Happy Marriage

To my wife and married daughters (and daughters-in-law).
You have all discovered by now that, contrary to much teaching in schools especially universities, men and women have highly different natures. They do not think alike. They do not act alike. One is not better than the other (except women are obviously by nature better). Heavenly Father, in his wisdom, knows that having a family and raising children is best done by a man and a woman together, each sharing their own nature and talents. Our modern prophets have issued a proclaimation to help us understand the spiritual roots of families.
Dennis Prager, a Jewish rabbi with a talk show, has a penchant for clarity. He does an outstanding job of discussing the differences between men and women and helping to understand what brings happiness to married couples. I refer you to his work. After reading his articles you may think I am posting this for selfish reasons. Maybe I am, but think about what you read. Evaluate your own marriages. It is obviously not a cure-all to everything, but if you love each other, I think you can help make your marriages happier.
I've obviously had too much time on my hands over the holidays. I'll try to return to less frequent and more political blogging.

Sergeant Nibley, PhD

"Memories of an unlikely Screaming Eagle"

My wife presented me with a fascinating book for Christmas. For anyone interested in WWII, especially those familiar with Hugh Nibley, this is a highly interesting read. Who would have known that Professor Nibley road a Jeep onto Utah Beach on D-Day, flew in on a glider in Operation Market-Garden (A Bridge too Far), reported to his commanding officers the probability of the German attack at the Battle of the Bulge, and returned to the same area of Germany where he had served his mission just years earlier during the war's wrap-up.

A thought-provoking memoir of war, Nibley's son Alex admits to confusion and many contraditions about war. He concludes with this quote from his father, "There I was in the middle of a battle, and I was completely happy. It came to me very strongly: I shouldn't be happy in this circumstance! But it's not what happens to you that matters. It's not what becomes of you, it's what you become that's important." Amen.

Merry Christmas

If I had had "the talk" with my daughters, this is close to what I wish I had said. There is nothing in life that is more joyful than a happy and fulfilled married life, such as I have. When glowing couples communicate freely about everything they solve more problems and have better relations in all of their family, business and other interpersonal relationships. They are able to keep their marriage relationship prime and allow their other associations to maintain their proper priorities.



I wish all my children a happy Christmas season. May you each remain perfectly loyal to your spouse in body, mind, and spirit. Be careful with your resources, pay your tithing, bless your family and your neighbors with your good spirit and service. Spend less time with the TV and the computer. Cherish your Mother. Be kind to her and visit with her and tell her stories sometimes without asking her for anything.

Lame Duck is now Dead Duck

It is nice to have someone really smart enunciate the vague, unsettled feelings one has and put them into words. Such is the case with the recent article by George Will.
In Arizona we have had a governor very fond of the "executive order". She has loved to issue directives of a controversial nature, watch the sparks fly, and then the dust settle, and measure the results. So many times they have settled in her favor that she has learned that it is far easier to govern by dictate than to go through the normal legislative process. Such has been the case with renaming Squaw Peak and the Iraq war memorial. Finally, she is sending a goodbye kiss to the citizens of Arizona, much like the shoe thrown at President Bush, to show her complete disdain of our rights by proclaiming that not only do government employees have the right to organize, but that the unions must be a part of the budgeting process. I don't remember voting them in.
We have another elected official who refuses to be guided by legislative counsel. Our sheriff is much more interested in his own perceived "toughness" and grandstanding immigrant policies and political investigations than he is in actually protecting the citizens against crimes against persons and property.
President Bush, as he walks out the door, is locking the doors to Congress and handing the keys to Barry Obama. I think that Barack's lack of legislative accomplishment is a sign of his recognition that the power of Congress has been in decline and that he believes, as does President Bush, that it is no longer necessary to have the approval of Congress to accomplish his agenda. The liberal's preference for judicial fiat has long been apparent. The hard work of legislature, involving compromise and consent, is far too difficult. The arrogance of the elite gives its own approval of whatever it is that they decide is most important for us, regardless of what we think is important for ourselves. This declaration by the President that billions would be loaned to the auto companies, immediately after rejection by congress of the same proposal, is a slap in the face of congress and the people. It says, we don't care what you want. We know what is best for you.
The choice of Janet Napalitano as Homeland Security Director is a sign that the President is likely to surround himself with pragmatic (meaning "believes government is the best solution to all our problems"), effective (meaning "willing to press forward with the chosen program irrespective of laws or legislative approval") bureaucrats who will relentlessly pursue the liberal agenda they all share.
It may be, that for as long as it remains intact, the Supreme Court will remain our last bastion of protection from what looks to me like a steamrolling Executive branch with a power-less, if not complicit Legislative branch about to squash the life out of the private sector (that's you and me).

Riddle me This

It is such burning irony that so much fuss is being made of the Egyptian reporter who kissed President Bush goodbye by throwing his shoes at the President in a display of disrespect. The whole act had the clarifying effect of putting the old Iraq and the new Iraq, freed by American blood, into complete juxtaposition. Just imagine what would have happened to that reporter had he shown the same disrespect to the former dictator of Iraq. Saddam would have shot him himself. President Bush, the hatemonger, commented that "They looked like a size 10".

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Such confusion and blindness reigns among the media. Good is called bad and bad, good. The turncoat wants to lead the party. Colin Powell, who deserted the Republicans in the last weeks of the election, now wants to tell them how to run the party. You really should read this from Rush Limbaugh.

As the good doctor of democracy points out. Republicans are not being conservatives. It is hard to find elected Republicans who really seem to have core values, i.e., who believe in constitutional principals of limited government, and are willing to stand up for life and judeo-Christian values.

I say we have given the Liberal wing of the party their shot. We let them run John McCain. We have allowed them to spend us into bankruptcy. It is time now to say 'no more'. We will have all we can stand of liberalism/government-directed lives in the next few years. Can we escape without blood being shed? Will our country remain intact? We still have great thinkers and statesmen who understand what is going on, but we seem like a rudder-less ship being "driven with the wind, and tossed."