Christmas Thoughts

Since it is Christmas, I wanted to share a couple of thoughts about it. There has been a constant drum beat for years about Christmas and "political correctness", secularism and "political correctness", Judaism and "political correctness" (we sure do not want to offend anyone), well....you get the idea.

It seems, though, the drum beat has become louder in recent years, ya' know? I mean, when schools start banning instrumental Christmas songs, and the colors of red and green (we are talking the thought police here folks - big time), it is as if we have lost our bloomin' minds.

The neat thing about Christmas is that it has something for everyone. One does not have to be Christian to enjoy the festivities surrounding Christmas. Many secularists, many agnostics, and many atheists would agree that it is a good thing to love and respect others, seek peace, and to live in harmony with their neighbors.

"Love thy neighbor" is one of the ten commandments; but doing so (as great a principle as it is) does not make you a Christian. You do not have to be a Christian to endorse this doctrine and implement it into your daily life.

Likewise, enjoying the caring and the giving of courtesies and gifts at Christmas (that are often absent, unfortunately, in our daily routines) should be something that everyone can enjoy. Seeing others (maybe even Christian, believers) being joyous and giving does not do anything "demonic" to non-believers.

At minimum, enjoy the time off work because of the holiday, and enjoy getting paid to rest up if you should choose to abstain from the "merriment" of giving to others. Go ahead and be a frump, but enjoy the day off. Just don't expect everyone else to sit at home with a frown on their face because that is what you want.

There is an article by a Muslim that appeared in the USA Today titled How this Muslim came to relish Christmas, by Irshad Manji. She seems to be making the same point I am.

Dennis Prager writes on the commercialism of Christmas and touches on some of the same issues in his article In defense of the 'commercialism' of Christmas.

Also, Kevin McCullough writes, A merry Jewish Christmas for World Net Daily.

And lastly, Why A Jew Supports Christian America appears in Front Page Magazine, written by Don Feder.

Now, to sum up this post. I have to be honest and upfront and admit that this blog is not concerned with the run-amok political correctness that paralyzes us and threatens to hurl us back into the dark ages, so WHAT-THE-HELL, HeavyHanded says Merry Christmas to all!

Going into Syria?

From World Net Daily
U.S. considers military incursions into Syria to counter attacks in Iraq from safe havens across border.
By Aaron Klein

Hostile Leftist Takeover

Ivy League elitists plan to take over the AFL-CIO and channel its power for the Hate America Left (From Front Page Magazine).
By William R. Hawkins

Grateful mother says 'Semper Fidelis'
A Letter From a Marine Mom Appearing in the HeraldNet

You thank someone when they give you a gift. You thank people for compliments, favors, extra efforts made on your behalf. You thank people all of your life from the time you learn that it's impolite not to.

Just what can you say that is remotely close to adequate to thank someone who is no longer here to thank and who has given you the greatest gift of sacrifice that can be given? On Nov. 15, Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine in Fallujah gave me my son's life. My son is a Marine PFC who was in the room when Sgt. Peralta, already shot by an insurgent, cradled a live grenade thrown by the enemy beneath his body to shield the other Marines who were with him. My son was one of those Marines. This champion of men made the split-second decision to sacrifice his life for his men - my son. The words don't exist to describe what's in my heart for this man. He will be with me the rest of my life. Not a day will go by without the name Peralta crossing through my mind. This immigrant son from Mexico became one of the finest Americans of his generation, indeed any generation.

Sgt. Rafael Peralta, the only thing this grateful mother can say to you is Semper Fidelis, Sgt. Peralta, Semper Fidelis.

