Thankful for Government Programs

Noticed yesterday that the South Bend Tribune local section featured a man giving thanks for social security, medicare and his union.

I'm saddened by this:
First, the Tribune featured this man on the front page with a large picture and a bold quote giving thanks for government programs. On Thanksgiving Day the tribune could have featured other, more meaningful quotes.
Second, I feel sorry for the man! According to his public statement, Mr. Myers actually gave thanks for government programs over things like God, family and health.
It is evident that Mr. Myers has a love for government programs. I feel sorry for the man and I find it disturbing that the Tribune reinforced Mr. Myers by putting his quote on the front page of the Local Section.
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What are you thankful for?

I'm thankful that the Democrats under FDR gave us Social Security, and the Democrats under LBJ gave us Medicare, both of which I have benefited from, along with my union pension. And I hope that all Americans who are hurting now will soon have a health plan and a good job. I had been unemployed many times in my working years and know how you feel.
— Louis Myers
South Bend

Tribune Photo/MARCUS MARTER

Louis Myers is pictured at his home on Madison Road in St. Joseph County. Myers is thankful, among other things, for his union pension.

South Bend wants to spend 40 million-what?

Plans are in the works for a huge facelift for South Bend's baseball stadium. City planners have unveiled their vision of spending 30- to 40-million dollars to upgrade Coveleski Stadium, where the single-A Minor League Baseball Silver Hawks play. Mayor Steve Luecke says the money won't come from the city's general fund, but instead South Bend officials plan to phase in the renovations using the Professional Sports Development Fund and Tax Increment Financing District revenue. The city wants "The Cove," as the stadium is affectionately called, to become an entertainment anchor for the downtown. (Scource-WFRN news)
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During an economic hardship,South Bend asked and received a higher tax on our income. The purpose of the tax was to "save" the basic necessities for the city to function (firefighters, police, etc). After hearing about the 40 million dollar plan for the "Cove" the public should "storm" the County City building with pitchforks. The City never raised this idea to spend 40 million on a baseball stadium during their media blitz to raise your tax dollars! Shame on them and shame on us if we allow the 40 million dollar plan to proceed.
This headline is a hard pill to swallow. I realize that the funds are in different places within the City. However, this plan makes no sense. It seems like the mayor and his stooges have lost touch with reality!
When you cry and moan to people that the city is out of money and threaten to take the drastic action of taking away their public safety, the people take that at face value.
Don't get me wrong- I love baseball and the Silver Hawks make for a great night out. However the "desperate picture" represented by our leaders was false and they should be taken to task for their irresponsible behavior.

Some headlines from August, 2009;


WNDU report--
Posted: 6:40 PM Aug 7, 2008

Budget woes for South Bend, and a possible surplus for Mishawaka

St. Joseph County, IN

If a local option income tax raise is passed, leaders say budget cuts in South Bend could be bearable, while the city of Mishawaka could end up with a surplus.
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And ABC Channel 57---

City of South Bend cutting jobs

11:48PM 09 July 2009
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Public safety positions among the cuts

The city of South Bend is making cuts to its budget and public safety is taking a big hit.

State property tax cuts have left South Bend with a $22 million budget shortfall next year.

The police department is set to lose 19 officers. The fire department is cutting 45 positions.

That means some fire stations will be forced to close and that could cause a delay in response time.

The Parks and Recreation Department is eliminating 30 percent of its staff and closing both city pools, the ice rink, the East Race and Potowatomi Greenhouses.

The mayor says it's going to everyone will feel the impact.

15 percent of the city's employees will be cut. That's more than 200 jobs.

Local News Powered by Weigel Broadcasting

Happy Holidays from the St. Joseph County tax man.

Happy Holidays from the St. Joseph County tax man.

St. Joseph County residents try to understand increase in tax bills

Video Gallery

St. Joseph Co. residents see property tax increase 2:08

FOX 28.com Links

• How to read your property tax bill

Written By: Lindsey Sablan

If you live in St. Joseph County, you should have received your tax bill by now.

