When you think “Rescue the damsel in distress, kill the bad guy, save the world” think of Al Gore. Say what anyone will anyone hated by both the Clintons and Bush must have something right about him; and in my opinion this something is the fact Al is a consummate romantic. There are few people with whom I would rather discuss the subject of romance than Al Gore. The politics aside, Al’s romanticism would make him hated by those who have never known romance or somehow have lost the romance of life somewhere along the way.

Al bears the scars of many wounds suffered as a romantic dreamer in his search for truth and meaning in life, his attempts to make some sense out of the prevailing lunacy throughout the world. So it is no wonder much of the criticism directed at him is justified; that is the fate of all those who try to stand up for beauty and romance. But it is this romanticism of Al that draws some of the best and brightest to him as well as making him hated by some others. Hollywood certainly recognized this about Al, and despite the fact Hollywood has done so much damage to America and few have condemned this more than me there is that long history of romance associated with it as the Dream Factory.

One of the problems romantics like Al face in a “modern” America was evidenced by his embarrassing attempt to appear less wooden during the campaign; we all cringed at that kiss onstage, it was embarrassingly overdone almost like an attack on his wife rather than a display of genuine affection. But no one seemed to think this worth spending any time attempting to explain. However, having written a book on the subject of romance I’m going to take some time to explain it now.

To begin, to do an objective analysis of Al’s biography is to discover that as a politician he is out of his element. He is a dreamer, a seeker for truth and meaning in life, and politics is most unforgiving of such dreamers and seekers. Al is a dreamer first and a politician second, a continuing source of friction between him and Clinton while Gore was VP. But when Al’s handlers began to badger him to do something to counter the growing problem of his appearing too wooden during the campaign it resulted in that kiss onstage. The “Dean Scream” may have been characteristic of Dean, but that kiss was not characteristic of Gore. Open displays of passion are not the characteristic of the truly romantic; real romanticism is a very subtle and very complex thing, consequently Al did not know how to be what his handlers were insisting he should be and the attempt was an embarrassingly miserable failure.

I have made it abundantly clear I do not believe humankind is to blame for global warming. I take great exception to Al’s claim concerning this. But I do understand the romanticism of his undertaking the quixotic mission when he must know that despite the Oscar, despite his possibly winning a Nobel he is tilting at windmills. I have genuine compassion for Al because I know that as with Winston Havlock neither money nor fame will satisfy that need he has to make his life count for something, that as a romantic he is doing the best he can in the face of so many enemies of beauty and romance. As to wealth, Emerson noted many wealthy wish they were as satisfied with riches as the poor supposed. But riches do not satisfy the truly romantic, and dreamers want a beautiful world where people do right by each other and nature. And the question should Al decide to run again is whether the White House, whether America in the face of so many threats and dangers is prepared for a romantic dreamer at the helm instead of a politician. For my part, I know the real romantics have the kind of steel in them to face all threats, will always do battle with bullies in order to protect the weaker, to protect beauty and those things that are of real value in life.

Here are some excerpts from the past that I posted on my personal website, and though I utterly disagree with Al’s view on global warming nevertheless I believe he would agree with what I had written back then in the following remarks:

Living as I do in proximity to the Isabella Dam listed as number one in the nation in danger of bursting and I await the San Andreas Fault in the words of seismologists to “explode at any moment” it does seem to me the dominoes are lining up preparing to fall, and the many portents of the End Times do seem to be overtaking us. While Al Gore isn’t wearing the traditional sackcloth and ashes or flipping pages in the Bible as he speaks to make his point despite his theological studies, increasingly those in the scientific community are saying “attention ought to be paid.”

Al Gore is a very intelligent and very well educated man. When I learned how poorly his film was attended by the folks in Bakersfield I wish I could say I was surprised. Nor was this sparse attendance peculiar to Bakersfield. But Al must surely know his “gospel” about global warming even were it true cannot possibly succeed without the cooperation of all nations, not just the efforts of America.

The rain forests are cut down not only for profits, to line the pockets of scoundrels, but to feed millions of mouths, slaves to corporate masters. Spare that tree, whale, etc. and starve? Not likely. The same for the pollutants pumped into the air by all nations. So why does Al preach when he knows his message is to no avail? To take a note from the Bible, that has been the peculiar office of all prophets, even knowing “trade curses all it handles though it be trading in messages from heaven.”

I continue to maintain the possibility Satan is the god of this world accounting for so much lunacy throughout, and there has to be more to this lunacy than the simple greed factor motivating those that rise to power over others, and then use their power to destroy and cause suffering rather than for the benefit of humankind. Guess this is where I get to say it again: I like Al Gore. But, then, to have any politician speak their mind is a breath of fresh air. Some slight exception to this might be Cheney’s outburst, but he probably thinks in expletives most of the time; kind of like Caesar Bush’s favorite description of reporters he doesn’t like.

Ever wonder what a political speech would be like if the speaker actually verbalized what their real thoughts were? In some cases, it is easy to imagine the bleeps would equal the number of non-expletive words coming through. At least I don’t get that impression from Al Gore; who seems to be a civilized man. I have nothing against a speaker displaying passion as long as it is within the bounds of civil language.

In a coarse and vulgar age given to profanity and illiteracy, which increasingly describes this age, I become concerned about a president and vice-president so afflicted. Walt Kelly had Howland Owl giving a political speech and the reporter in attendance asks Pogo: “…you suppose he thinks like he talks?” Pogo replies: “It’s a point what got me worried too.”

Admittedly, my concern goes beyond the use of coarse, vulgar language on the part of politicians, which I have always found grating on my senses, whether written or spoken regardless the source. In too many instances the use of vulgarities is the attempt on the part of the uncivilized and illiterate to express themselves forcibly.

August, 2006: If Al Gore and some scientists are correct the recent heat waves are going to become increasingly worse across America. But whether a climate “cycle” or the portents of humans being the cause comfort is a privilege, not a right. Seeing the article today in the Bakersfield Californian about Yosemite reminded me of the time so many years ago I took an entire summer to tour every national park between here and Minnesota. But I did this in my 1954 Chevy station wagon, which, of course, did not have A/C. It is difficult now to imagine how uncrowded all the places like Yosemite and Yellowstone (as well as a time of uncrowded beaches in SoCal) were back in the 50s; and for some it would be even more difficult to imagine doing all that summer driving without the comfort of an A/C equipped vehicle.

When the phrase “comfort zone” first came into vogue some years ago I considered it somewhat innocuous. After all, what’s the harm? I thought to myself. And properly applied it seemed appropriate to some circumstances though pop psychology took off and ran with it to a silly extreme in too many cases. But with some folks now facing budget-busting utility bills because of trying to stay cool during the summer heat “comfort zone” has a grim reality attached that can’t be ignored, and there is no making light of the fact some have died of the heat.

Recalling the hot Bakersfield summers I knew as a child and my duty of keeping those burlap bags soaked covering our rabbit hutches so the bunnies didn’t expire from the heat, I see the “hutches” in which so many people are living in Bakersfield and elsewhere throughout America and wonder “Where is the water-soaked burlap and flow-through ventilation for people?”

Well, of course rabbit hutches are built for flow-through ventilation and people hutches are not. However, many places back in the 30s and 40s were built in a manner to allow for much of flow-through ventilation since home A/C was virtually unknown and swamp coolers generated a lot of uncomfortable humidity. Dry heat is relatively easy to endure, wet heat is not.

But is seems the demons of comfort were at work when homes and apartments began to be built for A/C, enclosed people hutches that took the comfort of air-conditioning for a “right” much as driving eventually began to be considered a right rather than a privilege.

Ok, here it comes. We know wherever there is money to be made people will often take advantage. And while utility companies are entities without a social conscience, and as we have witnessed are given to corruption throughout manipulating prices for the sake of profits not the comfort of the Great Unwashed, it is a given those dedicated to profits are not going to be touched by those suffering either the heat or enormous utility bills.

