It must be lonely up there

Seems things are going pretty well in Iraq. Notice how little is written about that - most of the news is on the second and third pages. As our nation has taken this bold step and stood its ground, as our President has withstood the disrespect and armchair quarterbacks, as our soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors have stood their watches, the mission has progressed and the nation is settling down. Those who criticize and change their minds with the wind must be chagrined at the success. There was no room in their insults for the President to be right. They only want him to be a caricature they can imagine wrong....they are sold by the press.

Who will cheer when the final sweep is made?

The people freed from the despot, another tyranny removed.

And we will persist as the beacon of freedom.

Duh

So we did it! On Sunday night our NASA lander made it to the surface of Mars, this time to stand still and analyze soil in a location sure to have actual water present. We have spectacular photos this time, taken from a separate orbiter, of the lander descending to the surface with it's parachute filled. Absolutely fantastic.

One of the science commentators made an interesting remark. He said (paraphrasing) that while the equatorial rovers we've had up there for the last 4 years have found significant evidence of the historic presence of water, even a salty sea, they have found no evidence of life itself...just elements that make life possible. This new polar mission will actually touch Martian water. He explained that if they find what they expect, they will have all of the elements of life present, and that should reveal evidence (like the presence of organic chemicals) of life either existing or having once existed. He said that life isn't unique to our planet (doesn't that make me feel cheap) in that as they understand it, life exists when certain conditions and elements are present. (Of course, that is what we observe on Earth, to date, only on Earth). We have a lander on Mars that, as the explorers postulate, will witness those conditions that, if on Earth, will cause life to exist....

Wow. won't that be something?

The thing that he said next was what is startling and worth our thought. He said, (again, I'm paraphrasing), if we find all of the elements of life present, that life should have/would have evolved in the presence of, and there is no life or never was life, then we must conclude that life is certainly more special than we thought.

Is it sad, or what, that science is at the point that it will be surprised to find out life is special...unique...

What do you think the answer will be?

Where is the hope?

In China and in Myanmar over the last week and a half, 74000 people have died in one storm and one earthquake. Additionally, 18,000 are buried in rubble, and over a million are not accounted for. How sad. How tragic.

One town in China was buried as mountains on either side of the town collapsed on it. Nothing left. Well, no ones knows what is left, it is all now under the mountains. Makes it seem that the things we spend our weekends racing through are small. We can't stop a mountain falling on us...or a wind blowing things down on us.

It does point to that question we might all have, what is our real purpose? Is what we are doing making a real difference?

This has always been the problem...trying to figure out our meaning. In ancient times it was often expressed in choices of gods...

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (from the Book of Joshua)

The ancient prophet Joshua faced the same choice as we do today. I don't like mountains that much. So, as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Nah-nee-Nah-nee-Boo-Boo....

We are "locked" into the "drama" of the Democratic primary campaign. We see the "struggle" and wonder what the outcome will be. The contenders stand, as though in corners of the ring, hands on hips, eyes boring down on each other.... sticking their tongues out at each other.

I follow this "drama" pretty closely, for me, looking for the real passion, the solutions, the excitement of new policy and debates...but...alas...The dialogue is so petty at times it seems it would be more meaningful if they actually did stand there sticking their tongues out at each other.

The good news is this - we will transfer power next January in a civilized and peaceful way. We know the truth that "sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me". We can look today at the junta ruling in the disaster of Myanmar, the violence in Lebanon as the political parties actually do kill each other, the upcoming incompetence-driven famine in North Korea, even the threat of violent rebellion in Chad where there is no forum or even method for political debate and dialogue - no method of peaceful transfer of power. We can see the alternative to the "endless" campaign of 2008.

So, stick out those tongues, wag those fingers. We, the People of the United States of America continue to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Traquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, anad secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity...