Hail Alito !

Those imperious words were addressed to the Senate by Caesar, to describe his victory in a military campaign at the outer reaches of the Roman Empire. Never before, nor ever since has anyone summarized a major endeavor so eloquently and so succinctly.

I know Caesar well, and Alito is no Caesar! But Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is an impressive figure in his own right. Brilliant, learned and abundantly experienced, his judicious temperament and unbounded graciousness will find a rightful and useful place in our court.

Yet, there is an important historical parallel between these two men. Among Caesar’s self-declared detractors was a group of determined assassins. They stabbed Caesar repeatedly as he sat defenselessly in the Senate. Like Caesar, Alito too was attacked unmercifully as he sat in the Senate chamber. But his “assassins” were prominent senators, whose mindsets were gravely impaired by their rage and bias.

In all likelihood Samuel Alito will serve our nation with wisdom, fairness and honor, but each of his assailants has suffered an irretrievable loss of dignity and reputation. Bereft of courtesy, they shamelessly squandered the political equity with which they entered the chamber. The travesty they perpetrated on the senate floor will not soon be forgotten by Americans.

So Alito too, came and saw and conquered. And because no senator is likely ever again to descend to depths we now shudder to recall, we can all share in his triump

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I am writing this from purgatory. I deeply regretted murdering Caesar. Unable to go on, I took my own life. With his dying words "Et tu Brute" echoing in my head, I ran upon my sword. When I got here I discovered that my mother had been his lover and that I was Caesar’s bastard son. I am cursed for eternity ~ Brutus

Brutus, I dearly loved your mother as I did my own wife, Calpurnia. To me, you are no bastard. I forgive you. And know this, my love for you has never wavered. To Justice Samuel Alito, I say you acquitted yourself in the U.S. Senate like a true Roman. May your evil assailants, like mine, be scorched and cindered by the fires of hell ~ Caesar

Troy revisited

Hamas’ victory in Palestine is a most ominous development. This militant group of terrorists is irrevocably committed to the destruction of Israel and it has considerable local and regional support. Peace and coexistence is not on its agenda.

In retrospect, Hamas prevailed with relative ease. Its belligerence ignited a restive populace already woefully discontent with its corrupt and incompetent government. Although they may later regret it, the Palestinians turned their back on Fatah and opted to vote for Hamas, just as that organization came splashing across the Rubicon, mounted on its Trojan Horse. Hamas is now fully into the conflict and it is in a strategic position to make drastic changes to the established rules.

Hamas’ most serendipitous discovery thus far, is that it has shaken the equilibrium of the world. Whereas the West cannot repudiate the “election” it is now confused about whether or not, or even how, to establish political relations with a self-declared, inimical society. But, while it is ecstatic about the consternation it is causing in Israel and the West, Hamas will soon discover that it too is on unfamiliar ground.

Nevertheless, Hamas has shown Al Qaeda, Hezbollah and other jihadists, that by participating in "democratic elections" they too can quickly acquire the power and legitimacy they seek. Ironically, what the West has so zealously preached to the East may now boomerang and become its Achilles' heel. With jihadists in a position to increase their militancy and Iran refusing to curb its nuclear intentions, peril is everywhere!

Whence this dispute? Where will it lead?

In 1931, the Irgun became the militant arm of the Zionist movement. It revolted against British mandatory rule over Palestine and demanded that a Jewish state be established. The intensity of their killing and bombing eventually forced the British to bring the dispute before the United Nations. That body, on November 29, 1947, agreed to partition Palestine into two states: a Jewish state, the State of Israel, and a Palestinian-Arab state. From that date on, Palestinians have felt unjustly occupied.

It must be borne in mind, that neither the Palestinians (originally the Philistines) nor the Jews can trace their origins, as a people, to the Holy Land. Long ago, the Philistines migrated there from Crete and somewhat later, the Jews were brought there from Egypt by Moses. From that time until now, they have quarreled incessantly. In one memorable battle, David, an Israeli, slew Goliath, the awesome Philistine giant, with a slingshot? Can Palestinians and Jews ever live together in harmony? Only eternity can say!