Still, it is altogether too easy to become victims of comfort, getting so used to it one may begin to believe it is a right rather than a privilege to be comfortable. And notwithstanding the profit/greed factor with no end in sight to escalating oil prices and concomitant escalating utility bills people had better start thinking “green” rather than giving themselves over to a growing addiction to comfort.

Al Gore: “It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.”

I’m not about to cast stones when someone is speaking ex tempore and winds up with their foot in their mouth. And while politicians have been known for making disastrous gaffes, Al is easily forgiven for many of his since they are made with sincerity and the best of intentions in most cases. Say what anyone will, credit is being given Al for being a man of sincere conviction. But from the White House on down We the People are confronted by politicians that are not only transparent in a lack of sincerity and conviction but in degrees of stupidity as well. Take this comment by Marion Barry while Mayor of Washington, DC for example: “Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.”

However, since Oscar Night Al Gore has become the darling of Hollywood; i.e. the far left. And a Nobel Peace Prize for Al? The possibilities boggle the mind! It has pundits abuzz, Obama reaching for his security blanket, and Hillary punching out her husband! Ok, I made that one up but you know what I mean. But think of the possibilities; an American President sporting an Oscar-winning film and a Nobel! Even those that don’t like Al have to admit that brings a lot to the table for the sake of American prestige. And speaking of “tables,” Pat Buchanan might be wrong about Al needing to shed forty pounds; America has a lot of people sympathetic to corpulence, and there have been a number of “full figure” men in the White House; Cal Coolidge was even forgiven fishing for trout with worms.

My reading of the tealeaves ever since Gore ran for President and lost to Bush may prove remarkably accurate despite Al’s protestations. I wrote at the time Al had not stopped running for President and would continue to run. As I put it then, you don’t come that close to the gold ring and simply give up trying. I don’t pretend prescience; I certainly did not know how big a hit Al would become in Hollywood let alone a contender for the Nobel. But I did have a sixth sense about Al; there was just something about him that seemed to bring out the Psi factor in me.

Gerry Trudeau’s problem with Ronald Reagan was summed up by a strip where Santa is checking his list. When he came to Reagan’s name, Santa was having difficulty. There were all those naughty things Reagan had done, but while Santa was struggling to make a decision saying “But he’s just so…” Seeing Santa’s struggle, Zonker in the role of the elf types in the word “Nice” next to Reagan’s name as Santa breathes a heavy sigh of resignation. Despite all the naughty things Reagan had done, Santa just couldn’t get past nice. Reagan was nice.

Many politicians since have ignored the evils of the Reagan Presidency and traded on his being a nice fellow. Reagan had a genuine gift of portraying “nice” and that carried a lot of weight; and continues to do so. In fact, there are those that believe he belongs right there on Mount Rushmore. Well, such people are what I call the “victims of nice,” ignoring things like Iran/Contra and Reagan opening the floodgates to millions of illegal aliens from Mexico and abandoning control of our borders for the sake of profits.

But there is no discounting the power of nice. On April 8, 2004 I wrote: Al Gore still gets my vote for one weird but likable guy; at least I still like him. Al reads books; I don’t fault him for the strange twists his mind takes. But hey, I still like Jerry Brown and Al Sharpton… It is one of the reasons besides his reading and writing books I have a genuine liking for Al Gore: His call for the resignation of the architects of the so-called “war on terrorism” beginning with those of the ilk of Rumsfeld, Rice, Wolfowitz, Tenet, et al. is absolutely correct. It would be a real plus to get rid of Paige and Ridge as well. Who in their right mind believes these two should have any authority in respect to education and security for America? Too bad the Democrats appear to be stuck with their scoundrel hypocrite Kerry, the sorry alternative for “Anybody But Bush!” Americans.

While Hitler’s underlings “were just following orders,” while Hitler received “credit” as the architect of Nazism, his generals and others faced Nuremberg, the verdict of both that tribunal and that of history. I maintain Caesar Bush and his underlings will yet face a “Nuremberg” in absentia if not in reality though like Speer, Powell may escape the ultimate sentence by the court.

Now, what Al needs to do, in my opinion, is point out in addition to the list of crimes on the part of Caesar’s underlings, is Caesar’s own betrayal of America through selling out our nation…with the cooperation of a treasonous Congress refusing to secure our borders and for betraying We the People to a half trillion dollar debt, Globalization, Outsourcing, NAFTA, CAFTA, La Raza, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia, all with the clear intent of making Americans slave labor to benefit the wealthy, ruling elite! Let’s hear more Americans like Al using the word IMPEACH! With the proviso that Caesar take his fellow traitor and co-conspirator Cheney with him.

I was delighted to catch Arianna Huffington on Lou Dobbs. Her latest book “Fanatics and Fools” comes down on the side of the fools. Of course, given the title, how could she miss? That is really covering your bases. Much as I despise Kerry, my first thought listening to Arianna was how, by way of contrast, I like Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown. A Gerry Trudeau strip that pretty well summed up Jerry’s politics, when asked why anyone should vote for him, Moonbeam, who was campaigning in his old Plymouth at the time, replies: “Because I’m best qualified to wing it.” It’s that kind of political philosophy that endears Jerry Brown, Al Gore, and Al Sharpton to me.

While I read Arianna Huffington’s column among several others pro and con on people and issues, she knows most of us realize Al Gore may be not only the anti-Hillary, but the only viable option we are left with when the dust finally settles of so much corruption throughout both Republican and Democrat parties. And all of us know a number of very significant things can happen between now and the next presidential election, but how many Americans believe anything good will happen. And that is what the think tanks, politicos and pundits really should be burning the midnight oil over. When there is nothing but doomsday scenarios abounding in all directions, when politicians are proven to be corrupt liars and continue to steal and lie to us wholesale We the People have just cause to hold those having the rule over us accountable.

Then there is Al Gore who is a very smart fellow, but whether he is correct or not about global warming it is obvious there are a great many “inconvenient truths” facing politicians right now based on stubborn facts not theories. A cautionary word about Al Gore’s crusade over global warming: Folks, bear in mind that while Al Gore has proven himself an a** on more than one occasion it should be remembered as a cautionary caveat to his detractors that Balaam’s a** spoke the truth. (End)

For my part, I do not believe humankind is to blame for global warming. But I do believe Al Gore has made a coup that may well sweep him into office should he decide to run again for President. Nice counted for a lot with Reagan, and many people overlooked the naughty for the sake of the nice. And what with the mounting sleaze in government sincerity, right or wrong, may well be the equivalent to nice that puts Al in office should he decide to run. The big question after the total disaster of Bush is whether Republicans will have a candidate that can run against someone who not only projects sincerity and conviction, has an Oscar-winning film to his credit and may also have a Nobel Prize, but also reads books?

A further cautionary thought. As improbable as it may be, what if events do result in a war crimes tribunal for Caesar Bush and Company? None of the leaders of Germany or Japan credited any such possibility and look what happened to them. But I ask who better than Al Gore as President if such a thing should happen to lend any credibility to such a tribunal? He may not have thought about this, but it is something I would tell Al he should factor into his decision of whether to run or not.

Say what anyone will of the good points of the show, some of the good films, why wasn’t there a terrorist attack on the Oscars? Because our Muslim enemies knew the show would be a propaganda coup for their cause. “Hey, don’t we keep telling you America is morally bankrupt and a nation glorifying sex, violence, and perversion!” We’ve come a long way since songs like “It Might as well be Spring” and films like “Gigi” were winning Oscars, since Sandra Dee was traded in for Brittney Spears.

Hitting people is wrong. And children are people! That is a good thing to keep in mind at all times. The large sign out in front of my place “IT SHOULDN’T HURT TO BE A CHILD!” means exactly that. And many people have thanked me for that reminder. Certainly a parent can lash out in anger and actually hurt their child. It is unforgivable, but it happens. And the loving parent will properly damn themselves for having lost their temper in such a fashion. The reminder I have posted is one we all need to have before us at all times.