While you were expecting to receive the bill in the mail, many of you weren't expecting to see an increase in your bill.

Now residents are trying to understand why they're paying more, despite the property tax cap.

Jack Jones saw an increase in his property taxes this year and says, "I was disappointed, yes."

Many St. Joseph County residents reacted just like Jack Jones when they got their tax bills.

After the state legislature capped property taxes, residents were hoping for some relief, but Jones didn't get it.

"I'm not quite sure why. I've got to complete my analysis of it, but I suspect it's because the city's not getting back money from the state that they did last year," says Jones.

St. Joseph County Treasurer Sean Coleman says you should look at two places on your bill to understand why you may see an increase.

Coleman says, "One is the assessment of the property, the assessed value of property. See if there's a significant difference between the first year of assessed evaluation and this years. Secondly, I would tell them to look at the number of state credits."

This year, the property tax relief credit was eliminated and the homestead credit was significantly reduced, which means you could pay more.

St. Joseph County resident Bob Kiefer's property taxes actually dropped, but he's still upset because his overall tax bill went up.

Kiefer says, "The year before taxes went up, my taxes went up 40% and now they came down 40%, but other taxes went up."

Kiefer says with the local option income tax and sales tax increases, he's still paying the same amount.

In today's economy, he says people need a break, "For people who live paycheck to paycheck, I don't know how they do it."

Jones agrees, "You don't like to give up more of your money than you have to."

As for the future, property tax caps will be completely phased in next year and residents hope relief is on its way.

City residents may see an increase compared to county residents, Coleman says that's because city residents pay for another layer of services.

Remember you must pay in person or have your tax bill postmarked by December 11th.

St. Joseph Register spotlight-Camp Ray Bird

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Our mission

The mission of Ray Bird Ministries, Inc. is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the "at-risk" children and teens of the Michiana area, nurture those believers through memorable camping experiences and prepare them for participation in local churches.

Who we serve

At Ray Bird Ministries, we serve the economically disadvantaged children and teens of the greater South Bend area.

Our heritage

The late Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bird (Ethel)

On December 8th 1914, Mr. Ray Bird backed by a few concerned citizens opened the doors of the City Rescue Mission to South Bend's homeless and needy citizens. Their first Sunday School service was attended by a group of 24 children. The Bird's ministry would continue to focus on the needy children and their families for many years to come. By 1935 the Sunday school had an enrollment of 450 persons.

On an early summer morning in 1919 the Elks Club gathered together on newly acquired land purchased for the City Rescue Mission at Chain O'Lakes (now known as Bass Lake). Mr. & Mrs. Fredrick Cunningham and Mr. & Mrs. James Oliver donated the parcel jointly for Ray Bird's Fresh Air Camp. The Elks Club erected the camp's original lodge in a single day. It became a haven for hundreds of destitute families for years to come. The families worked through the hard times, the husbands seeking work in town while the wives and children raised garden crops at the camp to sell in town. The camp still has in its possession a large garden sprayer, which was used by the Bird's gardeners in the 1920's.

As years passed the camp evolved to meet the needs of each passing generation of needy children. The need continues and the program has continued to change and grow to meet today's needs. But the bottom line stays the same - we are hear to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Today the City Mission no longer exists, but Bird's Fresh Air Camp now known as Camp Ray Bird, continues preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the at-risk children and teens. To learn more about Camp Ray Bird's history, email our director to receive a free copy of "Where Miracles Happen all the Time: A Historical Documentary of Camp Ray Bird" on video CD (plays in any DVD player).

Mission Opportunities

Summer Missions Trip Opportunity/Volunteering

You can bring your youth group for an excellent and affordable week-long summer mission trip. Senior high youth group students serve as junior counselors and kitchen assistants. What's in it for participating teens? A chance to see that God can use them, An opportunity to see God work in the lives of the campers and in their own lives, Opportunities to talk with campers about the gospel of Jesus Christ and to care for the spiritual, physical and emotion needs of the campers, Interactions with mature summer camp staff members, Exposure to many campers who come from tough homes - perhaps out of their comfort zone, and Great fun and long-lasting memories. Come join us this summer and help advance God's kingdom. Email our director to request an information packet. The first step in applying to bring a group in the summer is to download, complete and return a Volunteer Church Application.

Other mission trip/volunteer resources

Volunteer Staff Application

Volunteer Staff Reference Form (two are required for each volunteer)

Get involved on Summer Staff

Are considering employment doing urban or inner-city summer camp ministry in Michiana (Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana)? Then Camp Ray Bird is the place for you! You can be part of sharing the gospel with hundreds of at-risk children and teens from greater South Bend, Indiana. Each summer 30+ seasonal paid employees are hired. See our calendar page for the summer calendar.

Contact our director for more information on summer ministry opportunities (and a great summer job) in this urban ministry in South Bend, Indiana. If you are interested, you can download the following

Summer Staff Application* (for new staff, NOT for returning staff)

Summer Staff Reference Form *

*If you do not have access to Microsoft Word, please email our director for other options.

Volunteer Work Projects for Groups

We are always looking for help as we maintain and upgrade our grounds and facilities. Work groups (youth or adults) stay for free in exchange for the work. This is an excellent way to build teamwork and teach service. Families and individuals are welcome. If you would like to help, we will find a good job for you outside or in the office. Contact our facilities director for more information. You can also download a work group pre-arrival questionnaire.

Be a Volunteer

Would you like to share your talents with Ray Bird Ministries? At times help is needed in the following areas: kitchen work, grounds, maintenance and new building projects. Email us with questions or for more details.

Financial Support

Are you interested in supporting the work God is doing at Ray Bird Ministries? Please contact our director with any questions.

You can make make a donation by sending a check payable to Ray Bird Ministries to:

Ray Bird Ministries / P.O. 3717 / South Bend, IN 46619

Or you can donate on line

To make regular donations via credit card, click here to download our credit card donation form.

To donate property, equipment, stocks, mutual funds or other securities, please email our director or call our office at 574-232-8523.

To make a gift to or learn more about the Ray Bird Ministries endowment, please visit www.cfsjc.org (The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County).

Why should my church support Camp Ray Bird?

Click here to see what one local church has to say.

A MONTHLY ABORTION FEE

If you love INNOCENT life then please read the following.
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Sen. Reid’s Government-Run Health Plan Requires a Monthly Abortion Fee
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on November 19th, 2009.
Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) massive, 2,074-page bill would levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans in the government-run plan.
Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under “Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan. Leader Reid’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120).
What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run health plan. It’s right there beginning on line 11, page 122, section 1303, under “Actuarial Value of Optional Service Coverage.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account – and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.
Section 1303(a)(2)(C) describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run health plan and for those who are given an affordability credit to purchase insurance coverage that includes abortion through the Exchange. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month.
A majority of Americans believe that health care plans should not be mandated to provide elective abortion coverage, and a majority of Americans do not believe government health care plans should include abortion coverage. Currently, federal appropriations bills include language known as the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, while another provision, known as the Smith Amendment, prohibits federal funding of abortion under the federal employees’ health benefits plan.
Leader Reid’s 2,074-page health care monstrosity is an affront to the American people and drastically moves away from current policy. The National Right to Life Committee has called the Reid abortion language “completely unacceptable.” The American people deserve more from their government than being forced to pay for abortion. The pro-life Stupak/Pitts amendment passed the House by a vote of 240 to 194, enjoying the overwhelming support of 176 Republicans and 64 Democrats. The Stupak/Pitts Amendment codifies current law by prohibiting federal funding of elective abortions under any government-run plan or plans available under the Exchange. The Reid plan ignores the will of a bipartisan majority of the House, and indeed the American people, by rejecting this bipartisan amendment.
Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life – not end it – and the American people agree. House Republicans have offered a common-sense, responsible solution that would reduce health care costs and expand access while protecting the dignity of all human life. The Republican plan, available at HealthCare.GOP.gov, would codify the Hyde Amendment and prohibit all authorized and appropriated federal funds from being used to pay for abortion. And under the Republican plan, any health plan that includes abortion coverage may not receive federal funds.

