Musings of the Chronologically Challenged™ Fourth Generation

 
Winston Churchill wrote it a century ago
("curse of islam")

Winston Churchill on Islam....... (107 years ago !!!)

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity.

The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceasedto be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities – but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

-Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).
posted by HCL at 12:30 AM

 
THIS POST FOR MIKEY THE MARINE


Acidman won't mind (I hope) if I lift this directly from his blog. It seems to be such a perfect intro for the INCOMING below, while at the same time circulating the post about Mikey the Marine.

The hubster and eldest spawn are off camping this weekend with some friends of ours. Guys weekend out...they do this often, however...this one is really special to them all. Why? Because, Mikey, errr....Michael...hell no...he's Mikey, is in town on leave. Mikey's 19 years old, a helluva Marine and headed to Iraq in the next 2 weeks. He's ready to go, he's willing to fight, however, he's nervous. Who wouldn't be? Iraq and Effingham County aren't really similar at all! Anyway, I would really, really, from the bottom of my heart appreciate you sending any sort of message (not an f-ed up you're dying for nothing one, nice ones) to give to him before he leaves. He's a great kid, and I really appreciate him and those like him who are willing to protect our ass. No matter how you feel about the war, how many 19 year olds that you know would head over there? If you pray, tell him, if you feel thankful, tell him, if you wish him Godspeed - tell him. If you have military advice or are a veteran, depart some of that wisdom. Please send it to me at: writing4areason@aol.com and I will be sure to print it out and give it to him. Sometimes ya just gotta let someone know you appreciate them having your back!! Semper Fi!! (and if you want to send this on...please do...the more the merrier!!) If you don't want to leave your full name or whatever....leave your blog addy, or whatever...please let me know where you are from....so he can see it ain't just us Jawja crackers wishing him well!!



INCOMING
from my friend, Jack, who forwards to me what he comes across regarding my beloved Marines!! My personal apologies to my other admired military friends, army, navy, air force, wherever you serve. Thank you. I love you all. And I'm sure God does too.


In The Beginning !!!

In the beginning was the word, and the word was God. In the beginning was God and all else was darkness and void, and without form. So God created the heavens and the earth. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars so that light might pierce the darkness. The earth God divided between the land and the sea and these he filled with many assorted creatures.

And the dark salty, slimy creatures that inhabited the murky depths of the oceans, God called sailors, and he dressed them accordingly, with little trousers that looked like bells at the bottom and with cute little flaps on their shirts to hide hickeys on their necks. He also gave them long sideburns and shabby looking beards. God nicknamed them "squids" and banished them to a lifetime at sea so that normal folks would not have to associate with them. To further identify these unloved creatures, he called them "petty" and "commodore" instead of titles worthy of red-blooded men.

And the flighty creatures of the land, God called soldiers. And with a twinkle in his eyes, and a sense of humor that only he could have, God made their trousers too short, covers too large, and pockets to warm their hands. And to adorn their uniforms, God gave them badges in quantities that only a dime store owner could appreciate. And he gave them emblems and crests....and all sorts of shiny things that glittered...and devices that dangled. (When you are God, you tend to get carried away in a BIG way.)

On the 5th day, he thought about creating some air creatures for which he designed a Greyhound Bus driver's uniform especially for flyboys, but he discarded the idea during the first week and it was not until years later that some apostles "resurrected" this theme and established what we now know as the wild blue yonder wonders.

And on the 7th day as you know, God rested. On the 8th day, at 0730 hours, God looked down upon the earth and was not happy. GOD WAS NOT HAPPY !!!

So he thought about his labors, and in his divine wisdom, God created a divine creature, and this he called "Marine". And these Marines, who God had created in his own image, were to be of the air, of the land, and of the sea. And these he gave many wonderful uniforms. Some were green, some were blue with red trim, and in the early days, some were even a beautiful tan. He gave them practical, fighting uniforms, so that they could wage war against the forces of Satan and evil. He gave them service uniforms for their daily work and training, that they might be sharp and ready....and he gave them evening and dress uniforms....sharp, stylish, handsome things, so that they might promenade with their ladies on Saturday night, and impress the shit outta everybody!!! He even gave them swords so that people who were not impressed could be dealt with.

