Paul & Mary Kegley

This e-mail came from my brother Paul's address. I don't believe Paul authored it, but he does have a wife named Mary.

Sam:

Three Men on a Hike


Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large raging,
violent river.

Needing to get to the other side, the first man prayed: 'God, please give
me the strength to cross the river.'

Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs and he was able to swim across
in about two hours, having almost drowned twice.

After witnessing that, the second man prayed: 'God, please give me
strength and the tools to cross the river.'

Poof! God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs and he was
able to row across in about an hour, after almost capsizing once.

Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed:
'God, please give me the strength, the tools, and the intelligence
to cross the river.'

Poof! He was turned into a woman. She checked the map, hiked
one hundred yards upstream, and walked across the bridge.

GO AHEAD, SEND THIS TO A WOMAN WHO NEEDS A GOOD LAUGH AND TO ANY MAN WHO
CAN HANDLE IT!

'If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!'

Clay Vice e-mail

> Subject: Physical Checkup
>
> After
> the
> eighty-three year old lady finished her
> annual physical
>
> examination, the doctor said, "You are in fine shape
> for your
>
> age, Mrs. Mallory, but tell me, do you still have
> intercourse?"
> "Just a
> minute, I'll have to ask my husband," she
> said. She stepped out
> into the crowded reception room and
> yelled out loud: "Bob, do we
> still have intercourse?"
> And there was a hush you could hear a
> pin drop.
> Bob answered
> impatiently, "If I told you once, Irma,
> I told you a hundred
> times...What we have is Blue Cross!"

Self preservation- Patricia Richards Whitehead

Thanks Patricia! I will post this on my blog. You, friend, are a major contributor with your interesting messages.

Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia Whitehead
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 10:20 PM
Subject: Fw: Wasp Spray - Very good Idea




Subject: Fw: Wasp Spray - Very good Idea











This is a great idea, especially if you live alone!



Great Idea!! Now there will be a run on wasp spray.




This will cut down on gun sales--when they break in , all you have to do is reach for your bug spray


Subject: Wasp Spray vs Pepper Spray

Good idea...If you've ever used wasp spray for wasp, you'll know that it shoots at least up to twenty feet.
Guys, tell your women.

I have a friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area who was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the offering. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead. The wasp spray, they told
her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray they have to get too close to you and could overpower you.

The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection.

Thought this was interesting and might be of use.



!

Excellent piece, Alma!

Do not know who wrote this,

I have noted that many elected officials, both Democrats and
Republicans, called upon America to unite behind Obama.


Well, I want to make it clear to all who will listen that I AM
NOT uniting behind Obama!

I will respect the Office which he holds, and I will acknowledge
his abilities as an orator and wordsmith and pray for him, BUT that is
it.

I have begun today to see what I can do to make sure that He is
a one-term President!

Why am I doing this?

It is because I do not share Obama's vision or Value system
for America ;

I do not share his Abortion beliefs;

I do not share his radical Marxist's concept of re-distributing
wealth ;

I do not share his stated views on raising taxes on those who
make $150,000+ (the ceiling has been changed three times since August);


I do not share his view that America is Arrogant;

I do not share his view that America is not a Christian
Nation;

I do not share his view that the military should be reduced by
25%;

I do not share his view of amnesty and giving more to illegals
than American Citizens who need help;

I do not share his views on homosexuality and his definition of
marriage;

I do not share his views that Radical Islam is our friend and
Israel is our enemy who should give up any land;

I do not share his spiritual beliefs (at least the ones he has
made public);

I do not share his beliefs on how to re-work the healthcare
system in America ;

I do not share his Strategic views of the Middle East, and
certainly do not share his plan to sit down with terrorist regimes such
as Iran .

Bottom line, my America is vastly different from Obama's, and
I have a higher obligation to my Country and my God to do what is Right!


For eight (8) years, the Liberals in our Society, led by
numerous entertainers who would have no platform and no real credibility
but for their celebrity status, have attacked President Bush, his
family, and his spiritual beliefs!

They have not moved toward the center in their beliefs and their
philosophies, and they never came together nor compromised their
personal beliefs for the betterment of our Country! They have
portrayed my America as a land where everything is tolerated except
being intolerant!

They have been a vocal and irreverent minority for years; they
have mocked and attacked the very core values so important to the
founding and growth of our Country!

They have made every effort to remove the name of God or Jesus
Christ from our Society! They have challenged capital punishment, the
right to bear firearms, and the most basic principles of our criminal
code; they have attacked one of the most fundamental of all Freedoms,
the right of free speech!

Unite behind Obama? Never!

I am sure many of you who read this think that I am going
overboard, but I refuse to retreat one more inch in favor of those whom
I believe are the embodiment of Evil!

PRESIDENT BUSH made many mistakes during his Presidency, and I
am not sure how history will judge him.

However, I believe that he weighed his decisions in light of
the long established Judeo-Christian principles of our Founding
Fathers!!!

Majority rules in America , and I will honor the concept;
however, I will fight with all of my power to be a voice in opposition
to Obama and "his goals for America ."

I am going to be a thorn in the side of those who, if left
unchecked, will destroy our Country!! Any more compromise is more
defeat!

I pray that the results of this election will wake up many who
have sat on the sidelines and allowed the Socialist-Marxist anti-God
crowd to slowly change so much of what has been good in America !

"Error of Opinion may be tolerated where Reason is left free to
combat it." ( Thomas Jefferson)

God bless you and God bless our Country!!!

(Please, please, please, Pass this on if you agree)
Thanks for your time, be safe.

"In God We Trust"

'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will
be a nation gone under.'
- Ronald Reagan

Very nice thoughts in this e-mail

This is from a wonderful friend of mine. She knows so much about beauty and life. Thanks Mimi!


Subject: God's wife! A very nice forward from a friend !


Dear Friends,

This from a friend in Hyderabad. bob



Hi Folks,

No one i know has seen God, yet many in my family have experianced His being there.
EHSAS as would be aptly described in Hindi.
God is experianced in routine life...one has to be fortunate enough to experience it.......all stories that follow are worth the EHSAS that they give.
Remember.... all/most of us have heard them before - but how many of us have actually paused to ponder ?????

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once
talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was:




A four-year-old child, whose next door

neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his
wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old
gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had
said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just
helped him cry.'
************ ********* ********* ********* ******
Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were
discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture
had a different hair color than the other members. One of her
students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, 'I know all about
adoption, I was adopted..'
'What does it mean to be adopted?', asked
another child.
'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew
in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'
************ ********* ********* ********* ******
On my way home one day, I stopped to
watch a Little League base ball game that was being played in a
park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-
base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was
'We're behind 14 to nothing,' he answered
with a smile.
'Really,' I said. 'I have to say you
don't look very discouraged. '
'Discouraged? ', the boy asked with a
puzzled look on his face....
'Why should we be discouraged? We haven't
been up to bat yet.'
************ ********* ********* ********* ******
Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot
in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.
Jamie was trying out for a part in the
school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being
in it, though she feared he would not be chosen.
On the day the parts were awarded, I went
with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her,
eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he
shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to
me....'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.'
************ ********* ********* ********* ******
An eye witness account from New York
City , on a cold day in December,
some years ago: A little boy,
about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the
roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering
with cold.
A lady approached the young boy and said,
'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'
'I was asking God to give me a pair of
shoes,'was the boy's reply.
The lady took him by the hand, went into
the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks
for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water
and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.
She took the little fellow to the back
part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed
his little feet, and dried them with the towel.
By this time, the clerk had returned with
the socks.. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him
a pair of shoes..
She tied up the remaining pairs of socks
and gave them to him.. She patted him on the head and said, 'No
doubt, you will be more comfortable now.'
As she turned to go, the astonished kid
caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears
in his eyes, asked her.
'Are you God's wife?'








"Cherish yesterday, Dream tomorrow. Live today."

Top ten tips for saving gas

Thanks John Bob Looney!

Top 10 Tips for Saving Gas

25 May 2008
Written by Jerry Dawson

1. Turn off your engine if you are going to be idling for more than 30 seconds. Millions of gallons of fuel are wasted each day from idling. Your starter and battery system can handle the increased activity.

2. Change your air filter every 10,000 miles. Just like a marathon runner, your car needs to suck in air without restriction.

3. Install a real-time fuel consumption meter if your car does not have one already. This way, you can see what you are doing while you are driving and make the needed adjustments to save fuel.

