World Archaeological Society Ut Prosit (To be of service)

DEPT. OF DEMOCRACYOLOGY, WAS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "You are mortal!" Whispered in ear of big shot by a slave in ancient Rome, when in a glorious parade or going to accept a big government position. - - - - - - - - "We have met the enemy, and he is us!" Pogo - - - - - - - - - - OLD THINKERS. Americans are giving themselves away with their obsession with old, or I should say fear of old...re. the John McCain candidacy for President. Horrors, they are clutching so with young that old becomes an "enemy." A horrible unwanted thing. Fortunately, Alexander the Great didn't think old with his General Parmenio (in his 70s) on the front line to the left. He took incredible onsloughts of elephants, chariots with blades on the wheels, cavalry, foot, etc. And the Roman Senator Cato the elder was in his 90s. He was a wirey character...eating turnips with his slaves. He helped beat Carthage by finishing every speech with "destroy Carthage." Then, after Scipio Africanis did just that, he helped put down Scipio. This was a disgusting event of history since Scipio was a true hero and not all that bad, nevertheless, Scipio was in there operating. So, you are what you think...even more important than "you are what you eat." Don't be afraid of "old." Youth just doesn't stop with feared age. Why have limited thinking? Old thinking is a bad habit and not cost effective or doability effective. Are you and God running your life...or are Madison Ave. commercials and TV medical gurus? Think Parmenio and Cato...definitely not old thinkers. (Ron. Entered June 6th, '08) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NEXT TO THE BIBLE, HERE'S THE BOOK THAT EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD READ: THE ECHO OF GREECE BY EDITH HAMILITON. Here it is...what's wrong with government, what the citizens need to do...looking at the great laboratory, ancient Athens and Greece...what they had, what went wrong, and the great loss. This is a must for every student and parent. Upon reading this book, you will immediately see what has gone wrong in Iraq. The west and east are so very different. Little has changed with east and west since the Athenians were battling the Persians at Marathon. The Athenians won. How? Edith Hamilton was America's great student of the classics. She learned how to read Greek and Latin when a little girl. She studied in Europe. She was Headmistriss of Bryn Mawr. Everyone has got to read this book. Of course, much to help us today can also be learned from ancient Rome...but ancient Athens and Greece is where we need to go first. Here, according to Hamilton, people first became free. But they didn't hold onto it very long. What beat them? I will tell you right off that what beat the Greeks is beating us right now. You need to read this. It will shake you up. Our Administration and Congress right now in Washington and also citizens are making the same dumb mistakes as the Athenians. I believe our citizens want to know about this, but just don't quite know what to do. They are putting too much hope in a handful of candidates. They can help a lot, but problems are deep. Well, here it is...from the expert on the Athenians...and the Romans too. This should be the 2nd bible for all...any democracy...or country wanting to be a democracy. Each member of the new government of Iraq should have a copy...and each one of their citizens can also learn about freedom of the individual. I can't emphasize all this enough. Our future, our children's future and the free world rest in really understanding democracy, and what can go wrong, then, working away selflessly. I was happy to learn that W.W. Norton Co. is still publishing this book. I found them by Googling Norton Publisher. (note entered June 2nd, 2008) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SOME PROBLEMS WITH GOVERNMENT...AND SUGGESTIONS Following is an article with thoughts on government problems and suggestions. The U.S.A. has a lot of good things and good people, but there are many problems. Right now the USA is in the agonizing process of trying to rescue itself from a trip down the proverbial tube...a number of proverbial tubes! The election primaries are going full swing as I speak. The Democratic candidates act and sound as children tattle-taleing on each other. The Republicans cling to an unpopular conflict conducted in a half-way, non-declared war (per the Constition) way. Both know they will have the unenviable task of trying to wean the Washington dinosaur from monied interests and many pseudo-religions, e.g. humanism, Darwinism-Eugenics, pragmatism, corporate-MBA ideology war science, etc. And both are stuck with the Administration's 7 trillion deficit caused by the conflict in Iraq (it's not a war, as Congress and Administration forgot to declare it as such as WW II...if in fact it deserved to be a war in the first place, and it looks to be one of the bigger boo boos of all time. If they had actually declared war, they would have thought harder about their decision). Moreover, both Administration and Congress are stuck with a nation with much illness... with health care too expensive, all dominated by corporate world. And the country is broke. There are massive educational problems in the U.S. Foreign countries are happy to fill the educational gap. Which brings up monumental problems of outsourcing theory, NAFTA (really Darwinistic theory), etc. which aren't working and weakening our country. People are much more -infinitely more complicated - than biological organisms. They are spiritual in nature. On top of this, big money is ruling Washington (thru lobbies and personal stock ownership) and the rest of the country. It's all backwards; the people should be ruling Washington). Still, another problem is galloping inflation...much caused by the transportation/oil/gas problem. And, the oil/gas problem is out of control...being run by foreign countries and oil interest at home, even in the White House...and we have no crash programs...contingency plans, only halfway, timid approaches. The global problem of warming caused by too much CO -2 is creeping upon us causing more problems than imaginable. We now have the problem of millions of illegal aliens..let in for greed low salary purposes. Population growth is rampant - and there must be new shopping malls and services to take care of the masses - but these cover our no. 1 treasure the soil...and our historical and prehistorical heritage. And what isn't being covered is washing away to the sea or turning into a plastic medium being drained of trace elements...thanks to giant agricultural combines taking over from family farmers. We are heading more and more to bigger cities. The laboratory of Rome proved that disastrous. They had to be pacified with "bread and circuses" . As I speak we are being pacified by $300.00 checks. The mobile society may be coming to a screeching halt...with many families cut off more than ever...with gas and inflation..and family micro-budgets. There are more and more tornados, floods and hurricanes...probably caused by global warming again. Prisons are overflowing - and our officials in government don't have a clue...being themselves encarcerated in a prison - big, wrongly, guided government. How long people can hang on by their fingertips is not known for sure, but it can't be much longer. People are being gouged, drained, brain-washed, used, abused, global heated, tornadoed, flooded and tromped on. It's very strange, people with no power in a democracy! Truth is it is only a democracy in name only. "The spirit of democracy" as classicist Edith Hamiliton referred to the precious ingredient of ancient Athens that was lost. Citizens are hypnotized and brain-washed by biggies...false ideology and especially pseudo-religions. Some things are terribly wrong. Actually, it's not so strange. The same thing happened when the democratic Republic of ancient Rome collapsed and the dictators took over...or when the great star burst of Athenian democracy was lost. No candidate will be able to do much in office until some basic underlying cultural problems are solved, most of which will have to be tackled by the people and tackled hard. The culture of big government...is a highly specialized culture of its own. Voters vote for candidates and they both wave goodbye as the winner heads for the capitol. Then, nothing happens...and people at home wait...and still nothing happens...and they keep waiting...maybe tossed a few crumbs. Elected officials have been gobbled up by the culture of big government. This culture has many negative elements...it's a many headed cultural hydra we have in our country...and feeds on elected officials...and feeds on citizens too...tasty morsels. The government has become fat from the gluttony. Someone is going to have to perform a political by-pass procedure. It - the culture of government - has it's own tradition(s) clinging tenaciously to non-change, and as sociologists know, "tradition dies hard." It's going to take a cultural, political, pry bar to change....or I hate to say it, some cataclysmic natural disaster or massive attack. 9-11 didn't quite get everyone in gear...nor did Katrina. Some local and state governments work. The Constitution is still the rock...but it is not being followed (look at the Iraq "war". It says that if we are invaded, we go to war. War was never declared on the terrorists for their attack...as we did in WWII, and then everyone gets behind it and helps. Now, the house is divided...and divided houses won't stand. Also, we have been invaded by illegal aliens (o.ked by foreign governments and our own governments) and very little has been done. More halfway wars. We have been invaded by hurricanes as Katrina, and Washington did very little. And talk about houses divided. The Bush Adm. divided up the Dept. of Defense, giving Rumsfeld Iraq and Afghanistan...and Ridge "Homeland Security." Shouldn't the homeland be covered by the Defense Dept. too? If so, the Operations Section of the military with all their organizational "planning" ability and students of George Marshall could have helped greatly on Katrina. Why did they want to fix something that wasn't broken? And not a peep from the American people...or I should say drones...and same for the media. Long lost are the days of Walter Williams. So, there are some people, political, governmental problems in our US nerve center. Washington can use an overhaul. Following are just some of the elements of government culture. Lack of basic down home logic - practical stuff - the ability to jump in and fix the ole' tractor with bailing wire. As it is now, the political "farmers" just stand or sit around the comfortable pot bellied stove in the old store, arguing, making noises and going through motions, and in the meantime the tractor just sits there - and so does the crop...rotting in the field. And note, both the tractor and crops belong to all citizens. The citizens even own the buildings in which the politicians are going through their motions. This key ingredient of practical thinking has been lost...weakened by a plethora of false religions of many shapes and sizes. One of the main reasons is the age of high tech...people are techno-dulled. This is a term I coined back in the first gulf war - Desert Shield and Desert Storm when writing a series of articles called: "The Iraqi War Series." I sent one copy to the Pentagon in the middle of the conflict. Later that spring after the sand settled I received a nice note from Gen. Collen Powell then Chief of the Joint Chiefs thanking me for sending this publication. By the way, we can send you a copy. See end of column for details. Technology is great and you want to be ahead of the cutting edge...but you can put too much faith in it, sit back and wait for little unseen components to do everything...and technicians out there at MIT and Taiwan to fix. It becomes expensive and very complicated (Murphy's Law is compounded). But, note that the transistor is very simple, so, shoot for this type of high tech. Some years back there was a military show locally. I asked a major standing by a Humvee if it could be fixed with bailing wire? He looked stunned. He looked at me like what a dweeb. The point is, even if it can't be fixed with bailing wire, then, the driver must be able to run a long distance as an Osage warrior. The techno-dulled person has too much faith in the wrong religion. So, we are getting away from reality. Cracks of unreality began to show up in ancient Roman, surrealistic wall paintings...vines with human heads as flowers (Vitruvius in his 12 Books of Architecture told of this. He was right there at the time). So, watch out for surrealism. The Roman high tech war machine became over confident, and two crack legions were wiped out in the Teutonberg Forest in Germany across the Rhine. They got caught in rough terrain where they couldn't do their precision field maneuvers. We are turning jobs over to others out there someplace. Besides corporate America, the military is guilty of this, thinking in terms of saving money and letting troops be more specialized and using fewer troops is the theoretical answer. Wrong! But down the line, the troops must be self-sufficient...especially, if a war conflagration of the 10th magnitude hits. So, there is more to it than money...there's victory or defeat. Money and corporate America are extremely important, but not running things. Unfortunately, now the military has been a victim of MBA ideology. I call it "the MBA syndrome." Yes, notice downsizing in the military (just like a department store). Theoretically, high tech will compensate for smaller size. This has worn out our troops, with no end in sight in middle east. Our government now in Washington, the Pentagon and Congress is operating as an MBA moronocrocy. In the dept. store when the fewer employees are worn out, there are more in line is the thinking (this is Eugenics - read on a little later). The military and Washington don't seem to be studying history and military history...or the Administration has got them in a strait jacket somehow? There may be massive squashing going on? If not, then, the Pentagon and military command schools need a massive overhauling. General Pershing said "No halfway measures will solve this problem." (re. the 1st World War). And all we have in Washington and the military are halfway measures. But, we still must excavate deeper. Another problem is that gov't is breaking the 1st Commandment right and left. Big money has become god. Political ideology of many types has become god. However, the Founders said "Under God."