cases is revealed to the public, thee has been some discomfort regarding the fairness of the justice system in certain ones.

For instance, one news account involved the arrest of two persons resulting from a search of their vehicle and finding eleven grams of marijuana. Eleven grams is less than a half oucnce. They were charged with possession with the felony of intent to distribute. Evidently that is in conformity with law, and we do not know the rest of the story, but it causes one to wonder.

The news has given us accounts of a man who eluded a police officer on a stolen motorcycle. In the course of a high speed chase, the police officer lost control of his vehicle, hit a tree, and was killed. That is a most unfortunate course of events, and all of us sympathize. Outrage against the eluder resulted in conviction for second degree murder and a 45 year sentence, plus 5 years for eluding, with no parole until 85% is served. This is probably within the law, and we do not know other circumstances. But, on the face of it, this appears to be vindictive justice for an unintended event involving other causative factors.

Over the years we have heard young drivers protest that they did not know thier friend had gone into the store to rob or shoot an attendant. Maybe some have been telling the truth. Maybe some who have participated in a lesser felony, such as home burglary, really did not know tht their friend would hurt somebody. Apparently the law holds them responsible for the friend's crime if charged. Does this situation not call for some discretion to assure individual justice?

The so-called "three-strikes" laws have had strange results in some states. People are serving lengthy prison terms for three minor offenses like shoplifting or hot checks. Reportedly some have gone to prison for as little as a candy bar.

Similarly, the relegation of the mentally ill to the penal system is uncaring.

Sometimes we read of charges which seem higher than the crime justifies, murder instead of manslaughter, etc. This may be due to facts not open to us, such as the criminal history of the individual. Since we do not know all the circumstances, we should probably be cautious of judging those who make the decisions within our criminal justice system.

However, we should not be blind to injustice, and we should sometimes question the fairness of our justice system. Laws may need revision. The justice system is not immune to public emotions or to politics. Our "hang 'em high" political mentality in Oklahoma no noubt influences both the law and the administration of justice.

Those who deal constantly with society's problems, sometimes termed the "criminal element" or "dregs of society," may tend to develop callousness or cynicism. That would be a natural tendency. But fairness in justice demands that professionals in the system remind one another from time to time when such appears evident. Judges are supposed to check abuses.

The justice system also needs citizen oversight. The press can be very helpful in maintaining a balanced approach to justice.

As has been said before by this writer, and redudantly in the news media, Oklahoma has too many prisoners. The state can ill afford the incarceration rate. The legislature must do something to bring Oklahoma's justice system into a more progressive modern era.

Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA the Militant Moderate


Thursday, February 08, 2007

 

CLASSIC OR RELIC?


This week the Militant Moderate received a post card from a well-intentioned, appropriately assertive church in town. It was an advertising invitation to a "classic" church service for all those who long for the old, traditional religious hymns and who want a straight-forward sermon presentation. Of course, the service was scheduled for 9:30 a.m on Sunday morning, an unearthly housr when only old people who go to bed with the chickens on Saturday night are presumed to be available for such a special service. Nevertheless, we applaud their effort.

This octogenarian was surprised, if not shocked, a decade or two back to find that "golden oldie" as a music format for radio stations had ceased to be the big band era of the forties and had instead become the age of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

These days nearly every church seems to have a music director who wants the congregation to sing a bunch of ditties with repetitive "feel-good" lyrics. They call these "praise choruses." It is something comparable to a steady diet of "Away in a Manger," "Jesus Loves Me," and "Jesus Loves the Little Children," except that the rhythm, sound, and lyrics are unfamiliar and irritating to nearly everyone middle age or beyond. Most attendees are middle age and beyond, so only about 10 or 15 percent, other than the choir, are singing. This a circumstance of which most music directors appear to be oblivious, or purposely ignore.

Many of the hymns in our hymnals are indeed classics. Some of these are the great music of the ages, boasting an enduring public popularity through the centuries. Many are expressive of a deeper theology which has survived the tests of human experience from ages past. Disdain for such is akin to being sacrilegious. For the worshiper these hymns express love, praise, faith, dependence, commitment, comfort, and prayer, among other expressions toward God. Depth of spirituality is common.

Of course, it is true that some of older hymns drone a bit, and some may seem couched in analogies unfamiliar in this age. Perhaps some no longer fit themes of a modern worlld, but "Nearer My God to Thee" is just as appropriate today as when it was sung on the deck of the Titanic.

Further, it is true that some modern songs may be incorporated and become classics themselves. This relic can remember when we adopted into our repertoire popular songs such as "How Great Thou Art" and "In His Hands." But these songs have special meaning, plus endearing and enduring qualities.

The writer is fortunate enough to attend a church that always incorporates the classics into its song service. He also benefits from listening to a minister who gives a thoughtful, "straight-forward" sermon free of politics. He found such a church after escaping from one which featured 30 minutes of standing while the choir (and a few others) sang praise ditties every Sunday, accompanied by loud band instruments, amplification, and the like.

Let us hope that it is not necessary for us to separate the generations into segregated church services, whatever label we affix to these. Let us hope also that it is not necessary for seniors to change churches or denominations in order to find compatible church music and worship programs. Seniors have become victims of demographics in television programming, literature, and technology. Let us hope they do not become so in the religious realm.

Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate


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