Headline:

Exclusive: Jobs 'Saved or Created' in Congressional Districts That Don't Exist

The quotes below are priceless. Unfortunately, the actual bill will burden our nation for generations to come. The stimulus package was and is a reckless piece of legislation.

By now, this is old news, however it demonstrates a worthy point. If the Federal Government cannot manage something as simple as this; then how in the world can we expect the Feds to engineer Cap and Trade or Health Care reform?


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"We report what the recipients submit to us," said Ed Pound, Communications Director for the Board.

"Some recipients clearly don't know what congressional district they live in, so they appear to be just throwing in any number..."

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Exclusive: Jobs 'Saved or Created' in Congressional Districts That Don't Exist

Human Error Blamed for Crediting New Stimulus Jobs to Nonexistent Places

By JONATHAN KARL
Nov. 16, 2009

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Here's a stimulus success story: In Arizona's 15th congressional district, 30 jobs have been saved or created with just $761,420 in federal stimulus spending. At least that's what the Web site set up by the Obama administration to track the $787 billion stimulus says.

Share

Discrepancies on government web site call into question stimulus spending.

There's one problem, though: There is no 15th congressional district in Arizona; the state has only eight districts.

And ABC News has found many more entries for projects like this in places that are incorrectly identified.

Late Monday, officials with the Recovery Board created to track the stimulus spending, said the mistakes in crediting nonexistent congressional districts were caused by human error.

"We report what the recipients submit to us," said Ed Pound, Communications Director for the Board.

Pound told ABC News the board receives declarations from the recipients - state governments, federal agencies and universities - of stimulus money about what program is being funded.

"Some recipients clearly don't know what congressional district they live in, so they appear to be just throwing in any number. We expected all along that recipients would make mistakes on their congressional districts, on jobs numbers, on award amounts, and so on. Human beings make mistakes," Pound said.

The issue has raised hackles on Capitol Hill.

Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc, who chairs the powerful House appropriations Committee, issued a paper statement demanding that the recovery.gov Web site be updated.

"The inaccuracies on recovery.gov that have come to light are outrageous and the Administration owes itself, the Congress, and every American a commitment to work night and day to correct the ludicrous mistakes."

cap and trade

Just recieved this from the 9-12 group. The information concerns a bill known as Cap and Trade. Right now it's flying under our "radar" screen and it must be "gunned" down. However it won't go away unless our Senator and other Washington representatives hear from their boss and I'm not talking about Mr. Reid or Ms. Pelosi. If passed, the bill would be a disaster, therefore we need to act! Christine Murdock has provided some numbers to contact our Senator.

This is really easy to do but you have to do it. Either call him 1-202-228-5823, Fax him 1-202 2281377, or email him: http://Bayh.senate.gov/contract, or you can write him . You don't have to say anything except tell him to vote no for these 2 bills.

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House License?!?!

I encourage you to read the provisions of the Cap and Trade Bill that has passed the House of Representatives and being considered by the Senate. I am ready to join the next march on Washington! This Congress and whoever on their staffs write this junk are truly out to destroy the middle class of the USA ....

A License required for your house...no longer just for cars and mobile homes....

Thinking about selling your house - then look at H.R. 2454 (Cap and trade bill) This is unbelievable!

Home owners take note & tell your friends and relatives who are home owners!

Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. H.R. 2454, the "Cap & Trade" bill passed by the House of Representatives, if also passed by the Senate, will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure they will get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class America, will have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else.

