First, I want to let you know that my last article was not successful as intended.  For explanation, please see my remarks at the end of the comments from said article. 

Now on to this entry.  

I love the english language and encourage all of us to use it as often as possible.  So here are a few tips from the ScarletPimpernel:

"Gender" - I know that many folks use this word to mean sexual characteristics or sexual identity.  It's #1 definition, however, is for language usage.  

Gender: noun (grammar)
a. (in many languages) a set of classes that together include all nouns, membership in a particular class being shown by the form of the noun itself or by the form or choice of words that modify, replace, or otherwise refer to the noun, as, in English, the choice of he to replace the man, of she to replace the woman, of it to replace the table, of it or she to replace the ship. The number of genders in different languages varies from 2 to more than 20; often the classification correlates in part with sex or animateness. The most familiar sets of genders are of three classes (as masculine, feminine, and neuter in Latin and German) or of two (as common and neuter in Dutch, or masculine and feminine in French and Spanish).

b. one class of such a set. 

c. such classes or sets collectively or in general. 

d. membership of a word or grammatical form, or an inflectional form showing membership, in such a class. 

So, if you're going to talk about someone's sex, just say "sex" and not "gender".  I hate to bring politics into it but we know that Liberals like to use, or rather misuse, words to try to mask what they are doing.  This is what they are doing by trying to blend "gender" into the mainstream.  What they mean by gender is not male or female.  They mean sexual identity, persuasion,choice which includes quite a few "genders".  En guarde.

Which brings up another thing.  When describing someone just say "man" or "woman" rather than "male" or "female".  It just seems unseemly to say someone is a white male, etc.  I always think, "White male what? rat? dog? monkey?"   Just my two cents.

I have a bad habit of saying "heighth" when I mean "height".  Fortunately my wife never tires of reminding me that this is incorrect.  My defense is that "width" and "heighth" just goes together better.

"Podium" is from the greek meaning "little foot".  A podium is the little round stand that a conductor stands on. 
"Lectern"  is from Old English from Old French from Medieval Latin from regular old Latin meaning "to read". The lectern is the stand with the slanted top that a speaker reads from.  A lectern can be on top of a podium.  Many people say, "podium" when they mean "lectern".

"Forte" is actually pronounced (correctly) "fort" and not "fortay".  But this is America and we say things however we darn well please. 

btw-  in my home state of Kentucky we have a "Versayles" (Versailles) and an "Aythens" (Athens). 

The following are some excerpts from a story that I filed with The New Republic magazine.  It is an eyewitness account of what I saw and heard while I was with the troops on the ground in Iraq.  The names have been changed.  Some of my information was gained through anonymous sources.  The soldiers and marines use nicknames mostly.


The troops' tactical training is sometimes brutal and abusive.
Wednesday.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: How tall are you, private?
Private Cowboy: Sir, five-foot-nine, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Five-foot-nine, I didn't know they stacked sh!!te that high.


Thursday.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Were you born a fat, slimy, scumbag puke pieca' sh!!te Private Pyle, or did you have to work on it?

Friday.  The Sergeant actually encourages violence and is proud of the marines.

Gunnery Sergeant Harman: ONE! TWO! THREE!
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, I can't help it, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Bullsh!!te! Get on your knees scumbag.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Now choke yourself.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Golldamn it, with my hand numb nuts.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Don't pull my f%^king hand over there. I said choke yourself; now lean forward and choke yourself.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman:  [choking Pyle] Are you through grinning?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, yes, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Bullsh!!te, I can't hear you.
Private Gomer Pyle:  [Louder] Sir, yes, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman:  Bullsh!!te, I still can't hear you. Sound off like you've got a pair.
Private Gomer Pyle:  SIR, YES, SIR!
Gunnery Sergeant Harman:  That's enough; get on your feet. Private Pyle you had best square your arse away and start sh!!ting me Tiffany cufflinks or I will definitely f#$* you up.
Private Gomer Pyle:  Sir, yes, sir.

Late Saturday night, early Sunday morning
[the recruits have administered a "sock party" beating on Private Pyle]
Private Cowboy:  Remember, this was all just a bad dream, fat boy!

Later that afternoon.

Gunnery Sergeant Harman:  The deadliest weapon in the world is a marine and his rifle. It is your killer instinct which must be harnessed if you expect to survive in combat. Your rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill. You will become dead marines and then you will be in a world of sh!!te because marines are not allowed to die without permission. Do you maggots understand?

and still later:

[Referring to Lee Harvey Oswald and mass murderer Charles Whitman]
Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Do any of you people know where these individuals learned how to shoot?... Private Joker.
Private Joker: Sir. In the Marines, Sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Harman:  In the Marines. Outstanding. Those individuals showed what one motivated Marine and his rifle can do. And before you ladies leave Iraq, you will all be able to do the same thing.

Racism was rampant:
Friday morning. 
Sgt. Barnett: What's the matter boy? He ain't gonna bite you. That's a good towelhead; good and dead.

Thursday morning.
Sgt. Barnett: Martin, get your boots on. And the next time I catch you spraying skeeter repellent on your f*(kin' feet, I'm gonna court martial your ni&&er a%%.
Junior: Well then court-martial me! F*&#my a##, send me to f*&&ing Long Binh! You do your f%&*ing work! You white folks have got your last klick out of Junior!
Sgt. Barnett: O'Neil, get me that centipede.
Sgt. O'Neill: Sarge?
Sgt. Barnett: Yeah, that long hairy red and black ba$tard I found in the ammo crate. I'm gonna put it in this boy's crotch, see if he can walk.

Wednesday night:
Animal Mother: All f$^king ni&&ers must f&*king hang.


Even the Holidays have a twisted feeling to them.

Gunnery Sergeant Harman: Today... is Christmas! There will be a magic show at zero-nine-thirty! Chaplain Charlie will tell you about how the free world will conquer Islamofacism with the aid of God and a few marines! God has a hard-on for marines because we kill everything we see! He plays His games, we play ours! To show our appreciation for so much power, we keep heaven packed with fresh souls! God was here before the Marine Corps! So you can give your heart to Jesus, but your a## belongs to the Corps! Do you ladies understand?

Moral and discipline falls apart as firefight after firefight takes it's toll.  Murders and rapes ensue.

Tuesday.  Manny has been killed and the platoon is looking for revenge:
Chris Talley summarizes what happens next:
Talley: The village, which has stood for maybe a thousand years, didn't know we were coming that day. if they had, they would've run. Barnett was the eye of our rage. And through him, our captain Ahab, we would set things right again. That day we loved him.

A little later:

Rabbit: [to Private Talley] F#$%ing pu$$y man! He's laughing at you! That's the way the towelhead laughs.
[to Iraqui villager]
Rabbit: Yeah, you're real sorry aint 'ya? Jusy crying you're little hearts out about Sandy and Sal, and Manny!
[Rabbit hits the Iraqui villager over the head with the butt of his shotgun]
Rabbit: Holy sh!!te, you see that f*&king head come apart, man? Sh!!te, I've never seen brains like that before, man. I bet that old b#tch runs the whole f$%king show, she probably slit Manny's throat. She would probably cut my balls off if she had the chance!
Sgt. O'Neill: Bunny, can we just go? Nobody saw a f#$king thing!
Rabbit: Let's do 'em, man! Let's do this whole f*&king village!

Some soldiers are positive that Sgt. Barnett has murdered Sgt. Elias.
Chris Talley: He killed him, I know that he killed him, I saw his eyes when we came back in.
Rhah: How do you know the sandni$$ers didn't get him? You've got no proof, man.
Chris Talley: The proof is in the eyes, when you know you know.

Later that night, after drinking hard, Sgt. Barnett visits the tents of his acusers who have been getting high on marijuana.  The group has been mumbling about killing Barnett.

