From Where I Sit

A Necessary Task

2006-08-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

There has been some discussion as to what exactly the Lebanese and UN troops will be doing along the Israel-Lebanon border. I thought it would have been obvious: they're there to protect the French.

To The New York Times

2006-06-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

I the case of the New York Times revelation of the (formerly) secret program to monitor terrorist international money transactions, I wrote the editor tthe following letter:

Editor-

Who appointed you as the arbiter of the nation's secrets? Do you have all the information needed to unilaterally decide what can be safely revealed to our enemies? What checks and balances do we, the people of the Unites States, have on your independent decisions regarding our very lives? Your obvious hatred of President Bush has blinded you to the very real and bloody consequences of aiding terrorism. You would have revealed the plans for D-Day to the Germans.

Your actions and those of the Los Angeles Times are utterly contemptible. You care nothing for the safety and security of this nation and its people. Have you so soon forgotten 9/11?

Your arrogance and conceit are repellent.

Che Guevara is NOT a Role Model

2006-05-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest letter to the Ventura County Star, published today (5/12).

Editor-

Today (5/2) on the front page of the Star was a picture of a demonstration in Los Angeles. In the crowd was a poster of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the Cuban revolutionary. What does this say about some of the sponsors of yesterday's marches? "Che" Guevara was a hard-line communist in Fidel Castro's revolution which brought totalitarianism to that land. He said, "Hatred as an element of struggle; unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective, and cold-blooded killing machine. This is what our soldiers must become..." He helped establish Cuba's labor-camp penal system which would be employed to jail gays, dissidents, and AIDS victims. What does this say about a group who would choose to align themselves with such a murderous thug? If they tried such a march in Cuba, they would be jailed and possibly shot.

Groups such as A.N.S.W.E.R., a Stalinist organization that supports North Korean dictator Kim Jung Il, are actively organizing these marches. Those who truly believe in freedom and want the best for the illegal immigrants would do well to immediately dissociate themselves from these and other similar groups.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

Flight93

2006-05-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

I went to see Flight 93 Saturday. It is an intense, moving motion picture. I don't recommend it for young children. There is no narration, you are present for aall the activity. But you don't know anything more about your fellow passengers than you would if you were really there. All you know comes from the incidental conversations you overhear. Many of the FAA and military characters play themselves. This is a sort of documentary of the recreation of that Flight, done about as well as it could possibly be done. It just reminds us of those who would kill us for being Americans and that we are going to fight back. GO see it.

Civic Responsibility

2005-09-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Politicians run for public office. They promise various things to their constituent groups—or those they hope will become their constituent groups. The voters listen to these promises and sometimes are swayed by them. The public has the ultimate power and must exercise this power responsibly. It’s not just civic pride, political ambition, power, and/or wealth at stake. It can be life and death, not just for some but for thousands, and for entire cities.

Elected politicians are granted the power to do things for the good of the community. They must exercise this governmental power with care and responsibility. When they do not, we see the results in corruption, economic problems, civic unrest, and worse.

Now we see the results of the failure of politicians at the local and state level in particular in the case of Hurricane Katrina. Emergency planning is a LOCAL (city, county, and state) responsibility. Only the local level knows the details of their situation. The federal government can help when asked but has no authority to take the responsibility away from the local governmental powers.

In particular, it appears that the authorities at various levels in Louisiana failed miserably. The emergency preparedness plan for the city of New Orleans is posted on the web. Read it. The mayor failed utterly to carry out his responsibilities under the plan. The mayor and governor had to be persuaded to evacuate the city by the President, who has no authority to evacuate a city without the request of the local authorities. The concern of the state authorities? They were worried the feds might take over the evacuation. (see Washington Post)

In this and other circumstances in the planning and execution of those plans—or rather, the failure to properly execute those plans—the local governmental authorities failed.

Political office carries with it great rewards—but only when its corresponding great responsibilities are faithfully carried out. Only candidates who promise to shoulder these responsibilities with resolve should be considered for office. Those who fail in their responsibilities must be removed from office. The voters must shoulder their responsibility to see that this failure never happens again. Too much is at stake.

Hurricane Help

2005-08-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Katrina has struck the Gulf Coast with disastrous consequences. How can we help? Super-Blogger Glen Reynolds of InstaPundit has taken up Hugh Hewitt's challenge to blogosphere to collectively contribute to the relief effort. Here's how YOU can help!
Give through the Salvation Army! (I just did). Here's the link...
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

I write the Believer's Weekly, a review of Christian web sites, for WorldVillage.com, a family-safe web site. You can subscribe for free here.

Here's this week's edition on the Salvation Army...