While discussing my sign out front with a Jewish friend some time ago, one who had survived Hitler’s Germany, I asked her what might have been the result of good people posting signs in Germany when Jews were being targeted “IT SHOULDN’T HURT TO BE A JEW!” She was flabbergasted! “Why,” she replied, “I don’t think anyone thought of that, and if they had I doubt anyone would have had the courage to do such a thing.”

I’m inclined to believe those like George Washington, Elizabeth Stanton, and Sergeant York never thought of themselves as courageous. The proverb comes to mind, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own lips.” Well, I’m more often damned than praised, but I have been around long enough to know better than to condemn those who take their own lives despite the fact it sometimes takes more courage to live than to die. My elderly Jewish friend certainly understood that.

Among what some would consider oddities in my library is an 1892 edition of “In Ole Virginia” by Thomas Nelson Page, publisher Charles Scribner’s Sons. The volume I have is one of the most beautiful examples of the bookmaker’s craft; handsomely bound, gilded, embossed with Cameo motif on the front cover center; carefully stitched with thin bookmark sewed in, an onionskin page inserted to protect a solitary W. L. Sheppard etching. For lovers of finely crafted books this small volume is a real delight to see and hold in your hands.

The Page family can be traced back to Jamestown in 1650 and both the Nelson and Page families grew to prominence in the arts, business, and politics, T. N. Page having a particularly illustrious career. However, being a southern gentleman his roots were in the antebellum South and his collection of stories while showing Page’s poetically masterful command of the English language attempts to capture that period of history in the Negro dialect of the time as well, which makes them difficult reading. But for an authentic recounting of actual events and people of the era he describes, Page’s writing is truly remarkable.

Opening the book you read: “To MY PEOPLE. This fragmentary record of their life is dedicated.” The people to whom Page is referring are those representing the finest of the old southern families whose descendants continued to uphold the best of the traditions and fine manners of the “Old South.” Of course, today the phrase “My people” is not allowed of Caucasians, only everyone that is not Caucasian.

While Page was a prolific writer, his works growing to eighteen volumes, In Ole Virginia is his finest attempt to authentically portray the Old South. The stories while difficult to read in the dialect Page attempts to use reflecting the Negro idiom of the era, you are transported by the stories told in such a fashion that you quickly forget the present and become engrossed in that time long ago Margaret Mitchell called “Gone With The Wind.”

Though there be “good” wars and “bad” wars, though winners write history and defend the difference and as Ma Joad and her son Tom affirmed the bad guys “need killin’,” to the rational mind war is the ultimate lunacy of our species, and I often refer to the Civil War as “Lincoln’s War” because it was unnecessary, as the more honest of historians like Professor Claude G. Bowers points out in his definitive work on the subject titled “The Tragic Era.”

But while wars evidence the lunacy of our species en masse the lunacy of individuals is evidenced by the antics of politicians. The Supreme Court is going to decide the issue of police chases. Are they going to tell the cops they can no longer give chase? What message will that send to criminals? But every time such a chase causes injury or death to either criminals or the innocent there are the lawyers lining up to sue. We recently had a politician in California that wanted a law to make criminals of those that spank their children, and now there is one in New York that wants to make using the “n” word a criminal offense. Well, to be on the side of the angels I oppose the beating of children and I oppose racial epithets of every kind. But at what point does a spanking become a beating and a racial term becomes hatred?

There is to be sure a slippery slope involved with all attempts to legislate the conduct of police agencies, to legislate morality including speech, and fortunately cooler heads often prevail. But there is no getting around the fact some things have an emotional part in the equation of the making of laws. A parent is not always guilty of brutalizing a child by spanking, though I support banning such a thing in all schools and anywhere else that does not directly and physically involve the parent, nor does the use of racial terms always betray a racist. And are we to “burn” the books by Page and Clemens because of their use of the “n” word? Of course not, but that does not excuse the use of the word intended as a racial epithet.

Some years ago a publisher returned a manuscript informing me the use of the “n” word was unacceptable. But it’s use was a significant contribution to the authenticity of the story. In this particular case, if you are writing authentically as did Page, Clemens, or Steinbeck and are prevented from using the terminology of that era you are describing what you are left with is a kind of Stalinist or Hitlerian revisionist “history.”

Another time an editor took it upon himself to change my use of the word “Negro” to “Black.” I informed the editor the term Negro is correct especially when writing of the era described in my column, but the term black as generic of Negroes is incorrect. Not all Caucasians are white and not all Negroes are black; but the terms white and black are too often misused and derogatory while Caucasian and Negro remain legitimately correct terms. I reminded him of Thoreau’s comment about a marker in a graveyard calling attention to the person buried there “a man of color, as though he were discolored.” But while some racial terms are blatantly offensive, when it comes to matters of race it is almost impossible these days to know what will give offense. And living in an America where hyphenation, something Marilyn vos Savant thought the greatest of dangers threatening America, blurs the very term “American” hardly promotes Utopian pluralism, multiculturalism, or diversity.

Admittedly, it does take courage to speak the truth when there are so many enemies of the truth about. But I can’t help wondering how it has come to pass that no politician today dares tell us the truth about anything? And could it be the same thing that prevented good Germans from putting up those signs? And does this compare with a politically correct America where the truth must give way to half-truths at best? If so, God help us! Some politician is going to propose a law. Worse, some of these proposals will become laws legislating morality where all that is needed are more good examples and reminders.

Watching the present crop of politicians pandering and posturing cannot but remind me of a precious comment by the newspaper reporter in “Bloom County” about the senator “leaving a trail of slime…” That pretty well sums up politicians as a whole; how they get elected and stay elected there is always that trail of slime.

No one trusts those in government to tell us the truth about anything. That’s a very dangerous position for Americans to find themselves in, especially when the civilized nations of the world are facing increasing threats of terrorism by Muslim fanatics, our treasonously porous borders inviting terrorists to enter and the jails and prisons of America being breeding grounds for Muslim fanatics. But current disaster preparedness propaganda reminds me of old films showing children how to dive under their desks in case of an atomic bomb attack, and not long ago jokes were being made about plastic and duct tape. That pretty well defined the kind of “expertise” We the People can expect from our leaders. Now, it’s IEDs on the Home Front being talked about. Unfortunately, these could be the real thing; simple to make and simple to deploy.

A younger generation views the propaganda films of WWII as quaint or anachronistic and has difficulty believing those my age could have ever taken such films seriously when we were young. But the threat of saboteurs for example was made very real to us as children during that era. While attending Mt. Vernon Elementary in Bakersfield, I recall teachers warning us not to pick up strange objects on the playground because booby-traps might be disguised as toys of some kind or even objects like fountain pens.

One day a couple of older pupils came into our classroom, one on crutches and wrapped in bandages daubed with red coloring to simulate blood. The other young fellow gave a short but very graphic speech about the dangers we faced on the playground and elsewhere because of the possibility of booby-traps specifically designed to attract children, then when picked up would explode.

Suppose such demonstrations were going on now in the classrooms of America. If you have children in school how would you as a parent feel about such demonstrations? Would you be worrying about how such a thing might impact your child’s mind, how it might cause your child to become paranoid, afraid of the dark, to have nightmares and awaken screaming in the night? Or would you encourage such demonstrations for the sake of your child’s safety? But these days, it is unlikely the schools would allow such demonstrations no matter how real the threat might be. There would be the ACLU and lawyers salivating over the prospects of lawsuits. I don’t doubt the IEDs are coming, I don’t doubt some will be designed specifically for the playgrounds of America; but neither do I doubt there will be no demonstrations in classrooms warning children of the dangers as there were when I was a child.

That’s a good line from “Armageddon” about the killer asteroid; the head of NASA says, “Well, it’s coming straight at us and there’s nothing we can do about it.” However, while the film has Bruce Willis saving our planet there is undoubtedly the “killer asteroid” of terrorism coming straight at us, but I don’t see any in our government the equivalent of Bruce Willis; nor for that matter any in NASA or any government agency capable of handling the threat. What I do see is a trail of slime as politicians posture and pander while that killer asteroid is coming straight at us.