Sgt Barnett: You talking about killing? Hmm? Y'all experts? Y'all know about killing? I'd like to hear about it, potheads.
[takes pipe and inhales drag]
Sgt. Barnett: Are you smoking this shiite so's to escape from reality? Me, I don't need this sh!!te. I am reality. There's the way it ought to be, and there's the way it is. Elias was full of sh!!te. Elias was a crusader. Now, I got no fight... with any man who does what he's told. But when he don't, the machine breaks down. And when the machine breaks down, we break down. And I ain't gonna allow that... in any of you. Not one.
[hands pipe back and spits]
Sgt. Barnett: Y'all love Elias. Oh, you wanna kick a##. Yeah. Well, here I am, all by my lonesome. And there ain't nobody gonna know. Six of you boys against me. Kill me. Huh. I sh!!te on all of you.

On an average Sunday afternoon Talley interrupts a gang rape.

Tony Hoyt: What the f%^k is your problem, Talley? She's a f#$king sandy!
Chris Talley: She's a f#$king human being man!

Talley is educated. He is unlike most soldiers.  I overheard the following conversation with some other soldiers.

King: Hey, Taylor, how in the f#$k you get here anyway? You look educated.
Chris Talley: I volunteered for it.
King: You did what? 
Chris Talley: I volunteered. I dropped out of college, told 'em I wanted the infantry, combat, Vietnam.
Crawford: You volunteered for this sh!!t, man? 
Chris Talley: Believe that?
King: You's a crazy f$^ker, giving up college?
Chris Talley: Didn't make much sense, I wasn't learning anything. I figured why should just the poor kids go off to war and the rich kids always get away with it.
King: Oh, I see, what we got here is a crusader.
Crawford: Sounds like it.
King: Sh!!te, you gotta be rich in the first place to think like that. Ever'body know, the poor are always being f*&ked over by the rich. Always have, always will.

On a helicopter raid on a seemingly peaceful part of town, I had the following exchange with the gunner:

Door Gunner: Git some! Git some! Git some, yeah, yeah, yeah! Anyone that runs, is a AQ. Anyone that stands still, is a well-disciplined AQ! You guys oughta do a story about me sometime!
ScarletPimpernel: Why should we do a story about you?
Door Gunner: 'Cuz I'm so f%^kin' good! I done got me 157 dead Al Quaders killed. Plus 50 water buffalo too! Them's all confirmed!
ScarletPimpernel: Any women or children?
Door Gunner: Sometimes!
ScarletPimpernel: How can you shoot women or children?
Door Gunner: Easy! Ya just don't lead 'em so much! Ain't war hell?

Rabbit confesses his feelings about what the War has done to his humanity.

Rabbit: You know ScarPimp, some of the things we've done, man... I don't feel like we've done something wrong. Sometimes, man... I get this bad feeling. I told the padre the truth man, I like it here. Get to do what you want, nobody f%&ks with you. The only worry you got is dying. And if that happens you won't know about it anyway. So what the f*&k man?

One soldier gets excited after hundreds of Iraqui villagers have been killed.

Crazy Earl: These are great days we're living, bros. We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns. These people we wasted here today are the finest human beings we will ever know. After we rotate back to the world, we're gonna miss not having anyone around that's worth shooting.
 

The troops find a little relief via the degradation of the locals.

Baghdad Hooker: Hey, you got girlfriend Iraq? Me so horny. Me love you long time.
Private Joker: What do we get for ten dollars?
Baghdad Hooker: Every t'ing you wan'.
Private Joker: Everything? 
Baghdad Hooker: Every t'ing.
Private Joker: [to Rafterman] Whaddya think, man? Ready to spend some of your hard-earned money?

Joker and Talley are the most vocal and responsive.  Here are some of their random thoughts.

Private Joker: I wanted to see exotic Iraq... the crown jewel of Middle East. I wanted to meet interesting and stimulating people of an ancient culture... and kill them. I wanted to be the first kid on my block to get a confirmed kill!

Private Joker: A day without blood is like a day without sunshine.