But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won't be able to sell your house. Yes, you read that right. The caveat is (there always is a caveat) that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes ("mobile homes") are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator. To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured. Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is and you will be forced to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements. Then you will have to get your home measured again and get a license (called a "label" in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is; sort of like the Energy Star efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner. If you don't get a high enough rating, you can't sell. And, the EPA administrator is authorized to raise the standards every year, even above the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act. The EPA administrator, appointed by the President, will run the Cap & Trade program (AKA the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009") and is authorized to make any future changes to the regulations and standards he alone determines to be in the government's best interest. Requirements are set low initially so the bill will pass Congress; then the Administrator can set much tougher new standards every year.

The Act itself contains annual required increases in energy efficiency for private and commercial residences and buildings. However, the EPA administrator can set higher standards at any time. Sect. 202 Building Retrofit Program, mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America. Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (i.e. ex$pen$ive) to meet in a few years. The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit program requirements IF you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But, wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants. You should expect requirements such as "can't have an income of more than $50K per year", "home selling price can't be more than $125K", or anything else to target the upper middle class (and that's YOU) and prevent them from qualifying for the grants. Most of us won't get a dime and will have to pay the entire cost of the retrofit out of our own pockets. More transfer of wealth, more "change you can believe in." Sect. 204 Building Energy Performance Labeling Program, establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy efficiency performance for "at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act."

This means that within 5 years 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled. The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help enforce the labeling program. Some of this money will, of course, be spent on coming up with tougher standards each year..

The label will be like a license for your car. You will be required to post the label in a conspicuous location in your home and will not be allowed to sell your home without having this label. And, just like your car license, you will probably be required to get a new label every so often - maybe every year.

The government estimates the cost of measuring the energy efficiency of your home should only cost about $200 each time. Remember what they said about the auto smog inspections when they first started -- that in California it would only cost $15. That was when the program started. Now the cost is about $50 for the inspection and certificate; a 333% increase. Expect the same from the home labeling program. Sect. 304 Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes, establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates at 304(d) that 1 year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the National Building Code energy efficiency standards.

Our place

Yesterday, I noticed a bumper sticker stating, "The Earth is not made for us... we are made for the Earth."

What a terrible statement! According to the 1st chapter in Genesis, God created the Heavens and the Earth.

Why did he do it?

Simple:He did it for Love. He lavished us with a blue sky, green plants,water, warmth from the Sun and about a trillion other reasons to give Him thanks (literally). Not to mention the vastness of space to fill up our inquisitive nature. What a wonderful gift from our creator.

Every good lie has an element of truth wrapped around it. Therefore, a person could debate that the Earth is not made for us? However, it diminishes the gift given to us by God during the original design of creation. Also, it diminishes the significant place God has established for the human species. Remember- we are made just a little lower than the angels.

The Earth was made for humans and for our pleasure.I also believe that God found great pleasure in loving humanity through His creation. Scripture states, "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good." God states in scripture that it was good! He was pleased with the results and I can imagine the great celebration in Heaven following the culmination of the creation story.

The second part of the statement,"we are made for the Earth" reflects a sad and disappointing view of our existence on the planet. Our bodies are made for this Earth and this may be a crude example, but in many ways our flesh acts like a very sophisticated astronaut suit. I realize that the human body is much more than just a suit. However the flesh will be discarded when the Lord calls us home. Notice that I said, calls us home. My eternal home is not on this Earth, it longs for eternity with my Savior Jesus Christ. Due to sin we cannot call the Earth our home.

I feel sad for the lost soul with the bumper sticker and I pray that she will find the rich treasure awaiting her through Jesus and His salvation.
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Genesis 1

The Beginning

¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

³ And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

⁶ And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." ⁷ So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. ⁸ God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

⁹ And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

¹¹ Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. ¹² The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

¹⁴ And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. ¹⁶ God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. ¹⁷ God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

²⁰ And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." ²¹ So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." ²³ And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

²⁴ And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶ Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

²⁹ Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ³⁰ And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Obama Dithers

From the Heritage Foundation:

THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2009

Obama Dithers While Our AfPak Credibility Burns
Last month, The Washington Post reported that President Barack Obama had asked senior officials for a province-by-province analysis of Afghanistan “to help determine which regions are being managed effectively by local leaders and which require international help.” He supposedly wanted “the clearest possible understanding of what the challenges are to our forces and what is required to meet the challenge.”

