Compassion Requires Truth and Love

My husband did a Google search on me the other night and came across two comments I made to this man's post last November. He asked me to post these comments here at The Jackalope's Voice, so here goes:

Nate,

I found your link from “ROT Unmasked” post. First, I am very sympathetic to your problem with chronic pain as I too am a sufferer. My prayers go out to you that you may find mercy with those that treat you. It is a very difficult road and I cannot even begin to explain to you how my spiritual life has developed in light of this sorrow. I would encourage you to seek not only solace for your soul, but the wisdom and understanding that is found in The Bible. I thought I knew what Christianity and religion was all about having been raised in a “Christian” home. But, it wasn’t until I read the entire book for myself that I learned of the Big Picture, the magnificent puzzle that is God’s revelation to man. It opened my eyes to understanding the political world and the nature of man. It is that view that explains why I think going to Iraq was the right thing. My husband and I are conversational English partners with many people, especially from South Korea. My father served in the army in Korea and was presented with the Bronze Star for meritorius valor. A real act of bravery that would make John Kerry’s Silver Star tarnished in comparison, but I digress.

I never really understood what Korea or any subsequent war was all about, until I saw a French woman weeping and paying homage to the D-Day Paratrooper that stood in the doorway of the cellar where she and her family were hiding during the 50th year celebration. You see, they knew that if that man in the doorway was a German soldier, they would be dead. We can only appreciate the relief the family felt when it was revealed that the uniformed man in the doorway was some farmboy from the Midwest - an American, when we understand the horror of human nature. Fifty years later, this woman was overwhelmed with gratitude that a farmboy from the Midwest had thought it important to protect her freedom and liberty. I watched this happen on t.v. and I was moved to tears. I now understood. And likewise, these people that I meet from South Korea, they all tell of the gratitude that they have of men like my father because they know it was only through men like him and the grace of God that prevented them from living in the terror that is North Korea. Evil must be confronted at all times, from the school yard bully, to the government that threatens to wipe another free people off the face of the earth.

This is not politic, this is the fact of living in a fallen world, as we religious zealots would say. If we see evil and do not confront it, then we are not men. Iraq is the place were that is happening. If we leave without victory, then we will each be responsible for the genocide that will take place as every Iraqi with a purple-stained finger will be eradicated so that the new totalitarian regime can establish their “utopia”. All people yearn to be free, but human nature rears up its ugly head and wants to control and be in power over others. That is the nature of this fallen world.

Again, I am so sorry that you suffer such pain. I am home from church today because I just have to stay off my feet because of my pain. It is constant and then more than I can bear. I’m grieved to know that someone young is having to suffer so. I will pray for you.

I would like to participate in ROT’s Vincent, you and the others mentioned in the post to get a new perspective on Texas and U.S. politics.

Sincerely,
Nancy Coppock

Here is his response:

Thank you for commenting Nancy. I can see you have your view and it is rooted in your spirituality. I have to admire that… but I also have to disagree with it. For every South Korean or French family that rejoices remembering an American soldier in their doorway, there is a Vietnamese family that remembers the sight of an American with horror. I wish I could believe that everytime we send out soldiers somewhere, we do it because we are right and we are fighting evil. But I can’t anymore. When I was a child, I saw the world in black and white, good vs. evil. When I grew up, I discovered there was only grey. The world hasn’t fallen; it is as it always was.

Probably my view is also reflective of my spirituality. I have long wanted to believe in a God, a supreme being who keeps the universe just and fair. But faith, by its very definition, is a kind of ignorance. It is unquestioning belief in the absence of evidence. I could never be happy with myself or with the universe if it is reliant on self-imposed ignorance. I need proof, I need evidence, I need to see and to know.

That’s why when I see what we’re doing in Iraq, I can’t just sit back and have faith that we’re right and that we’ll be victorious. The evidence I see seems to suggest that our presence there is only making things worse.

My reply:

I love that! Who says that there is a Vietnamese family that remembers an American soldier with horror? Several years ago I had a discussion with the college student son of the owners of the Vietnamese restaurant my family patronized. I apologized to him that for all he and his family had been through that when they finally get to America, we turn around and elected our own version of his oppressors, Bill Clinton. I was just talking out of the blue to this young man. We had never spoken before. He readily agreed with me, adding that the Democratic Party was like the communists his family had fled, in that they always made big promises that would never be kept. He said people would vote for the Democrats because they wanted something, but it would never work out like they thought.

