...Until Proven Guilty

One thing that disgusts me is when people rush to judgment. Take the case of Joe Barron, who was arrested for attempted pedophilia -- soliciting a minor for the intention of engaging in sexual activities, among other things. However, one of the fundamental precepts of our legal system is that we ALL, no matter how heinous the accusations, are innocent until proven guilty.

That means even the most loathsome among the accused have their day in court, where evidence against them will be heard and the jury will decide. Who knows whether the evidence is true or false? Who knows if what appears real really is? Do you trust the media enough to give you accurate information? Or are you buying into another round of bash-the-Christian?

In this case, how much do you trust the feds? Did you know that they were chatting with this guy, posing as a minor for two weeks? Did you know that they've been operating this sting since October of 2006 and have arrested only 12 people in that time period? If the people who commit pedophilic actions are evil, what about those who tempt them?

I'll be the first to admit that it doesn't look good for the guy and that he probably is guilty of attempted pedophilic acts. However, let's all remember that attempted murder is not murder itself, and an attempted pedophilic act is not the same thing as actually committing that crime. It's a serious crime -- if he is guilty of it -- but neither you nor I will know that until the jury settles the case. We should never buy in to the liberal mantra that the seriousness of the accusation outweighs evidence.

I refuse to get involved in hysterical condemnations or act shocked. The truth is, that precious little can shock me anymore, thanks to the media telling me everything sick and depraved under the sun (and my own stupidity for willingly reading about it). And speaking of "under the sun", Solomon said that there was nothing new under the sun. Yup, pedophilia has been around for thousands of years, folks.

If the man turns out to be guilty, he should be put away for a very long time, and the officers should get 1-3 years in prison themselves for fomenting the crime. Since that will never happen, we'll continue to see more of this.

The Trust Deficit

The reason why most voters will not pull the lever for Obama boils down to one word: trust. Leaving aside the hoopla and the hype, and forgetting for the moment the dissatisfaction with Bush (both of which are more reactions to than positive endorsements of Obama, it should be noted), what does Obama bring to the table?

We've heard the sound bites and the slogans. We know about the carefully-polished image. But what Obama seems unable to do is give rest to the deep-seated unease that hangs over him like a cloud.

Even if the Islam issue is radioactive for most voters, it's part of a much larger doubt matrix. They can sense that he's not who he says he is -- not now, not then, and not for the foreseeable future. He's a man who has much, but isn't thankful. He's not patriotic at all. He's thin-skinned. He doesn't seem sure of foreign policy. He hangs around with bad characters. Yet in all of these things, he tries to convince us that he's the direct opposite. He just doesn't ever, really come clean.

Trust can take time to earn, but once you lose it, it's gone forever. Obama may have some time left to earn the trust of wavering liberal Democrats, but he's lost the trust of the common voter.

I almost feel sympathy for the Democrats, as Obama shares this trust deficit in common with Al Gore, John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, and Walter Mondale -- in short, every one of the party's last presidential nominees except Bill Clinton. The party doesn't understand that promoting largely hypocritical and unethical candidates, and then attacking voters for caring about integrity, just doesn't work. Yet, they're prepared for yet another spectacular flame-out with Obama.

Voting, for most Americans, is not a time of mortification, and furthermore, we just don't trust the inconsistent priests that the Democrats keep offering up for our collective absolution.

When Words Are Not Enough

I've always thought that what I wrote was good enough, in that it pleased me and captured, no matter how crudely, what I wanted to say. Lately I have come to understand just how unable I am able to communicate using the written word. I've looked back at my own life and seen time and time again how after about three exchanges of text, people stop listening. I've seen so many times where I'm writing to someone and they are utterly unable to grasp what I mean. It's beyond frustrating; in fact, once frustration has flamed out and leaves only blackened stumps twisting in the dead air, there is a kind of uneasy acceptance.

I've always wanted to do comic books, and I think that actually plays to my strengths as a writer. Words can supplement the graphics; the graphics can make the meaning of the words complete. It's a load off both the writer and the artist. The only problem is that I don't know anyone who'd be willing to draw my plots. (I do know artists, but the only one I know well is vocally anti-Christian.)

"Wait. This is not a problem," I thought. "It's an opportunity! I'll just teach myself." So I checked out some books on drawing manga from the library and have gone to work. I think I'll buy myself a pizza or splurge somehow when I get a decent drawing of Lenalee from D.Gray-Man. If I can do that, then drawing my own stuff well should only be a year or two away.

I've doodled all my life but only have a handful of quality drawings, and I've seen the quality of many manga/anime` plots. Someone needs to do something better, so it might as well be me.

I'm going to be working on that for a while. (Well, that and music, and my IF stuff.) So don't freak out if I'm not around.

Obama the Cult Leader

Obama has changed positions on Iran, while accusing others of lying about his flip-flop (and as much as it pains me to link the LGF, they have the goods here). I have seen Obama supporters perform mental contortions at spin factor seven, which is always morbidly fascinating. How, exactly, do you support Obama's statement that he would meet directly with the leaders of rogue states, and then months later, claim that he never said such a thing and that others had twisted his words?

I'll tell you how you can do it. Some people become very skilled at proclaiming opposite positions when the time comes, because truth is not as important to them as survival. Groups of scared people will often say whatever is necessary to endure, when someone powerful is in charge of their future. Loyalty equals safety and/or membership. Where have we seen this before? In Stalin's show trials, in Church of Christ churches, in the Branch Davidian's compound -- for this is how cults function.

For all intents and purposes, Obama is a cult leader, and his followers are eager members. Watch them flip their positions to align with whatever he has just spoken; watch them sacrifice all consistency, all ethics, and all sense for the sake of his personal power. Now to be fair, Obama is not the only cultist on the political landscape, as Ron Paul preceded him. In fact, many months of watching Ron Paul supporters allowed me to identify the same sort of behavior in Obama supporters.

The term "cult of personality" has been used to reference Obama previously, but this is the first time that I have witnessed Obama supporters acting like cult members in his defense. Now someone will state that Obama doesn't directly hold power over his supporters' lives (unlike Stalin), but because liberals are a fearful bunch, direct control is not necessary for the same results to be achieved. Furthermore, they have pinned their hopes to him and so, rather than admit that Obama is imperfect (for in liberal theology, the candidate = God), the Obamites [that's an Indie-ism] will change their positions and cheerfully flog themselves.

We will see more such behavior in the upcoming months and that is what grieves my heart more than anything -- knowing that there are many spiritually destitute souls who by their actions, prove that they know nothing greater nor seek nothing greater than power.

Alan Keyes For Pres!

I admit it. For a while, I lost hope in the 2008 elections. McCain = illegal-loving liberal. Baldwin = fever-swamp terrorist-loving nutjob. But it looks like Keyes is still in the running, looking to capture the American Independent Party nod, or possibly be on the line with the Reform folks. That's sweet.

Anyhow, check out the pledge. If it hits you, go on and take it, but make sure you tell 'em I sent you -- my name there is the name of the blog.

God bless!