From Anne Hutchinson and Mary Dyer, to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, to ‘Rosie the Riveter,’ American women have stepped up and made great noises to gain representation, equality, free speech, and recognition. However, for her efforts Hutchinson was convicted of treason in 1637 and cast out by the divine commissioners of her Massachusetts colony because her feminist initiatives did not align with those of the men. Mary Dyer attempted to pick up where Anne had left off and was hanged by the same ecclesiastical authorities.
From the beginning, traditionalists associated feminism with mental illness, neurotic behavior, hysteria and even sadism. (It was easier to label such audacious women with epithets than to brazen out their contentions, which goes hand in hand with ‘If you ignore it, it will go away’). The woman, however, would not be ignored, and she didn’t go away. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony didn’t give up or cave in, and neither backed down from their determined goals; they pushed on with righteous indignation.
It is common knowledge that every historic endeavor has a critical turning point, such as with the women’s movement. When it peaked it did so loudly, brashly, and somewhat hysterically. It began to take shape at the height of the Cultural Revolution, when women of every age, race, persuasion and class underwent sweeping metamorphoses: they became independently outspoken, aggressive, demanding and, to a large measure, fanatic.
At the time, the term ‘radical’ grew to be one of the most overused expressions in all the languages of the world. It remains no less drawn on today, and can be applied without second thought to certain women who are ensconced in high-profile stations -- who have manipulated and sullied those stations with reckless abandon.
As we all know, and must accept, Islamic terrorists promise to wash America -- indeed, the world -- in blood. They wait for the instant an avenue is open to another invasion. We therefore live each day anxiously treading dangerous waters. Adding insult to their pledge to cause injury and death have been the tactless and demoralizing missives of homegrown critics, specifically by another Rosie, but of a much lower esteem:
Rosie O’Donnell -- whose un-tethered and gross outspokenness against our country and our President, as well as her overall behavior, turned intensely macabre.
She proved daily that she is discombobulated by her so-called ‘star’ status and that she is struck senseless with hatred. She overtaxed the right to speak her mind and bluntly ignored the fact that exercising such a right doesn’t make it right when she ruthlessly condemned America and Americans. The First Amendment does not equip her or anyone with the exalted power to walk on water, nor does it make it appropriate for her or anyone to cruelly harpoon and underrate the men and women serving in our military -- or our allies’ military -- who, of their own free will, are placing their personal safety in harm’s way in order to keep us safe from harm.
This person lashed out with tidal waves of anti-American smears, the likes of which hadn’t been heard since ‘Hanoi’ Jane’s carnival shows. Rosie raised the bar of spitefulness so high an Olympic pole-vaulter couldn’t clear it with a NASA booster rocket strapped to his back. Even worse, it appeared she took as hostage the American Broadcasting Company and their sponsors (or was ABC an ‘enabler’ to gain high ratings?), using The View as a launching pad for her aggravating statements.
Rosie claimed she is plagued by bouts of depression, and used this as an excuse for her ranting. Someone should enlighten her with the facts, that there isn’t a person alive today who doesn’t suffer at times from melancholy, because there is a lot out there every day to be depressed over. Simplicity is something we all want but is becoming less and less available due to the constant stress of threats by Islamic terrorists against our lives and our country. It’s the same for everyone and we’re all dealing with it all as best as we’re able -- some better than others; those others, like O’Donnell, worse than the rest.
Despite -- or in spite of -- counter criticism, she chose to toy uncontrollably with self-immolation, the cinders of which she stoked daily with her ugly and baseless comments. Perhaps she has now finally torched her credibility and appeal, as might be the basis for the announcement that she and ABC are parting ways. If so, her departure is coming just in time, because she very well could have taken down with her every breakthrough, every achieved milestone, and every sacrifice made on behalf of women everywhere by pioneer giants such as Hutchinson, Dyer, Stanton and Anthony, as well as the sweat and pride of every gal who riveted bolts into the fuselage of B‑29 bombers that aided in America’s victories in World War II.
The numbers of women heroes of the world, both known and nameless, is inestimable. For the time being that list is safe from being truncated or forgotten, as long as women such as Rosie O’Donnell are never included or associated with the names and memory of the honorable and legendary.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Larry, Moe, and Harry Reid
The week of April 16, 2007 began with a shocking news report in the early morning, which grew more shocking in each ensuing hour, and concluded in abject horror with the revelation of a massacre of over 30 of our brightest people at Virginia Tech University. In the days that followed we prayed -- and continue to pray -- for their souls, for the recovery of the survivors, and for their families, friends, and fellow students.