The leadership of America will not put a face to our enemies, it will not put a face to those responsible for our treasonously porous borders; will not put a face to those that will be bringing those IEDs to the playgrounds of America and elsewhere, will not put a face to those making such a thing possible. To put a face to such enemies would alienate Big Oil and those supplying the oil; would put a crimp in corporate profits and cause “embarrassment” to many politicians.

Not long ago there was a news segment here locally deploring smoking around public playgrounds. There were pictures of toddlers picking up filthy cigarette butts from the sand around playground equipment. As a smoker myself I have never treated the world as my personal ashtray, and I applauded those who called attention to the selfish thoughtlessness of those that would leave cigarette butts where children are at play. But it did call to mind those warnings to us children during WWII about booby-traps designed to injure and kill children. And because of a failed leadership in America I believe it is only a matter of time when it won’t be cigarette butts in playgrounds but those booby-traps parents are going to be concerned about once more.

It’s easy to dismiss such a thing which is commonplace in Israel where children are continually warned of booby-traps in playgrounds. But it is my generation that recalls such a thing once upon a time in America, and it would be naive to the point of maliciousness to say “it can’t happen here.”

“Rescue the damsel in distress, kill the bad guy, save the world.” It’s the fulfilling of boyhood dreams, and makes “The Mummy” with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz one of my favorite movies. But it’s the reaction by the British aviator to Rick telling him he probably won’t live through it “By Jove, do you really think so?” that makes the case for the romance of it all; “Captain Winston Havlock at your service!” And by golly, what red-blooded real man could possibly refuse such a worthy challenge!

Captain Havlock spoke for most of us who are the real romantics. Having been cheated of going down in flaming glory along with most of his friends during the Great War here was the answer to his prayers, “Rescue the damsel in distress, kill the bad guy, save the world.” And best of all, he was assured he probably wouldn’t live through it! “By Jove, do you really think so?”

There is no doubt in my mind the script writers knew all about Tom Sawyer’s romantic thoughts of rescuing Becky Thatcher. Any boy worth his salt is going to dream of rescuing damsels in distress. But it must be done in the face of threats by evil-doers or other dangers, there has to be the real threat to your own life in the process of rescuing the damsel in distress to make it worthy of your efforts; only real derring-do in the face of tremendous odds will thoroughly win the heart of that damsel and the applause of all around. My hero! Ah, those words and the adoration shining from a pure and true beautiful girl’s eyes, these are worth risking your life for. And if you have been cautioned you probably won’t live through the anticipated rescue; why, it would be meaningless otherwise.

Ok, so The Mummy is a really funny movie; and I love all the supernatural elements brought into play, the themes of ancient Egypt with all the curses and artifacts that allow you to enjoy the characters and dialogue throughout. But the really serious part is the kind of romanticism Captain Havlock portrays. Now seriously, did he really miss not having gone down in flaming glory with his friends, did he truly relish the thought he might not live through the challenge presented him? Well, the chance to rescue a damsel, kill the bad guy, and save the world is certainly enough to inspire any man that considers himself to be a real man.

The really funny parts of the movie aside, Captain Havlock is not actually a parody of romantic courage; there are many like him who sincerely wish they had gone down in flaming glory rather than continue a life without meaning and die a meaningless death. True enough, but if you have stood at Arlington Cemetery, awed by the sea of grave markers stretching to the horizon, or seen that Vietnam Memorial Wall with its thousands of names inscribed you cannot help wondering where the romance is? There are some names that stand out, some with a claim to a meaningful death, a romantic death, made meaningful and romantic by some singular act of heroism. But for the greater part, who but loved ones left behind even recall the faces of so many thousands of the dead?

Stories of knights in shining armor rescuing damsels in distress are a real part of childhood for both boys and girls. While easily dismissed as fantasy, such fantasies are not easily forsaken in adulthood; there are always those like Winston Havlock in whose breasts the fires of romance continue burning brightly. I recall a florist, a very lovely lady, once telling me “It’s men like you that keep me in business.” But a cautionary word to you ladies; it takes much more than sex to inspire the real romantics, to keep them buying the flowers. There are many “damsels in distress” today, but where are the boys dreaming of rescuing them? I think it’s a tragedy for America so many boys and girls today have no idea what I’m talking about; and not a few adults.

Walt Kelly was one of our preeminent political philosophers, and as such much of what he said concerning politics and politicians continues to ring true. Understanding the politician can no more change its spots than can a leopard, in his “Pogo” strip Walt much like Al Capp’s “Li’l Abner” portrayed politicians for the amoral creatures they are. As We the People along with the rest of the world are “treated” to the furious back-peddling of politicians about their previous votes in Congress on Iraq, one scene from Walt comes vividly to mind. Congersman Frog is telling Ol’ Mouse how he had been gulled into voting for the Tompkins (Tonkin) Gulf Resolution of ’64, and was now telling any and all he had been “hoodwinked, soft-soaped, laundered!” Mouse is so impressed by this passionate disavowal he exclaims “I don’t see why we can’t get the (Nobel) Peace Prize for you on those grounds alone!” To which Congersman Frog replies, “For that kinda dough I’ll say twice as much, twice as brave.”

That accurately describes shameless politicians pandering for votes now that are trying to claim they were “hoodwinked, soft-soaped, laundered!” into voting for Caesar Bush’s wars, but in order to promote themselves and bring in the cash for their campaigns it only amounts to “For that kinda dough I’ll say twice as much, twice as brave.” But they will only do so because politicians no longer make speeches “to the sound of cocking pistols in their audiences.” However, the way things are going…

Cheney says “Al-Qaida can’t win in a stand-up fight.” Rhetorical question: Could Cheney? It’s a whimsical thought, that any of the ilk of Cheney, Bush, Clinton (him or her), would actually put their lives at risk in a stand-up fight. How easy it is, and has always been, for the rich and powerful to start the wars others will die in, for politicians to make the decisions sending countless numbers into harm’s way.

Oh good, politicians are “Outraged! Shocked, shocked!” about the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Don Imus really reamed those responsible in unmistakably clear language. But like the efforts of Lou Dobbs concerning our porous borders and the invasion of millions of illegal aliens from Mexico it’s like speaking into the air. Politicians will only do what they need to get elected and stay elected. And when the “opportunity” for war presents itself, politicians will vote for war. Why, perhaps because war is called by some “The ultimate aphrodisiac.” To be sure such a thing is insane, but this as much as anything explains why peace has never been an alternative to war.

Many of you will recall the scene from “Fail-Safe” where the professor confronts the rich, spoiled young woman, slapping her because he knows she is one of those for whom war is the ultimate aphrodisiac. She is bored with life and the very idea of a nuclear holocaust is so exciting to her she would push that button for the sake of an ultimate high. But she is far from being alone; too many wars have been waged out of what is no more than boredom. When Elmer Gantry is drunk, he wants to go out and use his fists. Of course, he loves using his fists drunk or sober; but somehow being drunk makes it easier to pick a fight, makes it easier for him to justify picking a fight. The cause is only secondary at best, if at all. And how very like those drunk with their own power. Caesar Bush? Iran’s Mad Mullah? North Korea’s “god?” Far from being alone in such a thing. Their “ancestry” goes all the way back to the very beginnings of humankind.

There are many historical precedents making the case for the romantic aspect of war. “War is hell” would seem to depend on the point of view. It may be Napoleon’s or Patton’s love of war on the grand scale, the Kamikaze diving his plane into a ship, that German soldier who after the war claimed “Under Hitler I really lived for twelve years and I haven’t lived since,” or simply “loving the smell of napalm in the morning.” There is a ferocity and predisposition to violence in much of humankind; and we are surrounded by the statuary and other commemorations exalting Mars. To the sensible and rational mind there is nothing of glory to die in the muck or be blown apart by a bomb. And it is the innocent in the millions that pay the price for the wars men make. But I often refer people to James Jones’ Pulitzer-winning “WWII” as an authoritative resource on the subject of war being either heaven or hell depending on the point of view.