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The faggot hit me while I was pissing ~ Goliath

The schmuck never saw me ~ David

I saw the whole thing ~ Archangel Gabriel

Can Armageddon be far away? ~ The Horn

Why does Goliath call David a faggot? ~ Anon

He knew David was intimate with Saul's son, Jonathan ~ The Horn

In the name of Allah and Goliath, while I was alive and politically active, it was also my intention, like Hamas, to restore our Palestinian state to the way it was before Britain, Irgun and the UN interfered. Yes, we did have frequent disagreements, but you Westerners never stopped to negotiate with us and you always supported me financially. My message to you from the grave is this, "Return all of our land to us and save yourselves your blood. Let Jews know they would always be welcome to stay in Palestine, but at their own peril." ~ Arafat

Judge not ~

Open letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee

Esteemed Senators:

Forgive my presumption in addressing you on this matter. I do so from the perspective of an elder citizen. Now that you are about to vote pro or con Judge Samuel Alito’s confirmation, it would be prudent for us to remember that it is in the quest for the Holy Grail that idealism is put to the test, finding it is of somewhat lesser importance.

If it is already decreed that Judge Samuel Alito will be confirmed as our next Supreme Court Justice, how much better it would be to have him ushered into office in a spirit of amity and pride. To encumber him now with meaningless nay votes, would be a bitter exercise of rancor.

Interrogation has concluded. It is time now for us to start our descent from the summit of Mount Sanctimony. The atmosphere at that height is often too rarefied for healthful respiration and cerebration. Better now to walk the meadows of humility where we can search for ways to re-instill concord and harmony to our proceedings.

Were Judge Alito to be confirmed with unanimity, would it not reflect great honor on the Judiciary Committee? Would it not be well for him to assume his office auspiciously? And not incidentally, would it not allow those who have opposed him to acquire some well earned political equity?

How we seniors yearn to see the members of Congress assiduously seek and respect each other’s counsel. Who among us doesn’t know that a diversity of well-reasoned views can be an inexhaustible mother lode of wisdom? And to our dismay, do we not also know that if we persist in erecting unbreachable walls between us, we will remain helplessly and tragically isolated from each other.

Allow me to close by paraphrasing a time-honored aphorism: Judge not with personal bias or animosity, lest ye too be judged, injudiciously.

Respectfully,

The Horn

Addendum: If any of our readers have access to members of the committee, please direct this letter to their attention. Thank you.

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I simply wanted to say that I didn't forget about your blog. Your responses to my questions/comments were greatly appreciated and I apologize for not responding sooner.By the way, your comments on the confirmation of Judge Alito are insightful. I happened to catch a lot of the interrogation process and was absolutely appalled by the conduct of some members of the judiciary committee. I believe that Judge Alito handled himself well and rose above the partisan politics of the committee.You are correct. It is now simply time for reconciliation.Thank you again for all of your insight. ~ Lindsey Russell

Papa,

Ray and I just read your blog about abortion. We just had a lengthy conversation about this while dining with friends. We couldn't agree with you more. It is unconscionable to me that these Zealots can protect trees and animals, but can't defend the poor innocent babies that are being disposed of like the Monday morning trash. Listening to some of the questions and comments that the democratic senators have addressed to Judge Alito, makes me crazy because when it comes down to it one of the biggest problems democrats have with conservatives is the stance on Abortion. I too, don't think it should be under the government's domain either. If someone has an abortion, that decision MUST lie solely with their own consciences and at their own expense. ~ Elaine Connery

1.24.05 In a party line vote today, the committee approved sending Judge Alito's nomination to the full senate. The democrats are being shamefully acrimonious and politically shortsighted in this process. Notwithstanding that they are waning in influence and diminishing in numbers, they are continuing to self destruct. Inevitably, the living fetus will one day be recognized as a human person and feticide will be deemed a capital crime, except perhaps when it is declared to be medically necessary. ~ Dom Gabriele

Howdy blows the Horn

"Thought and Humor" Howdy, a blog of great note, is read by very many people. Its author visited us and left this ponderous but very contemplative comment (Job?). As you can see, the good Doctor Howdy is the soul of wit and wisdom, but not brevity. I urge you to visit his blog, it will amaze you.

http://howdyhumor.blogspot.com

"Who is this who darkens counsel by words, but without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Who determined its measurements? Surely, you know who stretched the line upon it. To what were its foundations fastened? Who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst forth and issued from the womb and who made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band? When did I fix My limit for it and set bars and doors? When did I say, 'This far you may come, no farther!'