(the true God, Yahweh, Wakonda). Apparently personal security has become god. For sure Darwinism has become god. I've seen this pseudo-religion creeping into education in my lifetime. NAFTA is just another word for Darwinism and a branch of Darwinism, Eugenics (humans speed up Darwinian survival of the fittest - Natural Selection - processes...as the dept. store mentioned earlier, outsourcing, etc). The Nazis loved Eugenics and gloried for a while in their Darwinian superiority. This is incredibly unimaginative. This is a humongous mistake as humans are more than material organisms - their true nature is spiritual - "made in God's image" (and God is spiritual). The old inspired characters of the bible tried and tried to tell bull-headed material humans. In the case of Moses' people they kept going right back to the golden calf and other idols- over and over. No wonder the 1st Commandment was listed as No. 1. So, the bible has often been lost in the rat race...and there are many other rules therein broken. And humans wonder why things aren't working. Global warming is caused by greed - another religion. Greed is culturally constipating..."the love of money." And, the Chinese (also belching forth vast clouds of toxic smoke) don't even have a true religion - except Marxism and Leninism (which is pure conflict ideology...Hegel's thesis, antithisis, synthesis), so, don't expect any help from them...and the Russians are still clinging to it also. In fact the Marxist-Leninist ideology says, get $$$ any way possible and funnel it into the military...more conflict...and also more greedy cultural constipation of the state. So, they become part of the main problem intead of the solution. And, our government feeds the beast. We are feeding many beasts. Our government says, get money any way possible at any cost...let the dummy people - jungle organisms - feed the furnace with their bodies. Lack of character is a major problem in Washington. Gen. Swartzkoff in a local talk at a college said that failures of character have been the main problems with our government the last 100 years. He has made a study of leadership and character. I wrote a column on this talk. Yes, notice, the little guy gets crunched...in so many ways...which shouldn't be in a democracy where the FREE individual is supremely important..and the chiefs are servents of the people as tribal members of the Iriquois...and a device borrowed by our Founders. Again, he and she citizens are victims of Eugenics (controlled applied Darwinian theory). By the way, the Nazis were big on Eugenics. It got completely out of control and "the superior race," killed 6 million jews). Many people are suffering right now on a massive scale. The "superior" organisms are surviving of course. Look at the loss of the little farmer, who was a great caretaker of the family farm. He and she knew every foot and kept it in good shape for descendents. So, excactly like ancient Rome, the little farmer moved to big Rome...and then it was "bread and circuses." This is still happening all over the world. We need to get the teaching methods and creative knowhow of Dr. George Washington Carver and his Jessup Wagon into the middle of things. Ah yes, creativity and practicality...the missing links. (check with Lana Henry Head Ranger at the Carver Birthplace Monument at Diamond, Mo). They are using his great down home methods now in 40 school districts, and grades have shot up. By the way, this is the answer to the educational problem in America. Then, of course, in ancient Rome the Patricians (upper crust) supplied the Senators. But they became lazy (don't rock their boat please) and the dictators took over. By the way newspapers - the watchdogs of democracy are not wanting to rock the boat now. They make motions, but are really controlled big corporations. Cicero and others tried to ward off this power dictatorial movement of ancient Rome, but failed. The beloved old Roman Republic (a democracy) was on its way out...but had been for quite a while. The succession of dictators was agonizing. If I had to point to one key problem in the U.S. and many other places around the globe, I would have to say besides practicality/creativity the culprit is the movement of secular humanism-atheism. This is an organized movement of materialism that has made much headway the past 100 years or so. Actually, it is the main religion now in the country..actually a pseudo-religion. One of its leaders was Dewey the big educational guru. The educational system was set up beautifully for the takeover by the humanists. The American people don't have a clue what has happened to them. Barnum said " a sucker is born every minute." (make that every second!). Our ultra-liberal government officials (not all but quite a few) and even many conservatives were are neatly programmed...and in the case of religion turned the Constitution to their way of thinking. The Founders, of course, were afraid of ORGANIZED religion, because they were keen students of history and could see what powerful churches had done in Europe. Another atheistic movement that has slipped in is Pragmatism. Dewey was one of the leaders of this too. Notice how much the word pragmatism is thrown around lately. Watch it carefully for it is a Man method of solving problems...it's a philosophical movement. Always be sure and keep the spiritual above the material, for after all it does control the material...proven time and again in the biblical lab. The basic philosophy of the humanists, so that you can keep a sharp lookout for it (they are very slick) is that Man is perfectly capable of solving problems on his own...and there is no need for God, who doesn't exist, so they believe. So, Man can handle the whole thing...students can manage o.k. without God...but what a disaster this philosophy has caused! Then got their ideology/pseudo religion into schools right under the noses of everybody. Look around you at society. Look at all the materialism. They the humanist/atheists tried to beat the wise- in- God characters of the bible and failed. Look at the effects in Washington and all around...look at crime..look at our alley cat ocracy. So, what else is new! Unfortunately, all of us have to suffer for such ignorance. And, anyone trying to change things in Washington has to somehow correct the faulty underlying materialistic, atheistic thinking...and there must be healing all the way out through the land. Our prayers are with all those working on the problem. How can you spot this atheistic movement? First of all, besides the human, material, things, their symbol is Prometheus the Greek God. They love Greek things; human philosophy is the supreme answer, etc. Look for this name Prometheus and symbols of the god. Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to Man (Man was the creation of Prometheus by the way). Zeus was so furious that he had Prometheus chained to a rock and vultures gnawed on his gizzerd all day. At night he recuperated, and the process was repeated the next day. Finally, Zeus recanted and freed Prometheus. So, look around. Ah ha...there's a prominent statue of Prometheus in Rockefeller Center, N.Y. I told you they were slick. Check out the book Christian Humanism (I'll have to check the exact title when not typing) by William Foxwell Albright. He was the dean of all the biblical archaeologists, with many great students. He was head of the Dept. of Near Eastern Languages at Johns Hopkins. He was a genius of languages. The Albright Center in Jerusalem was named after him. Learn in this book about the humanists. There is a big difference between Christian Humanism and Secular Humanism. Here I learned 20 years too late that Braidwood of the Oriental Inst. in Chicago was one of the big humanist leaders. Think of all the Christian/Hebrew ommissions in his university textbook on the Near East The Conquest of Civilization(which I used in class - groan). Poor Prof Wrench an icon at Mizzou was conned big time. He taught the course, Ancient and Medieval History ...and thousands of students poured through the class, including my Dad! You've got to watch this stuff. Of course, Braidwood did some good things; he coined the term "Fertile Crescent," and did much archaeology, but the big, heavy, theological picture must be watched. Get up on that higher anthropological/theological stepladder. So, simply, it is the material vs. the spiritual. Can the present politicians save "the old barge" as the late Sen. Dirkson called it? Many people today have high hopes. Many underlying problems must be solved. "Nothing's easy" as Dad used to say. Anything is possible...but "tradition dies hard." Entered Mar. 13/14, 2008 - Ron Miller More ideas. We can't wait for Washington's MBA syndrome to study character development. Every little or big town must get busy and be as self-sufficent as possible. Have as many Victory Gardens as possible. Outside of town, have chicken farms. You can practically live on chickens. I know, because our family did. More later. Re. WAS publications. We can send you "The Iraqi War Series" with much archaeology/anthropology/military history for $30.00 in U.S. All other countries add $10. for shipping and handling. We can send you the copy of Ron's column on General Swartzkoff's talk for $5.00 U.S. $7.00 all other countries. Make checks or money orders payable to Ron Miller, and send to: Ron Miller, WAS, 120 Lakewood Drive, Hollister, MO. 65672. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OBAMA; WHAT SHOULD HE DO NOW...WHAT WITH HILLARY POURING ON THE HYPER-INVALIDATION STUFF? There are several things Obama can do. First, he needs to read Cicero's book De Oratore; or, on the Character of an Orator. Our copy here at the WAS Info Center is the J.S. Watson translation. Cicero was a famous Roman lawyer, orator, philosopher, Consel and writer. He wrote the book roughly 50 B.C. He was a great fan of the earlier Greek Demosthenes, the orator's orator. And there were other famous Greek orators; Cicero liked to translate their speeches into Latin, so, he knew Greek well. And he had some contemporaries who were excellent speakers. The Roman lawyers really battled it out in court, and Cicero spells out what the lawyer speaker should do (referring to instructions of the master orator/lawyer Crassus. Here is just a small part of the instructions: There should be a preliminary exordium; to "concilliate the minds of the audience"...next state the case clearly...establish point of controversy...then, present proof...next refute what the other side says...next to last "amplify" and "enforce" what is in favour of speaker. Lastly, "weaken" and "invalidate" the other side, the adversaries. So, Cicero would be in favor of Obama blasting back at Hillary and her flame-thrower approach. This is all really old lawyer stuff, and I have a hunch that someone on Hillary's staff knows about this and is coaching...but maybe not...the dumb psychological device of invalidation is a wide spread disease....and learned (and Hillary is teaching it to little kids and others). Invalidation is putting the other guy down to build one's self up...a really cheap trick...and very hurtful. It scars some people for life. It is really mental abuse. In connection with invalidation, from a psychological standpoint, Obama would be entirely justified in standing up to Hillary's invalidation approach...her methodology by itself. Psychologist Jay Carter in his great little book: Nasty People; How to Deal with Them Without Becoming One of Them...tells all about such invalidators as Hillary. Some are so bad at invalidating (putting the other person down to build themselves up...a terrible habit) that they become what he calls: "little Hitlers." The victim needs to let them know what they are doing. According to Carter, some can change, but the little Hitlers can't change. It is a very bad learned habit. Invalidators are terrible examples. So, Obama needs to check out this book. By the way, Ozarkians here in the central U.S. use humor to deal with invalidators. They will say that it is fine, so and so is talking about them, because that means some other poor souls are getting a rest! And, there are several Christian ways of dealing with the affliction. I have heard it said, that being Christian doesn't mean you have to be a wimp. And, also there are spiritual healing methods used by Jesus. Jesus was crucified, but He forgave them. And, He always knew the Truth. He used the great spiritual tool of prayer, and used it often. God-good is always there; it's just a matter of getting in contact with this great power. Ron - entered Mar. 7, 2008 (touched up Mar. 10, '08) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IDEA FOR THE 9/11 SITE...OR POSSIBLY THE OTHER CRASH SITES. When the city of New York was soliciting ideas for a structure at the 9/11 site, your writer sent in an idea. I just saw a picture of the twin towers on T.V. and it made me think of this, and I will toss out there again. I believe my first submission made it as far as "file 13". I did receive a form letter from the Mayor. Anyway, here is the idea: Have a structure in the stylized shape of a peace pipe - a calumet. The peace pipe was very sacred to many Native American cultures. They believed the smoke went up to Heaven to The Great Spirit. The Osage here in the mid-west called the Spirit "Wakonda." And, different languages of many different tribes had their own word. The peace pipe was so sacred that the pipe stone quarry in Minnesota - the only quarry for the blood red Catlinite stone to make the peace pipes - was very sacred. All the different tribes, even if involved in the war culture (endless retalliation back and forth from attacks) could mine the pipestone in peace. The artist Catlin, the namesake for the stone, tells about this famous site in his memoirs (our 2 vol. edition here at the WAS Info. Ctr. is the Dover edition.) Also, I have read that anyone bearing a peace pipe could enter an enemy village and not be harmed. We found these catlinite pipes in South Dakota on a Smithsonian dig. When someone would find one, we would all get excited. They are beauts; a lot of loving care went into them. Our finds had a little knob near the end (where the wooden stem was inserted) and this upper knob had a hole, probably for feathers or some other sacred items (our Native Am. friends would know exactly). Paint the monument blood red as the Calumets, and have a constant steam of smoke going up to Heaven... a symbolic remembrance of those who passed on at the site. Their spirit is always going up to Heaven - a constant remembrance. Also, another help from the Native Americans. Many of the tribes were very big on democracy such as the Iroquois Confederacy (a federalism - a group of democratic republics (tribes)), and this feature was borrowed by our Founders - and other great features and qualities (chiefs are servents of the people...high character...great oratory...dealing with problems in council in great organized ways. See: an old article in the DAR Mag . - am researching the exact title). With this great American background and more in mind, have a Living Museum of Democracy right there