Now, I realize that this is anecdotal, but I would propose that the idea of the fear of American soldiers is a myth and that the truth is what the people actually say. Of course there are the incidents of criminal behavior but I would chalk that up to human nature of the individual rather than to cast aspersions on the entire group. For instance, if a member of your high school commited a crime, does that mean the entire alumni are all criminals? In the larger picture, America is good. Indeed, my Korean friend only yesterday was commenting that compared to the rest of the world, America was the least corrupt nation that he had ever known. So, it would seem even our dirtiest slime, is cleaner than any other nation’s slime. I laughed, of course, because I decry any slime, at any time. So, maybe you are looking through the eyeglasses in reverse. Maybe, it’s time to change your perspective. You are still young.

In our spiritual discussion, I would remind you that we do live in a fallen world. Because we yearn for something different is truly evidence that this is not our home. Why would we desire something that doesn’t seem to exist if it truly does not exist? Man is imperfect, of that I am sure! And this world is certainly not just….or the ugly people would have all the money, to quote a line from Laurie Anderson. ha! But seriously, that does not mean a perfect God does not exist. Or that because of the vulgar nastiness of human nature, we should not strive to live beyond those baser instincts. If you think THIS world is bad, just consider what it could be like should the few cease striving after the sublime! We would become the horror of Commander Kurtz in “Apocolypse Now” which was not really a movie about the truth of the war, but actually a commentary on the darkness of the human heart as written by Joseph Conrad.

Faith is actually a gift from God [link added 4-21-07]. It’s not really anything we are capable of creating. Faith is a gift and gifts must be accepted and opened to be enjoyed. For this reason, so many people lack faith because it does come from God and we willingly refuse the gift. Faith is not a magic act or trick that we fool our minds with. That truly is the definition of ignorance and therefore deplorable in the eyes of God. Faith is not ceasing in our questioning, indeed true faith is an ever expanding gift. Sort of like a Russian matroska doll in reverse.

In the war on terror, we can not have faith we will be victorious, because faith without works is dead. However, we must be resolved to accept nothing short of victory because to lose is to exchange our way of life for slavery to an alien ideology. To be defeated will end our way of life. This is an enemy that will not just sit in the land that they would then dominate. This is an enemy that will track our way of life down to the ends of the earth. I can not willingly flinch into a future like the movie Brazil with bombs going off in the mall and life trying to ignore it or an ideology tracking even my thoughts into the recesses of my mind. And people think Christian Republicans are the enemy? Hello? You and I are just enjoying a sparing of wits and ideas, there is no burka to throw over you or a sword in my hand. We need to pray to the Almighty that we are victorious in this fight, not only for liberty and freedom for others, but for our own precious way of life. There’s nothing more like the spirit of anti-christ when a people would kill anyone in the name of God!

Your blog title says that you are a cripple. What is your condition and the cause of your pain? I truly care for your position and I share in your sorrows. Truly, this world is not our home. I would again encourage you to pick up the Bible to discover more about the great mystery of God’s revelation of Himself to us. Abraham searched for the city whose foundations were laid by God and this was counted as righteousness to him. Knock and the door will be opened unto you. Seek Him and you shall find Him. I know this is true, that once I was blind, but now I see and no one can debunk that which I am totally aware of what happened.

With sincerity,
the jackalope’s voice

Another Thing My Daddy Told Me

My Dad was a man of few words. He volunteered to serve in Korea where he was wounded by mortar fire, which cost him his left eye. He led two other soldiers back to safety after they were all separated from their troop, even though wounded in the face. He was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. My Dad would never talk of this. He was a very humble man. A man that loved his country.

Back in the early '70's the local Mobil gas station was handing out flag decals that said, "Love it or Leave." He put one in the window of his '67 Mustang and there it flew proudly until some barbarian spit a big hock of tobacco juice on it. I remember my Dad scraping the flag off his window, an act I came to understand as a show of his reverence for our flag. He would never place the flag he loved in a position for desecration. Our family loves to fly our flag. My Mom, who lives next door, never misses a day to fly the flag. She makes sure there is a flag flying on Dad's grave.

Another thing my Dad told me was, "Never trust a Democrat in war." As we watch the events unfold in Congress, I am reminded of how right he was . When asked by WTAW radio host Scott Delucia to explain his vote for the non-binding resolution, Rep. Chet Edwards (D, TX 17) basically said that those constituents angry with him could go pound sand. Chet said that our anger over his vote was what was great about a democracy. Forget representation, Chet's a party-owned man. He did say that he probably wouldn't vote to de-fund the troops. However, the jackalope did not hear a firm answer, since Chet was hedging in the bushes like the yellow dog he is.