But now two weeks later the Associated Press reports that President Obama has rejected all of the options presented by his national security team and is now asking for “revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government.” The White House continues to assert that Obama just needs more time to properly calibrate how to communicate to the Afghan government that it “must improve in a reasonable period of time.” But Obama has been President for ten months now, and his rhetoric during the campaign would tend to suggest that he has been aware for sometime of our struggles in Afghanistan. The truth is the Pentagon has been scrutinizing the failures of our AfPak strategy for over two years and the new administration has benefited from all the work done before it took the White House. The argument that we need more study, or that half measures will do, is wearing pretty thin. All this news makes it look like the president is shopping for a rationale to justify a commitment that is “politically” acceptable in Washington.In fact, the ongoing public debate about Afghanistan has already cost the U.S. credibility with its NATO allies and is confusing our regional partners who are starting to hedge their bets and plan for a decreased U.S. commitment to the region. As well-known Pakistan expert Ahmed Rashid commented on October 27th in an article in the National Interest, “Every sign of the United States or NATO dithering over strategy only convinces the Pakistani military about keeping its Taliban option open.”Yes, the recent flawed Afghan election was a setback to international efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, but as Heritage senior research fellow Lisa Curtis notes: “Part of the reason Karzai’s reputation has suffered is the deteriorating security situation — so it stands to reason that providing additional U.S. troops to reverse Taliban momentum, as Gen. Stanley McChrystal has requested, would also increase the credibility of the Afghan regime. While the Obama administration is right to demand cleaner rule from Karzai, it also must be realistic about the security situation and acknowledge that stemming Taliban advances is vital to U.S. national security interests.”The Obama administration used to believe that defeating the Taliban was a vital national security interest. It was just this past August when President Obama said: “This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans. So this is not only a war worth fighting. This is a — this is fundamental to the defense of our people.”We need a decision from President Obama, and pretty compelling rationale to support it, soon. Obama’s Afghan strategy should provide U.S. military commanders on the ground with the resources they need to fight a successful counterinsurgency campaign against the Taliban. Depriving our commanders of the resources they require is a recipe for failure.

VETERANS DAY-1985

Former President Ronald Reagan on Veterans Day

"We endanger the peace and confuse all issues when we obscure the truth; when we refuse to name an act for what it is; when we refuse to see the obvious and seek safety in Almighty. Peace is only maintained and won by those who have clear eyes and brave minds. Peace is imperiled when we forget to try for agreements and settlements and treaties; when we forget to hold out our hands and strive; when we forget that God gave us talents to use in securing the ends He desires. Peace fails when we forget that agreements, once made, cannot be broken without a price"

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Remarks by President Ronald ReaganVeterans Day National CeremonyArlington National CemeteryArlington, VirginiaNovember 11, 1985