at the site. Have an auditorium where students and others can practice debate. Have displays showing debating methods of African democracies...the Greeks, the Native Americans and others. Show more on the history of democracy....the early Roman Republic (lost to the dictators...why?). Show that there must be strong defense in a democracy; hyper aggressives hate it. Show the dismal histories of all other forms of government. Show the anatomy of democracy of the Athenian City State. The Greek Government sent over a fantastic show on old Athens and Democracy to Dallas quite a few years ago. Sister Judy Hewlett in Dallas was Head of the Architect wives at the time sponsoring the event. A Greek lady in Dallas helped much. I got to see this...the big models, old french color murals, charts showing democracy superstructure, etc. was just super. Keep that in mind. So, we get down to education..and include research departments...lively real demonstrations...reconstruct a council lodge of the Native Americans. George Washington set in on some of those councils..and no doubt he smoked the peace pipe. I'm positive that the councils had to have helped mould his great character. Reconstruct the Albany Conf. that I believe blew Benjamin Franklin away when he witnessed the great oratory and high character of the Native Americans attending. I heard General Swartzkoff give a talk at a local college on character (he's a great student of leadership), and he said that the main problems our country has suffered the last 100 years have been breakdowns of character (I wrote a column about this speech, if anyone wants a copy). So, studies of good character and leadership could be worked into this living museum. And why did the Athenian City State fail? Edith Hamilton the great classicist said the problem was their loss of their spirit of democracy. I'm thinking that somewhere around the site of the Pentagon attack might be a good place for the above? Or the site in Penn.? And, here is one last idea. Borrow something from the Museum system of Mexico. Have one big central museum as the Museo de Antropologia e Historia in Mex. City, D.F. Then have satellite museums in various states of Mex. In this case, there could be satellite living museums around the world. The Marines might have to guard some of them. There needs to be one in Iraq right now to educate the Iraqis. (entered Feb. 29th, 2008 - Ron Miller) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OBAMA & THE DEMOSTHENES EFFECT It is so fascinating to observe the present political campaign battles - especially if you are in the ancient history business as we are around here at the WAS. Barack Obama is especially interesting, because he is so good at speaking - oratory - rhetoric and logography (speech-writing). Concerning the latter he probably has a number of others helping him with speech-writing, although I believe he is doing much of the writing/thinking himself. He may have studied oratory. He was Editor of the Harvard Law Review, so, that would have been a great training ground, with the oratory flowing out of that. Anyway, all this takes us back to the days of the greatest of the orators/logographers with first and foremost Demosthenes of Athens (384 - 322). Obama, I believe, is one of the great orators in the ancient mould of Demosthenes. Some will argue whether or not he is as good as Demosthenes, but, I believe he is definitely right up there at the top of all time greats. Athens was so into oratory that they categorized their great speakers and had ten greats. The Greeks refined rehtoric to a science. Isocrates (436 - 338) another Athenian great (both orator and speech-writer) wrote a book on the subject "Art of Rhetoric". Unfortunately, this book has been lost in the sands of time. I call Theodore Sorenson the Isocrates of modern speech-writers (he wrote for John F. Kennedy). Demosthenes put pebbles in his mouth and tried speaking as he hiked up the hills of Athens. I don't know if Obama is exercising his voice or not. He is getting plenty of exercise on the campaign trail. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama hasn't studied some ancient methodology. I have a hunch he studied Lincoln's speeches closely - he comes from the Land of Lincoln and made his campaign entrance speech in Springfield at an old Lincoln site. Lincoln is a great model. He did have a high pitched voice and Obama is blessed with a more moderate voice. Both Lincoln and Obama were/are profound, idealistic speakers and both obviously read much. Idealism is a great quality. Don't pooh pooh speaking quality; that's a great quality...especially if the ideas behind it are on course. These exceptional orators drive their opponents absolutely bats. Right now, opponents are lashing out in desperate criticism of Obama's speech, which they say is hollow. Critics are absolutely wrong in doing so. Great effective speech (as Obama's) requires creativity - thinking outside of the box and intelligence -study of rehtoric and the issues, a thinking organized mind...idealism...hope...all excellent qualities...and throw in high character and you really have a great concoction. The critics sense their positions are threatened ....they are good people, but don't have "It"), and, yes, part God gift is involved....and, so, all they can do is put down. How pitiful. Psychologists call this type of criticism "invalidation". I'll call it the Demosthenes Effect at work on them. When all they can do is put down the other guy to build themselves up, that is really pitiful and shallow. The opponents don't know what has hit them. Well, they have been hit by a six-eight wheeler coming down the track...and they were just sitting there on the track in rhetorical jalopies. There is one thing that worries me. In the cases of the ancient orators of antiquity, many of their opponents and big, big powers up there absolutely did not like these great orators (dislike is a mild word). Demosthenes courageously went up against Macedon when tough old King Phillip was in charge. Demosthenes didn't want to see his beloved Athens gobbled up by this growing growling threat up north. Philip was killed, and then Demosthenes had to go up against his son Alexander the Great. Fortunately for him, Alexander was away marching across Asia. Then, after Alexander's death, he had to deal with Antipater. The sad upshot is that Demosthenes had to kill himself. Cicero(106 - 43 BC) of Rome, another great orator, philosopher, consul, lawyer - and who practically worshipped Demosthenes, stood up to big interests taking over the grand, old, Roman Republic (a democracy). He was against Caesar, Mark Antony and all the rest - include the Cataline Conspiracy, which he did much to defeat...but it wasn't enough...Caesar would take over Rome. Cicero was exiled, then, called back, but ,finally, he was killed. His head and hands were cut off and put in the Forum. The big powers that be can feel their thrones and castles of powers, big pots of money threatened. They know of the great power the speakers exercise swaying the populace to their causes. Right now, you can feel thrones and castles and money pots in Washington shaking! Here's a good, positive thought. At the beginning of WW II the big business operators did not like Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt because of his New Deal. But, Roosevelt worked with them in that crisis and pulled everybody together. The present drunkin' blacksmith approach to politics in Washington, (taking of sides and digging in feet) won't work. If whoever gets in can convince the biz powers to be that there are several big battles going on and all help will be needed - some kind of everybody mobilization - I believe it will help defuse much. (my source for these days is "Franklin & Eleanor" by Doris Kearn Goodwin). I believe who ever gets in will have a mandate for such getting together. I believe it is a great happening we are seeing before our very eyes. It is easy to see that entrenched power has taken over our government. Can the plebians - including the middle class - take back their country? I surely hope so, but from the standpoint of history it will be very difficult. The plebes of Rome finally got Tribunes to stand up for them...and they were great fighters. Obama is a Tribune and Hillary is too, and so was John Edwards standing up for the little guys. Whoever is elected, I have no doubt that he or she will start changing things...and the Republicans will too. Candidates for change are going to need all kinds of prayers and help. Prayers for big powers also. They will be helped also. One important thing the population can do is dive in and study history to better appreciate all the problems the candidates will face; and I believe the Republicans are committed to change also. It all can be changed, but it won't be easy. Prayers for the new Tribunes! their families and politico-teams...and the big team the citizens. Hopefully, democracy can be restored. From the historical standpoint, big happenings are going on right before our eyes. Entered Feb. 20, 2008 - Ron Miller. SOURCES: I checked with Wickipedia to get dates straight, and, learned much more in the process about Demosthenes and Cicero. A long time ago I read the works of Cicero. We are fortunate to have his writings. The Wikipedia article said that the Catholic Church ruled that Cicero was an O.K. infidel and, therefore, o.k. for the monks to copy his works. One hates to think how many works of infidels didn't make it. Ron - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Following is a reprint of one of my columns about our basic law in the U.S. This is the heart of our country...our Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, and also important is studying and applying these great rules. Our Founders were brilliant and knew volumns about antiquity, including the bible, and then added the feeling of the great spirit of freedom and free culture here in the U.S.A. And, by the way, they learned much from the Native Americans who had some great democracies and even a federalism - the Iroquois Confederacy. They also studied the great native orators and their great character. It's fascinating. But, here is an analysis of our basic rules and the chosen few who stand guard over them. ( First published, Tues., Oct. 18, 2005); I have touched it up a little bit). Our Main Law of the Land, Priceless! "The (Supreme) Court is the highest tribunal in the nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the US...Cases are filed from various states and Federal Courts." (From The Supreme Court web page with reference to the Supreme Court Historical Society). * * * * * * * * * * There is much in the news lately about the U.S. supreme Court, the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the passing of Chief Justice Rhenquist, the nomination and confirmation of the new Chief Justice John Roberts and, as I write, the nomination of Presidential Legal Advisor Harried Miers (This nomination fell through). These monumental events concern all of us. I thought it would be interesting to analyze some of the roots of our Supreme Court and our democratic system and perhaps obtain a better understanding. Before the birth of Christ, the citizens of the Athenian City State - one of the greatest sources of our democracy - believed that their constitution was the most important thing they had - even more important than their very own families. They thought it was even sent by the gods. Thus, it had a sacred nature. Their constitution was to be fought for to the death. They well knew that their constitution - the law - separated them from barbarians, tyrants and chaos. We, too, should care about our Constituion this much. It's that important! Our first line of defense of the Constitution - the thoughts therin - are our Supreme Court Justices who are standing guard right at the doors of the Constituion and other laws. They have to know the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights backwards, forwards and inside and out. They must have ultra-strong character to analyze cases brought before them for the final adjucation. However, the Justices aren't the only guardians. Our Senate, House and the Executive Branch are also guardians. However, the most important guardians of all are you and I -American citizens. We are the watchdogs who make certain we have good, trustworthy people in Washington and local guardians of laws. We especially must have a President of high character who will appoint candidates for Justices of the Supreme Court. Then, we must have Congress People who will approve or reject these candidates. But, as good leaders and managers, we can't just put others in charge and turn our backs. We have to watch these "employees" constantly as hawks. It's all too important. It's an enormous responsibility for all. In ancient Athens, the big ruling body - chosen by lots - was the Council of 500. Of this body there were chosen eight Archons - the supreme magistrates. The learned Athenians knew, as did our Founding Fathers, that there were powerful special interest groups - aggressive egos that were positive that their way was best - including tyrants and would-be tyrants of all shapes and sizes. There were (and still are) also hordes of aggresive foreign enemies, always looming on the horizon and trying to exert influence. Because of all the constant dangers to democracy they set up many checks and balances. Our Founders set up checks and balances also. but, again, the best checks and balances are you and I. Our media, "the fourth estate" is invaluable for exposing bad and informing us. We have to watch the media too, but there is an alarming tendency of late for many of the media to have a weak philosophy of playing it safe, not ruffling advertiser's feathers or feathers of big corporate owners of the media and generally not rocking the boat. Our democracy is in great danger of this approach...as I speak. Another help for the citizens is to study "the laboratory of history" as the anthropologist Krober put it - ancient and not-so-ancient. Now, what should be the qualifications of the Justices? Of course, as mentioned earlier, they should know the laws and correct processes inside and out. Good character should be the no. 1 trait. General Norman Schwartzkoff, who spoke at College of the Ozarks, said character is an important ingredient of leadership. He is quite a student of leadership and character. Justices are good examples to many people, thus they are leaders. Swartzkoff said that failures in our government the past 100 years have been due to character defects. Here's an example of a top justice. One of the most outstanding Justices was Oliver Wendell Holmes, "The Yankee from Olympus." Holmes' father was, "The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," Dr. Oliver Holmes, professor of anatomy at Harvard's Medical School, and a famed writer of poetry and books. The family had deep Yankee roots. Young Holmes served in the Civil War as a captain and brevet colonel and saw action at Ball's Bluff, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was wounded eight times and just barely survived. Holmes studied law at Harvard and rose to the position of Chief Justice of Massachusetts. President Theodore Roosevelt tapped him on the shoulder to become a Supreme Court Justice. He never became Chief Justice. He was known as the "Great Dissenter," although at times he did vote with the group and his dissensions turned out good in the long run according to Bowen his biographer. He would be termed a liberal by many, but was conservative on patriotic matters. In any event, he was a literary, philosophical type. He studied Plato at age 92 to keep his mind sharp. "There have always been changes in the interpretation laid on the Constitution, and there always will be," he said. When Holmes was 92, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt consulted this sage about the Great Depression; the President was on his way to Congress to make a major statement. Holmes told him, "In a war, there is only one rule. Form your battalions and fight." (Bowen). I'm sure the candidates for Justice are experts at the law and have many good qualities. Nevertheless, be sure and put them up against the backdrop of history and check and double check them again. Many of those in Congress, who will quiz court nominees, know the great importance of this process, the job and history. however, I don't know if the American people really know. I hope so. The priceless basic law of our land, which affects everyone is at stake. * * * * * * * Sources ---THE GREEK EXPERIENCE, by C.M. Bowra; THE HISTORY OF GREECE," by J.B. Bury; Supreme Court Web page (with information from the Supreme court Historical Society); and YANKEE FROM OLYMPUS by Catherine Drinker Bowen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HELP FOR CELEBRITIES WILL HELP ALL OF US TOO. LAW OF DIGNITY FOR CELEBRITIES NEEDED. SOMETHING FINALLY MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT CELEBRITIES AND THAT IS DRAW UP A DIGNITY BILL OF RIGHTS FOR CELEBRITIES. There is much in our USA Declaration of Independence and Constitution and Bill of Rights to protect freedom of individuals, but in the case of celebrities there needs to be clarification, emphasis of our laws of freedom and something special to help them, and this will help our society as well. True, we have ethics of Plato and the various religions that would "do unto others..." and..."Love," but this is on the honor system and not enforceable except by God, who, of course, will surely enforce someday, someway. But there needs to be something in the man law category to protect celebs who, of course, are free citizens as everyone else. A governmental law (city, state or federal) that could be enforced would be ideal, but until then, here is a Human Dignity Bill of Rights for celebrities. First, don't forget that Princess Diana was hounded to death by the Paperazzi. Her driver was speeding to avoid the media. Most of the stars can't even get out of their homes. Stars become ill as anyone else, but when ill, one especially doesn't need media hounding. Some stars don't mind publicity, but most do mind it...or wish it was controlled in some way. True, some of them get paid a lot, and they know the price of notoriety, but, they are people too. They deserve privacy, especially in a free democracy where everyone is important. Following are some thoughts for a Human Dignity Bill of Rights (this was first published on this site Feb. 22nd, 2007): 1. No media can get near or within telescope range or lens range of a star...unless that star has given special permission for an interview or a picture. 2. Media will submit ideas for interviews and pictures to stars and publicists or vice versa. The stars, as private free citizens of the USA, will select whoever they want...or possibly no one. 3. Realizing that media needs to make a living, encourage special days of the year "Star Days" where stars can be interviewed and photographed. This is done in Nashville and Branson once a year. But there is no reason that there can't be other days. 4. Control the situation before and after performances. Give stars plenty of room. Perhaps have a controlled area where they can be interviewed and photographed - if they agree. In other words, have a controlled entrance and exit strategy. 5. Whether during life or after death, as with everyone, respect them. Give them rightful dignity. There is no law against news or biographies, one of the great forms of literature, but there is much about everone that will never be known except to God. Don't be vicious in news and biographies. We are all children of God. When celebs pass away, this event of God shouldn't be a circus. Say something good, even though there might be warts. And stress this good. Many will want to mourn, especially so in the case of well known stars, but make sure the whole thing is dignified. 6. We will never be able to call ourselves civilized until we protect the dignity of the individual. The overpowering abuse of living or dead stars or any citizen for that matter does not fit into a free democracy where every individual is important. Human dignity is abused in wars and various social conflicts, during natural disasters and mass illnesses. Many suffer outright hurt and lack of dignity by abuser's, strong arm, agressive tactics, and must be put on notice by civilized people that such actions will not be tolerated by civilized people. News can be harsh and violent at times, but tell about it in a way that is respecful to victims. And, also show it visually in as respectful way as possible. Media who hound stars or anyone, need to be aware of high type journalistic practices such as outlined in Walter Williams' "Journalist's Creed." Williams was one of those great old country editors who founded the first school of journalism in the world at the University of Missouri, Columbia. True, the media is comprised of free individuals, but they must be governed by ethical rules of the media as well as basic human laws which think of others. The quest for gold doesn't give them any special rights to aggravate others. So, why shouldn't media be the ones to help lift humans some more rungs on the civilized ladder...by they themselves acting civilized? They are creative people, so, be creative and figure out civilized ways to gather news. If media "the fourth estate" can't police themselves the very infrastructure of society will crumble. The media has a tremendous responsibility. Moses knew that his people shouldn't be governed by golden idols. What's wrong with being governed by God-good...God Law (especially the First Commandment)? Remember, that in democracies all individual are stars, and especially in societies "Under God." Ron M. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LOBBYISTS; AN IDEA FOR DEALING WITH THEM. There has never been anything like our powerful big corporations in the history of humanity. There were rich senators of the Patrician class in ancient Rome. They became ineffectual as years went by, and, then, the dictators took over. Did they become weak because they were protecting their wealth, or was there just a general malisse and disintegration of society? Probably some of all of it. But, our corporateocracy today is unique. It's tremendously powerful, in fact, it has come to the point where they rule our country. It's a big black mark on history, a true tragedy of history, because democracy was (is) lost. We hope democracy can be retrieved by the people. They lost it by being lazy, not knowing enough about democracy/government and caring enough to participate. They said it was hopeless to do anything, but it wasn't. The citizens fell into lethargy. They, as citizens of Athens "lost "the spirit of democracy" as Edith Hamiliton the great classicist said. She believed that this was the reason for the downfall of Athens. We can still pull democracy out of the fire, but it won't be easy. There is a big campaign on now by both parties. Some promise to reclaim democracy, but it won't be easy. It is very difficult to reclaim democracy once lost. In our case today the big media are owned by corporations; most politicians are owned by big money. Big money owns the debt money. Other countries now own us because of national debt. Money owns us. We slipped out from under the ethical umbrella of "Under God" and broke the First Commandment. The irony is, this big money is important; we need a money machine, but it needs control. Here's an idea to control lobbyists in Washington and State Governments. Have a Lobby Buffer Agency or Lobby Control Committee, with each member a special appointee of each state governor. It's leader might be elected for only one year. All lobbyists will submit their information requests and materials to this committee, which will coordiante and condense and present to Congress and the President. It will actually be good to know their needs. Corporations are very very important but can't control government. It would probably save corporations much money by cutting down on number of lobbyists; they could just send info directly to the committee. Also, I would make it a law for all lobbyists to wear some distinguishing outfit - say all green, so, that everyone can tell just how many of them there are. I think this would shock citizens. When the Gov. of Mo. pinned on me the first Korean War Medal and Medallion (given to all Korean War Vets of the state) I was amazed when I discovered how many lobbyists there were in the halls of the state capitol. At first I thought they were lawyers (maybe some were!). They were as thick as flies!!! You would be absolutely amazed. So, I knew that something must be done. They had (have) taken over the capitol! Washington is probably worse. Ron M. (entered Feb. 8th, 2008) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Invalidation in politics (negative ads). The psychological term for what the candidates are doing now putting down their opponents (victims actually) is invalidation. They are putting down the other guy to build themselves up. It is a terrible character trait and habit and learned according to the book Nasty People... How to deal with Them Without becoming One of Them," by Jay Carter. Invalidation is a terrible character trait - highly toxic. And, since it is learned, these nefarious students are passing the destructive technique on to millions of viewers...via media. It's like shovelling manure into living rooms! Invalidation is done to a certain extent all day long by many people around the world. Some are such invalidators, that they are very hurtful, and can harm lives, if not delt with. The reader has no doubt been invalidated. If someone has zonked you - you will know, because you will go around feeling lousey all day, (and horrors, maybe it has wounded you so bad, that it affects you the rest of your life!!!!) and maybe you are not quite sure why or what has happened, just that you feel lousey. Well, you have been invalidated!!! Zonked!!! They got ya. Instigators love this "great" power. Commence watching for this technique used against you. Jay says that some invalidators are so bad that they are little Hitlers. You have to stand up to them and point out that they are invalidators. Some who aren't so hard core invalidators can change but some can't. In any case, don't become one of them; it is a terrible habit. But invalidation is running amok especially when candidates are running for office. Do you want these little Hitlers as your President or whatever? They are the very last people you want in office or anywhere. They are so beat down, dull and unimaginative that they have to resort to beating down the other guy. Heaven forbid. We're standing up to them and all invalidators who hurt people - whether they invalidate races, cultures, fellow political candidates, Janes and Joes at work, kids on the playground or whomever or wherever. Free thinking citizens of a democracy especially shouldn't put up with this low brow invalidation technique. RM. entered Jan 13, 2008. Note: See the reprint of one of my weekly newspaper columns on toxic people in our Race and Cultural Relations Dept. WAS on this web site. RM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We have been interested in democracy here at the WAS for years and have written many articles on the subject that have appeared in the WAS Newsletter. We are constantly running across ancient democracies, and it is interesting to see the democracy roots of what we have today. Some of our native tribes had great democracies - and the Iroquois Confederacy was really a Federalism - a group of republics (democratic tribes). The roots of democracy here in the USA may even go back before the famed Athenian City State! Man has been in a great struggle to be free for thousands of years. There have been bursts of glory such as the Athenian democracy, but free self-government is not easy. It takes much discipline and above all thinking by individuals. Many, though, are lazy and would rather turn all thinking over to some big brother, as a Marxist-socialist big brother or some other type of dictator, Hitler, Mau, et al. Groan! Democracyology ties in with our WAS practical scholarship approach. Previously we ran some editorials in this section, but many of them had to do with the old democracy interest and can be kept. Will leave the old articles and notes as is for a while. Here's to freedom and the hard work, thinking, courage and creativity necessary to keep it. May it always reign! RM Nov. 13, 2009. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LATIN MIGRATION ACROSS SOUTHERN U.S. OF NORTE AMERICA BORDER IS EXPLAINED NEATLY BY FRENCH AUTHOR VICTOR HUGO IN HIS MASTERPIECE LES MISERABLES. NOTHING'S NEW. HUGO'S CHARACTER, THE POOR JEAN VAL JEAN WAS DESPERATE, THE FAMILY STARVING AND HE NEEDED BREAD. HE WAS SO STARVING THAT HE COMMITTED A CRIME. HE GOT A ROCK AND BROKE THE WINDOW OF THE BAKERY TO GET A LOAF OF BREAD. THIS LEAD TO A BIG NOVEL FULL OF MISERY AND DODGING OF THE POLICE. The Latin migrants today are also breaking the law crossing our border illegally. Yet, as Jean Val Jean, they are desperate for bread. And there are so many of them - as in the days of Hugo, who was writing a social commentary in his book. Well, actually, there are more Latin pobre now. So, the Latins are Jean Val Jeans. The reader can see that there are big social problems involved, and it all gets down to the lowly victim Jean Val Jean. This isn't to condone crime, but, nevertheless, it shows the desperate picture of desperate people, and who is really to blame - forces above the poor. A judge, weighing the scales of justice, must take this into account when passing judgment and issuing a sentence. This alone should cut down on the sentence. Then, there are other moral laws to consider. There are strict old laws of the Old Testament, but the New Testament featuring Jesus Christ has a forgiving nature. Forgiveness is not easy for most people, but if done in a biblical way "in the name of Jesus" (as He forgave on the Cross) then it is easier. By the way, I surely hope the French government and people have today learned from their very own Les Miserables, and there are no Jean Val Jeans who suffered so many years, but there probably are quite a few. The Latin Jean Val Jeans also suffer many years - on the run, wondering if his or her situation will be found out by authorities? It's a paradox. Then, guilt breeds fear, which leads to all kinds of strange things. In a way the Jean Val Jeans are guilty but in a way it is understandable. Our southern border is the window of the French bakery. But, the guiltiest of all are the authorities above and the system that allows such extended suffering. And, on the other side of the coin, are businesses in the north who hire immigrants being taken care of? Is government off their backs so that they can make a good profit? But, if such businesses hire illegals and break the law, that is also bad. The government needs to take care of such problems. On problems of national interest - and "invasion" is a Federal Constitution problem - and economic problems cross state lines and the common good is at stake, then, the Federal Government must take care of it. Our pitiful leaders have gotten themselves in such a corner that they are paralyzed. Also, probably they have been advised not to admit liability...and let statutes of limitations play out on points of constitutional impeachment and hope doing something long enough it will become a fixed custom. And, if they hide their heads long enough in the sand, it will all go away. One thing for sure, everyone needs to get hold of, and correct, the systems that allows this desperate misery. Do so in a humane, creative religious way. The biggies must be held to task...in fact, I know that they will by God. I don't believe any Man ways, man politics will ever really solve it totally. Governments must think of their people and not worship greed and material things but God. Actually, the whole border problem for both governments is that both governments broke the First Commandment (thou shalt have no other gods before me). Money, greed, power became other gods. entered Oct. 13, 2007 - RM ..... touched up Oct. 19th, 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MEXICO AND U.S. OF NORTE AMERICA, A STRANGE POLITICAL CASE. Mexico and the U.S. of Norte America are a strange case...a case of unbelievably irresponsible leadership in both countries. Remember first in all of this, that both governments aren't just turning their backs, or are ignorant, or ignoring the incredible massive social unheaval going on and the accompanying misery, but they are actually ORCHESTRATING all the misery...both sides. This is criminal. The norte wants cheap cheap labor and has thrown open the doors...not caring a hoot about state infrastructure problems that ensue, watering down of jobs of present employees (all pay scales going down and down and down), and states having to pay for hospitalization and other services including having to pay for jails,(these issues are being debated now) and not to mention the misery of humanity, etc. This "leadership" is highly tyranical...Darwinian actually - just let all the inferior organisms thrash around out there and fight it out among themselves, and the "superior" ones (as we ourselves, the well-to-do) will survive. Why do anything when the jungle will take care of it. It's cruel; there is so much misery caused by this method of political chaos. It is the total opposite of democracy ("under God") where individuals are important...and so are businesses....it is the total opposite of God, who is loving. Likewise, there is leadership in Mexico that has purposefully opened channels north for its people, because they, the government, can't or won't take care of them. Let them go north and send back billions of dollars to help our country. The thing is that the poor "little guys" who are really big guys in a democracy are having to suffer greatly by all this hard handed governmental approach. And, again, this hard handedness in government is tyrannical. See how easy it is for tyrants to slip in - like leaks in the dike of freedom. Tyrants on both sides of the border were the first to slip through the boundry of freedom. And, the U.S. of norte Am. is supposed to be famous for its non-tyrannical approach! Presidente Fox of Mexico (just out of office) says he promoted democracy. This movement though is just a beginning. Hopefully, it takes hold. Mexico could become the richest nation in the world (culturally they are great!) if the power of the free individual should be turned loose. Call the governmental fathers (and mothers) to task on both sides of the border. Look at this thing from the demos standpoint (both sides of the border) not the government greed standpoint. And do have just laws and law enforcement...and organized entrance and exit of countries. I noticed 30 years ago, that the peso was legal tender down in Texas; so migration has been going on for a long time. There is a precedent of bad that leaders have been hiding behind. I have been down in Mexico. I have visited with country people. Have explored the back streets of Mexico City DF and practiced my terrible Spanish on them. A lot of times they couldn't help but laugh at my poor Spanish, and I laugh too, we both laugh. My English sometimes is even funny! There are some people in Mexico City influenced by Marxism (a harmful top-heavy religion). There are little books on tables along with kids school supplies entitled: "Humanismo de Marx", so, the Marxists are working away, and the Chinese are sending over shiploads of this literature (or so a man told me). But I have to tell you that most of the people down there are very friendly. I noticed that the people out in the countryside are much as the people here in the Ozarks Mtns of the central U.S., very friendly and you can trust them with your life. They have tremendous family qualities and personal traits. I hope these good qualities aren't changing. Some are getting pretty arrogant. Of course there are a few rotten apples as up here. And, now some migrants are getting very frustrated up here and letting off steam. That's not good. But, generally, the Latinos are great people, a great asset. But the whole situation needs to be controlled. I believe that many Norte Americanos are simply afraid of the strange mass coming up from down south. The migrants are probably afraid of the Norte Americans too. Pope John Paul's motto as Pope was Christ's admonition "do not be afraid." (Christ said this many times). So, fear is not of God. Just remember, I can assure you, knowing historical scholars as I do, that the pitiful leaders of both governments are doomed forever in the history books. Their legacies are shot to heck. Darwinism is a pitiful form of government, as is greed. Personally, I can identify in some ways with the migrants. Besides with many personal/cultural similarities with the Latins and Ozarkians, I know what very hard labor is. Field archaeologists pick and shovel sometimes out in sun all day long, day in and day out, often for pitiful amounts of pay...and sometimes no pay at all. Student archaeologists especially have to accept this situation sometimes. I received .50 cents an hour for a number of summers for very hard shovelhand work. Of course, this is at least educational, one is learning how to do field archaeology. However, bending over pulling onions in a field is not educational and brutal all day long. I can't hardly stand to watch films of migrants doing this type of work. What kind of pay are they getting? (I'm afraid to ask). How many breaks do they get? What about health insurance? I recall in the Army we did some very difficult things, but a medic was near. What about housing for migrants? Don't forget, they are children of God, not children of the jungle going by rules of Darwin. And, always checking the other side of the coin. Are businesses being taken care of? Is government off their backs so that they can make fair profits? Is government the solution not the problem? Are their goods prices too high? I would even think about reviving old CCC camps in Mexico, and we may have to have them up here again? Cousin Glennon was a supervisor of a CCC Camp near Neosho, Mo. in the 1930s (middle of the Great Depression, and he said the laborers at first were very weak from not eating right and they needed thoughful care and gradual buildup. He said he took care of them. So, Guys and Gals out of work may not be eating right. Are employers and governments thinking about these things? Or is it still the jungle-Darwinism? Be humane about this. If nothing else, let this be a giant lesson in democracy. Use democracy, thinking, creativity to solve it. If you get delt lemons, make lemonaid. Freedom will help all countries involved enormously...not wild unthinking Darwinism of the jungle, pitting people against each other, treating people as lowly unfeeling organisms. Greedocracy. On the other hand, humans are special. Some of these visitors may even be Angels del sud? And who knows, someday the tables might very well be turned on the leaders. It might be turned on the Norte Americans, who Heaven forbid might have to migrate themselves some day? Entered Oct. 12, 2007, RM ...touched up Oct. 18, and Nov. 14, 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I doubt that much has been solved in the above discussion. However, there is one thing that begins to be clear from an ancient history standpoint, and that is, we can see in present events how ancient societies such as Rome began to go downhill. Leaders turn their backs on major issues of the masses. It's too much for them; the senators of Rome became more and more introverted, protecting their own interests.... and strongmen, who really weren't so strong - not ever as strong as the individual demos (if they realize it) - saw their big chance. The old leaders of Rome couldn't face the problems of the masses. They were desperate. Rome could only handle the masses with "bread and circuses," and a lot of building projects. But then jobs finally ran out. Little farm owners sold out to big operators and went to the city Rome. The city became deplorable. Today, masses flock to Mexico City and to the norte. Our own masses flock to cities. In fact, people are flocking to cities all around the world. This is bothersome, especially when one thinks about ancient Rome. A great cultural glue was lost (is presently in danger of being lost) when little landowners sold out to big operations). The little landowners had strong religion - the Lares and Pinates of the field and home as well as a larger pantheon. They had family glue and exercised their minds figuring out their own home problems and keeping the land fit for descendents, for after all their ancestors did the same. They knew every foot of it. In the city, this glue all went down the sewer. We need to keep our finger on the pulse of these big social/cultural movements. Meanwhile, as Rome became weaker and weaker, the barbarian storm clouds could be seen on the horizon. The vultures were waiting on high tree limbs. The scavangers on the outskirts of civilization are always there...and are very patient. entered Oct. 19, 2007 - RM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A CHECK LIST FOR DEMOCRACY. PREPARING OUR COUNTRY FOR TOUGH TIMES AHEAD. Every citizen of our democracy (what is left of it) needs to get going and strengthen our unique type of democracy for many rough times ahead. This is the only way we are going to beat the forces of evil and all the fouled up messes we have gotten ourselves into. The mind of democracy - with a true God - can do anything. Here's a list to get started. Everyone will have to do this. No excuses. It won't be a rose garden. This is based on hard lessons of the past, squarely looking at situations today, and thinking of the future of freedom. 1) Study, study, study the history of our country and our roots far into antiquity. 2) This is the beginning of exercising one's mind in thinking...and learning how we got here, all about us, and mistakes of many cultures that ended ingloriously. Thinking is extremely important because democracy is a thinking type of government. So, each individual must become a thinker. This can't be left to anyone else, because the individual citizen must think like the boss. 3) Bring on the bad news, the worse the better. Many people say, "I wish that there was more good news." Tyrants like this type of subject, because they will control the news and it will be their very own good news. The citizen won't have to think about it. Minds will get more and more lazy. "How nice to let someone up there someplace do all the thinking...the strong man, the state, power operators of all shapes and sizes; they seem so glad to do it, so, why not just let them?" But, then, it's too late, the poor subject can't turn back; freedom has slipped through his or her fingers. Since each citizen in a democracy must think as the boss, then, each must know if there is a leaky sewer pipe way back in the factory. It must be fixed. Some people between the boss and the leaky sewer pipe will say: "It's really not a big leak (not knowing that leaks just get bigger, as the fabled hole in the dike). Others will say, we don't have the money to fix (yet, the boss is the one to figure out how to get the money). Some will forget to tell the boss. Yet, the boss has to be on top of the leak problem. He has to work individually with different personalities along the way, and, even to do on site inspecting himself. Bosses earn their money...or in this case earn their democracy...the toughest form of government there is. 4) Delegation of authority? Sometimes there are so many messy leaks in the factory, or you the boss are so busy that it is necessary for you to delegate authority to get the job(s) done. In a democracy, these people are elected to get the job(s) done. You hope they are reputable and in possession of the number one quality - character. Try them out, but if they don't pan out, replace them with someone else. Check on them to see that they don't diddle-daddle on the job...and set up their own little country for their own benefit. They are working for the benefit of the country not themselves. 