It seems humankind demands its wars, demands its books like “War and Peace” and films like “Since You Went Away,” its heroes like the Sergeant York’s and Audie Murphy’s as though we humans were struggling to make some kind of justification for war; as though to say “since war is inevitable, let’s at least romanticize what we can of it.” In “The Wind and the Lion” those toasting the idea of a world at war, even though they may die in fomenting such a thing thought it “a glorious way to go out.” If these men were insane they have a lot of company in their insanity.

The history of humankind being one of wars the whole world is in need of the analyst’s couch, though analysts have proven no better than witch doctors in “curing” mental illness. Now I’m a reasonably rational human being and am all for peace rather than war. And I’ll keep on being an advocate for peace though there isn’t any Nobel on my horizon. “I’ll say twice as much, twice as brave” despite there being no dough in it. What I find despicable is politicians pandering for votes, talking “bravely” when their own lives are not on the line. But if Cheney were facing recuperating at Walter Reed… and so it goes.

Hitler should have been stopped at Munich. The bullies, the tyrants and despots will always be there as well as the Chamberlains. “Peace in our time?” Not when the world is filled with tyrants and despots. It is silly at the most charitable to talk of peace when the bullies are demanding others bow to them. Such bullies like those now in North Korea and Iran will no more than Hitler or Stalin do anything but take advantage of those who in their silliness speak of peace all the while trying to placate the bullies.

Let those that speak so glibly of peace do something about the monsters in human guise torturing and murdering children, about the members of gangs that prey on the weak and the law-abiding. In sum, let those that truly want peace do something substantive to cure what must surely be an infectious dementia, the most irrational act of humankind that has taken a greater toll on life than any disease or natural disaster: War. But like any bully or disease it won’t go away by simply talking about it no mater how “bravely” people speak of peace. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address makes for a lovely sentiment; but like all such it remains only a romantic sentiment denying the ugliness of reality attendant on all wars.

There is no “glory” in war; there is no “field of honor” or “noble dead,” there is only what people romanticize about war that gives such things any credence. But it is a most powerful element in any war, and to deny its allure is to deny the reality of it. For those of us who lived WWII we know the allure of such romanticism; and the fact it helped us win the war against the Axis Powers is the justification for such romanticism. Better there had been no Hitler or Tojo; but those were the ugly realities to be overcome by our own romantic reality of making the sacrifices necessary to overcome these bullies. Now, if those in power throughout the world were required to make such sacrifices there might be a chance for peace. But they aren’t.

I want the Gandhi’s not the war lovers to predominate. But they don’t. And so long as multiplied millions live in poverty and ignorance, so long will there be the need of those to confront the bullies in order to give the Gandhi’s any chance at all, to give the real romance of life a chance to prevail. The meek may inherit the earth, but first the earth must be made safe for the meek.

The Psalmist praised God because “He teacheth my hands to war.” But we assume the Psalmist was praising God for such instruction in waging war for a righteous cause.

It was while I was writing about the necessity of romance for promoting war it occurred to me that I hadn’t thought about Bobby Keillor for quite some time. He was a year older than me, but we were very close friends in high school and we often went hunting and fishing together here in the Kern River Valley before the dam was built. The last time I ever saw Bobby he came by the cabin and told me he had been drafted for the Korean War. He was positively ecstatic about it and I shared his enthusiasm, telling him how envious I was of his going into the Army and how I wished I was going with him, hating the fact that I was missing all the excitement by my being only one year younger than him.

Both Bobby and I were raised in the atmosphere of WWII, a time when the whole of America was immersed in the romance of war, especially children. We were dressed in those “cute” diminutive uniforms of soldiers and sailors, our comics and funny papers were filled with the romance of the heroism of glorious conflict against the Axis Powers. Why, it wasn’t just Hollywood screen stars, but even Bugs Bunny and other cartoon characters were caught up in the excitement and romance of war, the glory of battle against our foes.

America cannot win any war without romanticizing it. There must be the “glory” of war in order to attract an entire nation to a cause, the word glory being without meaning apart from romance. It was the romantic ideas of glory and excitement of war that so attracted those like Bobby and me to becoming soldiers. We were too young for the glory of WWII, but Korea was the chance to actually live the glory and excitement we had missed as children. And that we had missed something glorious and exciting, of that we had no doubt.

We humans are born with innate curiosity; we are genetically wired it seems to be a questioning species. But it would be many years after seeing Bobby that one last time before I began to seriously question why he and I were so excited about the prospect of becoming soldiers and going into battle? Certainly men would seem to be war lovers, but why? We know video games about flowers can’t compete with the games enabling players to knock planes out of the sky and kill any number of the “enemy” and blow things up. There is this seeming propensity to violence that makes such video games successful even as with Hollywood portrayals of violence. We know those that excel in sports while in school are far more exalted than the bookworms, than those that excel in academic achievement. It’s as though the schools were determined to make physical prowess the prime indicator of success; but success by what definition?

No amount of reading of “Johnny Got His Gun” will dissuade those like Bobby; he and I would never believe there was not something glorious about war, something we were willing to chase after like some illusive fantasy, something we believed would only be realized by facing some enemy gun in hand. It was the romance of the whole idea of war, just like the fantasies of “Shane” and so many other films; we were the good guys wanting to do battle in a righteous cause against the bad guys. Ah, the romance of it all. We trained while playing cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, and during WWII we trained with cap guns and slingshots against the Axis foes. People like Bobby and me were well-trained as children for the “real thing” when it came along. War was opportunity knocking to fulfill all the fantasies of heroic battles learned in childhood. The bottom line: Peace is boring; war is exciting. And human beings are easily bored.

It won’t do; what with all the talk about gang violence for example, just what is being offered that will take the place of the excitement of having a gun in your hand, terrorizing and shooting people? It’s a violent world, and America is a violent nation. We have had an unending stream of violence being taught children from our very beginnings as a nation; and during my own considerable years there hasn’t been any peace but only unrelenting wars.

You may be familiar with the SciFi stories of extraterrestrials being wary of our earth, of keeping a close eye on our technological advances, especially nuclear capabilities; that flying saucers may only be a means of keeping tabs on us earthlings. But it is a story steeped in the most ancient mythologies; certainly the Greeks and Romans made much of our being a warring species, and as such determined to kill each other for one reason or another.

I really like Gore Vidal’s “Lincoln.” When Lincoln and his wife are visiting a frontline of battle, there is Mrs. Lincoln shouting for someone to give her a gun so she could shoot back! I suffer no romantic delusions about the distaff side despite the fact men make wars while women attempt to make homes, and given the right circumstances the momma bear may do more than just fight for her cubs.

For so many years I thoroughly enjoyed the raw power of a gun in my hands. I loved shooting, and I loved making things blow up with dynamite. I enjoyed playing football but enjoyed boxing even more. Putting on those gloves and trying to knock your opponent unconscious! I loved it! And so did the other guys. The sheer romance of it all; the thrill of it all! Nothing like it; it makes for people willing to risk their lives in exploration of the unknown. Without that romantic risk Columbus would never have set sail; without that no one would want to fly a fighter aircraft or be strapped in atop a rocket and be blasted into space.

The philosophical conundrum has always been there to confront; how to make the very things that seem determined to make our species extinct work for our preservation, how to make peace as attractive as war? Even now the Muslim enemies of civilization know they have the advantage by being able to romanticize their wars against the “infidels.” But the civilized nations of the world have nothing the equivalent to counter the threat of Islam.

Money is no substitute for romance. It’s a hard sell trying to romanticize money. Neither Bobby nor I would have “joined up” for money; neither of us was willing to go to war just to protect corporate interests. There had to be some romantic ideal to make war attractive to us. Both Sam Clemens and Harper Lee knew there had to be romantic ideals involved to make sense of the games children play; the kinds of games that would translate into the ideals of adulthood that would continue to be dictated by the romance of those ideals even as Henry Thoreau interpreted them by claiming children play at life better than adults live it.

It’s a memorable scene from “Lawrence of Arabia” when he claims the best of the fighters will not come for money; they will come for him. Lawrence cut quite the romantic figure; but his peculiar genius knew how to make that romance work to his ends; the Founding Fathers, Theodore Roosevelt, all romantics that knew the power of romance, were moved themselves by that power in their own lives.

Most people would choose to live peaceably if they were allowed to do so, if the jobs and security for families were there to assure a future for their children. But America no longer offers those jobs and security for families, a future for the children of America. On the contrary, the leadership of America has sold out and betrayed our nation for profits. This leaves the door wide open for any that will make war a romantic option; it leaves the door wide open for gangs to recruit members, for crime and violence of every description. And the present leadership of America offers nothing that would make peace an attractive alternative to war. Nor do we see anyone on the horizon that would do so, but we do know all politicians lie to get elected and lie to stay elected.

There is a vacuum of leadership in America, and we are ready for a “strong man” to take the helm. Since peace does not appear to be an option, it can’t be a woman because no woman praises God for teaching their hands to war. It will take a man that can make the romantic case for war; that can appeal to those like Bobby and me thirsting for the glory of battle. Let such a man appear and there will be no want of volunteers. But peace is not an alternative; it never has been. It is always a case of good vs. evil, and the two will always be in conflict. Both can be romanticized, but Western Civilization has some catching up to do for us to entertain any notion the civilized will prevail over the barbarians whether in America or elsewhere.

It is patently ridiculous and a downright insult to hear about “efforts on the part of our leadership” to keep Afghanis from growing opium poppies and Columbians from growing coca plants when Mexicans are cultivating vast marijuana plantations right here in America’s national forests. It’s of the same to hear politicians talk about securing the borders of Iraq and Afghanistan all the while refusing to secure our own borders. The sheer hypocrisy of such things as these is obvious to the entire world, lending its weight to the loss of any credibility on the part of America’s “leadership.”

However, while no one can blame the poverty-stricken Afghani, Columbian, or Mexican trying to make a living by growing opium poppies, coca plants, or marijuana these poor need some means of marketing the product. And this is where the politicians come in. The Godfather needed those politicians and judges he “carried about like so much loose change in his pocket” to make his own enterprises successful. Without those bought politicians and judges The Godfather would have been out of business in short order.

It is gratifying to read and hear of attention being given to the problem of gangs terrorizing law abiding citizens; but the message was clear enough when Clinton pardoned all his sleazebag friends that crime pays. Clinton wasn’t unique in this; he was only unique in his blatant in your face pardoning so many at one time. But given the past history of the Clintons shrouded in so many dark deals they needed a lot of these sleazebags with their connections to continue being friendly to this infamous couple.

You have to be well connected for crime to pay well, as The Godfather or any CEO could tell you. Politicians and their CEO bosses have sent the message to everyone that crime pays. This includes not only those like Halliburton et al. but those that take advantage of the slave labor being provided from Mexico knowing politicians, the ACLU, La Raza, the universities, judges, the media, will continue to aid and abet this use and abuse of slave labor.

Republican or Democrat, they are of a kind when it comes to “follow the money;” it was Reagan that opened the floodgates to illegal aliens, and it was Carter that forbade the proper term “alien” to be used and substituted “immigrant” in his own financial interest, though the courts continue to use the judicially correct term alien. And it is blatantly obvious the government of Mexico will continue to encourage this illegal invasion of America; and why not, since there is no penalty for doing so. For the leadership of Mexico, using America as a dumping ground for its refuse population is a win/win deal.

But no knowledgeable person doubts the deal couldn’t work without politicians on both sides of the border cooperating and profiting from the deal. And politicians can depend on the ACLU, La Raza, the universities and liberal media to howl “Racist!” when anyone objects to this invasion of America by illegal aliens from Mexico, that dares raise the issues of anchor babies, social costs, crime, “Press one for English,” ballots in foreign tongues, the dangers of terrorists coming across our borders or the issue of our own national sovereignty demanding that our borders be secured.

There is a “mystery of iniquity” as the Scripture has it at work in the world, and many of the myths and legends of antiquity support the belief in such a thing. I have made my own opinion known, that I find it more believable to subscribe to a doctrine of Satan as found in Scripture than what would otherwise be a lunatic world. For my part, I see a world lying in wickedness, Satan’s domain as even Jesus concurred where the wicked prosper. As to a doctrine of hell, there is enough of this on earth without need of any other apart from a place for those that torture and murder children. I believe there must be a special place of torment for the Devil and his angels, for the monsters in human guise that prey on women and children and those like Stalin and Hitler. And how about a special hell for all politicians and lawyers; Dante would have them all consigned to a place reserved only for politicians and lawyers. Now that would be a real hell-hole!

I find no fault with agnostics or atheists; they are welcome to their point of view. In many ways one might conclude either the gods are crazy or resort to atheism to explain such prevailing lunacy throughout human history that promotes wars and suffering, that places scoundrels in places of authority where such wars and suffering are made commonplace.

Our own planet is replete with mysteries yet unsolved. It is interesting to note so many mysteries of our own solar system, so many that not a few scientists describe our solar system as “rare” in the universe; though none dare use the word “unique” for fear of losing their academic credentials. Still, to explain that mystery of iniquity one only has to consider politicians and lawyers in order to make some sense of such a mystery. And to explain politicians and lawyers, one only need follow the money.

But what about those appearing well-intentioned that say money is the answer to gang violence? These well-intentioned people all have their hands out, saying that if enough taxpayer money were given to gang-bangers they would leave off their criminal ways. But where is the accountability? Nowhere to be found. No one disputes poverty and ignorance breed crime and violence, but what politician can be trusted with money to solve the problem? It’s like the educational hierarchy howling it is a lack of money that is to blame for a failed system of education in America. But where is the accountability? Nowhere to be found.

The Godfather demanded accountability. In this the Mafia differed from government. For this if for no other reason one might be excused for thinking The Godfather had a better handle on the realities. But remember The Godfather’s goal was his son Michael would be “respectable” and go into politics. Was Michael’s father naïve? Hardly. He knew where the real money was to be made through the power of government. Given the truth of this, just who are the truly naïve but those that would have you believe there is some other way to handle gangsters than to meet force with force, whether in Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico, or America?

My opposition to Caesar Bush’s wars from the beginning was the realization our troops were being told, once more, to fight a war not to win but for political expediency. Congress fell into line for the same reason. Those that believe there is some other way to win the war against gangs in America without fighting the war to win but for political expediency are of the same as Bush and Congress. We will watch and listen as the usual politicians and their toadies do all the hand-wringing and making empty promises, like Bush and Congress, our own local and state legislators saying “something must be done,” but it will not be fighting a war to win. That would take virtuous leaders, and America does not have virtuous leaders.

But don’t you wonder why English would be the universal language by agreement of the airlines of the world while Americans have to “Press one for English?” Having been a pilot I understand the wisdom of needing a universal language in the skies. My fear is it will take that terrorist nuclear bomb going off at LAX to bring politicians down to earth.

Many make the comparison between the fall of Rome and the very same things that are leading to the fall of America. But in both cases a lack of virtuous leadership is to blame, the kind of leadership that can be trusted to act in the best interests of the governed rather than their own. What we have now is a bunch of “fiddlers.” And whether it is Kern County or Los Angeles County here in my native state, what we have attempting to deal with gangs is a bunch of fiddlers. But even were they determined to make real music, there is the whole of Caesar’s empire, judges, lawyers, the ACLU, etc. to confront in any attempts to make music. And following the money will continue to be more realistic than expecting any music.

The day before yesterday I may have been witness to a kidnapping, but I don’t know. To explain that enigmatic statement, over the years the house next door to me here in the country has been a continuing saga of criminals coming and going. One day I returned to my cottage only to see three squad cars next door with six people standing lined up in handcuffs in the front of the place.

In my book “Birds With Broken Wings” I describe an incident involving the place next door where it was being used for making porno films, and the part I played in breaking up the gang including a pharmacist that was supplying the drugs for the “participants.” Thanks to me I was told he made a hasty exit to Jamaica. Unfortunately, the story also involved a very beautiful young woman with a three year old boy. This was an ongoing tragedy, the details of which are really stranger than fiction involving beauty pageants and very well known persons connected to Bakersfield, Hollywood, Las Vegas, and New York City.

