Civility , Mendacity, or Transparency?

"Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor.5:8) 

     I've been thinking about the public discourse of the last couple of weeks regarding civility and I'm wondering what it is that we really want. I mean, of course we should all be kind and considerate of one another and our differences of opinion regarding a variety of subjects. I think of what we call "The Golden Rule". Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12) The Christian is taught, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col.3:17) So, for the Christian, civility should not even be question, although even we can, at times, become uncivil.

     A well known radio talk show host recently caused a stir by using words that were less than diplomatic when describing the activity of a woman who was being used by the present administration to appeal for forced contraceptive costs to be paid by her employer, a religious organization. Of course there was an immediate reaction, by the press, to the words this commentator used, which caused a public uproar. And it deflected the point from being about forcing religious institutions from having to go against their religious convictions, to being about contraception.Now I don't believe this commentator is a Christian other than nominally, so his words were harsh. But they were also true!

      What I have realized is that Americans really don't like truth. It makes them uncomfortable. So when popular television shows promote promiscuity they would not like to be titled what they are really about. I don't think "Sin in the City", replaced by "Whores in the City" would be a popular name, but according to traditional usage of the word it would be correct. I have relatives that, according to proper traditional usage, could rightly be called "whores" or "sluts". It wouldn't be kind, but it would be honest to do so. A television show like "Two and A Half Men" has a constant flow of sluts and whores, and, when Charlie Sheen starred in the program, featured a bona-fide fornicator! Any of these programs that have a character who is sleeping with one guy after another is featuring a slut. It is sluttish behavior!

     Our problem is that we have tried to become so civil that our morals have dropped dramatically! We call homosexuals "gay", when, for the most part, they are far from being gay. We call adultery having an affair. The word "affair" can have lots of different meanings. Years ago one could say, "I just got home from having a gay affair!", and it would only mean he or she had attended a happy or fun event. Now the words "gay" and "affair" carry an evil connotation to them which simply shouldn't be! Why do we constantly want to water down these expressions to blunt their meaning, or change them to have different meanings? It's because our morality has lowered to such a degree. Admittedly, to call a homosexual a "queer" like we did when I was young, seems to be a little sharp, but if you look the word up in the dictionary, one of the definitions is, "differing from the usual or ordinary" and, frankly, I think it fits quite well, though because I'm "civil" I don't use it in public discussions.

     That brings me to the point of this post which is, "What is it we want, civility or mendacity? Frankly I like to know where people stand on issues, and strong, fervent language does not bother me. I'm not afraid to call the kettle black, and neither should anyone else!

When a soldier goes to battle it is a great relief to know who the enemy is. In days gone by they could be identified by their flag or by their uniforms or any number of ways but in today's world it is difficult because they don't wear common uniforms or carry flags. If they did it would be a great help! So, I like it when the democrats identify their positions. I don't like dishonesty and I don't want a man to identify himself as a friend when he is, in fact, an enemy!

     It's not the use of name calling that bothers me so much if what is being said is true and not just a knee-jerk reaction, and, if there were not a double standard in society's reaction. The word "mendacity" means dishonesty or falsehood. There are certain individuals like late night comedians, political commentators on the left, and even Representatives and Senators who have used harsh and untruthful language regarding, not only their opponents, but private citizens as well. Even the president has used mendacity, sophistry, and just plain meanness to attack his opponents, and again, private citizens as well. So it is nothing short of blatant hypocrisy for them to cry out for civility!

     So which is it we want? I think truth is superior to civility. You can be civil by saying for instance, "Our president is doing the best he can, and though he's made a few honest mistakes, his intentions are honorable." Now that would definitely be a civil statement but would it be an honest one? No, as I stated in the previous paragraph, at least for me, that would not be honest so I would be guilty of mendacity to make such a statement! I like to know who is my friend and who may be an opponent and I want that opponent to say what he or she thinks, not what they think may be generous or mendacious.

      In our "Politically Correct" society we have settled for mendacity but that's really all one can expect for a society whose morals are at an all time low. Some societies were destroyed by the command of the Lord for having such low morals. Some societies were slowly eaten away from within by this cancerous moral decline. Do we want to be kind? Yes! Do we want to be fair? Yes! Do we want to be considerate? Yes! But we want to be honest in the process and we don't want to be tactfully deceitful. So it would be good if we'd grow a little thicker skin, if we'd learn to "take it as well as dish it out", and if everyone would be decidedly honest as well as kind. But above all I appreciate transparency, that way I probably won't get stabbed in the back!

America Is Not Just Changing; America Has Changed!

                                                                                                                                                 

     One of the things I keep hearing these days is that if the current occupant of the White house gets

reelected America will never be the same. This is true but the fact is America is, and has been changing for a long time. It is certainly changed from the time I was a kid! It's changed economically, socially, and morally.

    I hear people get angry over President Obama's assertion that the United States is not a Christian nation but he is only stating the obvious! Yes, at one time America WAS a Christian nation, and yes, even today America is nominally Christian by majority, but there is no way we can be considered a Christian nation. If we were, President Obama would NEVER have been elected and neither would many of the present office holders in his administration, a number of members of the Senate, a few from the House of Representatives, and others, from the Governors of states on down to the local level!

    Just look at the national debates over birth control, abortion, gay rights and same sex marriage. If this were a Christian nation none of these things would be debatable! Every true Christian knows that same sex marriage is wrong; every true Christian knows that abortion is wrong! How can a Christian nation allow the Ten Commandments to be kicked out of our public schools? How can a Christian nation even consider whether prayer should be allowed in schools? Christian nation?...far from it!

     If ours were a Christian nation the television and movie industry would be churning out G movies only. If we were a Christian nation the National Endowment For the Arts would be strictly regulated. If we were a Christian nation stores would still be closed on Sunday. If we were a Christian nation Christianity would be held in high regard. If we were a Christian nation our leaders would have to profess Christianity or they would not be elected, which, by the way, was true at one time in our history. If we were a Christian nation Israel would be confident of our alliance. If we were a Christian nation Muslims would not come here!

     When I was a boy things had already changed! I was born in 1947 and WWII had ended just shortly before. Women were now in the work place. America was in recovery economically from a costly war. Sometime early in my youth we had a black and white television set and, as I recall, though there were comedy programs like Sid Caesar and Jackie Gleason shows, there was never any foul language and there certainly was no sexual innuendo, let alone nudity. There were programs like Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans, the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid. You never heard a swear word from television. My dad could swear pretty good but we didn't see it on t.v. Dress was modest and men and women alike had a sort of code about beach wear. Not everyone was a Christian. I did NOT grow up in a Christian family but there was a Christian culture that was understood. It was evolving and not for the better! During my teenage years I saw this change speed up.

     Now, here we are in 2012 and what do we have? Is this a Christian nation? Definitely not! Our president claims he is a Christian but he does nothing to show it. It fact, according to his own testimony regarding his "Muslim faith", one would better assume he is a Muslim. Personally I don't think he's anything but self-worshipping but he is correct when he says we are not a Christian nation. Perhaps it's just the way he says it, as though he's bragging about our not being a Christian nation; as though that is something to be admired. But friends, we have been changing for a very long time and NOT for the best.

      You see the truth is, that relatively few in our society are true Christians. Many claim to be Christians because they have been, at some time in their past, part of a Christian group, or had Christian relatives, or embrace certain Christian associations, but relatively few are true Christians. And because they are not true Christians they cannot discern moral issues the same way that Bible believing Christians do. A large percentage of nominal Christians do not believe in absolute truth and, of course, to the Christian, the Bible is absolute truth. A very high percentage of nominal Christians do not accept the whole Bible; they pick and choose. And high percentage of nominal Christians don't know where they stand on the major doctrines of the faith. And, since most "Christians" are nominally so, they cannot discern those  politicians who are bad for our country. The very nature of a politician is to do whatever it takes to get elected, so lying is a necessary means to an end. And if the politician is not a true Christian than we cannot expect him to have Christian values. He may have values but they will not be Christian values. Truth and honor will not be high on his list of priorities!

                                                                                            

     If we were to go back to the founding of our nation we would find that Christian principles mattered. In fact, the Mayflower Compact clearly states the establishment of a Christian community as its goal. The early settlers were Puritans and their communities were Christian. They may have been a bit prejudiced regarding their particular brand of Christianity. It took some struggles, for instance, for Baptists to finally establish a free Christian community in Rhode Island. BUT, THEY WERE CHRISTIAN!

    So, in closing, I know for certain that we, at our founding (by founding I mean in regards to white settlers) were Christian. But, as it goes, Christians are not born physically, but spiritually, so Christianity, true Christianity is not inherited. And if the Christian message is not propagated, if the gospel is not passed on and preached by mothers and fathers then the children will end up "Christian" in name only except by the election of God. Therefore, if we desire a Christian nation it will take every Christians influence. I personally believe things have gone too far and that there is no chance of remedy. Our forefathers let us down by not standing for Christian truth and Christian principles and our country has changed. It's not changing only, it has changed!

You Just Can't Judge A Person By His Color!

  
                                                                         

     Wednesday I had to pick my son up at his school because the serpentine belt broke on my van which he had been driving to school. Yesterday I moved it from the school parking lot and took it to my sister's house till I can get it repaired. I'm depending on a couple of friends who are able to do such things.

     Anyway, it reminded me of the last time a serpentine belt broke and a lesson that I learned along the way. My family and I had gone to Dauphin, Pennsylvania to attend a wedding near Harrisburg. We went to the wedding and, on the way to the reception the serpentine belt broke on this same van and there we were, in strange area, and on a Saturday afternoon. It got even stranger as we found we could drive for short distances and then, letting the engine cool, we could then drive a little further as we searched for someplace, anyplace where we might find repair.

     We knew the way to the reception so as we proceeded we began to notice that all of the businesses had bars on their windows. It was a bit of a run down area, kind of dark and dingy, and we began to grow more and more uncomfortable, especially when we noticed that there were comparatively few "white" people seen. Most of the people that we were seeing were either black, Hispanic, or oriental.

                                                                                               

When we pulled into a gas station to get some information about where we might get some help I noticed that the attendants were behind a steel cage. Now I really got uncomfortable and began to wonder what I had gotten my family and myself into.

    The people behind the counter told me of an auto repair around the corner so I walked there (it was daylight) and asked for some assistance but I was told they were closing for the day and that they could not help so I returned and found everyone still in tact. The strange thing is that, as people stopped for gas, many of them asked if we needed help. They must have thought it was strange for us to be there. There were black people, Hispanic people, Asian people asking if we were o.k. and seeming genuinely concerned.

   I don't remember exactly who brought who, but a fellow came by on foot and asked if he could be of help. He said he had a small shop in the community and did some repair. He looked the situation over and said he could help. By this time one of the relatives showed up and picked my family up for the reception. Now I was alone and at the mercy of people whom I did not know, whom I did not trust, and of whom, admittedly, I was a little afraid.

   This gentleman took note of the year and make of my van and said he'd be back and, in about a half hour he was, with a new serpentine belt. He had brought some tools with him and proceeded to put the belt on. He knew what he was doing and the job was done in a very short time. He showed me the receipt for the belt, for which I did not ask, and then I paid him for the belt and what I figured the going rate would be for a certified mechanic, for which HE did not ask!

     In no time at all I was on my way to the reception and amazed! I was amazed that people that I did not know, that I did not trust, and of whom I was uncomfortable, were some of the kindest people I have ever come across! I realized that, even though I had always considered myself unprejudiced and impartial, in truth I really was! I realized that had this been a totally white community none of the uneasiness and fear would have been felt. I realized that you can't judge a person by his color!