Joker's exchange with a commanding officer:

Colonel: Marine, what is that button on your body armor?
Private Joker: A peace symbol, sir.
Colonel: Where'd you get it?
Private Joker:  I don't remember, sir.
Colonel:  What is that you've got written on your helmet?
Private Joker: "Born to Kill", sir.
Colonel: You write "Born to Kill" on your helmet and you wear a peace button. What's that supposed to be, some kind of sick joke?
Private Joker: No, sir.
Colonel: You'd better get your head and your a## wired together, or I will take a giant sh!!te on you.
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Colonel: Now answer my question or you'll be standing tall before the man.
Private Joker: I think I was trying to suggest something about the duality of man, sir.
Colonel: The what?
Private Joker: The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.
Colonel: Whose side are you on, son?
Private Joker: Our side, sir.
Colonel: Don't you love your country?
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Colonel: Then how about getting with the program? Why don't you jump on the team and come on in for the big win?
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Colonel: Son, all I've ever asked of my marines is that they obey my orders as they would the word of God. We are here to help the Iraquis, because inside every sandmonkey there is an American trying to get out. It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over.
Private Joker: Aye-aye, sir.

Talley's thoughts.

Chris Talley: Somebody once wrote: "Hell is the impossibility of reason." That's what this place feels like. Hell.

Chris Talley: I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. The enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. As I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnett for what Rhah called "possession of my soul." There are times since, I've felt like a child, born of those two fathers. But be that as it may, those of us who did make it have an obligation to build again. To teach to others what we know, and to try with what's left of our lives to find a goodness and a meaning to this life.

Talley describes the military men.

Chris Talley: Well, here I am, anonymous all right. With guys nobody really cares about. They come from the end of the line, most of 'em. Small towns you never heard of: Pulaski, Tennessee; Brandon, Mississippi; Pork Van, Utah; Wampum, Pennsylvania. Two years' high school's about it, maybe if they're lucky a job waiting for them back at a factory, but most of 'em got nothing. They're poor, they're the unwanted, yet they're fighting for our society and our freedom. It's weird, isn't it? They're the bottom of the barrel and they know it. Maybe that's why they call themselves grunts, cause a grunt can take it, can take anything. They're the best I've ever seen, Grandma. The heart & soul.

Before he was murdered, Elias tells me the truth.

Sgt. Elias: What happened today was just the beginning. We're gonna lose this war. 
ScarletPimpernel: Come on. You really think so? Us?
Sgt. Elias: We've been kicking other people's a##es for so long I figured it's time we got ours kicked.

This story should run in next week's edition.

I know you've been meaning to get with God on a personal basis.  I'm here to help you get started.  We all should set aside time to have a daily devotional. Afterall, God took the time to set us aside for Himself.  It's easy to get started and it becomes more intriguing with time as you try to figure out who God is and who you are and what your job is supposed to be.  Don't be intimidated and don't make this hard.  Think of it as an adventure, you know you're bored anyway.  Once you get started, you'll want to know more and more as you become filled with the Holy Spirit.  The goal is to become enthralled by the Word.  Paul says we should become slaves to Christ and not to ourselves.  This does not happen overnight.  So let's get started.

Now the key is to find quiet time.  I think it is important to do it around the same time every day.  I prefer the early mornings but some folks like to do it before they go to bed.  Find a place in your home where you can sit in quiet solitude.  Bring what you like to make yourself comfortable.  I wake up with difficulty, stumble to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face and wash my hands.  Then I make a cup of coffee and go sit on the couch. Sometimes I like to just stand in the kitchen because the counter top at the bar window is a good height.  I usually only have time to read 2 readings but sometimes I bring 5 books to the table.  I open with a prayer of thanks for the day.  I'll say, "Good morning, Father. Thank you for this day you've made for us. I ask the Holy Spirit to be with me as I read your Word and try to find out more about you.  I give you thanks and praises in the name of Jesus.  Amen."  Really, anything you want to say as a way of praise and assistance is fine.  Don't be shy. Just say whatever you want.  I believe God loves for us to talk to Him.  

I open by reading a Psalm chapter or a Proverbs chapter or two.  I have been reading them in order so if one is kind of short I'll read two.  I read them aloud and think about them as I read them.  It's quite satisfying to see what is revealed to one's self as you read them.  