The poke in the eye was dealt by the senator from Nevada, on Thursday, April 19, 2007: He plain out ignored the mourning processes over what evil had done what evil had wanted. With the poise of a snake oil salesman he positioned himself before a gaggle of reporters and delivered a revolting testimonial:
“I believe this war is lost.”
If he had ended this statement with “…nyuk, nyuk, nyuk,” then the question in every conservative’s mind would have been finally answered: Stooges are alive and well on Capitol Hill -- and they’re driving our red, white & blue integrity and morale into the ground. (Note: Flying above the senator, which he showed no interest in noticing, was our Stars & Stripes at half-staff in respect, honor and memory of the students and faculty who were killed four days earlier.)
Reid has lashed back against Republicans’ criticism of his statement, and with ambiguity:
“No one wants us to succeed in Iraq more than Democrats.”
String both his messages together and they make about as much sense as NBC’s irreverent decision to broadcast the disturbing personal video and audiotapes of the Virginia Tech shooter only 48 hours after the unspeakable tragedy (the day before the Nevada senator decided he was overdue for his moment in the limelight). (On a personal note, I will never forgive NBC for their avarice by airing that video so soon, nor will I ever pardon them for flip-flopping and ultimately canceling the screwball comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun, a critical and ratings success at the time: proof that liberal television networks (much like the sitting Congress) are nowhere near in touch with practicality.)
Back to ‘Stoogeville:’
Pack in with Reid the rest of his irresponsible sidekicks, like Nancy ‘Give Me an Inch So I Can Be the Ruler’ Pelosi (whose unauthorized trots throughout the Middle East was a blatant act of insubordination as well as a violation of deference for both President Bush and Secretary of State Rice, not to mention jeopardizing national security), and the prodigious vessel we call Congress will be in danger of taking on water. Or, more simply put: Loose lips sink ships.
Senate Majority Leader Reid proved by his loose-lip statement that he, and others of the self-styled ‘new’ Congress, is not a visionary. Neither is he a leader, because a genuine leader who is fully committed to battling the darkest forces of iniquity never lays down his sword to that enemy -- an enemy that is consumed with blind hatred and bloodlust, who gives no quarter to his victims, whether they be men, women, or children.
Reid and his colleagues cannot -- or will not -- accept the true meaning of victory on the scale necessary to once and for all stamp out radical Islamic terrorism. Success does not materialize ‘abracadabra’ like a fuzzy rabbit from inside an illusionist’s top hat. The House and Senate steadfastly refuse to recognize that society allows only one great change at a time, and every great change takes time.
Terrorists are trying to use that time to gain traction and the only way to beat them, and those that sponsor terrorism, is to slash their malignant ideology to zero. Reid and the others who think and speak like defeatists will never grasp this fact, because their reach falls miserably short due to their short-sightedness.
For Reid to state to the world -- to the sworn enemies of peace -- that the war in Iraq is lost (and on the basis of intelligence reports for just one week) is not a sign of strength. It is fearful, ignorant, and unmanly.
Senators represent the people, but Reid’s statement -- and statements and actions by others like him -- is disloyal and a slap in the people’s face. And the people include each devoted member of our armed forces -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines -- serving not just in Iraq but in every outpost in the world. The value of their mottos, particularly Semper Fi, is plainly and dishonorably alien to Reid.
Slap me, and I’ll turn the other cheek. But slap our men and women in uniform and you have stepped way over the line.
Senator Reid said this war is lost. There is only one response that that comes to mind which is succinctly appropriate. As 3rd Rock’s high commander, Dick Solomon, retorted often and with sustained relish:
“No, Harry. You’re WRONG.”
The poke in the eye was dealt by the senator from Nevada, on Thursday, April 19, 2007: He plain out ignored the mourning processes over what evil had done what evil had wanted. With the poise of a snake oil salesman he positioned himself before a gaggle of reporters and delivered a revolting testimonial:
“I believe this war is lost.”
If he had ended this statement with “…nyuk, nyuk, nyuk,” then the question in every conservative’s mind would have been finally answered: Stooges are alive and well on Capitol Hill -- and they’re driving our red, white & blue integrity and morale into the ground. (Note: Flying above the senator, which he showed no interest in noticing, was our Stars & Stripes at half-staff in respect, honor and memory of the students and faculty who were killed four days earlier.)