     Now, as you read this you probably consider yourself to be an unprejudiced person as well. But if you should find yourself in a situation similar to what I have just described, you'll find out if your opinion of yourself stands.

Life In A Secular Environment

     "We've come a long way, baby!", and it's NOT good! There was a time when the great universities of America were Christian in their foundations. Universities like Princeton and Harvard produced some great minds and godly pastors. There was a time in America when all who settled here were of Puritan faith. There was a time in America when, if a man was going to run for public office, he had to profess faith in Jesus Christ. There was a time in America when certain things were simply not discussed in the public arena. There was a time when modesty prevailed, when character mattered, when righteousness was pursued, and when the Christian ethic was respected.

     Then we come to 2012 and what do we find? We find that a young woman can sit in a congressional hearing and testify that her sexual exploits are so common, so often, that she needs her University, a Roman Catholic University, to provide for her contraceptive needs. And, furthermore, that her contemporaries find themselves in the same position! And the shocking thing is that nobody in the hearing questioned her immorality! No one in the television media questioned the immorality of these women.

     I looked up the word "slut" in my Webster's New World Dictionary and one of the definitions is a sexually promiscuous woman. The young woman in question is not married, and I assume that, for the most part, her contemporaries are not married, so it begs the question, "Is the use of the word slut accurate?"

      The next word that I looked up (I want to be accurate) is the word "whore" and I found that a whore is a sexually promiscuous woman or a prostitute. So I considered whether this word is a fitting word for someone who testifies that she is promiscuous and wants others to monetarily support her promiscuity. I think it is!

     One more word that I felt like I needed to research is the word "prostitute" and guess what I found! I found that one of the definitions of a prostitute is "a woman who engages in promiscuous sexual intercourse for pay". As I considered this definition I concluded that, in the strictest sense the young woman was not being paid for her sexual indiscretions, but in a wider sense, she wants others to pay for her promiscuity! So, that particular word may, or may not be, applicable.

     This leads me to wonder if these words should be removed from the dictionary. I mean, if they are not supposed to be used to rightly describe the social and sexual activities of those engaging in them then why have them in the dictionary? And the next question is, "What has happened to a society that no longer wants to name behaviors for what they are?" I mean we like to call adultery having an affair. We call sodomites "gay". And, if someone should call a promiscuous woman a slut (which, by the way did not actually happen), then somehow the one using the term is the object of anger! I saw a sign a woman held up which said, "Sluts Vote Too!" and I thought, why isn't someone really angry at her self-admission?

     Recently in an interview the Christian actor Curt Cameron was asked about his views concerning gay marriage. He honestly told the interviewer his views, and now is being accused of hate speech! What has gone wrong with a society that cannot bear hearing truth? Must we all live in a fantasy world, a fairy tale world where nothing is real? Must we all agree on everything? Is it becoming fashionable to lie about what you believe just to fit in? And if we say what we believe are we preaching hate?

     It is very difficult for Christians to live in the secular world. The great persecutions of history are a testimony to that! But I'm talking about living in a free society that has had Christian roots. It always has been difficult, but I think it's getting worse because, at least for citizens of the U.S., we've seen a consistent decline in morality. Books, magazines, television shows, movies, the news media, and of course the Internet seem to be determined to progressively introduce more immorality to our society. So, while we are spiritual beings, we live in temporal flesh and we have to put on the full armor of God just to survive each day with our spirituality in tact!

     BUT, just because depravity abounds, does not make it acceptable to us. We must "call a spade a spade" if you will. We must not back down. Curt Cameron didn't and neither should we. And if a word, so long as it is not profane (in the negative sense), is found in our English dictionary, can describe an activity, let's not be afraid to use it. Yes, we are to be kind, and no we shouldn't be unkind in our descriptions of people or their actions, but we also must consider accuracy. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11)

I Respect Honesty

     Be honest with me and you'll have my respect! I don't expect perfection; I don't even expect friendship. I just want honesty.