So far, from the time I stumble outta bed and start to read a Psalm, it has been about 8 minutes.  That's all it takes to get started.  Once you get started you'll find that you want to keep going.  Be careful not to be late for work. 

After the opening prayer and Psalm, I will grab my Daily Bible study guide or my copy of Oswald Chambers'  My Utmost for His Highest    OR any other book that I've checked out from my local public library.  Right now I'm reading a very good one titled, Through the Bible, Through the Year by John Stott.  I change the order so as not to get stale.  It is important NOT to make your prayer life and devotional life a routine.  By this I mean you don't want to just say and think things by rote.  That is not good to do.  You want to have fresh revelations and insights daily.  I don't think you can do this by going through the motions. 

As I read my choice of books, I'll look up the passages in my study bible.  I use the NIV study Bible because it makes sense to me when I read it .  It uses current language and has lots of footnotes to explain what's going on with some of the language.  I would say to use whatever you want but just make sure it is a trustworthy translation.  King James, of course, New King James, NIV; and my Bishop uses the New Living Translation.  The important thing is to understand what you're reading. 

When you're done, just give God thanks in a closing prayer.  I usually go ahead and pray for other things while I'm at it.  You'll feel fantastic and I guarantee your day will go smoothly if not flatout great.  And don't worry if sometimes you're just not "feeling it" as you try to get your devotional going.   This happens to me sometimes.  I just stop and be quiet for a little bit and close my eyes and listen.  Then I'll start a prayer.  If I find that I'm outta time because I couldn't get going smoothly, it is no big deal.  The important thing is to get your prayer in with God even if you didn't have time to study or contemplate.  When I run short, I'll just read one of the books, usually the shortest one and then get going. God understands that you've got to work so you can eat.  He is pleased that you are trying.  It is all in the struggle.

Questions answered by your favorite Uncle, Joe Biden

Hey Uncle Joe, I think I prefer German beer. What do you think?

Uncle Joe says:  Well, I don't drink much anymore. You know back in my days at Princeton, we tipped a few back I can tell ya that.  I still got my Princeton Tigers cap. It's for baseball mostly.  Beer tastes pretty good but you want to drink it in moderation.  Remember what Jesus said, and you know I think that's probably one of the main causes on the trouble in the Middle East, the Bible is written in English, not that pretentious Limey english - with all there extra "e"s and emphasis on the wrong syllables, no I mean American english.  No wonder they're all mad at eachother.  But seriously, the Germans are very stout.  Big hearts. The women are hearty and big-boned. They're not fat but, it's just that their bones are fat.  Speaking of the folks of Cincinatti, now, hey you can get a good beer there I tell ya.  Course the good kind of beer, and we don't know how many kids of Nazis make them, but the good ones are called "biers".  Germans are good and proud people but it is good to not let them get bored and gather in great numbers.  And then if you added beer to the mix, whoa. No thank you Hans.  I love 'em the Krauts.  I had a friend who was from Germany and we all called him Kraut Gerry. His name was Franz or Adolph or something.  It's too bad the smart ones are so evil, but those other ones can really make great cars.  So enjoy that German beer but go easy or else we'll all be marching "Over there, over there...."

1. Che Guevara was a brave, selfless patriot fighting for his countrymen's freedom.

2. The Republicans brought race into the 1988 election with the Willie Horton advertisement.

3. Joseph McCarthy was a wild-eyed persecutor of innocents.

1. Guevara was the Ringo Starr of revolutionaries.  He was a spoiled little rich boy from Argentina who hooked up with the fabulous and talented Castro Bros.  Guevara was not brave or militarily astute.  When they first landed in Cuba, Batista's guard routed Castro's force right from the get-go.  Castro, like all good Communist Comrade Leaders-in-Charge-for-Life, abandoned his men and ran off into the countryside.  He took his bodyguards with him, of course.  Guevara and the few stragglers wandered around for a day before they stumbled across a cowering Castro hiding in a cane field.  Guevara often got lost. 