Tell me, have you commanded the morning since your days began? Have you caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth and the wicked be shaken out of it? It takes on form like clay under a seal and stands out like a garment. Their light is withheld from the wicked and the upraised arm is broken.

Have you entered the springs of the sea? Have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this. Where is the way to the dwelling of light and darkness? Where is its place, that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home?

Do you know it, because you were born then or because the number of your days is great? Have you entered the treasury of snow? Have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? By what way is light diffused and the east wind scattered over the earth? Who divided a channel for the overflowing water, a path for the thunderbolt? Who has caused it to rain on land where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man, to satisfy the desolate waste and cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass? Has the rain a father? Who has begotten the drops of dew? From whence comes the ice and the frost of heaven? Who gives it birth?

The waters harden like stone and the surface of the deep is frozen. Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that an abundance of water may cover you? Can you send out lightnings, that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are!'? Who has put wisdom in the mind? Who has given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Who can pour out the bottles of heaven when the dust hardens in clumps and the clods cling together?

Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens, or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God and wander about for lack of food?

Best Wishes,
Dr. Howdy
P.S. You have a riveting weblog and undoubtedly must have atypical & quiescent potential for your intended readership.

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Thank you Dr. Howdy and a weighty Amen I say to you ~ The Horn.

Kia Ora (Hello) & Happy New Year from a blogger down under in New Zealand. I was surfing the blog waters, when your blog "surfaced" so I weighed anchor to check for barnacles !!! Smooth as a baby's ...!!! In other words a great vessel, so can I mention "Ark Angel" on one of my vessels - 21 21 21 Blogs ??? ~ Kelvin (New Zealand)

Please do and thank you Kelvin for that gentle pat on my butt ~ The Horn

Roe v. Wade

<< What Roe Sanctions >>

Rip from womb, chop chop chop, stash in trash

Why does abortion hold such a “don’t disturb” status in our country? It is especially puzzling, since most polls have shown that a majority of our people are actually pro-life. The Roe v. Wade decision, made 33 years ago, is now a much disputed keystone law in our land.

In March of 1857, Dred Scott, a slave who had been brought into a "Free Territory" was denied freedom by the U.S. Supreme Court. In its decerebrate decision, it declared that "Negroes, being of an inferior order" could not qualify to become American citizens. The Civil War followed and in 1863 Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves. He had no constitutional qualms about superseding a judiciary act. Indeed, he had already suspended Habeas Corpus! But then, that was Lincoln, whom history treats with far greater reverence than did his countless number of critics (including The New York Times).

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court heard Roe versus Wade. After much circumlocution as to "if" and "when" the animate fetus is human (even Pythagorean philosophy was cited) the Court sided with the woman and distanced itself from the fetus. But it declared that at the very worst, if feticide were to be viewed as a crime, it would be classified as a "misprision" (a non-punitive misdemeanor). Incidentally, Rehnquist sat on that court and he dissented. (On close inspection, the premises of Dred and Roe do not appear to be too dissimilar)

The abortion issue has become so supercharged politically that rational discourse between people and parties of opposing points of view is currently impossible and our nation suffers. But now that contraception is more effective, no woman need enter into an unwanted or "inconvenient" pregnancy. Therefore, why do we not officially declare what inevitably we must all accept, that fetuses are not subhuman. They are budding persons endowed with legitimate constitutional rights. If an abortion is required, let it be on morally sound and medically appropriate grounds.

Democrats have painted themselves into a corner on this issue. They wear Roe like an albatross around their necks. While they dare not alienate themselves from their myriad activist groups, their appeal to their voting base is eroding. Whereas this party has always risen compassionately to the defense of the weak, the poor, the underprivileged and the endangered, their manifest indifference to the dismemberment of a fetus being torn from the womb of a pregnant woman is paradoxical. And it is becoming more difficult to justify it to their constituency.