Julie Snyder

A Soldier Endorses Rumsfeld

From the guys over at Powerline:

Reader Richard Mattson has alerted us to an astonishing eyewitness report by Captain Dan Mattson (his brother) deriving from Secretary Rumsfeld's in-theater visit. Today Secretary Rumsfeld visited a military hospital just two miles from the dining hall tent in Mosul where the huge explosion occurred as staff were sitting down for lunch Tuesday. Captain Mattson reports from the hospital:

It's Christmas Eve, though it didn't feel like it. There are some good decorations in the hospital, but we had no Christmas music in the OR today, and no snow on the ground. No nativity scenes or festive cheer in this part of the world. Then, after a routine for here but hardly routine day in the OR, my day was made. I'm referring to the interaction I witnessed and helped facilitate between a young injured soldier and a high ranking official. Here is how it happened:

I was reading foxnews.com at around noon when I told the anesthesiologist that "the Donald" was in town on a surprise visit. No, not Donald Trump, but Donald Rumsfeld. He laughed cynically and said no way would he come here. Well, at around 1600 I was in the OR and I was told that Rumsfeld was downstairs, and we could go down there if we wanted to. I was not in a position to leave, obviously.

Well, the timing worked out well, because I was taking my patient to the recovery room when we wheeled the stretcher through a mob of dignitaries, to include 3 and 4 star generals. I knew the Secretary was nearby, and it turns out he was in the ICU. The patient drew enough attention because of his bruised, banged up face that the 4 star came over to get his story from the surgeon. I was doing some charting by the bedside when Mr. Rumsfeld came over and heard the kid's story from the 4-star. Rumsfeld looked concerned and kind of kept his distance from the gruesome site. He said something like "bless his heart", as if talking around him.

That is when I, without any thought, piped in with "Sir, you can talk to him, he's awake." He told the soldier, named Rob, how proud he was of his service. The soldier was in a bit of disbelief, because he couldn't see with one eye patched and the other swollen shut. He said he wanted to talk to Rumsfeld. That's when I said "He's standing right to your left, Rob, that's his voice you hear. You can talk to him." The kid was nervous at that point, but sputtered out how honored he was to talk to him. Mr. Rumsfeld replied, "No, it's an honor for me to talk to you."

Then remarkably, the young soldier, who had just lost his left hand and right eye from an explosion, came to the defense of the Secretary of Defense, stating "Mr. Rumsfeld, I want you to know, that you are doing a fantastic job. I know that you are taking a lot of heat for the problems with getting armor for vehicles. I want you to know that things are vastly improved. Our vehicles are great, and I have never searched through junk piles for scrap metal."

At this point, Rumsfeld looked choked up, and I had a lump in my throat and and watery eyes. It was moving. What makes a man who has been so close to death, and maimed for life, come to the defense of the Army's highest ranking official? Loyalty, I dare say. Did Rob think Mr. Rumsfeld was having a self-esteem problem? In his greatest hour of need, his thoughts went to the emotional needs of another. I found it quite amazing, and moving. The Secretary took out a coin and gave it to a bystander for him, as if he didn't know he could touch him. Finally, the soldier said, "Man, Donald Rumsfeld, I wish I could shake his hand."

Even at that, I felt Mr. Rumsfeld needed some prompting, so I picked up the kid's arm and looked at the Secretary, and he reached out and took the kid's hand. After the entourage left, I took the coin and placed it in the soldiers hand, for him to feel and hold. I said, "that's not one you'll get every day." He was happy. I told the person caring for him to make certain that coin went with him to his room. I was assured that he would. I told Rob it was an honor to care for him, and then went on to do my next case. I'd like to see him tomorrow, but I heard he is flying out tonight.

Captain Mattson's report is posted on The Banty Rooster under the heading "A must read email from an American soldier!"

Amazing. Simply amazing.

WALTER WILLIAMS looks at the national sale tax idea in an article for the Jewish World Review. (Hat tip Prestopundit)

Michael Williams on eliminating the corporate income tax:

"Richard Rahn explains why we should eliminate the corporate income tax, and points out that economists around the world agree. Emerging economies in New Europe are slashing rates and leaving America uncompetitive with a combined federal and state corporate tax rate average of 42%.

'There are still some, but fortunately a diminishing number of mentally lightweight leftists, who believe you somehow can tax a corporation without taxing the workers, customers, suppliers and stockholders (who in many cases are invested in pension funds) of the corporation. When they make the cry, as they surely will, that eliminating the corporate income tax benefits the rich and rewards the greedy, they should be challenged with facts and logic. Advocates of sound economic policy have too many times allowed themselves to be bullied by loudmouths who claim compassion, yet cause misery. Tax reform is too important to allow ignorance to prevail.'