Regarding Politics

     One of the things I hate about election time is the use of dishonesty when one is trying to topple another. I think we've seen a lot of that this time around. It's always the case I suppose and, frankly, it's socially acceptable it seems. But to me, it rakes against my consciousness! I don't care if it's a republican or a democrat, although I've come to expect it more from one group than the other, but it grinds me just as much regardless of who the guilty party is. I don't even mind negative ads so long as they're truthful! Now, if a person distorts what another person says, that's being dishonest. I have seen republicans distort some things President Obama has said and I've seen President Obama distort some of the things republicans have said. I've even seen republicans distorting republicans. Now don't get me wrong as I am not saying we must always tell the truth! Sometimes it's better to remain silent. Sometimes, if for instance you wife asks you, "How do I look in this?", you might want to plead the 5th!  I like Newt Gingrich because I believe he's at a place in his life where he says what he thinks. I like Rick Santorum because he sticks to his grounds. I respect both of these men. I like Rush Limbaugh because he says what he thinks and I respect him.

Regarding Hollywood

     I'm proud though when a man or woman stands for what he/she thinks is right. One of the things that peeves me about people is that so many times they don't actually state their belief. In fact, they sometimes state what they don't really believe just to get along. I think Hollywood is a great example. There you have a community of actors who, due to the pressure put on them from the majority of the community, tend to be silent on what they believe. I guess those who tend to live out fantasies as their work have trouble facing reality in real life! When one of them comes out and states what he believes I can respect him/her. I don't like Shaun Penn for instance. But I'm convinced that he actually believes what he says and I respect him for that. I don't like Matt Damon, but I don't respect him because I don't believe he really believes what he says he believes. I don't like Bill Marrs because he's a mean spirited idiot along with Alec Baldwin; these deserve no respect! I like honesty and integrity and it is absent with both of these men. I believe Shaun Penn has both and though I disagree with him I respect him.

Regarding Bible Handlers

     Again, honesty and integrity matter. I am a Calvinist. I don't really like that word because I believe all of Calvin's work on matters of salvation are found to be faithful to the Scriptures. So, I am pretty insistent that one sticks to what the Bible actually teaches and askew what they'd prefer it taught! I believe one MUST be honest when using the Scriptures. If one persists on misusing Scripture because it makes life easier for him or because it suits his own pleasure, he'll get little respect from me!

     Now, I have not always been in that "Calvinist" camp. In fact, for the first 10 years of ministry I was part Armenian and part Calvinist. The cop-out term is "biblicists". To me, the term biblicists applies to anyone who claims to go by the Bible's teachings, but who avoids the hard work of studying and taking a stand. I can have no respect for someone like that!

     Unlike those of Hollywood, when handlers deliberately mishandle, misinterpret, or mislead when teaching the Bible, they are not only unlikeable but they deserve no respect at all. If on the other hand, one who occasionally teaches a Sunday School or a Vacation Bible School or some other type of communication of God's word, and does so incorrectly, he should be corrected. And, if he is sound he will see the error of his ways and repent. If he is not sound he will not. I remember when I was first confronted with the Doctrines of Grace (meaning Calvinism) I had a difficult time absorbing it. Partly it was because none of my associates were Calvinists, I had been taught in Bible School to be a 3 point Calvinist (that's a phrase meaning moderate Armenian). But when I began to study it out I found out that I had been taught wrong. What to do? Stick with my prideful adherence to a system that didn't work? Or bow to God and His Sovereignty? I chose the latter. Dishonesty just did not work for me!

     So you see, honesty and integrity are important to me. I hope the same is true for you. I don't even mind if you disagree with me...just be honest about it!

Remembering When....