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X WorldVillage presents
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X THE BELIEVER'S WEEKLY
X Featuring the Best Christian Web Sites
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Featured Site for the Week of August 31, 2005
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+ Salvation Army National Headquarters +

+ http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ +

William Booth probably never dreamt of the growth and importance of the organization he founded in 1865 London. In 1878, the group was renamed The Salvation Army and was organized along military lines. Today The Salvation Army counts over 3500 officers, 60,000 employees, 430,000 adherents, and over 3,5 million volunteers. The Army's social services to more than 30 million people a year have expanded over the years to include disaster relief services, day care centers, summer camps, holiday assistance, services for the aging, AIDS education and residential services, medical facilities, shelters for battered women and children, family and career counseling, vocational training, correction services, and substance abuse rehabilitation. Right now, hurricane Katrina and her disastrous consequences are the Army's immediate concern. The Salvation Army needs your donations now! The informative web site is kept current with news of the disaster and offers an on-line method for accepting you donation. You may have heard of the phrase applied to some Christians, "Too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good." With the Salvation Army, it's because they are heavenly minded that they are so earthly good--real Christianity in action. The site is informative and useful. But right now, the most important part of the site is the donation link. Give today! You can contact the Salvation Army through the form at the "Contact Us" link.

Read more about this site and link to it at:
http://www.worldvillage.com/sitereviews/believers.html?id=466

Click here

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For information on how you can reach our readers with news of your
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Believer's Weekly Link Swaps

Subscribe to the Christian History Institute ChINotes newsletter +
+ http://www.gospelcom.net/chi/ +
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If you enjoy this newsletter, we encourage you to forward a copy to
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The Believer's Weekly is composed by William Yates for
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Comments? Recommendations for future sites? Drop us a line or
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Check out his web site at http://www.billyates.com.
Bill Yates also writes CD reviews for http://www.roots66.com.

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Thanks to Michelle

2005-06-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the wonderful Michelle Malkin for picking up on my definition of "Durbinize", posting my post to her blog, and actually using "Durbinize" in the headline of one of her later posts. (By the way, it's "Bill" not "Billy," but who cares! :)

To Durbinize

2005-06-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

To Durbinize

Durbinize, verb.
1. To make, either explicitly or implicitly, a moral, political, or factual equivalence between two situations which in reality have little or nothing in common. (After U. S. Senator Richard Durbin (D, ILL) who compared the alleged abusive treatment of a terrorist detainee held at Guantanamo Bay with the depraved horrors of the Nazis, Soviet gulags, and Pol Pot’s mass murders, thereby equating the U. S. personnel with these murderous despots.)
2. To apparently apologize without actually doing so by subtly placing the blame for legitimate objections to the actions of definition 1 on the objectors. This may be accomplished by expressing disappointment that the objectors have “misunderstood” the speaker’s remarks or by stating the speaker’s sorrow that feelings were hurt. In reality, the speaker is implying that the objectors are too stupid to understand plain English or are insufficiently educated or mature to accept the speaker’s remarks as truth.

Dick Durbin's Air Pollution

2005-06-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

I've been kind of quiet lately but Illinois Senator Dick Durbin's recent remarks have me riled to the point where I can't keep quiet. His comparisons of conduct of American guards at Guantanamo, guarding and interrogating people who would like nothing better than to kill you and your children simply for being American, to Pol Pot, Nazis, and the Soviet Gulag is one of the most foul and odious speeches ever to be heard in the hallowed halls of the Senate. Such words diminish the horror and depravity of those monsters of history. It's as if he had compared someone who slugged a mugger with a serial killer. It seems his unreasoning hatred of President Bush has unhinged his mind. And from his weasel-worded explanations, it seems he has no real understanding of the moral issues involved and his errors. The best tghing he could do now is resign. The air quality in the Senate would improve immediately.

Political Rights of Christians

2005-04-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

Recently, Richard Larsen of the Ventura County Star wrote an editorial in which he lambasted evangelical Christians for trying to impose their views on the country. This is my reply which was publishe din the paper April 25:

Editor:

Richard Larsen has again demonstrated his irrational fear of people of faith in his editorial (4/19/05). He apparently believes that “evangelical Christians” are free to believe hat they wish as long as they confine it to behind church doors or their own homes. But to bring one’s faith into public and to have one’s understanding and values be derived from their faith is somehow beyond the pale. Christians should just shut up about values issues because their opinions are based on religion and therefore invalid and have no place in the political life of the country. What kind of faith is it that doesn’t affect one’s life and views? For me to deny my faith is to be a hypocrite and liar.

Larsen charges that urging legislators to support our views means we oppose freedom of religion, speech, and thought. This is a profoundly hypocritical and corrupt analysis. What do labor leaders, ethnic groups, and business interests do? Exactly the same thing. Why is it dangerous for Christians to do it? We are only exercising our Constitutional rights as any other citizen is free to do.

Freedom of speech means just that. It is not prohibited because the subject may be based upon religious beliefs. Larsen is afraid that some sort of theocracy will be installed which will tell everyone what to do. But the way we change laws and government in this country is by elections. And to win elections, you must persuade enough voters to support your candidate or party to win. Why is it a danger that evangelical Christians express their political views? Is it only secular points of view which have any validity?

Mr. Larsen complains about Christian wanting to impose their beliefs on the rest of the country. But he wants to do the same with his views. Hypocritical, to say the least.

Bill Yates
Oxnard, CA

Just Desserts

2005-03-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

Scott Peterson was sentenced to death today. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving man.

Fair and Balanced?

2005-02-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

On January 27, Eason Jordan, the Chief News Executive of CNN News, was in a conclave of the World Economic Forum titled "Will Democracy Survive the Media?" During that meeting, Mr. Jordan mentioned that he knew of 12 journalists who had been targeted by and killed by US forces. Challenged on this astounding charge by David Gergen and Congressman Barney Frank, among others, Jordan began waffling but never fully retracted the statement.

This is a disgraceful performance of someone who is supposed to know better. In front of representatives from many countries, he charges his own armed forces with deliberate murder without one shred of evidence. If he had any such evidence, why did he not reveal it? In his stumbling sidestep (it wasn’t a full retreat), he said he didn’t really believe it but others did. So why bring it up by saying you knew it was true? Either he is lying, one way or the other, or is incredibly biased against his own armed services and took the opportunity to publicly slime them, before the world, or he is totally incompetent. Any choice you pick is grounds enough for him to be fired.

But what does this incident say about the mindset of people like Jordan? How is it that he is able to let scurrilous accusations like this flow casually out of his mouth with apparently no inkling of its acceptability/ That is, he apparently did not expect to be called to task for his charges. Why not? Is it because in the circles in which he travels this accusation is simply accepted as expected behavior of United States troops? Is this the mindset at CNN? In the larger MSM? In the left in general? The latter cannot be as Barney Frank, no right-winger he, challenged Jordan.

The topic of the session was "Will Democracy Survive the Media?" If Eason Jordan is representative of the media, then I have my doubts. A democracy depends upon an informed public, not an indoctrinated one.

The Yeahbuts are in Bloom

2005-01-31T18:32:00.000-08:00

It’s getting on towards Spring. Well, a little ways, anyway. And the yeahbuts are in bloom. What’s a yeahbut? It’s a variety of weed in the garden of political and civil life. A yeahbut is always ready to dismiss a positive development and put emphasis on some possible negative occurrence in the future. For example, after the recent successful elections in Iraq, there has been a bouquet of yeahnuts. Essentially they all say that phrase which gives them their name: “Yeah, but...”

“Didn’t the Iraqis turn out in numbers comparable or better than our own voter turnouts, and this in the face of lethal threats?”
“Yeah, but what happens next?”
“Yeah, but the Sunnis didn’t turn out”
“Yeah, but why aren’t we pulling out?”
“Yeah, but the hard work is ahead.”
Etc., etc.

Beware the yeahbut. Its insidious pessimism and preference for negative predictions leads to softening of spinal columns and mental dithering. But beware not only for your own political health and liberty but for that of others. Successful spread of the consequences of the yeahbuts arguments lead to increasing isolationism and surrender of the national will to the yeahbuts. Counteracting the effects of the yeahut requires the vigorous application of sound logic, bold confrontation, and public disparagement. Yeahbuts are the crabgrass in the lawn of freedom. Be on the alert and ready to counteract them at all times.

A Response to the Response to the Second Inaugural Address

2005-01-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

It’s been a few days now since the President’s second inaugural address—time for reactions to have come in. And a disappointing response it has been.

The loony left, the limousine liberals, the sophisticated sophists, the parlor progressives, the blasé bloggers, the obfuscating opportunists, the undemocratic Democrats, and the European eunuchs have all chimed in. And sneered and doubted and wrung their hands and dithered. I thought the end of oppression and the triumph of human freedom was the goal of all right-thinking peoples, especially those of the left. Haven’t we heard the chant for years? Freedom Now! Human Rights! Down with Tyranny!

Except there are exceptions. Except if you are Muslim. Except if you are Christian. Except if you are oppressed by some race other than white. Except if it is more profitable for you to remain enslaved. Except if you are being helped by those rude Americans. Except if you want your freedom now. You can’t rush these things you know.

Of course, lip service must be paid to the goal of liberty for all. But actual progress toward that goal must be taken very slowly, if at all. After all, it might involve force at some point. And bombs are so much louder than muffled screams from dungeons. And we might have to sacrifice several thousands to stop the death of millions. War is so messy. And we might even make some oppressor mad at us.

