Free Choice

No private organization should be forced or coerced into changing their beliefs. Furthermore, no organization should change it's beliefs based on public opinion. The Supreme Court ruled in Boy Scouts of America vs Dale that private organizations can have restrictive membership based on the Fist Amendment of the Constitution. In these cases, membership rules. Changes in membership of an organization is done from the inside but not from outside. Recently, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have changed their long standing membership restriction to non-homosexuals. This seems to be a reaction to outside groups trying to interfere in BSA business.

Several groups have kowtowed to the fist of socialist liberals besides the BSA. Outside pressure forces compliance to the socialist agenda. The Augusta National Golf Club has allowed women membership. This was only after a hail storm of criticism from women rights groups because those silly green jackets weren't given to women. Several religious organizations has changed their beliefs so that women are equally eligible for the priesthood. Once again, someone from the outside wanted in but ran into opposition from the status quo. More religious organizations made changes to allow openly homosexual individuals into the priesthood. In this case, pressure mounted from the outside forcing organizations to change. If an organization wants to make changes from the inside I have NO problem. I object to outside forces creating an atmosphere of fear and hate forcing an organization to change.

I think that one reason people dislike the Westboro Baptist Church is that they refuse to change what they believe. Conspiracies abound about Masons because they refuse to open their doors to general membership. There are still some churches that believe that homosexuality is a sin and refuse to adopt a more permissive stance. Individuals are harassed daily for their beliefs. Why? I can tell you why. The socialist agenda does not like and cannot tolerate exclusiveness. Yes! It is all about restricting the individuals right to free speech, religion and association.

To me, it would have been better for the BSA to close it's doors than cave to those outside it's membership. No group is worth having if it does not stand up for what it believes.

Mars? We were promised the Moon!

When I was growing up, I was captivated by the Apollo missions and their visitations to the Moon. It was to lead up the establishment of a base on our satellite as a jumping off point to the other planets. Movies showed us what living on the Moon would be like and how they would be built. The science fiction TV shows of the time, Space: 1999 and U.F.O., showed moon bases, where people lived and worked. At the time, I knew I would never get to go to the Moon, but I had hopes that my children would. Well...

The Moon has taken a back seat. Now, everything is focused on Mars. I have thought up a few reasons why the Moon should be colonized before there was an attempt to land Man on Mars. I'm not a planetary scientist or an astronaut so don't get hyped up if I make an error.

Obviously, the Moon is close. It is possible to reach the Moon in nine hours. The New Horizons probe made that trip. It was unmanned and it would take a manned vessel under ninety-six hours. If there was a human presence on the Moon and an emergency arose, it is possible to mount a rescue operation before the crew was lost. Resupply would not be an issue either. Unmanned vehicles have been supporting the International Space Station for years and the Soviets supplied Mir the same way. This is a scientific principle that is well known and completely doable.

The Moon is an excellent science platform. Because there is no atmosphere on the Moon, it would make a great location for telescopes operating through all the bandwidths. The lack of atmosphere would be good for telescopes using the visible part of the spectrum. Wouldn't the Moon make an fantastic place to use radio telescopes. On the dark side, there would no interference from radio noise from nearby sources. Since the Moon is inhabited, any repair work that was needed for equipment would be easily made. SETI would benefit, also, because the radio noise leaking from Earth would be negligible.

Defense. The Moon is practical for a defensive platform. One would automatically assuming that I mean 'aliens.' As far as we know, there is no need to defend Earth from an 'alien' attack. Naturally, that could change without warning. I was really thinking of using the Moon to detect near Earth asteroids. Once again, because of it's lack of atmosphere, the Moon would be an ideal location for the detection of near Earth Objects. If necessary, the Moon would be a good platform for mounting an operation to prevent earthly impacts.

The catch? It would be expensive. Maintaining living conditions on one or several moon bases. It has been proposed that Moon contains the requirements for the production of energy, atmosphere and water. In time, a moon base would be able to manage it's own existence for ordinary subsistence. The base would still have to be supplied from Earth, but only monthly (eventually).

Small steps. All explorers have a base between the starting point and destination. There has always been the 'last outpost' in human exploration. I think of the frontier forts of the Americas westward expansion. On the journey west, pioneers left their homes and headed for the starting points like St Joseph and Independence, Missouri. As Americans moved west, they built new starting points.

The Moon should be the new starting point for Man's outward movement into space.

The Truth and Justice Matter

Former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has been quoted as saying, "What difference, at this point, does it make?!" during hearings over the killing of American ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. I have to question Hillary's motives for making such a statement.

In the United States, the people expect the government to be press for justice for the victims of their fellow citizens killed in service to the country. That is the difference Hillary! We deserve and demand justice for the four Americans killed by terrorist in Libya. We expect the U.S. government to use every means 'legal' and possible for justice. If you commit a crime in the United States, the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are expected to bring perpetrators to justice. For the crime of murder, those agencies work very hard to find, apprehend and prosecute criminals. This is no different. We demand justice!

It remains to be seen whether or not there is a conspiracy to cover-up mistakes made by the Obama administration in the matter. We want to know the truth. We can even handle the ugly truth. I hope justice, integrity and the truth do not become political ammunition for either Democrats or Republicans. Stand up and take your medicine if you made mistakes.

Hillary, it makes a great deal of difference to the American people about what happened in Benghazi.

Am I a monster?

The easy answer is no. I am not a monster. As the title of this blog plainly states, I am an ordinary person living a somewhat ordinary life in a small town in America. This does not make me a monster. However, there are those who would make me out to be a creature of disdain, often hatred and horror. Here's how...

I am part of the 75% percentile of Americans who have some religious faith. I am a Christian and puts in the majority of religious beliefs in this country. Even narrowing it down further, I'm a conservative Christian. I self-identify as a fundamentally conservative Christian. Oppss! There's a nerve! I believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, the literal interpretation of the Bible, and the other tenants that fundamental Christians hold true. I am not a Bible thumping Christian. I keep my religious beliefs to myself, but occasionally express my beliefs. Expression in the form of a quiet voice and a willing audience. Do I have the answers to the frequently asked questions? No. There are many things about faith and religion I do not understand.

Am I a monster? To some, just believing in the Bible is a very narrow minded view. Fundamental Christianity beings up images of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. That is a narrow minded view. The only thing I have in common with Fred Phelps is the belief in God and Christ's death on the Cross. I don't rant and rave about singular sin and the downfall of the United States. I don't condemn an individual for his actions. I do believe that sins, as described in the Bible, will be punished at the reckoning of the soul. If this makes me a monster, so be it.

There are some meat an potatoes to the argument some would say makes me a monster. I'll lay it out. I believe homosexuality is a sin. It is listed as such in the Bible. I won't mince words about it, either. However, I won't stand on a street corner wearing signs condemning homosexuals or gay marriage. Killing another is a sin. Cheating on your wife is a sin. Stealing money from your companies 'kitty' fund is a sin. They are all equal and have the same consequences. One cannot be singled out for judgement because of a singular sin. You have to read the Bible to understand this position. If you believe differently, I won't say much about it unless asked. I will stand my ground on my beliefs.

I believe that all men, naturally woman, are created equal. Every person has the same rights as guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Let me say that again, "Every person has the same rights as guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights." It makes no difference the color of ones skin, one's sex, what country one is from, or even who they sleep with at night. I must, however, insert a caveat, equal rights unless someone breaks the legal agreement between the individual and the State. Don't understand? As long as a person does not violate the law, they are free to move about this Nation and live in peace. Violators of the law are subject to punishment.

Now, to some, I am a monster. If you disagree with what I have said, well too bad. There is the First Amendment and I will exercise it in accordance with the law (as long as I don't violate the user agreement of Blogger.). If you want to exercise your First Amendment rights, please do as long as you don't violate the law (and the user agreement).

I have been known to call liberal Christians hypocrites. Well, I have stopped doing that. It is not constructive to their faith, nor mine. I seldom, after much thought, tell someone is 'wrong' for their beliefs. If asked, yes, I will tell you that your interpretation maybe in error. I will show examples in the Bible and leave it to those concerned. I think that is fair. Jump up and down, condemning a contrary interpretation to my views.

So there, I am an ordinary person living life as best I can. You think I'm a monster? That's fine. However, it is unfair to lump select individuals with others without the proper framework. I am an individual. Free to make choices.

Yo no habla espanol

This is short, but sweet. I refuse to learn Spanish. You go to France, you speak French. You go to China, you speak Chinese. I don't see that the United States is any different. Is that racist? No! Is it stubborn? I can be. Some things I learn, some things I won't.

Equality

Equality is for everyone or no one!

History is History

There is a man that lives in Atlanta. He has a petition to have the Confederate War memorial removed from Stone Mountain. As far, the petition has a 93% vote to keep the monument.

The monument features Jefferson Davis, General Robert E Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Completed in 1972, the monument is owned by the State of Georgia.