And at the end of the 8th day, God looked down upon the earth and saw that it was good. But was God happy? NO !!! GOD WAS STILL NOT HAPPY !!! Because in the course of his labors, he had forgotten one thing....He did not have a Marine uniform himself !!! But he thought about it, and finally satisfied himself in knowing that, well......not everybody can be a Marine!


Here's Mikey's email addy again for Indigo readers: writing4areason@aol.com
posted by HCL at 9:56 PM

 
TOO OLD FOR SUPER BOWL?


I must be, 'cause I've certainly been out of sorts this week following Sunday night's festivities. Too much excitement, too much food, plus a glass of wine left me "hung over" until today, actually. It's been a sorta kinda normal day today. Maybe tomorrow will be back to just "miserable and pain-wracked"!!! Not whining. Just saying. Everytime I even contemplate complaining about my physical trials and tribulations, one moment of thinking of others who overcome worse with far more grace makes me ashamed. (You know who you are. Pity Pot Seminar Saturday afternoon. Be there or be square!)

So anyhow, I've been trying to catch up on blog reading for the last few days. Still haven't felt much like writing, but been checking out what I've missed that others wrote. Really. When I don't turn on the puter for two days, it's pretty close to time to start getting bids on formaldehyde. The more I've read, linking along the way, the more I conclude that perhaps I am not as out of step with conventional opinion on Mrs. King's funeral as I thought I was.. It seems Blogdom is just about unanimous on this one, with Lefties and Righties unabashedly appalled.

A commenter at D.C. Thorton's blog summed up my feelings just about exactly with this:

Commenter Jim said - - -
"Political speeches have no place at funerals. Period.

"You know, if the Democrats would get off their duffs and do something meaningful once in a while, instead of doing their incessant whining, bickering, and politicizing everything under the sun, they might be a true, fair, and organized resistance against the Repubs. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Due to their insolence, election after election is going to go to the right, skewing the political landscape and throwing off that valuable balance between the two.

"I feel estranged by both parties, because I don’t feel either of them represent me. I have many an axe to grind with both parties and resent that anyone would tell me that I have to pick either one or the other.

"Yep, yet another annoying centrist who can’t pick a party and stick with it. Dispicable actions like wiretapping and throwing childish tantrums at the funerals of civil rights icons aren’t going to get me any closer to accepting the party line…"

And in his always inimitable style, Charming Guy reads my mind too: "I am dreading the elections this fall. I can't bring myself to vote for a donk and if I vote for a republican I may wind up puking in the voting booth."
posted by HCL at 5:56 PM

 

posted by HCL at 12:10 PM

 
LABELS


The longer I live, the more I'm convinced of how much better off the human race might be without labels. Why must everyone have a label anyhow? The very label itself can be life-changing in a destructive way. Yet, society requires (demands?) that everybody have one for purposes of categorization. What is the cut-off point between identifying a child as "special-needs" and "genius"? How different the life and works of Albert Einstein would have been had he been labelled when he was a child. In fact, how different our world might be today if he had been.

The most truly "Christian" person I ever knew never attended church. She didn't need a label. Her life was her testimony and she lived it in accordance with the biblical teachings of Jesus, although she never read the Bible to my knowledge. This woman was my aunt, so I knew her well and do not speak of her from what I heard others say, but from what I observed first hand, one on one. So although she lived her life in service to others, helped the poor and unfortunate, did kind deeds for everyone who crossed her life's path, did not judge others, and bubbled over with love for every person and being she encountered, she never earned the label of "Christian" because she was not affiliated with a church. Lucky for her that her life will not be judged by church members or church hierarchy.

Leshaun Fossett may have had similar thoughts on labelling when he wrote this excellent post. In his American heart he doesn't seem to feel the need to "label" February..
posted by HCL at 12:15 AM