4. Pump up those tires. Higher tire pressures result in lower rolling resistance, so your mileage will improve. Not too high, mind you, but a tad over the “recommended” from your car and tire manufacturer. Remember, they don’t want you to get good mileage.

5. Turn off your air conditioning, but only at lights or in slow traffic. When you really get going, the open windows produce drag that will offset any savings you might imagine from having the AC off.

6. Reduce the weight of your car. Remove all non-essential items from the trunk and the interior of your car. Weight takes energy to move, so the lighter your car the less energy you will lose. Keep the spare tire and the jack, but almost everything else can go. If you don’t have a family, take out the back seat. Invest in custom wheels if they are significantly lighter than the stock wheels. Carbon fiber parts (like the hood or trunk) are great, too, although they may be a bit expensive.

7. Don’t keep your gas tank full all the time. Remember, fuel equals weight and you must do everything you can to make your vehicle lighter. Keeping about a half tank or less all the time should allow for emergencies but also keep your weight down.

8. Wax your car and keep it clean and waxed. Drag (friction with the air) greatly reduces fuel economy. A clean and waxed vehicle will have reduced aerodynamic drag, thus providing better mileage. If you have a luggage rack, take it off. If you have a moon roof, keep it closed. Smooth is what you want.

9. Don’t drive a lot with a cold engine. Cold engines do not run efficiently. Use a block heater to pre-heat your engine if you are taking many short trips. If you can combine your short trips it will help, as driving further will allow your engine more operating time at higher temperatures.

10. Use cruise control whenever possible. The car’s ability to maintain a constant speed is better than your ability to do so. Small, more precise, and constant adjustments made by the car’s cruise control system will save you fuel.

Ultimately, there are other, more drastic steps you can take to save on fuel. For instance, you could ride light rail instead of driving, car pool, ride your bike, buy a high mileage car like a MINI or a Toyota Corolla, or even move closer to where you work. One other thing to consider – invest in an oil company like Exxon-Mobil or BP. As the high cost of oil swells the profits of Big Oil, you will get a share of that ill-gotten wealth as an owner of the company.

E-mail from a Denison friend- Iraq and the Bible

Food for thought.






Read all of this one, it is interesting!!






Near the bottom--the part highlighted in green --will give you GOOSEBUMPS!!!




You don't want to miss this! ((*_*) )





VERY INTERESTING-






1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq



2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!



3. Noah built the ark in Iraq



4.. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq



5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq



6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor , which is in Iraq



7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq



8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - w hich is in Iraq


9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel



10. Amos cried out in Iraq



11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem



12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq



13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the Fiery Furnace!)



14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the 'writing on the wall' in Iraq



15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq



16.. Ezekiel preached in Iraq



17. The wise men were from Iraq



18. Peter preached in Iraq








19. The 'Empire of Man' described in Revelation is called Babylon --which was a city in Iraq



And you have probably seen this one: Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible.






But do you know which nation is second?






It is Iraq !






However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible.






The names used in the Bible are Babylon , Land of Shinar , and Mesopotamia ... The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris And Euphrates Rivers ..






The name Iraq means country with deep roots.



Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.



No other nation, except Israel , has more history and prophecy associated

With it than Iraq



And also, This is something to think about:






Since America is

Typically represented by an eagle.






Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages ....



The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)



Koran ( 9:11 ) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle.. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah;






And there was peace.

(Note the verse number!) Hmmmmmmm?!



I





This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq ..






Pass it on to everyone and pray.

Lou Flores- Message of the Day

I don't care if you lick windows,

take the special bus or occasionally pee on yourself.

You hang in there, sunshine because you're friggin' special.

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad,

is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly,

Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.


Life may not be the party we hoped for,

but while we're here, we should dance.

Thanks friend, Lou Flores!

A Harley rider is passing the zoo, when he sees a little girl leaning
into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket
and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents.



The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion square
on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back,
letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him
endlessly. A New York Times reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter says,
"Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole life."



The biker replies, "Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind bars.
I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted accordingly.” "Right," the reporter says,
"Well, I'm a journalist from the New York Times, and tomorrow's paper will have
this story on the front page....

So, what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?"



The biker replies, "I'm a U.S.. Marine and a Republican."
The following morning the biker buys The New York Times to see if it indeed
brings news of his deed, and reads, on front page:



U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIG RANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH.

Shaun, I love this. How could I post it on my blog witgh the live link?

Sam


----- Original Message -----
From: ronald walters
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:26 PM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: WOW!! WOW WOW!!





---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ronald walters
Date: Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: WOW!! WOW WOW!!
To: Carol.Gutman@notes.udayton.edu


This was good, Carol



On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 10:41 PM, wrote:



Turn up your volume and enjoy.

I don't know how they coordinated all of this, but it is SOMETHING!


I’m A Born Again American
http://www.bornagainamerican.org/

Thanks friend, Ronnie Walters, of P'Town

Dear Lord,*
*
Every single evening* *
As I'm lying here in bed,** **
This tiny little Prayer** **
Keeps running through my head:** **

God bless all my family** **
Wherever they may be,** **
Keep them warm** **
and safe from harm
For they're so close to me...

And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do;
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too.

Now I know that it's unusual
To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you, Lord.

You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.

I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.

Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.

Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And each person who hits 'send'.

When you update your Heavenly list
On your own Great CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer
Sent up to **GOD.com* * *
*
Amen *

From my sweet sister, Sharon.

I, Sam, proclaim myself to be a Christian. I do not claim to be holy myself, but that I want to follow Jesus Christ with my life, sinner that I am, but sinner that I do not want to be.

From Sharon:


When we were in Texarkana last week, there were signs in people's yards
that said, " America , prayer is our only hope" with 2 Chron. 7:14
underneath. We certainly need God's help!

I have no idea who started this, but I certainly agree with this
e-mail. I heard a preacher on TV tonight that said if will pray for our
nation that things will turn around

After a day of contemplation and soul searching, I have decided to
reach out to my friends and relatives and ask you to do something that
has been troubling me for a long time.

Our nation is/has been on the slippery slope for a long time. If you
look around you will find corruption, greed, moral decay, and a steady
move away from the things that made us great. The principles upon which
this nation was founded are no longer our backbone. However, we can
reverse this trend.












2 Chron. 7:14 In God's word he states,"If my people who are called by
my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their
sin and heal their land."

I am convinced that we must pray for our nation and its leaders and ask
for forgiveness. So I ask you to join me in this plea to our Lord.

Would you please send this to people in your address book (send it to
all of them); ask them to pray EVERYDAY. (25 to the only the 5th power
is 9,765,625 people.) IMAGINE if each person reaches TEN others.or all
TWENTY FIVE!

If you do and they comply, we will lift up millions and millions of
prayers a day to our Creator. He will hear us and in faith will answer.

Let me just add a quote from Ronald Reagan "If we ever forget that we
are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." I truly
believe this is why the United States of America is in the shape we are
in today. Most people have forgotten that we are one nation under God!
Let us as Christians stand up and remind people of this. ~ Have a
blessed day!

Clay Vice- We're turning the corner of 2907

We're heading to 3000 in a few days, Clay.

Thanks!

Many may not agree with my conservative politics, but I won't hide my thoughts on it. Some may just skip over and that is OK.

Sam

Thanks Marge Rusnak!

T H E F O R E H E A D D O T

For centuries, Hindu women have worn a dot (Bindi) on their
foreheads. Most of us have naively thought this was connected with
tradition
or religion, but the Indian Embassy in Washington , D.C. has recently
revealed the true story.

When a Hindu woman gets married, she brings a dowry into the union.
On her wedding night, the husband scratches off the dot to see whether he's
won a convenience store, a gas station, a donut shop, a taxi cab or a motel
in America. If nothing is there, he must remain in India to answer
telephones and provide us with technical support.