                                                                                                            

    I was born in 1947 but my real memories begin in the mid fifties. I mean there are fragments of memories from younger days but there was not really a sense of who I was or who I wanted to be. Growing up in the fifties I was exposed to country music icons like Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, George Jones and more. My heroes were Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, the Lone Ranger, and Lash Larue. Of course there were others as well. A few years went by before I became a huge John Wayne fan. Of all of them I guess John Wayne influenced me the most. To me, John Wayne was a perfect example of what a man was supposed to be.

   But the fifties and sixties were also a time when Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and other rockabillys were influential. I never really got awe struck by Buddy Holly so it took a few years before I even became aware of him. So, on the one hand there were these country music legends that influenced me and on the other this early rock-n-roll sound. The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison were a hit. Michigan's own Del Shannon was popular back then.

    Western movies and war films were the kinds of things that helped me to get a sense of the patriotism that has been important to me. I remember going to a movie called "Pork Chop Hill" starring Gregory Peck in the lead role. Later, when I was in the U.S. Army I served under the officer that Gregory Peck played. He was a Lt. Col. Joe Clemens then and commander of the Battalion, in which I served. It's funny that I had to look up his name. I still have my dress uniform from those days. I think I might be able to fit one arm it in!

     One thing I remember clearly is a sense of being an American with a rich history of heroes. In those days teachers actually taught the truth about American history. We said the Pledge of Allegiance before classes and we always stood with our hand on our heart when our National Anthem was played. We learned about the exploits of George Washington and we read about Abraham Lincoln and Patrick Henry and a host of others. I remember reading of Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, Jim Bridger, Kit Carson and more, holding them in high esteem. Back then we didn't try to dig up dirt on people like we do now! We let the heroes stay heroes and kids like me had examples of manliness and bravery. We could distinguish the good guys from the bad guys and it was easy to do so.

     Now I know that when you go through that list of people that I named, some real, and some fictional, you will note that, really, none of them were perfect. The all had failures, some more than others, but as a kid I didn't know about their shortcomings. Who would have dreamed that Rock Hudson was a homosexual? I guess what I'm saying is that, even though kids of my generation did some pretty bad things there was still a sense of innocence. Yes, I tried smoking and cussing and I probably would have tried beer if I'd had the opportunity. But my folks kept me busy enough for me to stay out of trouble. I loved the girls too! I'll leave that for another time though............

     Still, though I was not raised in a Christian home we all had a sense of honor. We were taught to love country and family. If a preacher came by we treated him with kindness. As I recall we were always patriotic. I mean there was never any question about it!

                                                                                        

     Then, as a young man, serving in the military, coming home and entering the work force that patriotism continued. The first time I ever had any embarrassment for our country was during the presidency of Jimmy Carter. I had voted for him because he said he was a Christian. In fact, that was my very first vote! You just can't imagine how downhearted I became when Iran held American Hostages and Jimmy Carter seemed so weak. But then, a bright light appeared in the person of Ronald Reagan. When I heard him talk it was just like I was hearing my cowboy hero, John Wayne giving the bad guys an ultimatum. Straighten up or get you A_ _ kicked! The hostages got released and that sense of Patriotism grew! I've never voted for a democrat since, and never will! Ronald Reagan taught us to be strong and firm. He was a man of compassion and you just knew that if the bad guys came into town he would deal with them. Here was a real life hero! And, he even occasionally wore a cowboy hat! Reagan would NEVER have apologized for calling the kettle black!

     Well, here it is 2012 and John Wayne is no longer here. Ronald Reagan is gone and I just keep hoping for another like them. I know one thing for sure. American pride is a dream and it's getting dimmer all the time. We keep asking God to bless America but then we wonder how much longer He can! I saw a picture of president Obama wearing a cowboy hat; somehow it just didn't work!

Americans: The Stupidist People On Earth!

    That's a radical title isn't it? Truly, I cannot come to any other conclusion when I observe what's going on in our country. We have thousands of years of world history from which to learn and hundreds of years of American history to instruct us and we still don't seem to be able to take that accumulation of practical experience and put it into a plan for a rational society.