The President spoke of a fire—a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world. But there are many who try to extinguish this blaze, whose wood is too wet to burn.

Let us resolve to spread this fire, to light the way of freedom for those oppressed. We must not be turned from that goal by those who will not make the journey with us. And we must clearly label them as enemies of freedom and enablers of tyranny.

De-Grinchifying Christmas

2004-12-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like the Grinch is starting to work overtime again this year. Target is banning the Salvation Army, Macy's ads don't mention the word Christmas, a parade in Colorado bans a religious-themed float although allowing the Lion Dance, a Chinese New Year tradition meant to chase away evil spirits and welcome good luck and good fortune for the year and a group supporting gay Indians, and a school district is banning any "religious" Christmas music--even instrumental selections with no words! The list goes on and on. I hope Santa has a coal mine. If you encounter any of this nonsense, check out the Rutherford Institute's "12 Rules for Christmas" at http://www.rutherford.org/resources/legal-12rules.asp for what is legal these days.
Oh, and have a Merry Christmas!

Fetus vs Baby

2004-11-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

Fetus vs Baby

After the Scott Peterson verdict, I saw a sub-headline in the Ventura Star which prompted me to write the following letter to the Editor. It was printed on 11/16/04 along with several other very good letters on the same theme.

Editor--

Your headline, "Modesto man may be exexcuted for murdering his wife, fetus," is offensive. He murdered his wife and SON. Conner Peterson was a BABY, capable of life outside his loving mother's womb. To refer to him as simply a "fetus" robs him of his dignity and respect as a human being. Don't compound his father's crime by disrespecting this innocent, defenseless victim.

Close the Political Divide?

2004-11-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

Close the Political Divide?

In response to an editorial by Richard Larsen in the Ventura County Star (registration required), I sent the following letter...

Editor--

In his editorial (Nov. 9) Richard Larsen offers a plea to end political
strife by calling on President Bush and the Republicans to cross the
existing divide. Aside from some general statements that both sides need
to do something, Larsen reserves specifics only for Bush, Republicans,
and evangelical Christians. Apparently the winners in the election are
supposed to abandon their positions (which won them the majority of
votes) and begin to immediately surrender to the minority. Excuse me?
Don't we live in a democracy? What does it mean to win if you have to
surrender to the minority? How often have the Democrats done so after a
political victory?

Larsen then proceeds to take a brickbat to evangelical Christians for
their "massive pre-emptive assault" "to impose their interpretation of
morality as the law of this land." I'm sorry. I apologize for having
moral convictions and wanting to see them encoded into law where
possible. What is law but encoded morality? Thou shalt not kill is to be
thrown out because it is in the Ten Commandments? Would Larsen have
opposed the banning of slavery because Christians were a driving force
behind abolition? If no one imposes morality of any kind on society we
have anarchy. Excluding Christian morality from participating in the
political process is religious bigotry. Imposing atheistic morality is OK with the extreme left.

Larsen then criticizes a radio talk show host, one Frank Pastore, for
saying that "Good people holding false ideas are won over only if we
defeat what is false with the truth" and then saying that these false
ideas come from the "evil ideology" of the left. Larsen says, "These are
words demagogues use to whip up hatred. These are words of
self-righteous arrogance. These are words that can only harden
divisiveness." Mr. Larsen, you need to open your eyes and ears.
Pastore's statement can be criticized without calling it demagogic hate
speech. Have you heard what the Left is saying?

I for one am sick and tired of being reviled, insulted, slandered, and belittled by people who think of me (when they do think) as vermin because I believe differently on some things than they do. Conservatives, Christians, and Republicans have been called Nazis, racists, bigots, intolerant, homophobic, Neanderthals, ignorant, dumb, stupid, warmongers, haters, and worse. And these words come from educated people: columnists, commentators, educators, politicians, etc.

Reach across the political divide? Sure. But after you get your hand slapped and spit upon a few times, it comes to you: It takes two to tango.

Mr. Larsen: Please look around at BOTH sides of the political divide and note that the Left spews forth (I believe) more venom than the Right. At least, take them to task with the same zeal with which you attack the Right.

From Where I Sit

2004-10-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hi and Welcome to my blog!

My name is Bill Yates and I live in Southern California. I am married (38 years) and have two married children and 2-1/2 grandchildren. I am a retired electronics engineer. My interests are music and building web sites. I write CD reviews for Roots66.com and the Believer's Weekly, a weekly review of Christian web sites for WorldVillage.com. I am a member of Grace Reformed Church, an independent church and politically I am a conservative.

I named my blog "From Where I Sit" primarily because I sit all the time in my wheelchair due to an attack of polio at age 10. From time to time I will post my ruminations on things political, religious, social, musical, and whatever else passes through my fevered brain. Please let me know what you think!

--Blessings,
--Bill Yates