Mothers understand, Dave

Please excuse the rough language in the following story.....
> I would have deleted them, but the story wouldn't be the same.
>
>
> A young couple got married and went on their honeymoon. When
> they got back, the bride immediately called her mother.
>
> "Well," said her mother, "so how was the honeymoon?"
>
> "Oh, mama," she replied, "the honeymoon was wonderful! So romantic!"
>
> Suddenly she burst out crying. "But, mama, as soon as we
> returned, Sam started using the most horrible language --
> things I'd never heard before! I mean all these awful
> 4-letter words! You've got to take me home. . PLEASE MAMA!"
>
> "Sarah, Sarah," her mother said, "calm down! You need to
> stay with your husband and work this out. Now, tell me, what
> could be so awful? WHAT 4-letter words?"
>
> "Please don't make me tell you, mama," wept the daughter,
> "I'm so embarrassed, they're just too awful! COME GET ME, PLEASE!!"
>
> "Darling, baby, you must tell me what has you so upset.
> Tell your mother these horrible 4-letter words!"
>
> Sobbing, the bride said, "Oh, Mama . . . he used words like:
> dust, wash, iron, cook"..........
>
> "I'll pick you up in twenty minutes," said the mother.

Observing the Muslim religion and state control

Thanks Alma,

Muslim is such an "open" religion. You believe in it or you are an infidel and deserved to be killed by one of their heroes.




When you get to the end of the article, think of my question: "Does
this at all surprise you regarding our current president?"

Subject: Calhoun Times Column 255 The Muslim Mosque


#255 The Muslim Mosque

During the latter part of my life, I spent over five years in Muslim

dominated countries where Islam was the official religion. In Saudi

Arabia, Christianity was not allowed. In Egypt it was very restricted.

In the U A E there were restrictions but Christian meetings and
churches
are allowed.

In Saudi Arabia, foreign residents will meet secretly under pretense of

having a dinner or a party and have a small Christian worship.
Although
they claim to recognize Jesus as a prophet, he was on a lower level
than
their prophet Mohammed.

On Friday Morning which is the Holy Day, in addition to the five daily

prayers, Muslims are required to go to the Mosque at 11 a.m. to hear a

lesson from a Holy Man who will read from the Quran. He will then
expound
loudly about the meaning of the verses that he has read. He sounds
very
much like a Christian preacher and his message is broadcast loudly over
a
public address system just in case there are those on the outside who

could not get into the building. In Saudi Arabia these messages were
in
Arabic so the foreigners did not understand what was being said. We
had
no trouble hearing them because the Mosques were only a few blocks
apart
and most areas in Jeddah were well covered with the sound systems.

They are required to pray five prayers daily and these should be prayed

inside a Mosque. The first prayer is at daybreak and most of us would
be
awaken by the Call To Prayer which would come over a public address
system
about 5:30 each morning. The second prayer is the noon prayer. The
third
prayer is an afternoon prayer around 3 p. m. The forth prayer is the

sundown prayer and the fifth prayer is one hour after sundown. Each

prayer has its own ritual and is for a specific purpose.

If a Muslim cannot go to the Mosque, businesses will spread out a rug
with
lines across it or prayer rug designs on it so that they are facing
Meccah
when they pray. When these rugs are rolled out they are considered the

same as a Mosque and are to be treated with the same respect.

One evening at the time of the sundown prayer, I was at a nursery
looking
at plants for my apartment and took a couple of steps backward and

accidently stepped on the prayer rug. Two Saudi men were suddenly
beside
of me and lifted me off the ground by my arms and set me off of the
prayer
rug. As an infidel I had defiled their Holy Place.

While I was working in Arkansas for a company which was owned by a
Persian
Muslim, I designed carpet with prayer rug designs tufted into it for
two
Mosques that were being built in Canada. I had to draw the
installation
plan for the buildings. The carpet had to be installed so that the

designs were facing Meccah. I suggested that I go to Canada and
supervise
the installation. The owner advised me that since I was an unbeliever
I
would not be allowed into the building after it was designated as a

Mosque.

There are signs at the gates to the cities of Meccah and Medina in
Saudi
Arabia that say that unbelievers are not permitted into the city under

penalty of death. I was never allowed into any place that was
considered
a Muslim Holy Place. There is one Mosque in Cairo that has been

decommissioned and is being used for unbelieving tourist to go inside
and
see what a Mosque is like. Other than this one Mosque there is no
other
Muslim Holy Place that permits unbelievers or infidels as they call
them
to enter.

Recently President Obama was in Turkey and made a visit to a Mosque.
He
was invited inside and he made a speech to those in attendance. They

would not have permitted him inside of the Mosque if they did not
believe
that he was a Muslim. No other American President or Diplomat has ever

been invited inside of a Mosque during their visits to the Middle East.

There is no indication that President Obama told them that he had

converted to Christianity and was no longer a Muslim.

Graduation speech fronm the heart- Pat Richards W.

Wow, Patricia!

You find the best and you always move this old 1950 graduate of Portsmouth High School.

Thanks again for an important addition to my blog.

Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia Whitehead
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:52 AM
Subject: Fw: Candace Carteen as graduation speaker?









--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




You won't need your bottle of artificial tears.



If you don’t read this one, you’ll have missed a really great one!


This is well worth the time it takes to read it!!



IN GOD'S EYES By Candace Carteen, Portland , Oregon



By the time I was ten, I was totally ashamed of my father. All my friends called him names: Quasi-Moto, hunchback, monster, little Frankenstein, the crooked little man with the crooked little cane. At first it hurt when they called him those things, but soon I found myself agreeing with them. He was ugly, and I knew it!



My father was born with something called parastremmatic dwarfism. The disease made him stop growing when he was about thirteen and caused his body to twist and turn into a grotesque shape. It wasn't too bad when he was a kid. I saw pictures of him when he was about my age. He was a little short but quite good-looking. Even when he met my mother and married her when he was nineteen, he still looked pretty normal. He was still short and walked with a slight limp, but he was able to do just about anything. Mother said, "He even used to be a great dancer."



Soon after my birth, things started getting worse. Another genetic disorder took over, and his left foot started turning out, almost backward. His head and neck shifted over to the right; his neck became rigid and he had to look over his left shoulder a bit. His right arm curled in and up, and his index finger almost touched his elbow. His spine warped to look something like a big, old roller coaster and it caused his torso to lie sideways instead of straight up and down like a normal person. His walk became low, awkward, and deliberate.. He had to almost drag his left foot as he used his deformed right arm to balance his gait.




I hated to be seen with him. Everyone stared. They seemed to pity me. I knew he must have done something really bad to have God hate him that much. By the time I was seventeen, I was blaming all my problems on my father. I didn't have the right boyfriends because of him. I didn't drive the right car because of him. I wasn't pretty enough because of him. I didn't have the right jobs because of him. I wasn't happy because of him.



Anything that was wrong with me, or my life, was because of him. If my father had been good-looking like Jane's father, or successful like Paul's father, or worldly like Terry's father, I would be perfect! I knew that for sure.



The night of my senior prom came, and Father had to place one more nail in my coffin; he had volunteered to be one of the chaperons at the dance.



My heart just sank when he told me. I stormed into my room, slammed the door, threw myself on the bed, and cried. "Three more weeks and I'll be out of here!" I screamed into my pillow. "Three more weeks and I will have graduated and be moving away to college." I sat up and took a deep breath.



"God, please make my father go away and leave me alone. He keeps sticking his big nose in everything I do. Just make him disappear, so that I can have a good time at the dance."



I got dressed, my date picked me up, and we went to the prom. Father followed in his car behind us. When we arrived, Father seemed to vanish into the pink chiffon drapes that hung everywhere in the auditorium. I thanked God that He had heard my prayer. At least now I could have some fun.



Midway through the dance, Father came out from behind the drapes and decided to embarrass me again. He started dancing with my girlfriends. One by one, he took their hand and led them to the dance floor. He then clumsily moved them in circles as the band played. Now I tried to vanish into the drapes.



After Jane had danced with him, she headed my way. Oh, no! I thought. She's going to tell me he stomped on her foot or something.



"Grace," she called, "you have the greatest father."




My face fell. "What?"



She smiled at me and grabbed my shoulders. "Your father's just the best. He's funny, kind, and always finds the time to be where you need him. I wish my father was more like that.."



For one of the first times in my life, I couldn't talk. Her words confused me.




"What do you mean?" I asked her.



Jane looked at me really strangely. "What do you mean, what do I mean? Your father's wonderful. I remember when we were kids, and I'd sleep over at your house. He'd always come into your room, sit down in the chair between the twin beds, and read us a book. I'm not sure my father can even read," she sighed, and then smiled. "Thanks for sharing him."



Then, Jane ran off to dance with her boyfriend. I stood there in silence.



A few minutes later, Paul came to stand beside me.




"He's sure having a lot of fun."



"What? Who? Who is having a lot of fun?" I asked.



"Your father. He's having a ball."



