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OUR "REPRESENTATIVES" IN WASHINGTON SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AND LEARN A LESSON BEFORE WE DON'T HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE! Excerpts from an on going debate in Australia. This is true and can be checked at http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on National Television. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia: one, the Australian law, and another, Islamic law, that is false! If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said. Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off ". "Basically, people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians." "However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle." "This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom." "We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!" "Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.@ "We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us." "If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others. "This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'." "If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."

I have long thought that our political "leaders" have been out of touch with us common folk. It seems the silent majority is being out shouted by the screaming minority. That's true because most of our media (including Hollywood and the music industry) lean way left and slant the news and their views that way too. I have no problem with some liberal views but can't stand the thought that the very values which made America great need to suffer in order for the libs to achieve their goals of a "better" America. The attacks on organized religion really get me steamed. I'm not a religious man but the core values of any democracy or society which keeps it free are based on religious principles and values, the conduct of which allows the people to live as we do. My biggest gripe with politics right now is about "political correctness". It is simply a smokescreen to repressing freedom of speech. Our leaders are allowing our country to fall apart so that no single individual feels "unappreciated" by someone else not agreeing with their point of view. Why does Mark Ellison feel he'll be harmed by not taking his oath of office on the bible as millions of others have? It's because he knows our obsession with being politically correct will make those who have the say kowtow to his wishes. If you look at it from another aspect, that simple act will be seen as a sign of victory and embolden our enemies resolve that they are right in their assumption that American's are weak and have no stomach for this war and that they will eventually be able to declare full victory with their Muslim flag flying from the top of the White House. This is what I feel we are facing and it seems few agree with me and those that don't will wake up to late to change the course of things .

The best investment for the future of the country is a good education. Tell congress not to let education take a back seat to anything.

Some people still don't understand why military personnel
do what they do for a living. This exchange between
Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum
is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive
impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one
man's explanation of why men and women in the armed
services do what they do for a living.

This is a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never served think of the military.

Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn):
"How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?"

Senator Glenn (D-Ohio):
"I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank."

"I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day... to a veteran's hospital and look those men ... with their mangled bodies .. in the eye, and tell THEM they, didn't hold a job!

You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee... and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job.

You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags.

You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that those people didn't have a job?

What about you?"

For those who don't remember ..
During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney
representing the Communist Party in the USA.

Now he's a Senator!

If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran.

Once the nation saw three out of every four members of Congress come from the ranks of military veterans. Today only 35 of 100 Senators have worn the uniform of this country. In the House of Representatives, only 119 out of 435 can boast being a veteran. This is a smaller percentage of veterans than is found in the national population. How can they know what the veterans really need.

Illegal: 1. against law: contravening a specific law, especially a criminal law.

Alien: 2. noncitizen resident of country: a citizen of a country other than the one he or she is currently in.

In a recent interview, a major member of the Mexican delegation stated that people have a miss conception of Illegal Aliens. He stated that these are, for the most part, good, hard working people just looking for a better living. They are not criminals, and rapists as the word Illegal means.

We need to enforce the laws and not make ridiculous excuses to allow guest workers or what ever you want to call them into the country. With all the jobs going abroad, these so called jobs that U.S. Citizens will not do, will look pretty good in the near future.

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

I am against any move to weaken our ability to produce our own weapons. Right now we do not possess the ability to manufacture microchips. The F22 is untouchable in the air, but first it must get off the ground. We don't have the steel plants to make tanks, artillery, and fighting vehicles. Even if we had the oil readily available, we don't have the refineries to produce the fuel. Right now President Bush is going to let Dubai take over another strategic industry. What’s with Bush and Dubai? We need a Strategic Industry Initiative where we maintain a level of industrial performance that will allow us time to gear up our military without depending on any outside aid. The adversary is always looking for the weak point and we are creating so many they will have an easy time picking one.

Please write your Congressional and Senatorial representatives and tell them to make the United States great again buy not just talking the talk but also walking the walk.

The Lawton Constitution, the local news paper, has this article that pretty much sums up why I can not be a Republican. Exxon is reporting 8.4 BILLION Dollars in PROFITS. 40 % of the profits are going to buy stock in the company which will then be given to the executives as remuneration for a job well done.

A hand full of guys are getting millions in rebates (stock) and the GOP run congress is offering us $100.00 rebate. Not a big enough carrot for me.

By the way Bill Clinton and Al Gore have been out of office now for six years. They had their mess ups but George is giving the US away a parcel at a time.

I am Democratic in my political beliefs. That does not mean that I agree with everything my party espouses. I do believe in the core values of the party. I am sick of welfare and the people that abuse it. I am tired of seeing good jobs and even bad jobs go abroad. I can not believe that we are even talking about a Guest Worker Program or Amnesty for Illegal Aliens. China is taking over the Southern Hemisphere and nothing is being done to stop them.