5) Keep in shape. Make sure that nothing interfers with your mind/thinking. Don't numb your mind with drugs. Democracy depends on you. 6) Importance. You are very important. Look what has happened to our country now. Too many citizens haven't felt that they were important. They didn't take their job of citizen seriously. Power operators, of course, loved this...so there you-we are. You (we) let the biggies, the moguls, big brothers, power-operators have it on a silver platter. Suckers are born every minute as Barnum said. I know that historians can see these things, but I can't say for sure that this will even make it into the history books of the future - if there are history books in the future? Citizens must get up on a higher step-ladder and look at the big picture. It means growing up culturally. 7) Guidance. There are two distinct trends today re. guidance. The humanist/atheist believe that man is quite capable of solving all his/her problems by himself. The field of ethics from old Greek philosopy and other philosophical human thinking approaches are o.k. with this group. They are materialists and completely miss the most powerful entity of all Spirituality. On the other hand, there is the group that seeks guidance from God and His Word. The Founding Fathers were of this school. 8) Since human nature hasn't changed any for a million years or so, and mean-aggression is still with us in an abundance, unfortunately, we have to deal with it. Each Athenian citizen wasn't afraid to pick up arms when the mass of Persians were heading toward the beach of Marathon. Playwrites, philosophers, all types didn't hesitate. And, the citizen today never knows when he or she will have to be another Miltiades, the general. Therefore it would be smart for citizens to brush up on military history and keep their muskets handy and know how to use them. Our Founders knew about such reality. With storm clouds all around the world, such reality must be faced. It won't magically go away. When Ghengis Khan and his horde swept over the Steppes, village elders would go out and try to pacify him. He would lop their heads off and go on. 9) Great need for creativity. Creativity should really be right at the top of the list on our democracy check list. Unfortunately, it is right at the bottom of the list for Congress and the Administration. They are so politicized that they can't think out of the political, mush, dogmatic politics, don't-rock-the-boat-box. Actually, the things that they have trained themselves to do and to think are non-creative. To think creatively is to think differently. To be creative, you've got to be fearless and to be able to deal with insecurity and rise above it. You've got to have the courage of your creative convictions and break out of the critical peer group. In other words you have to be strong. Alexander the Great was very creative. His generals would want him to do the safe thing, but he wouldn't stand for it. He broke out of the mould many many times. He had indomitable character. Alexander would be horrified at our present military methods - half-way approach to war, downsizing, business approach, ruled by off-beat economic ideology instead of what is before us. 10) Basic law and mechanics of democracy. Learn as much as you can about Law. You don't have to go to law school, but you at least need to know some basics. Abraham Lincoln said "Law should be the religion of the land." Without law and enforcement we would descend into chaos. When you've got chaos, then, democracy goes out the window. Also, learn some basic organizational mechanics and law. Study our Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Study Roberts Rules of Order. This may sound dull, but better than chaos. Study our Supreme Court. They study and referee things about our country's law, The Constitution. Exceptions to the rule. T.A. Rickard in his book: "The Romance of Mining," said that some of the old mining camps in the west had some very good grass-roots democracies. So, no excuses if you are starting anew. Our U.S. democracy is more developed and able to handle a large number of people, but the simple grassroots democracies are fine. People are free, but must abide by law, even if simple basic laws. Bullies and tyrants aren't tolerated. I hope the reader is still with me. Democracy is a lot of work, isn't it? Freedom is tough to hold on to. This is too much work for the Tyrants. They want a quick strongarm method. They want non-creative, non-doing, non-thinkers, or in other words sheep. Then, of course, society would fall into the dark abyss of subjugation. The big egos would rule. 11) Simply learn to be kind to each other. Much can be learned from the old Ozarks culture here in the midwest U.S. The Ozarks Mountains occupy an area larger than the country of France. Forget about the "Hillbilly" sterreotype. The Ozarkians have learned how to get along in hard situations. They had the first type of welcome wagon. A new family in the neighborhood was brought a fresh baked loaf of bread and a jar of jelly. The Ozark homes always have the latch string on the outside of the door. They have fun house parties on Fri. and Sat. night. Lots of fun dance music, goodies and coffee. Chores such as wild greens-picking become neighborly get-togethers. Same with all night neighborly get-togethers on gravel bars and running trot lines. They are sensitive about what they say to the other person. They are very caring and understanding, and would do anything for the other guy. Be thankful if you are new in the Ozarks and an Ozarks family lives down the road. You don't realize it, but they are always looking out after you. If more of the world were like the Ozarks culture we would have nothing to worry about. Everyone could get some rest. 12) The importance of good journalism. Tyrants hate good journalism. Journalism is called "the fourth estate," in our democracy. Journalism is the watch dog of our democracy. This is often how we know about the leaky sewer line in our country that needs fixing. It takes a lot of study and character to be a good journalist. Much about journalism can be learned by studying the late Walter Williams, a country editor who founded the first school of journalism in the world at the University of Missouri. And be sure and read his Journalism's Code of Ethics. This is great. When your writer was a campus urchin at the University of Mizzou we kids would play in the halls of the journalism building...and get thrown out. But even in the first and second grade we knew where Williams had his office at one time. He had been gone quite a few years by that time. Dad knew him. Then, Dad an artist/writer went on to do political cartoons for another famous country editor, Mitchell White of the Mexico, Missouri Ledger. They almost got thrown in jail with Dad's cartoons about City Hall. So, be sure and include art in journalism. Powerful stuff; again, tyrants hate it...the truth. Just a side note on journalism. Many newspapers in the US are now going the fearful "don't- rock- the boat" route. The entire country is greatly weakened by this. Many of these papers are ruled by advertisers - they are fearful of losing revenue. You've got to be fearless to be in the journalism business. Your whole country depends on you. Don't break the First Commandment over and over by worshipping money, fear, security and power. Strap a crowbar to your spines if you have to! (More check list items will be added). Entered Oct. 5th and 6th, 2007. RM ------------------------------------------------------------ MERCENARIES IN US FORCES A DISASTER; IT'S ANCIENT CARTHAGE ALL OVER AGAIN. THE TOP GENERALS OF ALL OF OUR ENEMIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE LOVING IT!!! How in the world are we going to ever get the big shots in Washington to read history and ancient history???!!!! There is some really serious stuff going on right now that has disastrous precedent in antiquity. As Yogi Berra the great archaeologist said: "It's de ja vou all over again." When I just learned of all the mercenaries we have in Iraq I just about passed out. I immediately thought, oh no, it's ancient Carthage all over again. This is a precedent we must examine. First of all, ancient Carthage located in North Africa during the days of the Roman Republic, was a very rich empire. Carthage and Rome were great rival/enemies. Carthage had great fleets of transport ships plying the Mediterranean. They did big business at all the ports. The wealth poured in. They were in many ways like the U.S. today. We have all this money, so, we will just buy our way out of everything. But, unfortunately, as I speak, we are going broke fast, although that's another story. It's a big mess. Anyway, Carthage got this mercenary army. They had some of their own troops but they relied too much on the mercenaries. To make a long story short there were two main wars between Carthage and Rome, and these are called "The Punic Wars." Finally, in the second war, Rome sent their top General Scipio and a bunch of legions to take care of Carthage once and for all. And, they did, they wiped them from the face of the earth. As at all victorious battle sites, the Romans plowed a symbolic furrow all around the ruins of Carthage. Then, they symbolically salted the city. They were obliterated! The upshot is that the Carthaginians didn't have the deep control of the mercenaries needed. The mercenaries didn't pan out at all when the real thing happened. Moral of the story is you just can't buy your way out of everything! What incredible arrogance and weakness and stupidy...and it killed Carthage. And, look what's happening today, we are trying to buy our way out of everything! We have corporations doing K.P. in the military. Corporations are doing the engineering and a thousand and one other tasks that are keeping our military from learning how to be independent and a whole fine-working watch - all departments working very closely together...not fragmented -under thousands of unknown commanders, who can suddenly do God knows what on their own to their own liking...with much based on wispy money. Whereas in a democracy - as Republic Rome was a "Republic/democracy" - they were solidified...a tough steel hammer focused on one spot on the anvil. There have been mercenaries down through history. The British had mercenaries in the Revolution. We had a few. The British could afford them. But their tough Hessians got beat by the upstart Colonials at Trenton. Darius had some Greeks. The British were smart and incorporated the Ghurkas into Army. In a democracy, it is the individual citizen who is important and should be the ones doing all the chores working for the Republic. We are really setting ourselves up for a fall...if we haven't fallen already, and it is looking like it. The MBA Syndrome is running everything, and it is a total disaster. On top of this, it is an incredibly spoiled MBA Syndrome. And there is another issue involved here. Our present volunteer forces are looking more and more like mercenaries, because the government is promising re-inlistees big money for signing up again. Our politicians are beauts. They haven't really declared war in the first place and put the demos system to work. With storm clouds brewing all over the place we should at least be ready any second to do as Roosevelt and Congress in WW II - stand together and declare all out war on terrorism. Better have the machinery ready. Start building up muscle. Head for the training room. The mercenary method has problems. What if you run out of money? The pay for the individual citizen in a democracy is freedom. One last chilling thought. If there is ever a leaning toward a strong man, the mercenaries might side with him. It may be happening right now before our eyes. There is a strong man administration. We have got to really watch this closely. This is very very serious. Still another problem with this mercenary business is that the Administration didn't tell the people about how involved and extensive it was (is). Neither did Congress. The news missed a lot of that. What next? Hopefully, not another top-heavy strongman thing in a democracy! Entered Sept. 23rd, 2007 - RM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HERR PROFESSOR DOCTOR FREUD M.D. TO THE RESCUE RE. THE TERRORISM PROBLEM. A POSSIBLE ANSWER. Terrorism Cause = Sex ...and add fear and death-thinking to the strange stew. Much leads to sex as the main cause of all the terrorism problems. It's all there. The terrorists are afraid of losing their women. They are losing their masculinity. So, they must protect the women. They can't lose the women (and their prowess) to western civilization and western men. Keep those women chained in a number of ways. If they lose their women, they have lost their manhood. Yet, horrors, here comes western civilization a gigantic people magnet - with wonderful refrigerators, great dresses (short), great cars (more horror - run on Arab gas and oil), fun movies, fun dance, fun music, I-pods, etc. And what do the terrorist men have? Sand, frustration (the most massive frustration maybe of all time). Some of their kin have oil, but not them, groan. So, they want it to help restore their manhood. Not only their women but kids and their own brethren are attracted by western civilization, which is open and free and furthermore coming from Judeao/Christian roots..the heathens. Their manhood is totally shot. So, they go totally primordial. Kill the caveman from the other cave who is trying to get his woman. Back to clubs, spears and rocks, kill, kill, kill. It's unmistakable. Look at the targets of their attack today. What are the most phalic looking symbols in N.Y. our biggest representative city? Yes, the twin towers...two of them no less. Also target those long phalic airplanes. And, if you still don't believe that manhood and man power and man ego is running them and in their conscious and sub-conscious, look at this. Osama bin Laden's father had fifty children! And, notice that they are obsessed with the sword. That is the one thing that can subconsciously cut off the private part, so, is really a dangerous symbolical thing. But, the west is a sword also! Then, here comes American and Allied troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, bastions of male dominance. Not only strong men arrive but more horrible...strong free women!!! Then, here are all these big masculine weapons of war around in their midst...big tanks with l o n g guns. These western troops have a lot of supplies...they are supplying their women well. No wonder they want to get rid of us. The terrorists become even more insanely mad, jealous and fearful. And now even more horrible, here comes the western Secretary of State - a woman! The western infidels have a powerful woman in the Administration. And, a woman back home in the states is even running for president! And a woman even got elected to preside over the prestigious U.S. House of Representatives. These women can't be controlled. One thorn in the side - and even the heart - after another. The terrorist men "big time controllers" are really losing their manhood now - in their way of thinking...for they fear losing their women..losing control of their women..losing old cultural, traditional control of women...the verifyers of their masculinity. What would make a man so insanely mad, mad enough to kill, mad enough even to kill himself? And, even some terrorist women, who are subservient to this fear thinking, kill themselves. There is little chance that they are going to beome psychologically aware and mature any time soon. But, they have to get rid of us in Iraq and in other conservative areas. This deep sexual thing over-rides the Iraqi Parliament, democracy, great wealth with oil, infrastructure, relations with other countries and sects, etc., etc. Incredibly powerful stuff. Little wonder their Parliament (those members who are allied with those who hate us) and army and police just sits there. It is impossible for these men to help the westerners to help them lose their masculinity...the most horrible thing there could be. But, even if they get rid of us in Iraq, there are still T.V.s with western programs, I-pods, stylish clothing, etc. It is the old Chinese water torture for them. They will be in a cauldron for a long time. The more we let them stew in their own juice in this cauldron, the better. We hope that they come to their senses before they get atomic bombs, but we can't count on that. They are so insane over this manhood thing that they will surely use atomic warfare if and when they get it - and they may already have it. This is the worst scenario - the atom in the hands of men who are losing their manhood. So, we have to be very very strong. Meanwhile, the west works hard and does good...and keeps on inventing I-pod things...but all this good definitely has a reverse and adverse effect on the terrorists. Interestingly, they use cell phones, computers, etc. for their nefarious work, but I believe down deep they resent it all greatly and are even in fear of it. They are losing their women; they are losing their manhood. Meanwhile, the west needs to keep doing good, creating things, and secure freedom for women...but also keep very very storng. RM - entered Sept. 15, 2007. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The above involves a lot of Freudian methodology and theory, of course, but it might help explain some things. There may be other factors involved as well. And, also it should be pointed out that the battle between Islam and the Jews is something else, although some elements of the above might be involved. And their battle has been going on for centuries. There were many Jews living in Arabia in days of Mohammed. And, as you can well imagine, the Jews who were and still are rock hard devotees of their faith weren't about to change to Islam. So, there was this "immovable object"...and "irrisistable force" as the saying goes. Just before Mohammed died he was getting ready to invade Syria. Also, to add fuel to the fire, the Moslems believe that a Jewish person, a woman, poisoned Mohammed. She had put poison in some meat. Mohammed just ate a little and spit it out, but still it made him sick and he would die. One of his associates did eat more and died immediately. Then, to add to Moslem hostilities, the U.S. and others in the west, are conncected with Israel. The Christians have Old Testament roots as all of them, but, the U.S. does support Israel greatly with much $$ and in other ways. So, eventually, everyone is going to have to sit down and iron all this out in a major conference of some kind. And, as I mentioned in a News/Pub item, have plenty of food beforehand. Don't have to solve everything immediately, so, make it a continuous process. This will save millions of good lives. Call on creative scholars. At one time the Moslems were famous for their science. The Hellenistic people had great libraries and were scholarly. There are a lot of plusses. At first, just start listing these plusses. What could be done by cooperation? Etc. This item entered Sept. 20, 2007 - RM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Freud did a lot of thinking about war. He was right there in Vienna Austria in WW I. Then, again, in WW II. He just barely escaped in the nick of time, going to England. The Nazis hated him. I'm sure they knew that he could give the crackpot Nazis much analytical trouble. So, they had public burnings of his numerous works. Then, horrors, he was Jewish, and they hated Jews. Jews were the big scapegoats for the crackpot Nazi ideology and hyper-aggression. Freud wrote a piece on war just before leaving for London. He believed there was a deep fear of death in everyone causing much of the problem. Freud was an atheist, but it is interesting that Jesus had known all about this hidden fear thing two-thousand years earlier. Jesus said: "Death, where is thy sting!" He also spoke much about Life. So, here are two more experts we can recruit for studying the terrorists. We need all the help we can get. The White House and No. 10 Downing St. I am sure get psychological studies daily. If they don't, they should. Entered Sept. 20, 2007 RM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CULTURE MECHANIC GARAGE, WAS The U.S. culture needs some major culture mechanical work - an overhaul. Are you ready for the mechanical diagnosis? Probably not. But first let me wash the ook off my hands. It's a mess. The problems in Iraq aren't just military or the Administration or Congress, although they have their problems - and some are massive for sure. The big mechanical problems are U.S. cultural...and deep within the engine. These problems do affect the military, Congress and Administration, which in turn affects effectiveness. We've gotten in a mode where much is run as a department store...it's the MBA Syndrome (Master of Business Adm) at work. Downsize the employees "simple organisms" in the department store. Let fewer do the work - squeeze some more profits up to the top (by the way, this plays right into the hands of Marx and his theories). Wear out the fewer troops, because there are plenty more "bodies" in line. We really need to distribute more wealth downward. Also, outsourceing is a problem. It's rearrange the mechanical, organisms "bodies," on the game table...again, squeezing more money to the top. However, the American family (not just the business family, although they are very important too), comes first. The money manipulators have gone internationally nuts. The thought of paying an American worker some more $$, thus enabling that American worker to buy more refrigerators, etc. causes them to have wild fits of money withdrawal. This down-squeezing of the American worker has been going on for a long time. Big money powers have been trying to control the American workers - going back to the 1800s, 1900s (I can remember that)...and in global history - going back to the early Industrial Age and Roman mines even. And now they have finally succeeded. It's a disaster for not only the American workers but the entire country and world too for that matter. On the other hand, if business has so many expenses caused by big government (another pseudo-religion), then, that is not good either. They are getting squashed also, laid upon by a massive governmental dinosaur. The old engine needs a "tune up" a balance. Why not use some highly advanced "anthropological tools" where all people are much much much more than simple organisms or blobs on an economic checker board? With more "real people" back on the job interacting in a great way with "real customers" and their own work associates the possibilities are fantastic...for anyone who likes money. Yes, anthropological reality is about money...for all. Also, according to the MBA Syndrome, the fewer troops in the department store or military will theoretically be aided by technology...one of the gods of the 20th and 21st century (thoroughly entrenched in American life - with computer shrines and idols, etc. in every home and business and vehicle and in shrine enclaves of those disciples of the MBA Syndrome)....and unbelievably, powerful, priest devotees running everything from big religious centers of technology. This leads to a phenomenon I call being "techno-dulled," or "techno-dulling" (I told about this first in our WAS Iraqi War Series re. the 1st Gulf War) when persons are so ruled by technology that they become dulled to reality and personal creativity is dulled too...and people are sidelined. God didn't create a transistor before Man, although according to the MBA Syndrome devotees, He did. High tech is great but not a true god. Also, other debris - more pseudo-gods - have fallen into the clanking machinery, gods I call "Super Money ideology." Or "Super Refined Greed" an ideology or pseudo-religion highly refined. There has always been greed, Scrooges and Shylocks, but it kept getting more and more refined, until now we have Super-refined greed. There are vast powerful empires with their own strange "government, pseudo-religious ideology" running things. All this odd machinery is lubricated by cheap, worthless additives purchased at the economy store (they may get the machine along a little while longer with dark smoke still coming out the tailpipe...but lookout). These cheap additives are: Darwinian ideology (survival of the fittest business corporations believing humans have become organisms and biological theory has jumped to social/economic theory (Darwin himself was the first to bridge the gap), and another additive - a wierd, diabolical off-shoot of Darwinism called: "Eugenics," - Darwinism's natural selection theory speeded up by "superior" humans...the superior controllers. "We will speed up our "superiority," for after all, those poor biological organisms down there are inferior and pitiful." Let them fall by the wayside...with our assistance. Also, don't give the "organisms" too much medical help, which would be a waste. Our money interest - our lifeblood - is much more superior to the lowly organisms. We will speed up our financial superiority selves with things as NAFTA and downsizing - and HMOs - financial Darwinism and Eugenics. We will, we must survive in the Darwinian scheme of things. But, note, they will say, our philosophy is "Pragmatic" (another humanistic/atheistic philosophy developing in the shadows since the 1800s and with roots even farther back). Materially it is logical for we superior pragmatists (another material, human method for solving problems). We are in a great humanist/pragmatic movement on earth where Man will solve everything on his own. Man will be his own saviour. For after all, aren't the atheist/humanist John Dewey (a proponent of the philosophical movement Pragmatics/Pragmatism as well as Humanism)and worshipped in field of education since the 1900s..and more materialism approved by Darwin, brilliant? But wait a minute here. People are vastly more important than material "humanist" organisms. Aren't they? Shouldn't they be? And, aren't spiritual methods for solving problems the best, because humans are spiritual creatures? This involves unseen tools...but the great results are very visible...tuneup proof. Man logic and Man technology are great, but not God. There really is something higher that comes first. All this secular humanism must be o.k. they say. Just look out there for all America to see is the great statue of Prometheus in Rockefeller Center, and Prometheus is the symbol of the Atheist/humanist movement in America, and millions of people are followers. The wonderful Prometheus stole fire from the Gods and gave it to humans (and was published greatly). Human-material thinking is so powerful that it even took over the schools of America..and Americans scarcely blinked an eye. Slickest invasion of all of history. A material organized religion has taken over; it violates the Constitituion. Church and state has been a smoke screen for the humanists, who are really wanting to promote their religion of Humanism/materialism/atheism. It's God-thinking that they are really after. The American people have been slickered as they have never been slickered before. They have actually been taken over by this weird religion. Then, add other man, pseudo-religious additives to Super Money ideology - Oriental military tactics and strategy - to really do in the opposition...not just the workers but their own business brethren. It's all a vicious diabolical swamp. Again, all with no ethics - not even Greek philosophy, let alone super ethics - metaphyics- religion. Then, into this wierd stew add the Hegellian theory of conflict - borrowed by Marx (Hegel's student) and also Darwin - "thesis, antithesis, synthesis." Ah yes, the harmonious God who created the harmonious perfectly balanced Heaven must be shaking His(or Her) head...or banging His head against a cloud...at pitiful Man trying to create his own "empire." In any case, Hegel is one of the rulers of the world right now, Hegel, a professor who sometimes came into class with a shoe missing. True, he was upset at his student Marx for borrowing his theory for a weird ideology, and probably would be even more shocked at MBA Syndrome devotees today who love conflict...borrowed by way of Darwin..and also by Marxists who keep the conflict stew brewing worldwide. It's not working; look what has happened to people in our society left to jungle survivalism..over 40 million people with no health care, pitiful infant mortality, US "citizens" owned economically by China and Japan and others(citizenship rule has been given away financially...but what do you expect when material finances is god?), the education system operating on 2 burners...with many kids dropping out, 50 % divorce, drug epidemic, global warming, an alcoholic-prescription drug, brain-numbed society ...etc., etc. Re. some problems with technology as God. You need to be ahead of the cutting edge in technology for competition, and the military especially needs technology creativity. But technology cannot be god. Servicing this mass of technology, the supply, repair, cost, etc. becomes so weighty and costly that it can become a dinosaur. It can be done, but make sure you have plenty of Laureum Silver Mines that saved the Athenians, but don't just jump in and wish for a big victory at Marathon without putting a very sharp down-to-earth Miltiades in charge. When the Athenians needed ships to battle the Persians, they went to the Laureum Silver Mines near Athens. We've been giving our Laureum Silver Mines away to foreigners and big corporate empires (selling off the "family farm" bonds, etc). And we have been destroying our own work force...great smart people we greatly need in many ways. We do need the big money machines, but they must be controlled...and charity begins at home...and houses divided won't stand. If they won't study history and won't apply ethics, then, the people must...with massive doses of educational and voting reality. Don't forget, the Roman military was the techno-giant of the day, but got clobbered by the rough Germans in the Teutonberg Forest, where the Roman