"Yeah. I guess." I didn't know what else to say.



"You know, he's always been there," Paul said. "I remember when you and I were on the mixed-doubles soccer team. He tried out as the coach, but he couldn't run up and down the field, remember? So they picked Jackie's father instead. That didn't stop him. He showed up for every game and did whatever needed to be done. He was the team's biggest fan. I think he's the reason we won so many games. Without him, it just would have been Jackie's father running up and down the field yelling at us. Your father made it fun. I wish my father had been able to show up to at least one of our games. He was always too busy."



Paul's girlfriend came out of the restroom, and he went to her side, leaving me once again speechless.




My boyfriend came back with two glasses of punch and handed me one. "Well, what do you think of my father?" I asked out of the blue.



Terry looked surprised. "I like him. I always have."



"Then why did you call him names when we were kids?"



"I don't know. Because he was different, and I was a dumb kid."



"When did you stop calling him names?" I asked, trying to search my own memory.



Terry didn't even have to think about the answer. "The day he sat down with me outside by the pool and held me while I cried about my mother and father's divorce.. No one else would let me talk about it. I was hurting inside, and he could feel it. He cried with me that day. I thought you knew."



I looked at Terry and a tear rolled down my cheek as long-forgotten memories started cascading into my consciousness.



When I was three, my puppy got killed by another dog, and my father was there to hold me and teach me what happens when the pets we love die.



When I was five, my father took me to my first day of school. I was so scared. So was he. We cried and held each other that first day. The next day he became teacher's helper.. When I was eight, I just couldn't do math. Father sat down with me night after night, and we worked on math problems until math became easy for me.. When I was ten, my father bought me a brand-new bike. When it was stolen, because I didn't lock it up like I was taught to do, my father gave me jobs to do around the house so I could make enough money to purchase another one.. When I was thirteen and my first love broke up with me, my father was there to yell at, to blame, and to cry with. When I was fifteen and I got to be in the honor society, my father was there to see me get the accolade. Now, when I was seventeen, he put up with me no matter how nasty I became or how high my hormones raged.



As I looked at my father dancing gaily with my friends, a big toothy grin on his face, I suddenly saw him differently. The handicaps weren't his, they were mine! I had spent a great deal of my life hating the man who loved me. I had hated the exterior that I saw, and I had ignored the interior that contained his God-given heart. I suddenly felt very ashamed.




I asked Terry to take me home, too overcome with feelings to remain.




On graduation day, at my Christian high school, my name was called, and I stood behind the podium as the valedictorian of my class. As I looked out over the people in the audience, my gaze rested on my father in the front row sitting next to my mother. He sat there, in his one and only, specially made suit, holding my mother's hand and smiling.



Overcome with emotions, my prepared speech was to become a landmark in my life.



"Today I stand here as an honor student, able to graduate with a 4.0 average. Yes, I was in the honor society for three years and was elected class president for the last two years. I led our school to championship in the debate club, and yes, I even won a full scholarship to Kenton State University so that I can continue to study physics and someday become a college professor.



"What I'm here to tell you today, fellow graduates, is that I didn't do it alone. God was there, and I had a whole bunch of friends, teachers, and counselors who helped. Up until three weeks ago, I thought they were the only ones I would be thanking this evening. If I had thanked just them, I would have been leaving out the most important person in my life. My father."



I looked down at my father and at the look of complete shock that covered his face.



I stepped out from behind the podium and motioned for my father to join me onstage. He made his way slowly, awkwardly, and deliberately. He had to drag his left foot up the stairs as he used his deformed right arm to balance his gait. As he stood next to me at the podium, I took his small, crippled hand in mine and held it tight.




"Sometimes we only see the silhouette of the people around us," I said. "For years I was as shallow as the silhouettes I saw. For almost my entire life, I saw my father as someone to make fun of, someone to blame, and someone to be ashamed of. He wasn't perfect, like the fathers my friends had.



"Well, fellow graduates, what I found out three weeks ago is that while I was envying my friends' fathers, my friends were envying mine. That realization hit me hard and made me look at who I was and what I had become. I was brought up to pray to God and hold high principles for others and myself. What I've done most of my life is read between the lines of the Good Book so I could justify my hatred."




Then, I turned to look my father in the face.



"Father, I owe you a big apology. I based my love for you on what I saw and not what I felt. I forgot to look at the one part of you that meant the most, the big, big heart God gave you. As I move out of high school and into life, I want you to know I could not have had a better father. You were always there for me, and no matter how badly I hurt you, you still showed up. Thank you!"




I took off my mortar board and placed it on his head, moving the tassel just so.



"You are the reason I am standing here today. You deserve this honor, not me."




And as the audience applauded and cried with us, I felt God's light shining down upon me as I embraced my father more warmly than I ever had before, tears unashamedly falling down both our faces.



For the first time, I saw my father through God's eyes, and I felt honored to be seen with him.



From the book: God Allows U Turns: True Stories of Hope and Healing by Allison Bottke Happiness often sneaks in..... through a door you didn't know you left open

Ohio Stingrays-Leedy win first Lancaster tourney Game

Jeanie's and my granddaughter, Tobey, pitched a darn near perfect game, as the Stingrays defeated a team 12-0 in their first game of the Lancaster tournament last night. she must have thrown 80% strikes as the Stingrays defense became very stingy and the offense exploded. No hit- no run game! We are so proud of our little Annie Oakley!

Gentle Thoughts- JoAnn Hensley

JoAnn Hensley is a "Teacher Extraordinaire" at Columbus State Community College in Development Education's Math wing. How lucky I count Sam Kegley to have such a friend!



Gentle Thoughts for Today--

Birds of a feather flock together and crap on your car.

When I'm feeling down, I like to whistle. It makes the neighbor's dog run to the end of his chain and gag himself.


The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement .


Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are ' XL.'

The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.

There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt .

Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words 'The' and 'IRS' together it spells 'Theirs.'

The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know 'why' I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today, it's called golf
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

From a wise old softball philosopher- Clay Vice

Priceless Observations Department:




Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself,'Lillian, you should have remained a virgin.'

- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)

< /div>

<><>
I
<><>
Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement.
- Mark Twain
<><>
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.
- George Burns
<><>
Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.
- Victor Borge
<><>
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
- Mark Twain
<><>
By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.
- Socrates
<><>
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.
- Groucho Marx
<><>
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.
- Jimmy Durante
<><>
I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.
- Zsa Gabor
<><>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
- Alex Levine
<><>
My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.
- Rodney Dangerfield
<><>
Money can't buy you happiness .. But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.
- Spike Milligan
<><>
Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP.
- Joe Namath
<><>
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap.
- Bob Hope
<><>
I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it.
- W. C. Fields
<><>
We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.
- Will Rogers
<><>
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
<><>
Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty .. But everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.
- Phyllis Diller
<><>
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.
- Billy Crystal

Interesting stats on best traditions- www.wildcatnation.net

Kentucky Basketball Celebrate the phenomenon that is Kentucky Wildcat Basketball.



#1 Yesterday, 09:20 PM
blue in KC
Recruit Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 82

Interesting stats on the best traditions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

snagged this from another blog, unrelated to UK, but thought you guys would like it. pretty solid #s if you ask me... pretty tough to argue against UK as the best tradition. even though after rupp we kind of declined.

20 Win Seasons:
1. UK 53
2. UNC 51
3. Duke 46
4. UCLA 45
5. Kansas 38
6. Indiana 30

30 Win Seasons:
1. UK 11
2. UNC 10
2. Duke 10
4. Kansas 8
4. UCLA 8
6. Indiana 4

All Time Wins:
1. UK 1988
2. UNC 1984
3. Kansas 1970
4. Duke 1852
5. UCLA 1642
6. Indiana 1641

Conference Titles:
1. Kansas 52
2. UK 45
3. UCLA 40
4. UNC 35
5. Duke 21
6. Indiana 20

Conference Tourney Titles:
1. UK 27
2. UNC 25
3. Kansas 23
4. Duke 21
5. UCLA 3
6. IU 0

AP Final Top 10:
1. UK 38
2. UNC 31
3. Duke 29
4. UCLA 25
5. Kansas 21
6. Indiana 16

AP Final #1:
1. UK 8
1. UCLA 8
3. Duke 7
4. UNC 5
5. IU 3
6. Kansas 1

NCAA Appearances:
1. UK 50
2. UCLA 43
3. UNC 41
4. Kansas 38
5. Indiana 35
6. Duke 33

NCAA Tournament Wins:
1. UNC 102
2. UK 100
3. UCLA 99
4. Kansas 86
5. Duke 85
6. IU 60

Sweet 16s:
1. UK 40
2. UCLA 37
3. UNC 30
4. Kansas 27
5. Duke 24
6. IU 20

Elite 8s:
1. UK 31
2. UNC 24
3. UCLA 21
4. Kansas 19
5. Duke 17
6. IU 10

Final 4s:
1. UNC 18
2. UCLA 17
3. Duke 14
4. UK 13
4. Kansas 13
6. IU 8

Championship games:
1. UCLA 12
2. UK 10
3. UNC 9
3. Duke 9
5. Kansas 8
6. IU 6

NCAA Titles:
1. UCLA 11
2. UK 7
3. UNC 5
3. IU 5
5. Duke 3
5. Kansas 3

and If you run the average for each category you come up with the following.