Reid has lashed back against Republicans’ criticism of his statement, and with ambiguity:
“No one wants us to succeed in Iraq more than Democrats.”
String both his messages together and they make about as much sense as NBC’s irreverent decision to broadcast the disturbing personal video and audiotapes of the Virginia Tech shooter only 48 hours after the unspeakable tragedy (the day before the Nevada senator decided he was overdue for his moment in the limelight). (On a personal note, I will never forgive NBC for their avarice by airing that video so soon, nor will I ever pardon them for flip-flopping and ultimately canceling the screwball comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun, a critical and ratings success at the time: proof that liberal television networks (much like the sitting Congress) are nowhere near in touch with practicality.)
Back to ‘Stoogeville:’
Pack in with Reid the rest of his irresponsible sidekicks, like Nancy ‘Give Me an Inch So I Can Be the Ruler’ Pelosi (whose unauthorized trots throughout the Middle East was a blatant act of insubordination as well as a violation of deference for both President Bush and Secretary of State Rice, not to mention jeopardizing national security), and the prodigious vessel we call Congress will be in danger of taking on water. Or, more simply put: Loose lips sink ships.
Senate Majority Leader Reid proved by his loose-lip statement that he, and others of the self-styled ‘new’ Congress, is not a visionary. Neither is he a leader, because a genuine leader who is fully committed to battling the darkest forces of iniquity never lays down his sword to that enemy -- an enemy that is consumed with blind hatred and bloodlust, who gives no quarter to his victims, whether they be men, women, or children.
Reid and his colleagues cannot -- or will not -- accept the true meaning of victory on the scale necessary to once and for all stamp out radical Islamic terrorism. Success does not materialize ‘abracadabra’ like a fuzzy rabbit from inside an illusionist’s top hat. The House and Senate steadfastly refuse to recognize that society allows only one great change at a time, and every great change takes time.
Terrorists are trying to use that time to gain traction and the only way to beat them, and those that sponsor terrorism, is to slash their malignant ideology to zero. Reid and the others who think and speak like defeatists will never grasp this fact, because their reach falls miserably short due to their short-sightedness.
For Reid to state to the world -- to the sworn enemies of peace -- that the war in Iraq is lost (and on the basis of intelligence reports for just one week) is not a sign of strength. It is fearful, ignorant, and unmanly.
Senators represent the people, but Reid’s statement -- and statements and actions by others like him -- is disloyal and a slap in the people’s face. And the people include each devoted member of our armed forces -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines -- serving not just in Iraq but in every outpost in the world. The value of their mottos, particularly Semper Fi, is plainly and dishonorably alien to Reid.
Slap me, and I’ll turn the other cheek. But slap our men and women in uniform and you have stepped way over the line.
Senator Reid said this war is lost. There is only one response that that comes to mind which is succinctly appropriate. As 3rd Rock’s high commander, Dick Solomon, retorted often and with sustained relish:
“No, Harry. You’re WRONG.”
Monday, April 02, 2007
There are houses, and there are houses
Look over the descriptions of the following two houses and see if you can tell which belongs to the environmentalist.
HOUSE NUMBER 1:
A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guesthouse all heated by gas. In one month alone this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an entire year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas exceeds $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not in a northern or mid-west “snow-belt,’ either. It’s in the South.
HOUSE NUMBER 2:
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this house incorporates every “green” feature current home construction can provide. This house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system.
Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000-gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the surrounding rural landscape.
HOUSE NUMBER 1 (the 20-room, energy-guzzling mansion) is located outside Nashville, Tennessee. It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and filmmaker), Al Gore.
HOUSE NUMBER 2 (a model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas. Also known as “the Texas White House,” it is the private residence of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.
So, whose house is gentler on the environment?
Yet another story you WON'T hear on CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC or read about in the New York Times or the Washington Post.
HOUSE NUMBER 1:
A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guesthouse all heated by gas. In one month alone this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an entire year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas exceeds $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not in a northern or mid-west “snow-belt,’ either. It’s in the South.
HOUSE NUMBER 2:
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this house incorporates every “green” feature current home construction can provide. This house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system.
Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000-gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the surrounding rural landscape.
HOUSE NUMBER 1 (the 20-room, energy-guzzling mansion) is located outside Nashville, Tennessee. It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and filmmaker), Al Gore.
HOUSE NUMBER 2 (a model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas. Also known as “the Texas White House,” it is the private residence of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.
So, whose house is gentler on the environment?
Yet another story you WON'T hear on CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC or read about in the New York Times or the Washington Post.
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