jeffreymark

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.  

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)

A MEDIA GUIDE FOR THE JOURNALISTICALLY CHALLENGED

Today's  McCarthyites, implicitly recognized as left leaning liberals, can't seem to explain their recent public shellacking with harsh reality. According to conservative columnist George Will liberals explain adversity by invoking ancient superstitions, such as "the gods got angry and tossed their wrathful lightening bolts at us." The infantile spirit remains the same. Only the names have changed-names such as Sarah Palin, Tea Party, Conservatives in Congress, all conspired like an ancient pantheon, striking Arizona assassin Jared Lee Loughner and his victims with their quiver full of righteous indignation. Must feel refreshing to know that conservatives hold a god-like awesomeness over left wingers. 

Liberal media types, reeling with chaotic confusion over their fantasy land first causes, need a grownup to help them sort out the confusion. Cartoonist Michael Ramirez is just the man for the job. His latest "picture worth a thousand words" provides a road map for what he calls the "journalistically challenged." (Notice Ramirez uses the liberal political speak of the day. I would simply call his target audience evil idiots whose influence needs emasculating and pronto) (click on picture to enlarge)

THE ART OF REGRESSION

Obama, out of desperation, pulled the race card from his sleeve the other day:

People are frustrated, they're anxious, they're scared about the future. And they have a right to be impatient about the pace of change.

I'm impatient. But I also know this: Now is not the time quit. Now is not the time to give up. We've been through worse as a nation. We've come out stronger  from war to depression to the great struggles for equal rights and civil rights.

It took time to free the slaves. It took time for women to get the vote. It took time for workers to get the right to organize.

But if we stay on focus, if we stay on course, then ultimately we will make progress. It takes time; progress takes sacrifice. Progress takes faith. But progress comes. And it will come for your generation.

 The ever compelling cartoonist Michael Ramirez reads between the lines. (click on picture)

HAVING THE RIGHT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT

Political cartoonist Michael Ramirez profoundly demonstrates the fundamental problem with America today. We know not wisdom. That's it, in a nutshell. We do not possess wisdom. Quran burning, ground zero mosque building, and a President who continually affirms the right to build the mosque exposes our republic's nasty little loophole. Freedom works only in conjunction with self sacrificing morality. And, selflessness breeds wisdom. Time was when even a President would see the folly in building a mosque near such a sacred and holy ground. Imagine, following WWII the Japanese wanting to erect a Buddhist temple next to the Arizona. Somehow I cannot envision then President Truman repeatedly announcing to a war weary nation, Japan had a right to such obtuse behavior.

In addition, rights now replace responsibility. "Because I can I will," declares the new national motto. My rights demand I burn the Quran. But, at what cost. Quran burning ministers (ministers in whose book?) may get themselves on the morning addition's front page while alienating those they ought to win over. Nowhere in the New Testament do I witness Christian leaders calling for a national destruction of idols. Personal idols yes; religious temples-no. If the Quran threatens a man's personal Christian faith then burn it in quiet. Making a show of it only proves my point. In fact, some pastors love marching to their own public martyrdom. They foolishly believe such unwise behavior can give them influence. Again, the "self centered" factor weighs in.  

I firmly agree with Glenn Beck, as much as I hate to admit it, that this nation needs a national come to Jesus moment. That moment can only arrive when we acknowledge our selfishness, repent, and intentionally center our lives around Christ. If we refuse this formula I'm afraid we may self destruct as a nation simply because we had the right to do so. (click on picture to enlarge)

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL...

...Who's the fairest health care provider of them all? Why yours truly, President Obama. But even President Obama loses the war on this one. Come election time an embittered punitive driven voting block will remember. Even though most of us agree on the need for insurance reform, the ambiguity and secrecy flooding liberal health care reform drives dissenters. Michael Ramirez paints a compelling portrait of the driving force behind today's vote-narcissism. (Click on picture to enlarge)

OBAMA DOUBLESPEAK

Conservatives know full well that liberal Democrats speak with fork-ed tongue. They woo unsuspecting Joe Blow's with silk smooth language that seems so emotionally compassionate. Who can argue with universal affordable healthcare? What kind of maniacal brute would turn economic stimulus money away from a business filled with middle income moms and dads who need to feed little Junior? It all sounds so heavenly; so Christ-like. Even evangelicals get hypnotized by this "done it unto the least of these" political rhetoric. But, liberals rarely mean what they say or say what they mean. They can't. If found out even the most loving evangelicals would banish them to the island of Patmos. 

Michael Ramirez reminds us that we must always filter liberal (progressive) doublespeak through a translator. Mr. Ramirez's attempt to humor us might work if it were not so veracious.

MICHAEL RAMIREZ SOCIAL PROPHET

Most social prophets pen their stinging challenges to contemporary culture. Michael Ramirez compellingly paints his social commentary. His delightful cartoons often impel me to say nothing more than "ouch." Sometimes this shrewd prophet gets a little sidetracked and moves into areas other than politics. Recently IBD published the "best of."  I found this particular cartoon a presage to our over indulgent culture and its daily calisthenics.

 

ARROGANCE IN THE HALLS OF POWER

The hypocrisy continues and we, like an abused spouse, keep bringing them back for more. Will American voters ever demand mature behavior from their Congressional reps?  Michael Ramirez's latest cartoon leaves us scratching our heads. (click on picture to enlarge)