UK 1.50
UNC 2.42
UCLA 2.92
KU 3.78
Duke 4.00
IU 5.64


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#2 Today, 12:03 AM
Blue_N_White
Junior Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,301

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue in KC
UK 1.50
UNC 2.42
UCLA 2.92
KU 3.78
Duke 4.00
IU 5.64

Interesting. I've always considered these schools to be the best half dozen schools in terms of tradition when it came to college hoops...and I've generally thought of them in the exact order that your ranking system lays them out as well!


_____________________________________________________________________________



7 - Time NCAA National Champion: 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998

All-Time Winningest Program in Men's D-1 College Basketball History



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#3 Today, 12:36 AM
PJ
Junior Join Date: May 2007
Location: Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Posts: 1,161

What I like is out of the 13 final fours we've been to, we've been to the game 10 times, and won it 7 times.


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UK >


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#4 Today, 12:53 AM
Mr. Tambourine Man
Freshman Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Posts: 169

Correct me if I'm wrong, but according to these stats... ONLY those six schools
UK
UNC
UCLA
KANSAS
DUKE
INDIANA

are in the top six of ALL the categories! In other words, NO OTHER school has cracked the top six of ANY category besides those six. Wow.

And on top of that, UK certainly rules the roost!


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#5 Today, 01:31 AM
Jody Porter
Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Marion, Kentucky, USA
Posts: 6,078

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Tambourine Man
Correct me if I'm wrong, but according to these stats... ONLY those six schools
UK
UNC
UCLA
KANSAS
DUKE
INDIANA

are in the top six of ALL the categories! In other words, NO OTHER school has cracked the top six of ANY category besides those six. Wow.

And on top of that, UK certainly rules the roost!

Don't think that list is all-inclusive, because I'm almost positive Syracuse is in the top-5 in all-time wins. In fact, I think they're exactly fifth, just slightly behind Duke. St. John's, I think, has more than UCLA, too.


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#6 Today, 02:02 AM
Hebrygger
Freshman Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 130

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jody Porter
Don't think that list is all-inclusive, because I'm almost positive Syracuse is in the top-5 in all-time wins. In fact, I think they're exactly fifth, just slightly behind Duke. St. John's, I think, has more than UCLA, too.


also im pretty sure memphis haws at least 4 30 win seasons

looks like we lose in the elite eight more than any other round


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#7 Today, 02:19 AM
misterbluecat
Blueblood Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Lexington
Posts: 1,362

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue in KC
NCAA Tournament Wins:
1. UNC 102
2. UK 100
3. UCLA 99
4. Kansas 86
5. Duke 85
6. IU 60

Kentucky has 98 wins after two of them were voided from the 1988 NCAA's (wins against Southern and Maryland). The loss to Villanova in the Sweet 16 was also voided. http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Sta.../gamencaa.html

Just saying.


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Member of the "Memorial Mob" - 3/17/09


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#8 Today, 08:56 AM
SamKat
Blueblood Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westerville, Ohio, USA
Posts: 2,039



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UK also should be far ahead in winning percentage and fewest losses of all games. That is a very key, seldom mentioned, stat.


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Ramey Hoskins- Charles Krauthammer Econ & obam

> Subj: Charles Krauthammer Speech/Comments on
> the ‘New Economy’
> & Barack Obama
>
> To my friends & associates:
>
> Last Monday was a
> profound evening, hearing Dr. Charles Krauthammer
> speak to the Center
> for the American Experiment. He is a
> brilliant intellectual,
> seasoned & articulate. He is forthright &
> careful in his
> analysis, & never resorts to emotions or
> personal insults. He is NOT
> a fearmonger nor an extremist in his comments &
> views. He is a
> fiscal conservative, & has a Pulitzer prize for
> writing. He is
> a frequent contributor to Fox News & writes
> weekly for the
> Washington Post. The entire room was held
> spellbound during his
> talk. I have shared this w/ many of you &
> several have asked
> me to summarize his comments, as we are living in
> uncharted waters
> economically & internationally. Even 2
> Dims at my table agreed
> w/ everything he said! If you feel like
> forwarding this to those
> who are open minded & have not ‘drunk the
> Kool-Aid’, feel
> free.
>
> Here is his resume from Wikipedia:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Krauthammer
>
> A
> summary of his comments:
>
> 1. Mr. Obama is a very
> intellectual, charming individual. He is not
> to be underestimated.
> He is a ‘cool customer’ who doesn't show
> his emotions. It's very hard to
> know what's ‘behind the mask’. Taking
> down the Clinton dynasty
> from a political neophyte was an amazing
> accomplishment. The
> Clintons still do not understand what hit
> them. Obama was in the
> perfect place at the perfect time.
>
> 2. Obama has political skills
> comparable to Reagan & Clinton. He has a
> way of making you
> think he's on your side, agreeing w/ your
> position, while doing the
> opposite. Pay no attn. to what he SAYS;
> rather, watch what he
> DOES!
>
> 3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not
> come to Washington to make something out of
> himself, but rather to
> change everything, incl. dismantling
> capitalism. He can’t be
> straightforward on his ambitions, as the public
> would not go
> along. He has a heavy hand, & wants to
> ‘level the playing
> field’ w/ income redistribution & punishment
> of the achievers of
> society. He would like to model the USA to
> Great Britain or
> Canada.
>
> 4. His 3 main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC
> EDUCATION, & NAT’L HEALTHCARE by the Fed.
> govt. He doesn't
> care about the auto or financial services
> industries, but got them as an
> early bonus. The cap & trade will add
> costs to everything
> & stifle growth. Paying for FREE college
> education is his
> goal... Most scary is healthcare program,
> because if you make it
> FREE & add 46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type
> single-payer system,
> the costs will go thru the roof. The only way
> to control costs is
> w/ massive RATIONING of services, like in
> Canada. God
> forbid.
>
> 5. He’s surrounded himself w/ mostly far-left
> academic types. No 1 around him has ever run even a
> candy store. But
> they’re going to try & run the auto,
> financial, banking & other
> industries. This obviously can’t work in the long
> run. Obama’s not a
> socialist; rather a far-left secular progressive
> bent on nothing short
> of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will
> govern from the hard left.
> Again, watch what he does, not what he says.
>
> 6. Obama
> doesn’t really see himself as President of the
> USA, more as a ruler over
> the world. He sees himself above it all,
> trying to orchestrate
> & coordinate various countries & their
> agendas. He sees
> moral equivilency in all cultures. His
> apology tour in Germany
> & England was a prime example of how he sees
> America, as an
> imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather
> than a great noble
> nation that has at times made errors. This is
> the 1st President
> ever who has chastised our allies & appeased
> our
> enemies!
>
> 7. He’s now handing out goodies. He hopes that the
> bill (& pain) will not ‘come due’ until
> after he’s reelected in
> 2012. He’d like to blame all problems on
> Bush from the past, &
> hopefully his successor in the future. He has
> a huge ego, &
> Mr. Krauthammer believes he is a narcicist.
>
> 8. Republicans
> are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge
> strong. We’re
> ‘pining’ for another Reagan, but there’ll
> never be another like
> him. He believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty
> & Bobby Jindahl
> (except for his terrible speech in Feb.) are the
> future of the party.
> Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage. Sarah
> Palin is sincere
> & intelligent, but needs to really be seriously
> boning up on facts
> & info if she’s to be a serious candidate in
> the future. We need to
> return to the party of lower taxes, smaller govt.,
> personal
> responsibility, strong nat’l defense, &
> states’
> rights.
>
> 9. The current level of spending is irresponsible
> & outrageous. We’re spending trillions that
> we don’t have. This
> could lead to hyper inflation, depression or worse.
> No country has ever
> spent themselves into prosperity. The media is
> giving Obama, Reid &
> Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But
> eventually the bill
> will come due & people will realize the huge
> bailouts didn’t work,
> nor will the stimulus pkg. These were
> trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama’s
> allies, unions & the Congress to placate the
> left, so he can get
> support for #4 above.
>
> 10. The election was over in mid-Sept. when
> Lehman brothers failed. Fear & panic swept in,
> we had an unpopular
> President, & the war was grinding on
> indefinitely w/o a clear
> outcome. The people are in pain, & the mantra
> of ‘change’ caused
> people to act emotionally. Any Dim would have won
> this election; it was
> surprising is was as close as it was.
>
> 11. In 2012, if the
> unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be
> swept back into
> power. If it's under 8%, the Dims
> continue to roll. If it's
> between 8-10%, it’ll be a dogfight. It’ll all
> be about the
> economy.
>
> I hope this gets you really thinking about what's
> happening in Washington & Congress. There’s a
> left-wing revolution
> going on, according to Krauthammer, & he
> encourages us to keep the
> faith & join the loyal resistance. The work
> will be hard, but we’re
> right on most issues & can reclaim our country,
> before it's far too
> late.