Fortunately, because of my background I’m as comfortable wearing my Beretta as most people are with any article of clothing, and would not feel I was properly attired without the gun. But it takes considerable for any person to accommodate the actual necessity of such a thing, and being a civilized man I wish it was not an essential item, I wish I did not have to wear a gun just to walk about my place outdoors or sleep with a gun at the ready.

Though the place next door has often been vacant for months at a time going through various owners, a few years ago the situation had become so bad around here with my own place burglarized I finally called Carl Sparks. There were a number of squatters in tents, trailers, and truck campers as well as living in the house, so Carl and some helpers came up and with guns on their hips convinced my “neighbors” to move on. But while the squatters were displaced, the house continued to be inhabited by criminals of various descriptions. The present occupant and her boyfriend are doing some time in jail, but their friends continue coming and going at various times day and night.

To say I am used to strange happenings next door is putting it mildly. But I’m neither blind nor deaf so I see and hear things, and the day before yesterday I heard a vehicle revving up next door and glanced out my front window and saw a young woman walking out of the driveway onto the road and heading down toward Lake Isabella Blvd. She had only walked a short distance when a white low-rider pickup with two male occupants backed out of the driveway and took off after the girl. Pulling up next to her the man on the passenger side of the truck jumped out, picked up the girl bodily and got back into the truck with her. They then headed up the road out front in the opposite direction to which the girl had been walking. The fact drug involved murders had taken place up that road not far from me did nothing to soothe my fears for the girl.

I immediately reported what I had seen but heard nothing further. But what, exactly, had I seen? A kidnapping, or perhaps a girl on drugs and her “friends” trying to keep her from being picked up and arrested, possibly involving the two men also. I’m an experienced hand in such matters and know the scenario all too well, and aside from personal experience was reminded of the story about Patton “rescuing” a young woman gun in hand only to find out she was the fiancée of one of the men involved. I’ve seen a lot of strange things, even dangerous things and no one has to remind me that things are not always what they appear to be.

The question of what can be done to curb the gang violence taking over the cities of America requires only a one word answer: Nothing. And the ACLU with a phalanx of attendant lawyers of every description, the universities, the media, politicians and judges will continue to make sure nothing can be done about gang violence. Thanks to these and a government that favors the drug trade and illegal aliens for slave labor among a host of other insanities the laws favor criminals and punish the victims. Cops are not stupid; they know every time they give chase, make an arrest or draw their guns they are immediately open to lawsuits, censure, losing their job and possibly serving time in prison. Who needs the grief? Ask those border patrol agents now in prison for attempting to do their jobs how they now feel about trying to protect our borders. Ask any cop that has suffered for attempting to do his job how he now feels about “Serve and Protect.” Ask why Caesar Bush calls the new Minutemen “vigilantes,” and why our National Guard is in Afghanistan and Iraq instead of on our own borders in force.

“Those brave troops fighting in Iraq” is the catchphrase used by both the well-meaning and politicians without souls. I refer to politicians as being without souls because those that want power and authority over others must first make that Faustian agreement with the Devil to gain political position and power. The well-meaning remain only the well-meaning.

The fact is those troops should not be in either Afghanistan or Iraq at all. Whether the gang wars in America or the wars abroad, no politically correct war is winnable whether in Afghanistan, Iraq, Los Angeles, or Bakersfield. I have a granddaughter in the Navy serving in Bahrain. I want her here at home. From the very beginning of Caesar Bush and Company’s wars this should have been abundantly evident, that politically correct wars would be unwinnable. The gang wars in America are unwinnable for the very same reason. Whether of religious fanaticism or barbarism born of greed and inhuman cruelty such wars are only won by hurting enough of the bad guys until they cry “Uncle!”

But political correctness will not allow of hurting enough of the bad guys. For example, the vast preponderance of jail and prison inmates is Mexicans and Negroes. But just this statement of the fact is bound to create howls of “Racism!” for even daring to state the fact. The illogic of such a thing would have you believe this disproportionate jail and prison population consisting of Mexicans and Negroes is due to racism rather than a disproportionate number of crimes being committed by Mexicans and Negroes. No politician can or will give an estimate of the number of illegal aliens in America though we know the number is in the millions or for that matter how many occupy our jails and prisons. But none dare dispute the fact they are vastly Mexicans by the numbers.

Nothing was done about the violence in Watts in the 60s because it was only a matter of “those people” killing each other, and now the violence has spread outside the ghettos and barrios of America. And now those who cared nothing about those people killing each other are saying attention should be paid because the violence has spread outside of the ghettos and barrios.

You don’t have to be astute to figure out as I wrote years ago that if the violence in Watts should spread to Rodeo Drive, Malibu, and Beverly Hills attention would have been paid. But neither do you have to be astute to know when the jobs are not there, the meaningful jobs in industry that were once plentiful and by which means families could be supported have been shipped to places like Mexico, India and China people are not going to simply roll over and play dead; they will in increasing numbers get a gun and take what they can no longer earn honestly.

Certainly I don’t need to distinguish between barbarians that have no intention of being anything other than barbarians and those who would choose to live quietly and honestly doing no harm to others. But things are becoming increasingly desperate for the honest citizens of America, and when things become desperate enough there is no doubt in my mind even the best of people will resort to whatever means necessary to put bread on the table even as did the honest citizens of Germany under Hitler, especially when we are confronted by the bald fact those in power don’t give a damn about America or We the People! At least Germans believed Hitler cared about them; that he cared about Germany. God forbid it will take a Hitler to put America first, but when the circumstances of organized oppression, tyranny and robbery on the part of government become intolerable… those in government may lie about many things like JFK, 9/11, and UFOs, but they can’t get away with lying about the crime and violence, about proliferating gang graffiti marking turf as do dogs, the failure of education and growing poverty in America increasingly impacting so many lives.

Those in power care nothing if your car is totaled by an illegal alien and you have no recourse, if an illegal alien murders a loved one and skips back into Mexico. It may take the barbarians beginning to kill or kidnap and hold for ransom some politicians and judges, some of their family members before we can expect any action to be taken on behalf of the honest citizens of America. But when the ordinary citizens of America have had enough, when the answer to what can be done about the growing problem of illegal aliens and gangs terrorizing at will is “Nothing” perhaps this answer will no longer be one We the People will continue allowing to stand.

The Bank of America is quite comfortable betraying America for profits. Our government is quite comfortable betraying America by not only refusing to secure our borders for the sake of profits, but will punish those sworn to protect our borders if they do their job. Caesar Bush and Company, corporate bosses may be laughing all the way to the bank, but there is going to be a reckoning for their being without a soul, and without a soul being without romance.

Since it is abundantly clear our government is run like The Godfather’s Mafia why isn’t someone stepping up to the plate and making Caesar Bush an offer he can’t refuse? What We the People need is someone with the courage and properly placed, someone like Don Corleone to put a gun to his head and tell Caesar either sign a contract in favor of America instead of nations like Saudi Arabia, Mexico and China, to do what is right for America, things like securing our borders and expelling illegal aliens used for slave labor and punishing those that hire them, that either his signature or his brains will be on that contract!

Of course it’s whimsical, but in my whimsy I can well imagine George Washington having the whole bunch in the White House, Congress, and Supreme Court tried for treason and hung! But it is far from whimsy to acknowledge our Triune Federal Dictatorship is run for profit benefiting only the wealthy just like Don Corleone’s Mafia, but without the romance.

Hey, did I say “romance?” You bet I did; but my use of the word must not be confused with some simplistically smarmy starry-eyed nonsense. The element of romance runs throughout the whole of The Godfather trilogy, and the saga would be nothing without this element of romance. Take away the romance of those involved in our own War for Independence and it would never have happened. The Sons of Liberty, the Founding Fathers were all consummate romantics, romanticizing all the ideals that were to be turned to calling all in whose breasts burned the intense flame of freedom, the flame of freedom from tyrants and despots, the freedom to live in liberty from the oppressor! What are Betsy Ross and our flag but symbols of the power of romance. It does no good to wrap yourself in that flag or wave the bloody shirt unless these are done in the surrounding aura and undiluted power of romance!