PRESIDENT REAGAN: Secretary Weinberger, Harry Walters, Robert Medairos, reverend clergy, ladies and gentlemen, a few moments ago I placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and as I stepped back and stood during the moment of silence that followed, I said a small prayer. And it occurred to me that each of my predecessors has had a similar moment, and I wondered if our prayers weren't very much the same, if not identical.
We celebrate Veterans Day on the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, the armistice that began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. And I wonder, in fact, if all Americans' prayers aren't the same as those I mentioned a moment ago. The timing of this holiday is quite deliberate in terms of historical fact but somehow it always seems quite fitting to me that this day comes deep in autumn when the colors are muted and the days seem to invite contemplation.
We are gathered at the National Cemetery, which provides a final resting place for the heroes who have defended our country since the Civil War. This amphitheater, this place for speeches, is more central to this cemetery than it first might seem apparent, for all we can ever do for our heroes is remember them and remember what they did -- and memories are transmitted through words.
Sometime back I received in the name of our country the bodies of four marines who had died while on active duty. I said then that there is a special sadness that accompanies the death of a serviceman, for we're never quite good enough to them-not really; we can't be, because what they gave us is beyond our powers to repay. And so, when a serviceman dies, it's a tear in the fabric, a break in the whole, and all we can do is remember.
It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember.
There's always someone who is remembering for us. No matter what time of year it is or what time of day, there are always people who come to this cemetery, leave a flag or a flower or a little rock on a headstone. And they stop and bow their heads and communicate what they wished to communicate. They say, "Hello, Johnny," or "Hello, Bob. We still think of you. You're still with us. We never got over you, and we pray for you still, and we'll see you again. We'll all meet again." In a way, they represent us, these relatives and friends, and they speak for us as they walk among the headstones and remember. It's not so hard to summon memory, but it's hard to recapture meaning.
And the living have a responsibility to remember the conditions that led to the wars in which our heroes died. Perhaps we can start by remembering this: that all of those who died for us and our country were, in one way or another, victims of a peace process that failed; victims of a decision to forget certain things; to forget, for instance, that the surest way to keep a peace going is to stay strong. Weakness, after all, is a temptation -- it tempts the pugnacious to assert themselves -- but strength is a declaration that cannot be misunderstood. Strength is a condition that declares actions have consequences. Strength is a prudent warning to the belligerent that aggression need not go unanswered.
Peace fails when we forget what we stand for. It fails when we forget that our Republic is based on firm principles, principles that have real meaning, that with them, we are the last, best hope of man on Earth; without them, we're little more than the crust of a continent. Peace also fails when we forget to bring to the bargaining table God’s first intellectual gift to man: common sense. Common sense gives us a realistic knowledge of human beings and how they think, how they live in the world, what motivates them. Common sense tells us that man has magic in him, but also clay. Common sense can tell the difference between right and wrong. Common sense forgives error, but it always recognizes it to be error first.
We endanger the peace and confuse all issues when we obscure the truth; when we refuse to name an act for what it is; when we refuse to see the obvious and seek safety in Almighty. Peace is only maintained and won by those who have clear eyes and brave minds. Peace is imperiled when we forget to try for agreements and settlements and treaties; when we forget to hold out our hands and strive; when we forget that God gave us talents to use in securing the ends He desires. Peace fails when we forget that agreements, once made, cannot be broken without a price.
Each new day carries within it the potential for breakthroughs, for progress. Each new day bursts with possibilities. And so, hope is realistic and despair a pointless little sin. And peace fails when we forget to pray to the source of all peace and life and happiness. I think sometimes of General Matthew Ridgeway, who, the night before D-day, tossed sleepless on his cot and talked to the Lord and listened for the promise that God made to Joshua: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
We're surrounded today by the dead of our wars. We owe them a debt we can never repay. All we can do is remember them and what they did and why they had to be brave for us. All we can do is try to see that other young men never have to join them. Today, as never before, we must pledge to remember the things that will continue the peace. Today, as never before, we must pray for God's help in broadening and deepening the peace we enjoy. Let us pray for freedom and justice and a more stable world. And let us make a compact today with the dead, a promise in the words for which General Ridgeway listened, “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
In memory of those who gave the last full measure of devotion, may our efforts to achieve lasting peace gain strength. And through whatever coincidence or accident of timing, I tell you that a week from now when I am some thousands of miles away, believe me, the memory and the importance of this day will be in the forefront of my mind and in my heart.
Thank you. God bless you all, and God bless America.

Fort Hood

In memoriam

Just a few thoughts on ND football

“I got the humility from Mom and Dad. But when I was here, coach (Lou Holtz) pounded it in; made sure it didn't leave. It was never about me, it was always about the team.”