Indeed."

From the Clairemont Institute:

Rumsfeld's Fate and Bush's War on Bureaucracy

Victor Davis Hanson explains why Rumsfeld should stay, on NRO. He notes that democracies (Israel, pre-WW II US) often fail initially to have the arms adequate to defeat the enemy.


I would add that Bush's keeping Rumsfeld indicates the seriousness with which he takes his second term to be a war against bureaucracy. Before Iraq Rumsfeld was noted for his quarrels with Pentagon. He insisted on controversial reforms, often clashing with the desires of the top brass. As heroic and as vital as their service is, the top brass are often better at protecting their respective service's interests than the overall military interest of the country. That is the consequence of the military bureaucracy, and it takes someone from outside that system to reform it. See John Hillen's NRO thoughts on this theme.

From Lawrence Kudlow and his Kudlow's money Politics on drug reimportation:

No Reimportation
Drug reimportation is a terrible idea. 30 million Canadians cannot supply enough drugs for 300 million Americans. Leaving alone the safety issue (re-imported drugs are not produced under the auspices of the FDA), doing it wouldn’t even save American consumers that much, after all the necessary bureaucracy is put in place. Two excellent articles on this theme, one from Rick Weiss in the Washington Post, and one from Laura Gilcrest at CBS Marktewatch, go into more depth. The more details emerge, the more it looks like generic drugs, US-made, are the way to go.

The Atlantic Journal ran an article on Zell Miller. The writer said he had been disappointed in Zell; and is even more disgusted with him because he is honoring the Swift Boat Vets who have already been "discredited".

Discredited? When was this? Did I miss something during the election? I think not. Neal Boortz blogs:

DISCREDITED? DISCREDITED HOW?

The following "vent" appeared in todays Atlanta Journal Constitution

I didn't think Zell could outrage me more than he already has, but when he honors the discredited Swift Boat Veterans .

I've been hearing this nonsense for months. It was the media mantra during the final months of the campaign. The Swift Boat Veterans were constantly assailed for their "proven lies" and labeled as "discredited."

Excuse me for asking, but just what were those "provable lies?" In just what way were the Swiftees "discredited?" If you go back and review the news stories from the campaign you will find that virtually none of the charges brought against John Kerry by the Swift Boat Veterans were discredited. No lies were revealed. It was the Kerry camp, not the Swiftees, that was constantly changing its story as new facts were revealed.

I join Zell Miller in honoring the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Without them we might be looking at a John Kerry inauguration in a few weeks. Thanks, guys.

Heavyhanded says ditto.

More Pathetic Views From The U.N.

From Betsy's Page:
"Captain Ed has a post on how the UN is blaming Israel for the fact that Bethlehem's economy is suffering. Hmmm, might not terrorist attacks on civilians have something to do with that? As the good Captain says,"

As usual, the UN gives a complete pass to the murderous Palestinians and blames the violence on the victim. I suppose we can look forward to a report on Congolese refugees and the
UN's mistreatment of them that blames the systematic rape and sexual slavery on the victims there, too; the 11-year-old temptresses corrupted the blue helmets into raping them. Once again, the UN demonstrates its unfitness to conduct international relations during the era of Islamofascist terror and reveals its utter lack of moral vision.

New Jersey School Sued Over Christmas Songs

Chritians fighting back ? When a NJ School District decided that even instrumental Christmas songs might offend somebody (I guess because people might think about religous words or thoughts - bring on the thought police) they were sued over the ban of Christmas instrumentals

(CNSNews.com) - The South Orange/Maplewood, N.J., Board of Education finds
itself the target of a federal lawsuit after extending its public school ban on
Christmas songs to instrumental versions of the songs.

Read these.......

Say 'Merry Christmas' While You Still Can - Mark Steyn, Daily Telegraph

Iraqi Election Of Doom, Not - Amir Taheri, New York Post

How a Liberal Saw the Light - Burt Prelutsky, Washington Times

Bush presses for reform on border policy - By James G. Lakely, Washington Times

Bush backs Rumsfeld, sees lack of Iran leverage - By Bill Sammon, Washington Times

Frist draws the line on filibusters - BY Robert Novak, SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST