It is always fascinating when anyone connected to the Tea Party group makes a speech which refers to American history how invariably they commit one historical error after another. Sarah Palin told enthusiastic Tea Party ranters they represent the “future of politics in America” and longed for the day when to win a war, we have “a commander-in-chief not a professor of law standing at the lectern.” An interesting metaphor, but hardly consistent with the history of the United States which consistently has had civilians in the role of commander-in-chief during war.

Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe who had never actually participated in the Revolution led the nation during the war against Barbary pirates and the War of 1812. Polk, who had not military experience was in charge during the war with Mexico. I assume the ignorant woman from Alaska has heard of Abraham Lincoln who did listen to military advice, but after reading books on military history, consistently expressed his military ideas to generals. As our story proceeds, there is McKinley who did have some military experience in leading the nation during the Spanish American war and Wilson who had none in WWI. Of course, Franklin Roosevelt had spent his life as one of those “politicians” and was a Harvard graduate and lawyer.

We could go on and on. The history of America is having civilians in charge of the military. Ms. Palin simply does not grasp a foundation of this nation is civilians in charge of the military, not the other way around.

The fruits of the devastating recession which has impacted nations throughout the world most probably impacts migrants in devastating ways because their lack of citizenship prevents obtaining economic support from government agencies. The United Kingdom under the National Reconnection Service is offering these migrants a special one way airline ticket back to the nation of their origin. A high percent of these migrants are from eastern Europe and came to Great Britain to pick food on farms and do the jobs native born people thought beneath their abilities.

The migrant lacks access to unemployment benefits, to medical care, to assistance for a place to live and their children sometimes can not get into schools. The world has responded with care and concern to Haitian refugees, perhaps, the same spirit can be shown in east European refugees who are broke and alone in a strange land that wanted and then, did not want their labor.

The Bush administration was notorious for its callous disregard of counseling, job, and medical needs of veterans, but apparently a change in leadership has not resulted in significant changes in the manner in which those who served get screwed when they leave the service. A report by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans,(IAVA) reports a systematic process of delay and obstruction of veterans seeking assistance from the Veterans Administration. Drew Brown asked five times over sixteen months for counseling and was finally told the only times were 8:30 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. Aimee Sheerrod, suffered from PTSD and finally accepted a 10% disability. Several years later when she was suffering during pregnancy the VA told her to quit college and just relax.

Army veteran Matthew Hamilton has been waiting 200 days to have his college bills handled because of a dispute on how to pay for graduate credits. The list goes on and on of delay and procrastination for those who risked their lives while the other 99% of Americans remained home to make money and enjoy the good life. Paul Rieckhoff of IAVA says, “Right now, thousands of veterans are unemployed, more than 100,000 are homeless and hundreds of thousands are desperately waiting months–sometime years– for their well-earned benefits.”

Has anyone heard TEA PARTY loud mouths ranting about veterans?

The Archbishop of Canterbury followed the recent testimony of former prime minister Tony Blair at the Chicot inquiry into origins of the Iraq war. He urged Blair to recognize his “absurdity,” and suggested he read a bit of Dostoevsky in order to understand the nature of what constitutes soul searching. Unfortunately, for Blair, it appears he loves to go to church and echo religious platitudes, but the man lacks any capacity to search into his own soul and grasp the nature of his absurd decision to send his country into a war. A venture into the writings of Dostoevsky leads any reader into encounters with characters that spend their lives soul searching.

Rowan Williams said, “I did once rather unkindly say that Tony Blair did do God but he didn’t do irony. Irony is when you recognize that your own sense of dramatic power is always something that is going to be absurd in the light of truth. The readiness to cope with that absurdity is something that you have to learn in order to grow up.”

Unfortunately, Tony Blair was unable to utter a single regret for sending hundreds of British soldiers to their death as well as thousands of Iraqis. The ultimate in his absurdity is claiming that Saddam Hussein not only threatened “a region, but the world.” Yes, Tony, he threatened the world with an army that was wiped out during the Gulf War in a few days and wiped out again in 2003!

Mayor Rl Rex Parris was giving a speech to several local Christian ministers so he saw no problem in telling the group his goal as mayor was “growing a Christian community” in a city, that for some strange reason, also allows them Jews and Muslims and atheists to reside within its limits. His comment referred to an April ballot measure that would endorse prayer at city meetings without restricting its content including reference to Jesus Christ as a way to “validate a Christian stance.” As far as Parris is concerned, if you live in his Christian city the least you can do is endorse the Christian view of life.

As a Jew, I take umbrage as referring to Jesus Christ as having anything to do with what people today term the, “Christian religion.” As far as this Jew knows, Jesus was born a Jew, lived the life of a Jew, and died a Jew. I guess if Jesus tried visiting Lancaster, California he would be told to halt at the city limits.

The government of India has offered to engage in discussions with Pakistan over issues that currently create antagonism between the nations. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, said his nation was more than ready to have discussions and his nation would present their own ideas as well as listen to those of India. Undoubtedly, they will discuss the ever present issue of Kashmir, water rights and how both can confront terrorism. But, the Pakistani leader made clear his nation would not bow down to the Indian agenda. There are reports both foreign ministers have agreed on an agenda for meetings as well as dates, but these reports are news to Qureshi.

The bottom line is that over 500,000 Pakistan troops face east toward India while about 50,000 face west toward tribal areas where there are terror groups. Until Pakistan and India resolve their conflicts in such a manner as to free up Pakistan forces to head west and deal with the problem that Pakistan faces today, not tomorrow.

Muslims throughout the world exploded in anger when a Danish cartoonist depicted Muhammed in a cartoon and were furious that a Christian artist dared get involved in their religion. I wonder whether those protestors would join Christian Egyptian parents who complained an art exam required their children to depict Muslim religious activities. The Egyptian Union for Human Rights(EHUR) submitted a complaint to the MInister of Education because in a preparatory school exam in art students were required to depict the Hajj ritual of standing atop Mount Arafat, where Muslim pilgrims hold their hands up in supplication. Parents were shocked that an art exam included material better suited to a class in Islamic studies.

They also complained the Innovative Design Question asked students to design an image of the Kaaba. One wonders how Muslim students would react if a Christian teacher asked them on an examination to design a church. I am certain streets of angry protestors would be yelling all over the world at this insult to Muslim students. Surely, there is no need to bring religion into an art examination.

Each day we offer a sample of headlines that appeared in the world press along with our comments.

Denmark, Copenhagen Post: “Email-You’re Fired”
Could you please substitute an “h” for the “f?”

Indonesia, Jakarta Post: “Guard Dismissed On Suspicion of Murder”
I guess he goes home if he is convicted of murder.

UK, Guardian: “University Teacher Budgets Cut”
Well, that is one way to reduce global warming of too much hot air being exhaled.

Australia, Brisbane Times: ‘Tutarkhamen “Finds His Mummy”
Now, could we find his puppy?

Turkey, Zaman: “McDonald’s Celebrates 25 Years in Turkey”
25 years of fattening foods for the body and none for the mind.

South Africa, Argus: “Durban Mortuary Too Full”
Pass a law forbidding dying.

Kuwait, Kuwait Times: Basra Bars Beggars”
I guess that does it for Wall Street in Basra.

UK, The Independent: “Rise In Exam Cheats”
I prefer exam cheats over banker cheats.

Russia, Moscow Times: “War and Peace Staged In Scotland”
I wonder if they could do a performance in Afghanistan.

China, China Daily: “More Marriages, More Divorces”
I guess one inevitably leads to the other.

Israel, Ha’aretz: “Abduct Woman’s Corpse”
The abduction was carried out by Meyer Dracula and Sarah Vampire.

Canada, Toronto Star: “Wise Girls Settle For Mr. Good Enough”
And, do wise men settle for Ms. Good Enough?

The Military Times, an unofficial voice of those who serve in the military, did an intensive study of how those serving in the armed forces feel about the decision to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the service. Senator John McCain, and other Republican conservatives, are shouting there is overwhelming opposition to allowing gays and lesbians to be openly part of the military. The Military Times conducted in-depth interviews with those who are gay or lesbian as well as “straight” men and women in order to uncover their actual feelings. Among major concerns expressed was how to effectively implement any new policy so as not to antagonize those opposing any change.

Here are the results of the survey:

In 2003—Opposing open gay/Lesbians —- 63%

In 2009 — Opposing open gay/lesbian —– 51%

In 2003, supporting open gay/lesbians —– 24%

In 2009, supporting open gay/lesbians —–30%

Nearly 20% apparently did not have strong feelings regarding this issue.

Got any plans for Valentine Day this year? Would you like to offer your loved one a unique experience in the far off land of Canada that can not be replicated in your own dreary little town? How about taking up the offer from Mildred’s Temple Kitchen restaurant which offers anyone use of their unisex bathroom facilities to facilitate a sexual encounter? Before such an encounter, take advantage of the aphrodisiac menu featuring such items as fresh oysters with t apioca pearls and Lady-And-The-Tramp spaghetti and meatballs, served from one plate!

Look, cynics, finally we have an offer that can not be refused by those who are lacking in spontaneity and need a shove in order to get their lower parts of the body functioning in high gear.

Naturally, forces of law and order are attempting to discover if there is any law forbidding sex in the bathroom. Is there in your town? Hey, is there in your house?? Come on, let it all hang out by hanging out at Mildred’s restaurant. I wonder if Arlo Guthrie can write a song about Mildred’s restaurant?