The Dog- Paul & Mary Kegley

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard. I could tell from his
collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.
He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then
followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner
on a rug and fell asleep.



An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed
his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued
off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar:

'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and
ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my
house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his
collar:

'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to
catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'

Slow Dance- Tom & Carolyn Lynch

Slow
Dance


This
is a poem
written by a teenager with cancer.



She wants to
see how many
people get her poem.



It is quite the poem
Please pass it
on.























This

poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a
New York

Hospital .



It was sent
by

a medical doctor -
Make sure to read what is in the closing statement
AFTER THE
POEM.




SLOW DANCE



Have you ever
watched
kids



On a merry-go-round?



Or listened to
the
rain



Slapping on the ground?



Ever followed a

butterfly's erratic flight?



Or gazed at the sun into the
fading
night?



You better slow down.



Don't
dance so
fast.



Time is short.



The music
won't
last.



Do you run through each
day



On
the
fly?


When you ask How are you?



Do you hear
the
reply?



When the day is done



Do you lie
in your
bed



With the next hundred chores




Running through
your head?



You'd better
slow down



Don't dance so
fast.



Time is
short.



The music won't
last.



Ever told your
child,



We'll do it
tomorrow?



And in your
haste,



Not see
his

sorrow?



Ever lost
touch,



Let a good
friendship die



Cause you
never had time



To call
and say,'Hi'



You'd
better slow
down.



Don't dance
so fast.



Time
is short.



The music won't
last.



When you run
so fast to get somewhere



You
miss half the fun of getting
there.



When you worry and hurry
through your
day,



It is like an unopened
gift....



Thrown
away.



Life is not a
race.


Do take it
slower



Hear the
music



Before the song is
over.

Publication:The Columbus Dispatch; Date:Jun 9, 2009; Section:Forum; Page Number:A13


Freedom falls victim to government

Cal Thomas writes for Tribune Media Services. tmseditors@tribune.com



A statue of Ronald Reagan was unveiled last week in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda at a time when many Republicans, and even some conservatives, think Reagan’s ideas are passe. Before moving on, Republicans, and those conservatives who don’t want to “live in the past,” should be asked what better ideas they have to offer.

As the Obama administration and congressional Democrats move quickly with their new power to grab even more power and to build larger, more intrusive and costlier government, they — and we — should consider Reagan’s thoughts on the power of the individual, rather than government power, and peace through strength to keep us free. And, “Man is not free unless government is limited.” And, “concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.”

As government acquires the auto industry and seeks to own health care; as it plans to take more money from the productive in order to subsidize the unproductive or less productive; as government evolves from nanny to a cruel and abusive guardian that will rob the individual of incentive and punish those who manage to succeed with crippling regulations and higher taxes, where are the champions of liberty and personal responsibility?

Instead of stories many of us heard as children about people who grew up in difficult circumstances — alcoholic mother, abusive father, racial discrimination, physical handicaps — and rose to self-sufficiency, even prosperity, we get messages that say you can’t do it on your own and you will never amount to anything unless you place your faith in government.

“You can do it,” parents tell their children as they urge them to higher levels of achievement. This sentiment used to be found in popular culture, including feelgood films that inspired people to achieve their ideals. Now we punish the successful and make the pursuit of success more difficult because of strangulating government.

Why must government “fix” health care? Since government does few things well, why aren’t better minds than politicians leading the way? We know what works. It isn’t collectivism and government bureaucrats telling us what type of health care they will allow us to have, it is individuals employing innovation that will bring transformation.

Some years ago, CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl reported on a jobs program run out of a Harlem housing project in New York City. These were the hardcore unemployed who either had never had a job, or couldn’t hold onto one. All were minorities. The leader asked, “How many think racism is a problem in America?” Every hand went up. He then said, “So what? Your problem isn’t racism; your problem is attitude and that’s what we’re going to change.”

He taught them how to dress, how to shake hands and look prospective employers in the eye. Cameras followed one woman to an interview. She got the job and began to cry. She had discovered her value and the power of the individual. Government didn’t give her that job; she got it on her own. In fact, government had been sending her checks, which caused her to be more dependent on government.

“There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect,” said Ronald Reagan. And, “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not ruin their lives.”

As politicians prepare to do things for which government has little experience and even less ability, where are the leaders who will again embrace the power behind Ronald Reagan’s thoughts? It was Reagan who said, “Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them.” He warned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same.”

Government is eroding freedom. It is time to fight, but where are the generals to lead us? Will the public wake up and realize what is being stolen from us before it is gone?

CAL THOMAS

Thanks Herma The Wedding dress

----- Original Message -----
From: HermaDMills@aol.com
Subject: The Wedding gown that made History


A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Herma

Subj: The Wedding gown that made History














This is an amazing must read. Imagine how many stories there must be that we will never hear from the survivors of those camps.




Great story!!
The Wedding Gown That Made History

Lilly Friedman doesn't remember the last name of the woman who designed and sewed the wedding gown she wore when she walked down the aisle over 60 years ago. But the grandmother of seven does recall that when she first told her fiancé Ludwig that she had always dreamed of being married in a white gown he realized he had his work cut out for him.



For the tall, lanky 21-year-old who had survived hunger, disease and torture this was a different kind of challenge. How was he ever going to find such a dress in the Bergen Belsen Displaced Person's camp where they felt grateful for the clothes on their backs?

Fate would intervene in the guise of a former German pilot who walked into the food distribution center where Ludwig worked, eager to make a trade for his worthless parachute. In exchange for two pounds of coffee beans and a couple of packs of cigarettes Lilly would have her wedding gown.

For two weeks Miriam the seamstress worked under the curious eyes of her fellow DPs, carefully fashioning the six parachute panels into a simple, long sleeved gown with a rolled collar and a fitted waist that tied in the back with a bow. When the dress was completed she sewed the leftover material into a matching shirt for the groom.

A white wedding gown may have seemed like a frivolous request in the surreal environment of the camps, but for Lilly the dress symbolized the innocent, normal life she and her family had once led before the world descended into madness. Lilly and her siblings were raised in a Torah observant home in the small town of Zarica, Czechoslovakia where her father was a melamed, respected and well liked by the young yeshiva students he taught in nearby Irsheva.

He and his two sons were marked for extermination immediately upon arriving at Auschwitz . For Lilly and her sisters it was only their first stop on their long journey of persecution, which included Plashof, Neustadt, Gross Rosen and finally Bergen Belsen .

Lilly Friedman and her parachute dress on display in the Bergen Belsen Museum


Four hundred people marched 15 miles in the snow to the town of Celle on January 27, 1946 to attend Lilly and Ludwig's wedding. The town synagogue, damaged and desecrated, had been lovingly renovated by the DPs with the meager materials available to them. When a Sefer Torah arrived from England they converted an old kitchen cabinet into a makeshift Aron Kodesh.
"My sisters and I lost everything - our parents, our two brothers, our homes. The most important thing was to build a new home." Six months later, Lilly's sister Ilona wore the dress when she married Max Traeger. After that came Cousin Rosie. How many brides wore Lilly's dress? "I stopped counting after 17." With the camps experiencing the highest marriage rate in the world, Lilly's gown was in great demand.

