Give Me That Old Time Religion (as sung to the tune of "Brother Can You Spare A Dime?")
Two weeks ago we told you about the Mayor of Inglis, Florida who approved a Proclamation banning the Devil (Satan, Beelzebub, Lord of the Lake of Fire, Bill Parcells, etc) from entering their town, and the ACLU's just as wacky reaction. Now the inability to determine the appropriate separation of Church and State resurfaces in Virginia where its State senate passed legislation requiring public schools to post signs reading "In God We Trust". The bill's sponsor, Republican Nick Rerras, said the "motto offers a much needed expression of hope in an era of terrorism and weaking moral values." Virginia Democratic Senate leader Richard Saslaw commented that "the moral decline has occured largely in the years since Congress made "In God We Trust" the national motto in 1956. The motto's inclusion onto coins and currency hasn't helped." Can't argue with that-- for that matter how many have killed each other or made the quality of life wretched for a custom that quite frankly trivializes the Lord by emblazing those words on it? Rerras countered that "In God We Trust" is "a patriotic phrase that gives inspiration to the entire nation." Obviously the good Senator, and those like him, can't tell the difference between secular patriotism and a true spiritual bonding, belief, and service to one's Holy Creator. Sadly the God/patriotism connection, when used in a wrong application has led to much death, destruction, and misery throughout human history. The September 11th episode highlights this as Osama Bin Laden gave praises to Allah (God) for the death of 3,000 innocent American lives. Conversely, to demand that the national motto be removed from government buildings when used on official national emblems is just as insidious as requiring its usage. Love, respect, and fear for the Lord should always be based on free will, not on a mandatory government requirement. Why is there no longer a balanced, moderate discourse on this subject?

Bush Wants To Reduce Drug Use By 25%
On Tuesday February 12, 2002, President Bush set a goal of reducing illegal drug use by 25%. Although I'd love to see it reduced by 100% (which will never happen), a good start would be in the Bush family starting with his niece Noell Bush who illegally obtained a prescription drug from a Tallahassee Walgreens last week. The majority of us would have gone directly to the pokey and not got that State contract job if we would have done this. I also find it amazing that a 24-year-old woman has had seven speeding tickets and five reckless driving violations and has somehow managed to keep her license. Sounds like our penal system's on drugs when it comes to dispensing justice to the privileged class.

Bush Plotting Saddam's Removal
You know, back in September I came out swingin' for Dubya. Once he dusted himself off from the initial shock of the September 11th carnage, I thought he handled that tragic affair in the most incredible manner possible for a U.S. President of any era. I was extremely proud of him. To the credit of his Administration, casualties of American troops in Afghanistan have been minimal, and the Taliban government was handily driven out of that country, a type of feat that no other World Power has ever done in that war-torn nation. But, I am no longer sure where he is leading us in this "War" on terrorism or why. It is impossible to fight an "invisible" enemy, ad infinitum. Is the President's decision to remove Sadam Hussein (now there's an absolute waste of flesh) from his stranglehold over Iraq based on credible, immediate threats to the United States, or is he just finishing off dad's unfinished business? If we view Iraq and Iran with such alarm, then why not attack Pakistan, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Saudia Arabia, the Phillipines, and any other nation that is harboring those who would do us harm (we may have to attack within our country if it is as rife with terrorists as we are led to believe)? Pakistan already has nukes, and has harbored our enemies. The remaining nations are already known to embrace the political thinking and support of Al-Quaida or those like them (yes, in a poll even 90% of our "friends", the Saudis, think Osama "did the right thing" killing 3,000 "infidels" in the "Great Satan" (or Bill Parcells) U.S. The longer this "War" is going on, the more I'm thinking there's more than meets the eye to what's really going on, and that it will get more messy and deadly with the passing of time.

Florida House Passes School Prayer Bill Again
Surprise, surprise, surprise. Our far right Republican Legislative House has passed, for the third time in less than a year, a school prayer measure. Representative Wilbert "Tee" Holloway would let school districts permit invocations, benedictions or inspirational messages at graduations or other assemblies. Of course, it was overwhelmingly passed by this generation of politicians who are starting to make the "Dixiecrats" of old look like Ted Kennedy by comparison. Maybe I'm off track here, but what on earth is wrong in a secular public function with having a moment of silence, to pray, or not pray for that matter, for whatever and/or whomever you believe in? It is obvious that all of these school prayer attempts are orchestrated to create State-sponsored prayer (here's where I grudgingly come in swinging for the ACLU), which moves us closer to the political/religious mind-set of the Middle East that we vilify so much. Come on-- if you truly believe in God, or Allah, or any deity or deities, you should carry them with you in reverent silence no matter where you go or what the situation. You can "preach" the gospel of your beliefs many times more effectively by simply living it, rather than forcing others to bend to it. Who knows-- maybe someone out there will see that good life that you lead and want to do the same thing out of genuine desire. Our politicians, however, still don't get it...