George Washington's Gift

Did you know that after the Revolutionary War ended, George Washington witnessed a set of Hanukkah lights.  He was so inspired by the sight and ritual that he presented the owner with a gold coin engraved with a Hanukkah menorah.

Speaking of great generals, did you know that the Maccabbes, led by Judas Macabees, were able to defeat the Greek/Syrian army with just sticks and stones?  I guess they really do break your bones.  

Alexander, Alexander, Alexander...

Do you know your Bible?  Here's a question for you.  Where is the story of Hanukkah located in the Hebrew Bible?  Is it in Exodus?  How about Deuteronomy?  Maybe Numbers?  Or at the Golden Jade Chinese Buffet? 

Actually the story of Hanukkah is not in the Hebrew Bible at all.  It is, however, mentioned in John 10:22-23 wher Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication, or Hanukkah.

And did you know that Alexander the Great permitted the Jews to observe their religion after the Greeks conquered them.  In exchange the Jews promised that all baby boys born for the next year would be named Alexander.  So the important question here is, "How did the teacher take roll? Alexander?  Here.  Alexander?  Here....

Hanukkah, the 25th of Kislev.

Tonight, December 21, is also the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.  Hanukkah!  The Maccabees overthrew the Greeks and rededicated the temple in Jerusalem.  There was only enough oil for the lamps for one day and it would take another eight days to make enough oil to keep the eternal lamp lit.  The oil burned for eight days, thus the miracle of Hanukkah.  

Martial Law

If you are not yet outraged by the $700 billion "bailout," then read on...

Senator James Imhofe of Oklahoma revealed that Hank Paulson, the Bush administration's spokesman, threatened martial law if the bailout was not put through.  In other words, the President, elected by the people of the United States, threatened those elected to Congress with the suspension of Constitutional law if the bailout was not passed.  So, to my way of thinking, Bush sees himself as a dictator.  Plain and simple.  He goes much to the right of Nixon's, "If the president does it then it's not against the law."  

Bush cannot vacate the White House fast enough.

The Constitution is Up In Flames

There is an alarming report coming from the US Army War College as follows (be sure to read the entire piece):

The report from the War College’s Strategic Studies Institute warns that the U.S. military must prepare for a “violent, strategic dislocation inside the United States” that could be provoked by “unforeseen economic collapse” or “loss of functioning political and legal order.”

Entitled “Known Unknowns: Unconventional ‘Strategic Shocks’ in Defense Strategy Development,” the report was produced by Nathan Freier, a recently retired Army lieutenant colonel who is a professor at the college — the Army’s main training institute for prospective senior officers.

He writes: “To the extent events like this involve organized violence against local, state, and national authorities and exceed the capacity of the former two to restore public order and protect vulnerable populations, DoD [Department of Defense] would be required to fill the gap.”

Freier continues: “Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order … An American government and defense establishment lulled into complacency by a long-secure domestic order would be forced to rapidly divest some or most external security commitments in order to address rapidly expanding human insecurity at home.”

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned last week of riots and unrest in global markets if the ongoing financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are beset with credit constraints and rising unemployment, the Phoenix Business Journal reported.

Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Rep. Brad Sherman of California disclosed that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson discussed a worst-case scenario as he pushed the Wall Street bailout in September, and said that scenario might even require a declaration of martial law.

The Army College report states: “DoD might be forced by circumstances to put its broad resources at the disposal of civil authorities to contain and reverse violent threats to domestic tranquility. Under the most extreme circumstances, this might include use of military force against hostile groups inside the United States.

“Further, DoD would be, by necessity, an essential enabling hub for the continuity of political authority in a multi-state or nationwide civil conflict or disturbance.”

He concludes this section of the report by observing: “DoD is already challenged by stabilization abroad. Imagine the challenges associated with doing so on a massive scale at home."

As Newsmax reported earlier, the Defense Department has made plans to deploy 20,000 troops nationwide by 2011 to help state and local officials respond to emergencies.

The 130-year-old Posse Comitatus Act restricts the military’s role in domestic law enforcement. But a 1994 Defense Department Directive allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic situations to save lives, prevent suffering or mitigate great property damage, according to the Business Journal.

And Gen. Tommy Franks, who led the U.S. military operations to liberate Iraq, said in a 2003 interview that if the U.S. is attacked with a weapon of mass destruction, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government. 

The New King George

Our country was founded by men (sorry girls) who put their lives on the line for what they believed.  They at first did not think of creating a new country.  They tried to deal with King George and Parliament.  But their attempts at negotiation were ignored.  So they stood up to the most powerful force in the world at that time, the British.  Yes, they stood up for what they believed was right, even if it meant losing everything, including their lives.  As Benjamin Franklin said at the time, "Surely we must all hang together, or we will most assuredly hang separetely (or something like that)."

Well, I think We the People are being treated pretty much the same by the new King George. Lies, fake wars, and now the threat of martial law if this phony bailout is not passed.  Those in power are emptying the coffers.  How much are we supposed to believe from this pack of scoundrels?  Chicekn Little is screaming "the sky is falling1"  And while we all run to see for ourselves, Chicken Little (King George) is emptying the Treasury.

Merry Christmas!

Separation of church and state

Today I received an email which claimed (paraphrased), "Nowhere in the Constitution is there any  statement pertaining to Separation of Church and State."

    Amazingly, it seems that the sender has completely overlooked the First Amendment:

"Congress should not establish a religion and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any manner contary to their conscience, or that one sect might obtain a pre-eminence, or two combined together, and establish a religion to which they would compel others to conform (Annals of Congress, Sat Aug 15th, 1789 pages 730 - 731)." JAMES MADISON

Every time I receive one of these supposedly informed emails pertaining to religion, it makes my skin crawl.  If only these same people would actually read the Constitution and the words of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, among others, they would perhaps understand that the Founding Fathers wrote expressly that there should indeed by a separation of church and state.  It's right there in front of them, but they refuse to see it due to their blind faith in what they perceive as the only "true" religion.  

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.