Jerome Bettis

Good article from the South Bend Tribune. However, the team and Mr. Weis should take a look into the quote above. Did you notice what Betis said, ...it was always about the team.

I have no doubt that Charlie Weis has a great knowledge of the game and he can be a great motivator. However something is lacking and I suspect that the quote from Betis has something to do with the problem.

For further discussion:
An interesting article from World Magazine describes the main goal of any team sport.
Taken from a review of the documentary, More than a game;
"Lebron James was flashy, Dru Joyce III was feisty, Sian Cotton was hefty, Willie McGee was mature,and Romeo Travis was in the game for the girls. They called themselves the "Fab Five", and they were the stars of a basketball team some called the best in high school history. ... More than a Game tells the story of how these teens packed university stadiums and catapulted the Fighting Irish from Akron, Ohio, to national fame....They call each other "brothers" and Dru Joyce II,their coach, takes it upon himself to teach them more than a game."My job wasn't about basketball," he says. "It was about helping them become men."
The review further states, "It is easy to see Joyce, with his soft-spoken pep talks and prayers,as the father figure who first has to command the boy's respect before he can check their braggadocio and hold them together as a team.

The biggest question that I have as a fan of ND football:

Is Charlie Weis challenging the team to become men?

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NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL: Can Irish regain their staggered swagger?

By AL LESAR
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND — It was beyond schematic deficiencies. It was beyond two uncharacteristic and costly fumbles. It was beyond a pass that bounced off the back of a star receiver and into the hands of a defender. It was beyond two missed field goals. It was a dreadful lack of passion.

What happened to the Notre Dame football team in Saturday's loss to Navy was bad.

How it happened was even worse.

Uninspired. Listless. Disinterested. Lethargic. Pick your adjective.

Nobody under the Golden Dome could argue.

Coach Charlie Weis said this week that he would stress accountability. The locker room mirror's crowded with guilty faces looking back.

But do they care enough to recognize the crisis? If so, do they care enough to want to solve the crisis? That's a coach's dilemma when the tightrope has started to fray.

What makes this situation all the worse is that Weis and his staff spent the week leading up to the Navy debacle focusing on three issues.

Tackle the fullback. Actually, on every play but one (a 25-yard TD run by Vince Murray) the Navy fullback did get tackled. However, it was after more than 200 yards had been gained.

Guard against a play-action pass. Ricky Dobbs' 52-yard scoring pass to Greg Jones put the kibosh on that goal.

Play with as much passion (or more) as the Midshipmen on every play. Not even close. The beach ball dancing around the student section caused more of a stir than the way the Irish played most of the game.

The energy outage was induced by a Navy team that wasn't supposed to compete.

Passion isn't measured in yards and inches. Or, points on a scoreboard.

It's gauged by bodies flying. It's the intensity that develops into a confidence. It's a confidence that evolves into a swagger.

That swagger is the distance between a program on the cusp of greatness, with the "want to" to achieve it, and one content to wallow in mediocrity.

What Weis has to deal with is a bigger concern than scheme. Erase the greaseboard and the blueprint is changed.

Not so fast, my friend.

Passion is different. It's either there or it isn't. Passion isn't coached.

Have all the narrow escapes and disheartening last-second losses finally exacted their toll? Is the Irish tank finally empty?

When Weis talks about accountability, it can easily be construed as blame. With blame comes negativity. With negativity comes a downward spiral that can flush the rest of the season — and possibly a coaching career — down the commode in a hurry.

Will egos get in the way of survival?

The time for blame has passed. This is damage-control mode, plain and simple. This is not a drill. This, fellas, is the real thing.

If the program doesn't heal itself soon, the life-support equipment will be in place. Keeping a heart beating by artificial means rarely ends well. The guy with his hand on the plug always has the last call.

It may already be too late.

Not to worry. Fate is fate. Control is limited. With only three games promised, the only option is to play them hard; play them well; play them with passion.

And give the guy with his hand on the plug a reason to have a second thought.