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February 28, 2007
On Kelly Clarkson and Shriners
One particular conspiracy theory website (I'm not giving their name or address on my blog) has accused Kelly Clarkson of being part of the "Freemasonic Monster." Their phrase, certainly not mine. See, Kelly Clarkson's logo when turned 90 degrees and viewed with crossed eyes, crossed toes, and crossed brain kinda looks like a Shriner's logo.
The Shriner's are indeed a sub-fraternity of the Freemason's. Besides being a lot of fun the Shriner's provide an opportunity for practicing Mason's to fulfil their obligation for Charity and Philanthropy. How? The Shriner's provide free burn, orthopaedic, spinal, rehabilitation, and reconstructive (plastic) care for children who can't afford it. Or children who could otherwise afford it....just children. Any children. Ability to pay is NEVER a question. Shriner's care for kids, it's that simple.
While Kelly's symbol does vaguely resemble a Shriner's logo, who cares! The Shriner's certainly aren't raising a fuss. Nope, just some wack-job conspiracy website that also says that 9/11 was a plot by Bush to boost his popularity, that 50-cent is a CIA cocaine mule (also tied to the Freemasons, I don't understand that at all), and that Clay Aiken isn't gay, he's a sexual predator (the gay thing is to cover that he's a sexual predator....get it?).
If Kelly is tied to the Shriner's, it's the first I've heard of it, and I hear about such things...I'm a Shriner. She's never sang at any Shriner's hospital that I'm aware of or donated any recorded monies to the charity hospital. Maybe it's all just really hush-hush. That's fine. The Shriner's need all they help they can get. But why disparage Kelly for supposedly helping the Shriner's? Next this wacky website is going to say that Nelly Furtado is helping St. Judes. That Bitch!
I'm always impressed when I read some conspiracy theory story surrounding the Masons. Usually because the first I ever hear of it is the conspiracy theory. You'd think that as a Mason I'd get first wind of these things before they're blown open. I guess I'm not in the loop.
I never got the memo that the Mason's are supposed to be murdering Muslim's as we see them. I can't imagine why we would, our fraternity is open to all who believe in a higher power. I never got the 9/11 cover-up letter. It has something to do with Bush, 9/11, Masons, the Loch Ness Monster, King Kong, and a bus full of midgets. On a smaller note I never got the phone call telling me that I had to vote for Sundance Head on this year's Idol. Supposedly he's a Mason (I'm not entirely sure of that, either) and so Mason's are supposed to support him even if he sucks. Now, if he was a Mason, and it was public knowledge, I could see Masons who watch Idol giving him an extra kick but it's certainly not a mandate.
Posted by at 06:06 AM
February 18, 2007
On War Story 3
This morning at 3am Pacific time my cousin, Lt. Sean Randall was involved in a helicopter-related incident while serving in Khandahar. The story has been all over th news. He was aboard the Chinook helicopter that crashed there, killing 8 and injuring 14. While the details are sketchy and mostly classified I am happy to report that he survived the crash, has called home, and reports no injuries besides a few shaken nerves.
My condolences go out to the families of the 8 fallen soldiers and I pray for speedy recoveries for the injures. Prayers of thanks also go out that my family has been spared such tragedy. I ask that you also continue to pray for our troops and their mission.
Posted by at 08:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
On War Story 2
The following is the continuation of a series of emails sent to me by my cousing, Lt. Sean Randall, serving in Khandahar.
"we got targeted on the airfield a couple of days ago. some taliban mortar teams dropped a couple of 107 mm mortars on the base. you dont have a appreciation for artillery until you hear one of those split the night sky. You could feel it in your chest. Flying wise we've been busy. Things are heating up and alot of med evac missions go out. we had one the other day about a little girl who steeped on a landmine. Didnt see her but from what i understand the aircrew didnt have enough room in their hawk for her the medics and the family, so it turned into a huge nightmare because the family was upset because they had to wait to get picked up. anyway keep your eyes on the news in the next couple of months.