All District 17 constituents must come to the realization that Chet cares nothing for the military he says he serves. Instead, he uses our veterans like a welfare pimp, scaring the bejeebers out of them every two years with threats that they won't receive health care or be able to cash their V.A. checks if they don't vote for Ol' Chet. Our veterans deserve better. Daddy was right. Never trust a Democrat in War!

Democrats Support the Military Again...NOT!

The jackalope checked Drudge Report this morning and news was enough to send a lesser mere jackrabbit running for the burrow in fear. But, the jacklope will not run in the face of danger.

Iran has exhibited the capablity to blast Israel off the face of the map.

"Iranian state radio said: "The maneuver is aimed at providing security in the region without the intervention of trans-regional powers, which are trying to justify their presence by portraying the region as convulsive."

The jackalope understands completely that her American idea of security in a region is a far different picture than security under an ayatolla. She's not anxious to be forced to wear a burka and it ain't just because her beautiful antlers would make the outfit fit funny! And so, she fears for the safety of her jackalope brothers and sisters through out the Middle East. Jacklopes are creatures that enjoy their liberty
and freedom.

So, in light of all that, she reads that some DEMOCRAT Congressman from New Jersey fears that troops overseas should have their votes considered for VOTER FRAUD, which in Dem-speak is translated - the votes were misinterpreted as Republican when they should have been and soon will be DEMOCRAT or the votes will be tossed out as illegitimate.

Like, hmmmm are we sensing that the Democratic Party has a certain animous for our men and women serving our country?

The jackalope growls in her low husky voice, "Don't be thinking Chet Edwards (D-TX Congressional District 17) is any different from his kinfolk up in Washington. He just sounds like us, but he sure as hell ain't one of us!"

Another Resounding Vote of Confidence in the Military...not!

Edwards' Statement on Kerry Comments
October 31, 2006

“As Co-Chair of the bipartisan House Army Caucus and as someone who has represented over 40,000 U.S. Army soldiers who have served in Iraq, I think Sen. Kerry’s comments were at worst deeply offensive, if intended for our troops serving in Iraq, or at the very least, a tasteless and inappropriate criticism of the president. I would continue to urge elected officials on both sides of the aisle not to play politics with our War in Iraq or our War on Terrorism.”

And there you have it folks, Chet Edwards (D) boldly chastising John Kerry via e-mail to Chet's District 17 constituents! That'll really straighten Kerry out on a thing or two! How about ponying up, trick rider? To borrow a phrase from Mary Matalin, "Riding pretty high up in the stradle, there cowboy!"

So, let the jackalope parse this out for y'all, pardners:

"As Co-Chair"

(I'm John Kerry [D-MA] and I served in Viet Nam... I mean, I'm Chet Edwards [D-TX] and I don't want anyone to forget how powerful I am)

"of the bipartisan"

(I'm the meanest s.o.b. those Republicans have ever dealt with. They do it my way, or it's the highway to the media for me, to make comments meant to scare the absolute bejeebers out of my constituents, their constituents, America's constituents until those Republicans cry like babies. Who's your Daddy, huh?)

"House Army Caucus and as someone who has represented over 40,000 U.S. Army soldiers who have served in Iraq,"

(I play those guys like a civil rights pimp 'cause it's all about me and my power. Did I tell you that I'm Chet Edwards [D-TX] and that I'm a powerful member of Congress?)

"I think"

(starting to straddle)

"Sen. Kerry’s comments were at worst"

(hesitation to parse while in straddle mode)

"deeply offensive, if"

(Laura Ingraham has her "but...monkey"; the jackalope has her "if...varmint")

"intended for our troops serving in Iraq,"

(Kerry said it was, but I'm not quite sure...I'm looking into filing a report to look into this assertion, this baseless charge, this swiftboating of a proud veteran, who served in Viet Nam. Who as the last presidential candidate for the Democrat Party, the Party I serve... my constituents up as useful fodder for the progressive ideals I hold near and dear to my heart)

"or at the very least,"

(and he's riding in full straddle, heading for the finish line, and it's a doozy of a race here folks! A doozy of a race!)

"a tasteless and inappropriate criticism of the president."

(and here's the water-boy bringing a fresh pail for our prize pedigree gelding—who twisted a hoof while serving in Viet Nam—but ran a tough race even though swift-boated in the first quarter mile by the evil Karl Rove and that idiot, President Bush, who was selected, not elected)

"I would continue to urge elected officials on both sides of the aisle"

(Republicans need to shut their faces up, and that goes for Stuff't Suit Tony Snow and his doughboy friend, Rush Limbaugh. Don't make me whip this out!)

"not to play politics with our War in Iraq or our War on Terrorism.”

(Do I sing "God Bless America" now? Oh, wait! Hell, I forgot I keep pushing to rip out every endorsement of the Judeo-Christian religion from every aspect of Amerikan lives because I'm a liberal-progressive, pro-abortion, drive-your-15-year-old-across-state-lines-for-a-partial-birth-abortion, Jack-Daniels-sippin', partisan-as-they-come, lying-son-of-a-gun-and-you-kant-do-a-damn-thing-about-it kinda man. Y'all be quiet in there, now. Y'hear? An don' forget to vote for Chet Edwards [D-TX 17] or y'won't be gettin' no more VA health care! Y'know what I mean?)

Yep, ol Chet...he's for you, vets...NOT!!!

Where's Chet?

Chet Edwards (D) of Texas Congressional District 17 and incumbent seeking yet another term in office because it's a job and he's used to it, has yet to make any comment condemning John Kerry's (D-MA) elistist remarks concerning our military. The jackalope has made it clear that Chet Edwards (D) has hoodwinked our precious veterans into believing he actually cares about them. The truth is, Chet uses our veterans like a civil rights pimp to secure power and ensure his next election. Chet was there defending John Kerry (D) presidential candidate when the veterans that actually served with Kerry came out with the swift boat ads. Chet treated those veterans like they were partisan hacks presenting lies and distortions. In the last election, Chet participated in Wesley Clark's forum on how to get Democrats elected. They weren't going to get "swift boated" like John Kerry and actually have to address a difference of perception as to their necessity to serve the country! Chet gave a lesson on how to conduct a bare knuckles political brawl and bragged about not letting the opponent define him. Like the tenured government employee that he is, Chet was fighting back hard to preserve his own thick slab of bacon, while deceiving our veterans that it was their bacon he was saving.

When it comes to preserving respect for our military, Chet's as missing in action as Amber Alert flower-child Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Chet's just an also-ran congressional incumbent member of a political party that repeatedly makes it clear that they loathe the military. So, the jackalope cries out for veterans to stop fearing that Chet won't sign their pension or health care checks anymore, because he never did in the first place. The jackalope's America reveres and respects those that served in our military. Veteran's Affairs operates on a year by year budget, but if they have a shortfall, they know all they have to do is ask. But in conscience to the taxpayers the request must not be made to cover lax spending responsiblity. We do still live in a system of checks and balances.

The jackalope urges veterans to not vote simply because of fear. This is the United States of America for crying out loud! But if the jackalope's dear readers know of a veteran convinced he will lose his pension or health care without Chet Edwards, I urge loving wives, sons, daughters, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren to not trouble their precious veteran to change his mind. Just simply vote for a man, Van Taylor that will be a great voice added to a political party that respects everything these men and women have done for us and will never have them cowering in a corner in fear for their check.

It's Not the Money, It's the Message It Sends

What is the correct ethical response of elected representatives when juggling the act of constituent requests with the responsibilities of serving the nation? Chet Edwards (D) boasts of his efforts to protect those serving in our military. The jackalope has made it clear she is skeptical of his efforts, and his dealings with constituent insurance company American Amicable is a case in point.

According to Congressional Committee Meeting hearings, one of the products American Amicable offered was mutual funds with a 50% first-year commission — a product that has virtually disappeared from the civilian market. The reasons behind the success of marketing such a punitive product to the recruits are: their young age, their financial inexperience, and the use of retired military officers to make on-base compulsory briefings that turn out to be a sales pitch boiler room.

American Amicable approached their representative Chet Edwards for help. They were seeking a stay against a ban prohibiting them from selling insurance and financial products on military bases, stateside and overseas because of fraudulent practices and specious products. Edwards chose not to examine the dubious practices of his constituent even though they were a recognized predator of the same military he swears he champions. Edwards facillitated a meeting between his predator constituent and a Lt. General, who just happened to be the new bride of his long-time friend in partisan congressional politics, Martin Frost (D). The predator constituent company promised their days of "miscreatin'" were behind them. The Lt. General said "Okay, then." A certain amount of money was added to the Congressman's campaign war chest. And voila, the ban was stopped and on the hustle went.

The jackalope is always stunned by the paltry sum people accept in exchange for doing something sleazy to another person. But that's another issue. In the tempest of ethics, constituents, war chests, and standing firm for our military, it seems the military always gets a pounding when Chet's on the case. It was never about the money, it's just the message it sent.