In “The Crossing” when Washington refuses to meet with the dying Hessian leader because he would not honor those who fight for profit he is confronted by the words of his aide, “In the end we all fight for profit.” It was the politically correct thing in the film, but could not have been further from the truth. The truth is found in the romance of that sacred honor of George Washington, that sacred honor never the handmaid to profits pledged by our Founding Fathers no amount of profits could displace. It was not profits that caused so many to suffer for the cause of liberty at Valley Forge, to respond to Thomas Paine’s cry to fight for liberty, but the romance of a promised America that was to be!

But the dark side of romance, ah, there is Lincoln’s War that would never have happened without “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” romanticizing the plight of Negroes held in slavery while conveniently ignoring the even worse wage slavery of “northern overseers” at the time as Henry Thoreau pointed out; and as Henry admitted while opposing the war with Mexico even he “could spit a Mexican with a good relish” when the martial music is playing loudly, “the trumpet that sings of fame” being a siren call, there is the basis of most wars that are propagandized by romanticizing the call to arms. In this sense even Hitler succeeded in romanticizing his vision of a thousand year Reich complete with all the art and architecture of his romantic vision for Germany. And to counter Hitler the Allies had to successfully romanticize their own call to arms.

Boris Pasternak’s Noble Prize-winning “Doctor Zhivago” brought to the screen certainly showed the romance of the Russian Revolution, and “Lawrence of Arabia” certainly romanticized the plight of Arabs. One might well say that without being able to romanticize something all other efforts to move the hearts of people to a cause, especially to the sacrificing of their lives for a cause would be in vain. And it is here where all the efforts of Caesar Bush and Company are doomed to fail. They have nothing to work with when it comes to romance.

Consider the religious fervor of our enemies; this is whipped up by romantic notions of a promised paradise to the martyrs of the Muslim religion. But America having been betrayed of its Christian heritage and culture, its Christian ideals there is no romantic appeal to counter the propaganda of Islam. When Caesar Bush made that first attempt using the word “Crusade” he was very quickly shouted down. The Crusades of old were romanticized, but the religious connotation aside no one was going to buy into a “crusade” for profits further enriching Caesar Bush and Company. But while abuses continue in the name of the Christian religion, it is patently ridiculous for detractors to make any comparison between the ideals of Jesus and those of Mohammad.

Caesar Bush and Company cannot make bricks without straw, they cannot gather Americans together in common cause without the romance of such a cause. And there is no romance to be found in calling for the sacrifice of lives just to make the wealthy even wealthier. Where is “glory” to be found in wars without romance? Consider all the books and films that glorify the sacrifice of lives in a cause based on romantic ideals. But take away that element of romance, and what have you? What you would never have is a film like “Casablanca.” And it would take the romance of a Casablanca to unite Americans once more in a cause.

However, WWII was romanticized for all the right reasons. We flocked to see Casablanca and delighted in Norman Rockwell’s America that accurately romanticized the America so many were sacrificed for at the time. But those many if called from their graves now would say “What was the point?” For those sacrificed to Korea and Vietnam, these would say “What was the point?” As Jesus made emphatically clear, there is nothing romantic about money except in instances like the widow’s mite, the story of the beggar and the wealthy man, and Judas betraying the innocent blood for money. In all such instances the romance is found in the sacrifices that distinguish between good and evil. But in the end the verdict of Jesus is to render to Caesar and to God based on the romantic concept of what belongs to either.

When I wrote “Romance: The real power and greatness of America,” I knew this was the motivation and the basis of the success of our Founding Fathers, of our War for Independence, America’s success in WWII, and I knew this seems to have escaped the notice of those like Caesar Bush and Company. You cannot pull Americans together in common cause without this element of romance being the decisive factor. Take all the words like good, fair, just, honorable, and they are all meaningless without that element of romance. And if the romance of America is betrayed by allowing the invasion of Mexico and the colonizing of America by Mexicans just to satisfy the greed of the wealthy for slave labor, if America continues to be betrayed by politicians and their corporate bosses for oil and to other nations like China for the sake of profits, no one in power can expect Americans to support such a government as we have now. There is no soul in such a government, and having no soul there is no romance.

From the time of Shakespeare on the English language is unsurpassed in expressing romance. But that most beautiful and expressive of languages is now betrayed in America by “Press one for English” and ballots printed in foreign tongues. Our very existence as a nation is threatened by those without a soul, without romance, willing to betray America for money ever as much as Judas did of Jesus.

This is not to say romance can flourish without bread; that is patently ridiculous, and despite his preaching a doctrine of simplicity in living most people would agree with Henry’s remark that “Economy is a subject which admits of being treated with levity, but it cannot so be disposed of.” But I believe many people would be happier if they would not spend so much of their lives “to keep bright the devil’s door-knobs” only to discover in the end all they were really seeking and wanted was the fulfillment of the romantic promise of “Rosebud.” Wisdom dictates it isn’t who has the most toys in the end who wins, but who you have helped along the way that really counts toward a life with any purpose and meaning, a life filled with the romance of living.

There are many helping philanthropic organizations, but philanthropy should never be confused with kindness. For example, it is no act of kindness to encourage irresponsible unproductive mouths whether in America or elsewhere to be fed at the expense of the responsibly productive who limit the number of babies to that which can be properly cared for with prospects for a future not dependent on welfare. But as to politicians that pander for votes I suffer no illusions they will pound the drum for birth control, that they will in any way attempt to interfere with the “reproductive rights” of multitudes feeding at the welfare tax trough, including illegal aliens though nowhere in our Constitution are any such “rights” to be found.

It is a pronounced hypocrisy on the part of those preaching against abortion to refuse to point out the fault of those in power refusing to encourage contraception and birth control. Were they to direct their energy to prodding politicians in this direction rather than abstinence there would be far fewer abortions. Human nature does not lend itself to abstinence, but if our nanny Federal Caesar and its legions in the various states would encourage contraception and birth control rather than reward illegitimate births at taxpayer expense the abortion problem would soon be a moot point. And it is here where economics rather than a sinister “philanthropy” at the expense of taxpayers should make its power felt.

Who doesn’t get a laugh out of Eliza Doolittle’s father telling Professor Higgins he is one of the undeserving poor and intends to keep on being one of the undeserving poor. But when any politician begins mouthing the phrase “Family values” I immediately want to ask them why they are not taking any responsibility for the millions of children born to unwed mothers, why they encourage at the expense of taxpayers the undeserving poor to continue to be the undeserving poor?

No, romance cannot exist as an orphan without bread. But when romance is betrayed for a superfluity of riches, as America is being betrayed by those without a conscience, without a soul but rather an insatiable appetite for wealth and power there is no room for romance. And being without a soul, thereby being without romance our present leaders are doomed. Someone will make these Judases “an offer they can’t refuse.” It may come by that terrorist nuclear bomb going off at LAX or DC, but that “offer” is going to be made.

Charles Schulz understood Valentine’s Day; he knew how to make Charlie Brown’s disappointment reach out to all the boys who wished they would receive a Valentine from some little girl whatever the color of her hair. But, alas, poor Charlie Brown never got that Valentine.

However, when I was a kid we all looked forward to this special day at school. Our teacher would supply the red construction and white lacy paper and paste with which we would all make Valentines. There would be those small, heart-shaped candies with the tiny mottos on them like “Will you be my Valentine?” Boys with real courage might give one of these to one of the girls in class.

Children are transparent in their likes and dislikes, so despite there being a lot of Charlie Brown’s who won’t get that Valentine from the little red haired girl today such disappointments won’t dilute the importance of this special day dedicated to romance, and Charles Schulz certainly understood this. And I believe he would have agreed “Casablanca” is the consummate romance film.

T