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Papa,

Ray and I just read your blog about abortion. We just had a lengthy conversation about this while dining with friends. We couldn't agree with you more. It is unconscionable to me that these Zealots can protect trees and animals, but can't defend the poor innocent babies that are being disposed of like the Monday morning trash. Listening to some of the questions and comments that the democratic senators have addressed to Judge Alito, makes me crazy because when it comes down to it one of the biggest problems democrats have with conservatives is the stance on Abortion. I don't think it should be under the government's domain either. If someone has an abortion, that decision MUST lie solely with their own consciences and at their own expense. ~ Elaine Connery

I fully agree with your entry. As a 25 year old woman unable to have children and as someone who has grown up with examples of adoption all around her, I fail to understand why the option of adoption isn't more discussed in our culture. While I don't believe that it is the right solution in every case, I believe a lot more emphasis could be placed on adoption.As for abortion, I simply don't understand how anyone could make that decision, unless in the extreme case in which the life of the mother hangs in the balance.Thank you for yet another thought provoking entry. ~ Lindsey Russell

Allah listens !

Allah! You hear what the jihadists are saying and you can clearly see what they are doing. Are they not taking your name in vain? Can they be persuaded to pursue peace instead of mayhem? Would it not help if you could stifle and enlighten that malevolent president of Iran and his misguided Mullah supporters? Would it be a mortal sin for Islam to shed one tear of compassion for Ariel Sharon, who is striving to live in peace with Palestine?

But we do know that when God is wroth, carnage may follow, and with a power that Satan himself cannot unleash. It frightens us! If we, as individuals are sent to hell, so be it, our fate will be deserved. But dear God, if by good fortune, we find ourselves in heaven, do we have your assurance that we will always be safe and serene in your presence?

Alito is not on Allah's agenda: It is sad to see nominee Sam Alito being relegated to limbo, and all in the name of "Roe v. Wade" Democrats, including that venerable senator from Chappaquidick, along with their vociferous abettors and certain virulent elements of the left wing media, have already prejudged and condemned him. He has been packaged and prepared for disposal, before the Judiciary Committee has asked him one question. Hearken to the past: Is this the court of Pontius Pilate, we see reconvening? Are Alito's adversaries a sort of latter day Sanhedrin trying once again to rid itself of a "noxious and unsettling" force?

Hanging in

As ancient mariners used to say, "We're stemmin' the tide!" We're flushing and filling our ballast tanks as fast as we can and we're bailing our leaky canoe as we anxiously paddle upstream.

Ah, the vicissitudes of age! Pains, aches and those lingering effects of injuries! Please God, be merciful! Nan's steps and mine are shorter and our pace is slower, but most distressful is our waning ability to cerebrate as we used to. Our lapses of memory cause us agonizing crises of confidence. But thus is the saga of life writ!

Yet all is not dismay and despair. As time passes, some of our discomforts do ease. With diet and doable exercise we manage to keep reasonably active and limber. No matter the weather, we try to walk a mile or two of our hills every day. But it’s our loss of mental capacity that has us worried. As Poirot says, those little gray cells in the brain need much attention.

Blogging has been a revelation for me. To keep a diary is a truly effective mental discipline; but blogs are something else. Writing posts on different subjects (many of a personal nature) makes probing the past, examining the present and looking into the future, indescribably stimulating. And because The Horn is being visited and commented upon by surfers all over the world. it adds much indeed to the fascination of computing.

While Lenore does dabble at the computer, she and I keep up with our reading and we especially enjoy doing crossword puzzles, together. But now that we are treading knee-deep into Sudoku, we can feel our dormant gray cells coming back to life. How addictive and refreshing is this new Japanese creation! Because it can be approached at different stages of difficulty, it is uniquely challenging. And an added feature is that it can be self-taught at very early entry levels. Who knows, Sudoku may be a new and effective way to stem the erosions of age! Quien sabe?

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Hello Dom - you look like a shrink. You look like MY shrink, to be more specific. I have ten or more blogs now and I find some of them to be cathartic, some a forum for my whining and others to show off to others how talented a photographer I am. I have two shock blogs that keep me entertained in the deep nighttime. I have not yet figured out Sudoku. I have a version of it on my Palm Tungsten T5. Your blog is cool ~ Judy Simon

Thank you Judy for aiming your lens on this subject. You ought to try the downloadable Sudoku Challenge. It makes doing the puzzle more user friendly.You can also use it to print puzzles on a large enough format to make the deciphering process easier. Try it, you'll like it ~ Dom Gabriele

Papa, I have to say I tried Sudoku and now I'm hooked. I have been playing it all week. It is really lots of fun and a real challenge ~ Elaine Connery

Happy New Year