Che, the hero, is credited with 14,000 kills.  Of course, many of these were men and boys not in uniform.  Oh yeah, Che had no respect for law - that was too bourgeoise for him.  Like many revolutionary brats who get control, he soon moved into a coastal mansion and enjoyed many of the finer things in Cuban life, except bathing.  They say he often smelled like he looked.  Che was, like many liberal marxists, a hypocrite.  He would "try" people in kangaroo courts and execute them by the dozens simply because they opposed him. 

Many of today's American youth and our entertainers wear Che's image on various clothing and jewelry.  They believe him to be a brave man who sacrificed his life for "the people".  Actually, he, having no respect for much except kissing Castro's arse, turned into a pyscho killer after liberating Cuba.  The very same young people and naive entertainers who idolize Che or think he is "cool" would be the same ones rounded up and put in jail or worse for trying to sell their decadent lifestyle in Cuba.

Here are my favorite photos of the cool Che.

2. Willie Horton was well known to Massachusetts voters before the 1988 election. Al Gore brought up Massachusetts' furlough program that allowed prisoners like Horton out to work. And to rape and kill.   To be fair, Gore did not mention Horton's name but he brought up the fact that the program was Dukakis' baby.  Everyone knew whom Gore, a well-known race baiter,  was talking about.  Only when Lee Atwater used the Willie Horton Ad for the Republicans' side did the media jump on it as "racist".  This is typical of the press. 

3. Senator Joseph McCarthy,  Republican from Wisconsin, has often been portrayed as worse than Joe Stalin, especially in liberal circles.  Many accused him of witch hunting.  The term McCarthyism means persecuting innocent people, running them out of town and silencing them with fear of reprisal.  Of course, history gives us 20/20 vision.  McCarthy was actually right.  The majority of people whom he and his committee questioned, were communists or commie sympathizers.  There actually was a communist conspiracy to infiltrate the United States government at all levels.  This was a big deal back then, as the USSR was our sworn enemy.  Now that they are defeated, the Democrats could, if they wanted, just come on out in the open with their desires.  They don't have to call themselves "progressives".  This doesn't even make sense since we would actually being regressing if we tried communism here.

Before I became a Christian I had a vague notion of what a man should be.  We did not go to church nor discuss faith. My dad set a decent example for me.  He got up and went to work everyday and we lived indoors.  We did not wont for anything nor did we have luxury.  He displayed a great sense of humor and critical thinking skills which I picked up on. But he was sorely limited in other ways.  I won't go into them out of honor to him.  He has passed on. 

I also, like most in our mass pop culture, took my notes from movies, tv, magazines, newspapers, books, and advertisements.  I figured here is how it goes: Get physically strong, don't be humble, score chicks, make some money, be nice to old people and pay your bills on time.  Buy the expensive stuff - it will make you happy. Drinking, cussing, overindulging in sports, and being cynical are favorable habits.  And if you had to be "spiritual" don't be too serious about it.  Needless to say, this led nowhere and never satisfied me.

What I want to celebrate is what it takes to be a Christian man.  Before I begin, I fall short in some areas and let my nature take over sometimes.  This is the beautiful thing about God - He knows it takes time and He is infinitely patient.  My walk is exhilirating and I strive to be more Christ-like daily. 

A Christian Man:

• Loves Jesus above all, including his own family.
• Devotes himself to praying, studying, and meditating on the Word daily. 
• Praises the Lord, with no embarassment, whenever and wherever.
• Gives thanks to the Father for his blessings.  
• Reacts kindly to those who are rude or obnoxious.
• Spreads the gospel to the ignorant and curious.  This takes a little courage.  No one likes to be rejected.
• Leads his family.  He must cover his wife and set a faith-filled example for his family.
• Is a good steward of "stuff". 
• Heeds the call of the Holy Spirit immediately.  He does not hesitate to do the right thing.
• Disciplines his tongue.
• Is steadfast in his faith that God means it when He says He will provide. 

I had no idea when I accepted Christ that things would be so challenging.  Some situations and people just set you off.  It is difficult not to resort to old ways when dealing with such annoyances and troubles. The men in my church set a great example and have mentored me in my walk.  What a blast!  I have my hands full, all day, every day and finally feel satisfied.  I intend to influence others in my turn.