Legions couldn't perform their high tech maneuvers on a flat playing field. They became overconfident and techno-dulled. The Germans wiped out two Legions "the greatest army in the world." Seutonius said that Augustus banged his head against the wall crying: Varus, give me back my Legions." Unfortunately, Varus was dead, having been killed in the massacre. The Romans were so overconfident that they also missed the secret collaboration of the German prince Herman with his people (they thought Herman was Romanized). The "rough" Germans were playing Rome as a fine violin, as many on the world scene are playing the free world today). As a result, Rome couldn't find military volunteers. Now, we have Rome all over again in a number of ways. Downsizing has created terrible human suffering. The Super-greeders forgot all about people (they consider mere, material "organisms,")- which is what it is all about in the first place. Dr. Geogre Washington Carver, who was down with the troops of the south (blacks and whites) and really knew what was going on, trying to revive the south, battled foreign manufacture of peanuts; he knew it was hurting American farmers...and America. The boll wevile had destroyed cotton, and the peanut was the replacement, and would also build up the soil depleted by cotton. This peaceful, mild mannered man even went to Washington and testified before the Senate. This was in the days when blacks had to use back doors. What this man of great character did was very courageous. This event would make a great movie and show the many problems of outsourcing and NAFTA. And, it shows that we must be independent. The military has downsized and worn out the fewer troops. The old tried and true method of actually declaring war - when Roosevelt stood before Congress after Pearl Harbor - and involving everyone - even kids (I was one of those kids, bundling up newspapers, putting them out on the curb for a truck, and buying 10 cent bond stamps, helping with rationing - hasn't even been thought of since WWII. In a democracy, the individual citizen MUST be involved. Not only is cultural techno-dulling, down-sizing, out-sourcing, super-refined greed, a problem here, but lack of knowledge of basic democracy - and even short term history such as knowledge of WW II is a big cultural problem. The study of history is every bit as important as math and science and economics. And studies of the arts - a great civilizer - is important also. And, of course, Sunday School studies need to be right at the top also. Don't let the humanist-atheist-materialists tell you different. Above all else, the demos must know the difference between pseudo-religions and true religion. And there are a lot of pseudo-religions out there. There are many variations of democracy, and that's great. The old gold mining camps out west had great grass roots democracies according to Rickard's "Romance of Mining." (Rickard is also my source for the Laureum Silver Mines of the Atheneum City State). Business is great, large and small. But, the thing is, if your country or tribe or city state or whatever has been set up as a democracy of some type...then, if you start getting away from the demos, you commence hearing some really loud clanking sounds, and the wheels commence shimmying. If this keeps on, everyone becomes frustrated, and it is sooooo easy to just call in a strong man...captain of a safe tank; they are always at hand - surprisingly so. And the longer the clanking goes on, the easier it is for this dictatorship to appear. Actually, in a way, this dictatorship has already appeared in the form of giant top heavy, monolithic corporations - and other giant pseudo-religion movements...and even ruling our democracy. Our Congress and the people have given up their power. It is horrendous history in the making. Our Founders would be furious at all this non-demos rule. However, the present rulers know best for the dummies. Scarey! But, here is the big contradiction for a democracy. If these free people are suddenly thrown into war - as in WWII...a certain amount of freedom, such as the writ of habeus corpus, will be lost for a while. On the other hand, people will know more where they stand on a number of things. Prisoners will be prisoners of war until the end of the war. No questions on whether or not they should be released. All citizens will have to serve in the military. I hate saying this, because I know the feeling when Uncle Sam says "Greetings!" But if the situation warrants...if we have been invaded per the Constitution, it will have to be done. The military MBA syndrome operators job out more duties to corporations who even do K.P. - however, this makes the military less independent. The military has lost much control. This MBA Syndrome will work as long as the military lines aren't overrun sometime as during the battle of the bulge in WW II, and everyone behind the lines are needed fast...and elsewhere where the MBA Syndrome rules - as does economic "efficiency" Surprise, surprise as Gomer says. The military above all - and especially the Operations Branch G-4 should know about such contingencies. I wonder if the MBA Syndrome has even infiltrated the War Colleges? The Operation G-4 planners in the Pentagon, by the way, should have known all about the culture of Iraq and planned all kinds of contingencies. But, perhaps they did and got squashed by the MBA Syndrome!? And, if parts of the machine work, don't fix it. Don't break up our Department of Defense, giving Rumsfeld Iraq and Afghanistan and Ridge the homeland. Now Chertoff has the homeland. What a disaster when we were invaded by Katrina, migrants, and probably terrorist infiltration, with invasions of viral pathogens on the horizon, not to mention the present invasion of drugs, and contaminated uninspected food and other toxic items from abroad, and maybe here at home? The only explanation is that the jungle canopy of ignorance has engulfed us. Re. Katrina. With our Dept. of Defense "House divided" our leaders couldn't benefit from G-4 "Operations" in the Pentagon in the tradition of Gen. George Marshall. Marshall would have had Katrina fixed already. Marshall was the Operations Officer on Pershing's Staff in WW I and was the brain behind our Argonne Offensive that broke the German's back. Then, in WWII Marshall was Army Chief of Staff, and fortunately played a giant part in our winning. Then, he also was in charge of "The Marshall Plan" that restored the rubble of Europe. Why isn't Washington studying Marshall today? Aren't natural disasters a form of terrorist invasion? Of course, today re. Katrina, Marshall would have needed the help of Truman for leadership, and also the Congress. Congress has withdrawn into its own "safe" politico enclaves. "We really don't know what we (Congress)are doing, and we don't want to risk our pay and benefits, and money contacts with lobbyists. But, essentially, lobbyists do represent many people and businesses and organizations...like nothing ever in history before...and representation is needed. So, elect New Tribunes to represent these interests, to supervise collection of information. and then to present to Congress in an organized way - that can then be reviewed every inch of the way by the people's representatives and the people themselves. The people will then control the whole thing. I got this idea remembering about the plebes of ancient Rome who needed representation. The Tribunes were finally created to represent them. And, the Tribunes were outspoken and had quite a bit of power. Out of the Tribune system eventually came our "House of Representative." New song: "where have all the leaders gone?" Where are the Gen. John J. Blackjack Pershings? Pershing said in WWI "No halfway measures will solve this problem." Our entire terrorist war(s) so far is halfway. Everything we do is halfway. Katrina is halfway, solving the border is halfway, politics is halfway, the drug problem is halfway mush - don't rock the boat - and our laws are halfway (Lincoln said that Law should be the religion of the land), and it goes on and on. We really are in a war(s)but it is not an all out, official declaration as in WWII...but a halfway "war powers" operation. The halfway politicians are incredibly slick...but dumb in many ways. They have used slickness to compensate for solid knowledge. Well, the bill is adding up for the U.S. wreck, and we are just beginning with the diagnosis. I hate to tell the citizens, but they are not only the mechanics, but are going to have to pay the bill. Yes, democracy and high civilization is tough to keep running...it's tough and expensive. We especially need to fix the part of machinery called "character". Gen. Swartzkoff said our main problems in Wash. have been episodes of lack of character (I'm paraphrasing his talk at a local college). He's a great student of leadership. He said that if you don't know what to do "take charge" . He was at a loss once in a new important job as a new one star general in the Pentagon. The general he was replacing told him the answer is "take charge" (the general called it "Rule 13"). Swartzkoff also said he used to send new 2nd Lieutenants down to stand in front of tanks and give the tanks orders; they finally had to realize that they were going to have to do something. You can't just stand there being big shots and giving orders. Our Congress and Administration are still standing in front of the tank I might add. Swartzkoff also said that leaders are made not born, so there is still hope. I loved this speech and did a column on it in the paper. I worked in General Robinette. I knew him. Dad and Mom used to stay all night with him at Marshfield, Mo. He was a good friend also of Doc R.M. Good, Pres. Emeritus of the college. Robinette had the bad luck of being in charge of a tank outfit at Kasserine Pass in WW II in North Africa. Rommel, the Desert Fox clobbered the U.S. at Kasserine - and we had just entered the war there. It was humiliating. But Eisenhower got his act together, and along with the British who did great things in N. Africa and the French, we eventually beat Rommel. And, then, Robinette went on to Command the Armor School at Ft. Knox and write a classic book "Armor Command." So, the moral here is that no matter how fouled up and bad our wreck can be and look, there is great hope. These situations can be learning experiences. Fouled up demoralizing, dumb operations can be turned around pretty quick. Here's a key thing to remember when repairing our beat up U.S. All of us and especially Washington are beginning to look like we are in a demolition derby - not a well organized Swiss watch. Yes, I know, the late Senator Everett Dirkson of IL likened our US government to an old slow moving barge. Unfortunately, now "Dirkson's barge" is stranded on a gravel bar...and doesn't know whether to go upstream or down...and just keeps being hit by the current and tree trunks...and has sprung some dangerous leaks. Above all else, remember, our beloved U.S. IS A DEMOCRACY...not a corporateocracy, Wall Streetocracy, militaryocracy, greedocracy, oilocracy, political partyocracy, House or Senateocracy, Presidentocracy, business schoolocracy, humanist-materialist-Pragmatism(atheist)ocracy, church organizationocracy, Darwinocracy, meocracy, funocracy, scientificocracy, halfwayocracy, wimpocracy (Pershing would have already been sent to whip the drug bandits on the border), lawyerocracy, technologyocracy and a few dozen other ocracies. It's going to be a rough cultural overhaul; we've run the old machine hard and fast with little or no maintenance, and put it away wet. We'll have to all work nights...many nights for the restoration project. We'll have to do much study of old time, down home, good, basic solid, family stuff...and also history, anthropology, sociology, political science, economics and theology (ultimate ethics) and more...and at the same time, not making the man things gods. Head for those town meetings fast. Vote. This will build up the true wealth of the country (old machine). It will be awesome. Put on the coffee pot. (Engineers in the military and citizens of a democracy get an extra ration of coffee). There will be little rest...although it will be very good work... for citizen mechanics of a democracy...the hardest working souls on the face of the earth. But it is well worth it. It will be a good example for future generations of true winners. It's really all about freedom and democracy and true religion. Every citizen's help is needed and they are of EXTREME life and death importance. We are losing much freedom fast - and so is much of the world...so, we'll have to apply General Swartzkoff's rule 13 and "take charge." And also remember that democracy is better than any of the other systems as Churchill said. Good luck! Ron - entered Aug. 7, 2007 touched up some Aug. 8, 2007...and Aug. 10th and 11th, '07. P.S. The above just scratches the surface of problems with our U.S. machine. See some other sections of this site such as Race Cultural Relations. And, all the while, those who aren't familiar with Americans must know that we criticise ourselves a lot, but don't mistake this working on the democracy machine as being against the machine. Many mistake this. It's actually a strength. And, also note that we can speak out and criticize our government. Many people around the world can't do this!!! We are very fortunate. There is much good here in the U.S. But in a democracy, when the plumbing goes bad in the factory, the boss - the citizens must put on their coveralls, grab their wrenches and go into the stinking mess and fix it. RM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GLOBAL WARMING - A POSSIBLE HELP FROM ANTIQUITY. I just finished writing a little book: THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE BRANSON -HOLLISTER, MISSOURI AREA...With Thoughts on Archaeology as Part of the Environmental Picture and Archaeoturism - Putting Antiquity to Work Today. We are right in the middle of an unbelievable growth situation here in the Branson area. It is a big environmental laboratory...and as you have probably guessed, a lot of history and prehistory is being lost. It has just dawned on me after studying the Osage, who ruled the Ozarks here in the central U.S. and also all the other tribes and cultural groups ...and also with environmental things on my mind, there are some things about the ancients that might help the present global warming situation. First, the Osage and am sure the others too, were great stewards of the environment. They didn't take any more than they needed, and greatly respected everything, for after all, Wakonda "The Great Spirit," owned everything and was in everything. We need such respect today. Something else about the ancients, is something that constantly amazes me. They were highly mobile; they really got around - all over the Ozarks, which is as big as the country of France.