Posted by at 08:35 PM | TrackBack
February 14, 2007
On War Story
The following is an email sent to me by my cousin, Lt. Sean Randall serving his country in Khandahar, Afghanistan. Lt. Randall is the rear-seat pilot (gunner) for an AH-64 Apache. I'm hoping that as his time over seas continues I'll be able to post more stories. Moreover I hope and pray for his safe return home and the same for his comrades.
"Right now we're expecting a major offensive in the future. we have Foward operating bases all over the place, most of which are high in the moutains, so all they can hope for is air resupply. The taliban knows this so they look for the unescorted blackhawks and chinooks. They are scared shitless of us apaches and normaly dont do anything when we are around. I almost fired on two dudes yesterday who took off running when they saw us come over a ridge. They got away because they stopped and didnt make any threatning movements. ROE states that i cant fire on them because they act like bad guys, they have to take a shot at me or ground elements or, pose a risk to the flight. The people out here go both ways. some love us, and some stand on their roofs and throw rocks at us while we provide security for the chinooks and blackhawks while they drop off or pick up their loads."
Posted by at 10:24 AM
February 13, 2007
On Jerking Knees
I'm sure by now you've all heard that in two totally unrelated incidents in seperate states, two armed men killed several people with guns before being killed themselves, one at their own hands, one by an off-duty but armed police officer. The fact that it happened is horrible but not what I want to talk about today.
This morning on the news were all sorts of knee-jerk gun-grabbers wringing their hands and lamenting how this "rampage" could have been prevented with stronger gun laws. Ridiculous. Lets make this very clear, people. PEOPLE killed those PEOPLE, not guns. Set a gun on a table, loaded, ready to fire. Now fill that room with people. I can guarantee that unless a PERSON picks up that gun and uses it that not a single person will be harmed by that gun. It takes a PERSON with a willingness to kill to use a weapon and cause murder to occur. This happened since people have existed, before guns. Murder was done with rocks, clubs, swords, knives, poisons, and countless other means before guns were ever concieved. Its true ignorance to think that by banning and making guns inaccessable that murders will cease. People who want to kill other people will do so with whatever means they have available. Take away the guns and it'll be something else.
How many more people would have died if that police officer hadn't been there and armed? He was off duty. A lot of departments restrict their officers to only carry a weapon when on duty. If that incident had occured in San Francisco or some other such department with a similar policy I'd be willing to bet that alot more people would have been killed before some citizen with a Concealed Carry Permit stepped up to the plate or the masses got tired of being slaughtered and turned on the gunman.
The incidents are lamentable, to be sure, but it's certainly moronic to say they wouldn't have occured or would never occur again with tougher gun controls. People killed those people, not guns.
Posted by at 03:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 09, 2007
On Peaceful Slaughter
I didn't write this but it's applicable so I'll post it. Read on.
> The Peaceful Majority
>
> I used to know a man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World
> War Two. They owned a number of large industries and estates. I asked
> him how many German people were true Nazis, and the answer he gave has
> stuck with me and guided my attitude toward fanaticism ever since.
>
> "Very few people were true Nazis "he said," but many enjoyed the return
> of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those
> who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat
> back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we
> had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything
> and I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."
>
> We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the
> religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace.
>
> Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is
> meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow
> diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name
> of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.
>
> It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of fifty
> shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter
> Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over
> the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb,
> behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after
> mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging
> of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the
> "peaceful majority" is the "silent majority" and it is cowed and extraneous.
>
> Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace,
> yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20
> million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population
> was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering
> 70 million people.
>
> The average Japanese individual prior to World War 2 was not a warmongering
> sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia
> in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese
> civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And, who can forget Rwanda,
> which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans
> were "peace loving"?
>
> History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of
> we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:
>
> Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
>
> Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because
> like my friend from Germany, they will awake one day and find that the fanatics
> own them, and the end of their world will have begun.
>
> Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs
> Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many
> others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it
> was too late.
>
> As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group
> that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.
Posted by at 01:29 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack