jeffreymark

JUST PLAIN SICK

More liberal naiveté. Reminds me when Barney Fife brought a Mr. Potato Head and metal crafting set to rehab a group of prisoners held up in the Mayberry jailhouse. One prisoner took the metal crafting set, made keys with it, and escaped from the jail. Yes, indeedy, this is our Harvard elitist run government at it's finest.

DISPARAGING HISTORY

I majored in history. I love it more now than ever, because history provides memory. What miserable gutter migh we wake up in if we fail to zealously embrace the past as a road map to the future. Our forefathers majored not only in religion and philosophy, but history as well. They grasped the intricacies that created and destroyed both the Greek and Roman empires. They studied the long sordid history of evil atrocities hurled upon mankind by evil players. These founders were no dummies. And, now for our elitist universities to disparage America's founders as if they comparatively had no sense is intellectual suicide.

Once again the master of political cartoons, Michael Ramirez, profoundly demonstrates that a picture paints a thousand words (of truth in this case). (click on picture) 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE REWRITE

Sadly, Michael Ramirez went yard today. I've been opining about this sad state of moral affairs in our nation for quite some time now. If we don't get over ourselves we may encounter some very hard times-times that make today's headlines look like an invitation to Disney World. Sadly, the horizon looks a little bare in the leadership department. Even our Republican candidates look as though they are debating on a horse and pony show. It's a joke. I'm afraid if we discovered a true leader we might crucify him for telling us what we need to hear.

In the mean time, a cartoonist-a cartoonist for God's sake, has sounded the clarion call. Let Mr. Ramirez's piece serve as a prophetic word to all who will listen. (click on picture)

WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA? (Post 9/11 Thoughts)

On this the tenth anniversary of 9/11 we indelibly remember the heroism; the love for our fellow citizens wee felt that day. For one brief moment we dropped our litigious nature and grew up. The enemy thought he could destroy America by hitting our heartbeat-our financial center. He was wrong. He is dead and capitalism continues to thrive.

We Americans, when attacked, act like one big family. Blood is thicker than water and we are blood kin in a metaphorical sort of way. "We may not like our current elected officials," we exclaim, "but you foreigners keep your stinkin' noses out of our business." Like my little brother, I may pick on him all day long. If you, however, touch him you may have holy hell to pay. 

And we ought to vigorously defend our nation. After all if she sinks we go down with the ship. So, with fists raised, ears perked, and eyes fixed, we passionately scan the American horizon for enemy invasions.

On the other hand, we Americans face an enemy of a different cloth than the one with a table cloth over their heads. This enemy is surreptitious. It unassumingly invades our national character. We know it as selfishness. This disease stands as the root of all evil.The Bible gives it a name-satan (the true great satan). Selfcenteredness ruins families, friendships, and any other relationships we may value. Selfcenteredness hung Jesus (the opposite of selfishness, therefore our salvation) on a cross. It started the great war in Europe, WWII, by incarnating itself in a man and a nation under the name Nazi. Evil does that. It possesses an incarnational nature. This same evil that brought historical empires down, threatens us as well. We witness its presence through our infantile sensitivity, our obsessive litigiousness, and our hypocritical political pejoratives. 

Cartoonist Glenn McCoy captures the symptom of our bane in his latest piece.

INTELLIGENT LIBERALS DUMBING DOWN THE CONSTITUTION

When Republicans first took over the House in January they did so by reading the US Constitution as a sort of pledge and historical reminder of our national progeny. Liberals took offense and subtly labeled the exercise a ruse. They say its language is too archaic and therefore, too complex for we postmodern geniuses comprehension. Scott Ott assessed the issue a while back at ScrappleFace. He sculpted his piece as a response to this.

Many moons ago Moses exhorted his people to make a regular habit out of reading the 10 commandments throughout Hebrew generations. He did so reminding the people to never forget their history. You might say Moses introduced us to a "theology of history." So, for our Judeo-Christian context we possess a precedent. Yet, in reality Ott's piece confirms what astute conservatives already know. Liberals view the founding document as ancient literature. It no longer speaks to we more sophisticated postmodern intellectuals. Hey, you guys ever heard of hermeneutics? You would think in all your sophistication you might know the meaning of the art. I believe you're actually too damn dumb and lazy to figure it out, you pseudo-intellectuals you.

SO LONG SPACE MAN

I vividly remember that first mystical experience with the space craft. It took place back in 1961. Mrs. Smith brought her television into our first grade class at Bayless elementary. Something unique and dazzling took place that beautiful morning. A man, a real man, far away in TV land perhaps, yet a real genuine astronaut, the kind we followed on Saturday Morning B flicks, was about to launch into space. Mrs. Smith let us take the day off from our regular routine so we might witness this historic event. We didn't mind. Anything to get out of doing school work. Yuck!  

This man, this surreal astronaut became our hero. They said his name was Alan Shepard. Mr. Shepard created a new heroic ideal that exciting day in May of 61. Boys who wanted to be baseball players, doctors, and lawyers now added astronaut to their list of noble ambitions. And, so we watched-year after year, decade after decade, while little boys and girls grew up to discover dreams really can come true. The brightest and fittest could become astronauts.

Now the dream is over. Perhaps our grandchildren may one day reintroduce the dream. In the mean time we former dreamers must go back to our Robert Heinlein sci-fi novels and let them take us away once again to a place far, far away.

Michael Ramirez offers us a sort of parting goodbye to the space travel phenomenon; a right of passage you might say; a funeral.  

IT'S THE IMAGE STUPID

Remember the Clinton motto, It's the economy stupid?  With Dems it's not about helping anyone but one's self as Michael Ramirez so compellingly illustrates: (Click on image to enlarge)

 

AMERICA'S BANE

Political cartoonist Michael Ramirez once again, in his traditionally cogent way, draws attention to America's bane-fiscal irresponsibility. Using Wimpy of Popeye fame, Ramirez holds a proverbial mirror up to our American soul. This painfully describes our national character. Collectively we, like Wimpy, are slothful, fat, con-artists who cannot afford our ridiculously affluent lifestyle. 

Ramirez may be lampooning congressional lawmakers in particular, but I believe our lawmakers reflect the national spirit. Hopefully the Tea Party and others may indicate a slow, yet powerful spiritual awakening in our land. Historically, one and even a second disputed Great Awakening has taken place. Are we on the verge of a third? Our survival depends on it. (click on picture to enlarge)

 

A SPIRITUAL TSUNAMI?

Michael Ramirez, in his usual deftness, offers American voters a prophetic note concerning the spiritual vacuum that exists in our nation. Yes, debt and reckless spending often suggests a character void. They reveal a self centered quick fix, feel good approach to a long term painful problem. But, we don't like pain. So, leave it to our progeny to feel the pain. (click on picture)

DEMOCRATS APPEALING TO A BIB MENTALITY

My experiences with theological liberals in the church very much parallels secular liberalism. The liberal mindset appeals to a more hormonal narcissistic disposition complete with emotional outbursts, irresponsibility, and cowardice when confronted with challenging scenarios. Cartoonist Michael Ramirez again captures the truth in another drawing worth a thousand words.