Don't just blindly tow the party line. Pick a fight and hit your representatives whether they are Republican or Democrat. When they get to Washington, they are neither. They are politocrats.

Your only hope for the future is an educated populous. Recently the Bush administration has cut funding for minorities and needy people wanting to attend college. This administration appears to want to have a population of citizens that are not educated which will relegate them to poverty and at most poor paying jobs. Education is what has made this country the greatest in history. By acquiring a college degree, job opportunities open and higher pay is achieved.

With higher pay, a more stable tax base is established and crime drops. People have greater self respect. Te economy thrives and corporate profits will go up. By limiting educational opportunities, people, which are the country, are doomed in the future. Assistance rolls such as Welfare, Medicaid are inflated. The tax base is eroded. Social Security Contributors become fewer.

Instead of supporting aid for higher education, the Bush administration has diverted the money to the No Child Left Behind program. This program emphasizes test scores to show the level of achievement. The grades 1 through 12 will show a test score which can be interpreted as you see fit. Once these children have graduated high school, they will hit a brick wall if there is no federal aid waiting on them when they enroll in college.

The best investment for the future of the country is a good education. Tell congress not to let education take a back seat to anything.

The Marine Corps Association is sponsoring an educational essay contest on any subject pertaining to women in the Marine Corps. Essays are required to be at least 1,500 words. The contest is open to any Marine Corps active duty, reserve, retired or veteran. The winner will receive $500, a four-year membership in the Women Marines Association, and free membership registration at the Women in the Military Service to America, which will be presented at a WMA or a WMSA conference. Entries must be postmarked by June 1 and sent to WMA Essay Contest, Leatherneck Magazine, PO Box 1775, Quantico, VA, 22134. E-mail submissions can be sent to w.ford@mca-marines.org with the date time stamped no later than 11:49 p.m. on June 1.

What in the world is happening to The United States of America?

We are; 1. Giving away our technology; 2. Subletting our ports and harbors; 3. Extending the stay of our troops in harms way; 4. Opening our borders to illegal aliens; 5. Cutting out high paying jobs and sending them to third world countries; and 6. Allowing non-elected bureaucrats to make policy. The United States of America will cease to exist at this rate.

1. CISCO Systems, one of the major manufactures of data tracking and management, have given the Chinese the technology that I thought was not to be disseminated outside the United States. They control at least 80% of the Internet and may be 90% by now. They helped China setup a national banking system that ties all of their major cities and financial institutions into one large network. CISCO, an American company, recently stated they want to become a Chinese company. I have no idea what advantage that could give them. IBM, is the one that was allowed to sell the Chinese high technology that I had always heard was illegal to sell overseas. IBM sold the ENTIRE Thinkpad division to China. These are top of the line Laptop computers. They sold them EVERYTHING, patent rights, manufacturing rights , etc. All of our computer chips are manufactured in Asia now and then we turn around and give them the technology to control the worlds information flow. Google, MSN, and Yahoo are collaborating with the Chinese to capture dissidents in their country because of these peoples attempts at the very right we hold so dear, "Freedom of Speech."

2. It was said recently on the news that, "The United States has dropped its guard over the last five years." The contracting of major harbors to a middle eastern "ally" is a prime example of the weakening of our entry defenses. The president said, "We're going to have a tough time explaining to the middle east why we will not let them run the ports but let the United Kingdom have similar concessions." First we don't have to explain anything to anyone about why we want to secure our own ports of entry. Second, I don't recall any Englishmen flying into the World Trade Center. It has now been revealed that China among other foreign countries control most of our West Coast ports. Incredible!. We have been sold down the river. Bush today announced that, in the name of FREE TRADE, we are going to give nuclear technology to India in exchange for MANGOS!!!!! Has he lost his mind???? How do MANGOS = NUKES????? They are taking this Free Trade crap way to far. Apparently just offshore of both coasts we have some big AMERICA FOR SALE Signs on some buoys.

3. The major excuse that the American public is given about why it would be bad to pull out of Iraq, is that a Civil War would ensue. That is going to happen whether we stay one year or one hundred years. Right now with a little push, the bombing of a sacred Mosque, Iraq is in the beginning of a Civil War. Our troops are in graver danger than they were. The insurgents want us to stay in Iraq. They can get to us when ever they want. If we were not in Iraq or Afghanistan, then they would have to organize even riskier ways at kill infidels.