     For instance, I just read where California is now asking judges what their sexual orientation is so that there would be more homosexual judges on the bench for fairness reasons. So, Californians believe that one cannot properly judge any case involving homosexuals unless one IS a homosexual. Now carry this to its logical conclusion and you will have to find judges who are pedophiles, who practice bestiality, who are rapists, murderers, thieves, etc. If you are one of the few who can rationalize you will have, by now, connected with my point!

     Americans have, arguably, had access to the world's greatest literature, including the Holy Bible. We've had great leaders in science and have amassed countless scientific discoveries, some positive and some negative. In the medical field we've made great strides in surgical procedures and in the elimination of certain diseases. Yet we have not yet figured out that the male of the species is specifically designed to mate with the female of the species!

                                                                                                       

     How many years has it taken the medical community to discover the fraud forced on American patients by deceitful and greedy pharmaceutical companies? Finally, after years of trial and error, of countless lives being treated like laboratory rats, the medical community is discovering that statin drugs are dangerous! That statin drugs actually cause heart failure and cancer is something that has been known by natural healers for a long time but the medical community is just now beginning to admit it! And, when you see the commercials for specific drugs, followed by a list of 10-20 side effects including the thing your are taking the drug for in the first place, plus death, you would presume the listener would say, "That's not for me!" but, because we are a STUPID people we take them anyway. Now we are not IGNORANT. Once you've been told these side effects exist you cannot claim ignorance. You're just STUPID!         

     Our Nation is fighting a war in Afghanistan. So far we, the American people, have provided the Afghans will a little over 8 Billion Dollars in aid. Medical care, education advancements, liberty for women and girls, infrastructure, and protection has been GIVEN them, yet today, (3/1/12) two more of our service men have been murdered because of an accidental burning of the Koran. We cannot claim ignorance regarding Afghanistan because they have thousands of years of history by which we can learn. No, we are STUPID for thinking we can somehow change them.

    I live in Michigan. Our last governor ran our state into debt, put us in the place where we had, at one time, the highest unemployment rate in the Nation, so what did we do? We elected her to office again and made the damages even worse. The majority of people in Michigan are STUPID! In fact, I believe that if she would have been able to run again we would have elected her again. Instead we elected a governor that has us in a surplus for the first time in over 10 years!  He only got elected because the STUPID people were too confused as to what to do since his predecessor left them dizzy!
                                                                                                                           

    Do you know that probably 95% of us could not pass a quiz given to 5th graders at the turn of the 20th Century? Most of us would have a hard time with a McGuffy's Reader! That's how STUPID we are! We think we're smarter because we know more stuff but the STUFF we know is about sports, or movies, or television programs. We may have developed a skill that gets us by but what happens when that skill is no longer needed? We're out of a job and don't have a chance!

     Now, while I'm railing about this I want you to know that I consider myself, and a few friends, a handful of public officials, a cut above STUPID! At least I know that men are supposed to marry women, and I know that if I take a pill that has 10 strikes against me I deserve the outcome. I'm smart enough to know that when a society outlaws marijuana and puts warnings on cigarettes, yet lets the liquor industry slide it doesn't make sense. I know that when you pour 8 Billion dollars into a thankless people, of whom the majority would slit your throat if they had the opportunity, it's a dumb thing to do. I know that when a President is pro-homosexual, believes and supports abortion, including partial birth abortion, when he is found on video to talk of his Muslim faith...he is NOT a Christian! Even I am smart enough to know this! So what conclusion must I come to? I must believe that Americans are just plain STUPID!

     When a millionaire in America runs for public office and tries to convince us that he "feels our pain", way too many people believe him. He doesn't have a clue! This can happen even among Republicans and conservative people. On the other hand, if you are a liberal democrat you are definitely STUPID!

     I for one am grateful for God's grace because if it were not for Him, I would be even STUPIDER!