In 1948 when President Harry Truman finally permitted the 100,000 Jews who had been languishing in DP camps since the end of the war to emigrate, the gown accompanied Lilly across the ocean to America . Unable to part with her dress, it lay at the bottom of her bedroom closet for the next 50 years, "not even good enough for a garage sale. I was happy when it found such a good home."
Home was the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington , D.C. When Lily's niece, a volunteer, told museum officials about her aunt's dress, they immediately recognized its historical significance and displayed the gown in a specially designed showcase, guaranteed to preserve it for 500 years.

But Lilly Friedman's dress had one more journey to make. Bergen Belsen , the museum, opened its doors on October 28, 2007. The German government invited Lilly and her sisters to be their guests for the grand opening. They initially declined, but finally traveled to Hanover the following year with their children, their grandchildren and extended families to view the extraordinary exhibit created for the wedding dress made from a parachute.
Lilly's family, who were all familiar with the stories about the wedding in Celle , were eager to visit the synagogue. They found the building had been completely renovated and modernized. But when they pulled aside the handsome curtain they were astounded to find that the Aron Kodesh, made from a kitchen cabinet, had remained untouched as a testament to the profound faith of the survivors. As Lilly stood on the bimah once again she beckoned to her granddaughter, Jackie, to stand beside her where she was once a kallah. "It was an emotional trip. We cried a lot."
Two weeks later, the woman who had once stood trembling before the selective eyes of the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele returned home and witnessed the marriage of her granddaughter.

The three Lax sisters - Lilly, Ilona and Eva, who together survived Auschwitz, a forced labor camp, a death march and Bergen Belsen - have remained close and today live within walking distance of each other in Brooklyn. As mere teenagers, they managed to outwit and outlive a monstrous killing machine, then went on to marry, have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and were ultimately honored by the country that had earmarked them for extinction.
As young brides, they had stood underneath the chuppah and recited the blessings that their ancestors had been saying for thousands of years. In doing so, they chose to honor the legacy of those who had perished by choosing life.

Hinda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


In Memoriam




In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER


It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian peoples looking the other way!

Now, more than ever, with Iraq, Iran, and others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

Free advertising on this blog for me

Grandparents And Softball
Girls Love Softball
Sam Kegley
Grandparents and Softball is the story of two grandparents, Andy and Princess, over the course of their granddaughter, Audrey’s career in softball. The book follows Audrey from her early years in the sport all the way to her early 20’s as she competed in the Olympics with Team USA.
When asked what his main motivation was for writing this book, Kegley writes:
Typically, parents want more for their offspring than they achieved themselves. That, admittedly, is my motivation in writing this book. In my highly competitive high school situation, I quit or coaches cut me from the teams. That tells me I didn’t compete hard enough. When one has an interest in sports but does not achieve their heights as I did not, you still want to be involved and you want the kids and grandkids to do much better.
I played softball with and for good people for most of my 76 years on earth. I watched my own sons compete in the games and I am now watching my granddaughters.
Grandparents And Softball
Sam Kegley
68 Pages
5x8 Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4389-5878-1
May 2009
Suggested Retail Price:
$10.95 (SC)
You can order Grandparents And Softball
through Ingram’s Books in Print Database,
directly from the publisher at www.authorhouse.com
or through the book order hotline at (888) 280-7715
Typical Ordering Time: 7-10 Business Days
* This book is also available at your local retailer.
For media review copies, please call
1-800-839-8640
or email
pressreleases@authorhouse.com

Press Release Grandparents and Softball

Grandparents and Softball
New Fiction Novel Shares the Joys and History of Softball



WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Every grandparent loves to see their grandchildren happy, active and loving life. In his new novel, Grandparents and Softball: Girls Love Softball (published by AuthorHouse), author Sam Kegley offers insights into his knowledge of the history of softball, his long-time involvement in the sport, as well as a story based on his own experience of watching his granddaughters in their journey through the sport.



Grandparents and Softball is the story of two grandparents, Andy and Princess, over the course of their granddaughter, Audrey’s career in softball. The book follows Audrey from her early years in the sport all the way to her early 20’s as she competed in the Olympics with Team USA.



Kegley was inspired by Title IX of the Education Amendments in writing Grandparents and Softball. Now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of its principal author, this is a United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states:



No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.



Kegley highlights and explains the history of softball itself, as well as the history of women in the sport. Young girls have always shown interest in sports, but until this piece of law was enacted many were not allowed to act on their desires. Today we are in an age where women’s sports are a prominent fixture in society, and young girls are constantly encouraged to pursue athletic activities from an early age.



When asked what his main motivation was for writing this book, Kegley writes:



Typically, parents want more for their offspring than they achieved themselves. That, admittedly, is my motivation in writing this book. In my highly competitive high school situation, I quit or coaches cut me from the teams. That tells me I didn’t compete hard enough. When one has an interest in sports but does not achieve their heights as I did not, you still want to be involved and you want the kids and grandkids to do much better.



I played softball with and for good people for most of my 76 years on earth. I watched my own sons compete in the games and I am now watching my granddaughters.



About the Author: Sam Kegley is a 76-year-old grandfather, and the fourth child of ten born to Forest and Mary Kegley in Portsmouth, Ohio. He and his wife, Jeanie, currently spend a good deal of time attending their young granddaughter’s softball games. Kegley is a retired metallurgical engineer and an alumnus of the University of Kentucky. Since retiring, he has kept busy by writing non-fiction books containing stories and interviews of subjects close to his interests and past experiences. While Kegley is an accomplished author of non-fiction books, Grandparents and Softball is his initial attempt at fiction.



AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com/.



###


------------------------
Kristy Garvey
PMV Publicist
authorHOUSETM
1663 Liberty Drive
Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403
kgarvey@authorsolutions.com
o: 812.334.5224
f:: 812.349.0624

Where are you, Jack?

----- Original Message -----
From: Jack H Plymale
To: Sam Kegley
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 12:15 AM


Sam, I've been kinda out of pocket for a couple of weeks. I'm at Doc Yeagles in Georgia right now. Hope both of us will be in the old home town before the end of next week. Talked with Fout this evening. He is arranging an evening and dinner with Dick Brannock in Ashland. Dick was the chief pilot( before retirement) for Ashland Oil and a member of our "45" class. Think maybe he might have been a Mound Park frequenter.

--
Jack P.



Re: Where are you, Jack?

Thanks Jack,

Enjoy your P'Town visit with the young fellows. I certainly want the best for the three 'Torjan' amigos.

Gib,s oldest son, Richard, who played basketball for Westerville (Division 1 in Ohio, with three high schools now but only one back then), with my son, Jay. Richard and his friend are in a lucrative subcontracting masonry business. Richard came over, measured, and returned and replaced all of our downspouts and doesn't want pay. All he expects is the stuff he buys, which has come to $11.70 so far. You can take it to your bank in Costa Rica that the deceased Gib Lakeman's friendship is still valued by Jeanie and me.

Why has Mound Park Urchin Sam been so lucky to know so many fine Torjans from P'Town?

Thank you, God!

Sam

Daschle's statement on Senior Health Care


"Senior" status is something we all face (IF we're lucky), so read this. Especially note Daschle's statement about the elderly!

Then forward like I'm doing! Guess we'd best start praying that this health care plan fails like Hillary's did...........


WHAT A SHAME

Everybody who is on this mailing list is either a senior citizen, is getting close or knows somebody who is.

Most of you know by now that the Senate version (at least) of the "stimulus" bill includes provisions for extensive rationing of health care for senior citizens. The author of this part of the bill, former senator and tax evader, Tom Daschle, was credited today by Bloomberg with the following statement.

Bloomberg: "Daschle says health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them."

If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that Senators and Congressmen have their own healthcare plan that is first dollar or very low co-pay which they are guaranteed the remainder of their lives and are not subject to this new law if it passes.

Please use the power of the internet to get this message out. Talk it up at the grassroots level. We have an election coming up in one year and nine months. We have the ability to address and reverse the dangerous direction the Obama administration and its allies have begun; and in the interim, we can make their lives miserable with our growing voice! Let's do it.

If you disagree, don't do anything.

Loretta Hooser Mosure Obituary-PHS 1950

We have lost another great person from the PHS class of 1950- Loretta "Hooser" Mosure:




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Loretta Mosure
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MOSURE Loretta Mosure, 76, of Columbus, Monday, June 8, 2009 at home surrounded by her family. Graduate of Portsmouth High School 1950. Cheerleader and Kappa Alpha Theta member while attending Ohio Wesleyan University. Her greatest enjoyment in life was spending time with her family. Preceded in death by her parents Ray and Edna Hooser;brother Homer C. Hooser, sister Susie Arbaugh Bauer and beloved daughter Judith Ann Girardi. Survived by loving husband of 40 years, William C. Moser; children, Jay (Tom) Michele Dodds of North Carolina, Timothy (Leigh) Ray Plymale and Barbara Bringardner, all of Columbus; grandchildren, Thomas, Anthony, Timothy Dodds and Ashley, Keri, Jamie, Lindsay Plymale and Nicholas, Madison Girardi; six great-grandchildren and many dear friends. Funeral service will at 11 a.m. Friday, June 12, 2009 at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington, Oh. 43085, where family will receive friends Thursday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Burial Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LAPS for Life, Jag, 717 Mountainview Dr., Westerville, Oh. 43081. Condolences to www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com.

Published in The Columbus Dispatch on 6/10/2009 print
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Loretta was a popular cheerleader and friend at Portsmouth High School (class of 1950). My wife and I would see her occasionally in and about Columbus and PHS reunions and she was always a first class lady.

God will bring comfort to her caring family.

Sam Kegley


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Obama and Israel-Palestenian Displacement and Holocaust

I am on the right side of politics, but this president was created by the joint efforts of the mafia and the muslims to bring down the USA as we have known it. He is effectively going about destruction of America in his daily speeches. Yes, he's scary!!
*

*Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people*

By Anne Bayefsky


** [image: Printer Friendly
Version]


President yet again makes his intentions clear

*http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |* President Obama's Cairo speech was
nothing short of an earthquake — a distortion of history, an insult to the
Jewish people, and an abandonment of very real human-rights victims in the
Arab and Muslim worlds. It is not surprising that Arabs and Muslims in a
position to speak were enthusiastic. It is more surprising that American
commentators are praising the speech for its political craftiness, rather
than decrying its treachery of historic proportions.


Obama equated the Holocaust to Palestinian "dislocation." In his words: "The
Jewish people were persecuted. …anti-Semitism …culminated in an
unprecedented Holocaust…. Six million Jews were killed…. On the other hand,
it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people — Muslims and Christians —
have suffered in pursuit of a homeland." This parallelism amounts to the
fictitious Arab narrative that the deliberate mass murder of six million
Jews for the crime of being Jewish is analogous to a Jewish-driven violation
of Palestinian rights.


Speaking in an Arab country to Arabs and Muslims, Obama pointedly singled
out European responsibility for the Holocaust — "anti-Semitism in Europe
culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust." In other contexts, the European
emphasis would be a curiosity. In Egypt, it was no accident. The Arab
storyline has always been that Arabs have been forced to suffer the creation
of Israel for a European crime.


In fact, Obama's Egyptian hosts would have been only too familiar with Arab
anti-Semitism during World War II (and beyond). After all, Obama was
speaking in the country that schooled and later welcomed back Grand Mufti
Haj Muhammed Amin al-Husseini as a national hero. This was the man who spent
the war years in Berlin as Hitler's guest facilitating the murder of Jews.

*FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO INFLUENTIAL NEWSLETTER*

*Every weekday NewsAndOpinion.com publishes what many in the media and
Washington consider "must-reading". HUNDREDS of columnists and cartoonists
regularly appear. Sign up for the daily update. It's free. Just click
here.
*

Obama thought he would prove his even-handedness towards Israel by boasting
of Friday's trip to a concentration camp and rejecting Holocaust denial. In
this context, however, the move of doing Jews these supposed favors appears
to be cynical political opportunism, especially having just set the
Holocaust side-by-side with the "suffering" and "pain" of Palestinians "for
more than 60 years." After all, the president made no emotive references to
the "intolerable" "suffering" of Israeli victims of Arab terror "for more
than 60 years." The word "terrorism" never left his lips. Far from
bolstering the fight against terror and the anti-Semitism driving it, such
maneuvers embolden more hate and violence against Israelis.


Instead, Obama sought Arab and Muslim approbation by drawing a moral
equivalence between those who have rejected Israel from the outset (and
still seek its outright destruction or a "right of return" intended to
terminate a Jewish majority) and the Jews who have kept them at bay since
May 14, 1948. In his words: "There has been a stalemate: two peoples with
legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history…. It's easy to point
fingers — for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought about by
Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and
attacks." Calling the Israeli-Arab conflict a "stalemate" represents an
abysmal failure to acknowledge historical reality. The modern state of
Israel emerged after an internationally approved partition plan of November
1947 that would have created two states, one Jewish and one Arab; this plan
was accepted by Jews and rejected by Arabs. One people has always been
prepared to live in peace, and the other has chosen war in 1948 and 1956 and
1967 and 1973 and 1982, and renewed terrorism after its every loss.


Bereft of the most basic understanding of Judaism and Jewish history, Obama
claimed that "the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic
history that cannot be denied," for "around the world, the Jewish people
were persecuted for centuries." A Jewish homeland in Israel is not rooted in
tragedy or in centuries of persecution around the world. It is rooted in a
wondrous, unbroken, and spiritual relationship to the land of Israel and to
Jerusalem for thousands of years. Coupled with the president's stress on
"European responsibility" for the Holocaust, his words reinforced the lethal
belief that Israel is the creature of transplanted, alien Jews.


Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people went farther.
Israelis have come to occupy territory in response to Arab-initiated wars of
intended annihilation, but Obama analogized Palestinian "daily humiliations
…that come with occupation" to the "humiliation of segregation" of black
slaves in America and the "moral authority" of "people from South Africa."
His Arab audience understood that the president of the United States had
just given a nod to the single most potent defamation of the Jewish state
today — the allegation that Israel is a racist, apartheid state.


After expressing his belief in a moral equivalence between the claims of
Palestinians and the claims of the victims of slavery and apartheid, Obama
juxtaposed his admission of Israel's "right to exist" with his assertion
that "the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli
settlements." Every word of this speech was carefully weighed. It was
therefore no mishap that for the first time a U.S. president has denied the
legitimacy of Israeli settlements, period. Such an assertion abrogates every
agreement between Arabs and Israelis, which have always left the ultimate
determination of which settlements will stay or go to a bilateral peace
process and final status negotiations. Even the Roadmap reads: "Phase III:
Permanent Status Agreement and End of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict …a
final, permanent status resolution …on borders, Jerusalem, refugees,
settlements."


Furthermore, the idea that Jews are not permitted to live in any territory
that might become part of a future Palestinian state means only one thing:
apartheid Palestine. Twenty percent of Israel's population,1.5 million
people, are Arab (with more democratic rights than in any Arab state). But
the notion of any Jewish presence in Palestinian territory is allegedly an
abomination. Why should a future transfer of governmental authority mean "no
Jews allowed"?


But judging by Obama's speech, only one "dislocation" counts. After placing
the Holocaust side-by-side with the Palestinian "pain of dislocation," he
ignored the dislocation of 800,000 Jewish refugees from all over the Arab
Middle East in response to the creation of Israel.


Jewish refugees from Arab intolerance were not the only human-rights
casualties the president chose to dismiss. Three different times Obama
defended the right of Muslim women to cover up their bodies. Never once did
he mention the right of Muslim women to refuse to cover up their bodies — a
right denied on pain of arrest and death by many of the very communities he
was addressing. In the name of "freedom of religion" he chose to "welcome
efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue." The Saudi
Arabian government criminalizes the public practice of any religion but
Islam. This manufactured human-rights fantasy has done a tremendous
disservice to the oppressed across the Arab and Muslim world.


President Obama's meticulously planned and executed Egyptian speech marks
the lowest point in the U.S. presidency's understanding and appreciation of
the Jewish state, its history, and its people's future. Added to his
administration's evident infirmity on Iran, the speech of June 4, 2009, by
the supposed leader of the free world will be remembered as a major decline
in human history.



Comment by clicking here. Bayefsky on JWR>

Anne Bayefsky is a senior fellow of the Hudson Institute, director of the
Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and editor of
www.EYEontheUN.org.