4. The majority of our poor are not being trained for meaningful jobs and even if they were, the jobs are going out of country. Opening our borders to illegal immigration will just lessen the chance of a person trying to get a job from finding one. The old argument is that the illegal's are doing work no one else will do. First, employers hiring these illegals are breaking the law by doing so, and as long as they get away with it, they will continue to pay next to nothing for back breaking work. Second, eventually the illegal immigrants will band together and demand health care and higher wages, its just a matter of time. A group of ILLEGAL ALIENS in Florida are SUING the government for worker benefits! NOW HOW IN WORLD CAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SUE OUR GOVERNMENT FOR RIGHTS AND BENEFITS THAT THEY ARE NOT ENTITLED TOO IN THE FIRST PLACE? DON'T YOU THINK THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR.

If we did not have a system that rewards you for doing nothing and made you work, then cutting lettuce and picking grapes would look pretty good to you. The more contact I have with the indigent, the more I see a growing culture of, "I can stay home and make more money than if I work all day." Make these people get out of the neighborhood and into the working society. Train them to do meaningful work. Reduce the burden on middle class America. The W.P.A. and C.C.P. programs of the depression era got this country on its feet and put people back to work.

5. Young adults and older adults want to attend college. The price of college education is getting further out their economic grasp every year. The poor get grants and other federal aide but the middle class student must make it on their own or at the expense of their parents. Low middle class families have a little better chance of getting scholarships, but just let one additional parent get a job and BANG they are out of the grant position. Every person who wishes to go to college should have that chance. Instead of a "Welfare Culture" we need to get back to an educated culture. Take the public aide away from subsistence and give these people an education. Instead of drawing money from society, you make tax payers that increase the national base.

6. The Federal government is being run by a bunch of bureaucrats and when the elected officials have their blunders pointed out to them, they say that they did not know because they were not consulted or informed. When Bush first heard about the Port Deal, he said he supported the plan. Then two days later he said he had just heard about the plan that same day. Did you look at the deal or did you say what Dick Chaney told you to say? Well if you don't know, thank God for freedom of the press. They seem to be the only one's watching our backs. In a recent interview with a Senator who got caught taking money and housing from a lobbyist, his defense was that congress could not function without lobbyist. WHAT! What branch of the government does the constitution give the lobbyist a place in running the government.

I am a PROTECTIONIST. This means that EVERYTHING that is NOT MADE in AMERICA, and this includes stuff made by American companies but in foreign countries, gets an IMPORT TAX slapped on it. EVERYTHING MADE IN AMERICA and its territories gets a TAX BREAK (PERIOD). I am NOT an ISOLATIONIST. America has a large role to play in world affairs. Bush does not understand the difference in these two terms. He often uses them both in the same sentence. The import tax revenue can go to payoff the ENORMOUS DEFICIT that the Bush led Republican Party has created.

Who put this country on autopilot and then bailed out?

"Posterity -- you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." --John Quincy Adams

I think all our leaders in Washington need to be reminded of this salient quote from a founding father of this great country. I believe the true freedoms in America are being lost in the liberal arguments abounding now. True freedom is based upon having the right to individual choices rather than being legislated to accept the choices of others. True freedom is being able to be your own judge as to the values you want to believe in as long as they cause no harm to others. The thoughts of criminals are not what makes them a criminal, it's their acts that determine they are criminals. We have laws to punish those acts and that is how it should be. What we don't need are laws enacted by the courts dictating that the majority has to give way to the whims of the minority in the pretense of "protecting their rights". We all need to become active in voicing our feelings and beliefs to drown out the minority who stand up and shout for their "rights". The silent majority has to "make good use of it".

Ray "Frenchie" Quesnel

Whether you agree or not, if this is accurate, it is an interesting lesson in history, Something to think about.
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... In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
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... In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
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... Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
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... China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
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   ... Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981,100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
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   ... Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
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... Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million 'educated' people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
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Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated
in the 20th Century because of gun control:
       56 million.
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It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australian taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are now in: Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent. Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent. Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent!) In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. (Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns!)

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed. There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in "successfully ridding Australian society of guns."

The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it. You won't see this data on the American evening news or hear our president, governors or other politicians disseminating this information. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property. And, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.

The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, we are citizens. Without them, we are subjects. If you value your freedom, Please spread this anti-gun control message to all of your friends.

In last fifteen years, the United States has slowly given away our industries to foreign countries. Steel from Japan, micro processor technology given to China, auto assembly and parts to Mexico, Canada, and other Countries, and now they tell us we have high gas prices because we don't have enough refineries to keep up with demand.
Our ability to defend ourselves has been eroded to a dangerous level. If we had a true global war were transportation was closed, we would not be able to defend ourselves. Big business, to save costs, have given our security away. Production for defense is gone for us internally. We need a level of strategic defense industries that are still inside and controlled by the United States.
The best defense is always a strong offense.