Let the Sunshine In -- Through Letters

Whitman once wrote, "The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity."

As promised yesterday, I'm giving you some samples of the "simple sunshine" passed on to politicians, diplomats and business leaders which were written at Monday evening's P.A.L. Night party. The first two are from Carol Coppi. They deal, respectively, with Mexico's President harshly condemning Arizona's new immigration law and the Elena Kagan nomination to the Supreme Court.

Dear President Obama,

I appreciate the dinners that you give for foreign dignitaries. The attention to detail and hospitality reflects well on you and our nation. However, I must take exception to the behavior of your guest, President Felipe Calderon. What insulting behavior, to lecture the U.S. about our immigration policies. The absolute nerve! How did you stand it?

Please remember that visitors do not have the right to trash America. I expect you to defend the country that has given you the highest office of the land.

Sincerely,
Carol Coppi
Tea Party person and military wife
(Copy sent to President Felipe Calderon)

Dear Senator Nelson,

I am concerned about the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court.

I understand she was instrumental in banning ROTC from recruiting at Harvard. This shows a profound disregard for our military and the Constitution. It concerns me that the court is being “packed” to reflect women and minorities.

Please consider judicial experience, Constitutional soundness and reject “political correctness” when confirming a Supreme Court judge. Kagan is just not qualified.

Sincerely,
Carol Coppi, artist
(Copy sent to D.C. office)

Also among the letter targets we offered the other night was the despicable practice of Iowa Planned Parenthood dispensing the dangerous abortifacient drug RU-486 by a remote control process in which the physician doesn't even see the patient! Here's Claire's letter to the Executive Director of the Iowa Board of Medicine.

Mr. Bowden,

I would like to encourage you to please take a hard look at Planned Parenthood’s distribution of RU-486. On their website, they have detailed the procedure of a client watching a video and then pressing a button to get her RU-486. The client doesn’t personally see the doctor even though she is being given a powerful drug that will kill her unborn baby and may cause her serious harm! This seems most unethical and unsafe.

Please take the time as the Executive Director of the Iowa Board of Medicine to look into this. Women need to be safe and you must make sure Planned Parenthood of Iowa is not breaking the law.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Mrs. Claire Hartford

And one more for today. It also is from Claire and concerns the new cartoon series from Comedy Central that blasphemously ridicules Jesus Christ. She sent it Viacom.

To Whom It May Concern:

Since I couldn’t find a direct address for Comedy Central, I am sending this note to you, their parent company, to protest your new cartoon series which mocks Jesus. Now really…do you want to go down this path? There are so many subjects for positive, wholesome comedy -- so why the sophomoric and profane desire to ridicule what the world so desperately needs to take seriously; namely, the love and righteousness offered by Jesus Christ?

You well know that there are still a large number of people in this country who will not watch (or allow their children to watch) such a program. And those people are consumers who are increasingly tuned in to companies that go out of their way to be offensive. So don't go there. Don't do something that is not only mean-spirited but dumb by offending Christians and many following other religious faiths. Pull the program, please.

Thank you.
Mrs. Claire Hartford,
Co-Director, Vital Signs Ministries

Those with Jobs Foot the Bill for Creative Spirits Who Refuse to Be "Job-Locked"

There's good news for creative-types who would rather strum a guitar or make abstract iron sculptures or hang out waiting to be discovered as an actor/model/celebrity instead of, well...working.

Take it straight from Nancy Pelosi, ""We see it [the Democrat health care law] as an entrepreneurial bill, a bill that says to someone, if you want to be creative and be a musician or whatever, you can leave your work, focus on your talent, your skill, your passion, your aspirations because you will have health care. You don't have to be job-locked"

Today's Posts

The Pens Were Smokin'

Clint Didier Has a Game Plan for Washington

Growing Old Can Be Dangerous (And Lonely)

Ray Stevens Is Winning A Bunch of New Fans

The Pens Were Smokin'

After beginning the evening in prayer, the Vital Signs team members who had assembled for last night's P.A.L. Night (Prayer, Action and Letters) watched this 5-minute video clip for a few helpful pointers. True, everyone there was a letter-writing veteran but the clip is a very effective inspiration and help.

Then they read through this introduction to the evening's work:

The action targets for tonight's P.A.L. Night? Take your pick.

For starters, how about contacting your U.S. Senators about the Elena Kagan nomination to the Supreme Court? Or American Idol once again deciding to funnel large amounts of money to organizations that aggressively promote abortion? Perhaps you'd prefer to begin with some letters to the diplomats of countries with a particularly grievous record of persecuting Christians? We've got the embassy addresses for the worst of the worst.

Maybe you never heard a reply from your last letter to the Nebraska Attorney General about his office investigating charges against notorious abortionist Leroy Carhart. If not, it's probably time for a follow up. And have you written lately to remind your political representatives your opinions about ENDA or the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" or the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy?

For those of you who follow Vital Signs Blog, you know there's plenty of other situations that could use our prayers and our polite but principled letters. Those would include Comedy Central's plans for a mean-spirited cartoon series which blasphemes Jesus Christ. But others involve the leftward leanings of the National Association of Evangelicals (a group which just might be receiving some of the money you put in the offering plate at your own church), the effrontery (and stone cold hypocrisy) of Mexico's President criticizing a legitimate law of one of the states while a guest of our country, and any one of a number of stunts pulled by our own President Obama.

But that's not all. What about a few thank-you notes to some of the conservative columnists you regularly read or to some of our political representatives for the bold actions of fiscal restraint, patriotism and pro-life commitment that they've taken in recent weeks?

There's also new wickedness afoot from Planned Parenthood, new schemes from Washington liberals to steal more of your money and personal liberty, and new moves by Team Obama to weaken national security.

Oh yeah, it's time for a few prayers (make that a lot of prayers!) and a few handwritten letters.

Let's get started.

And start they did! In fact, the pens were smoking! And by the time we stopped for ice cream two hours later, those 6 letter-writers had 67 letters ready for sending out! They included letters to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer; Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman; Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns; Congressmen Lee Terry, Jeff Fortenberry, Tom McClintock and several others; State Senator Tanya Cook and Charlie Janssen; the Iowa and Nebraska Medical Boards; Attorney General Jon Bruning; Viacom; American Idol; President Barack Obama; Mexico President Felipe Calderon; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; and a dozen ambassadors of foreign countries whose records on human rights has been despicable.

67 letters from a principled, polite and very productive group -- great job, guys!

Of course, you can be a part of this kind of significant effort too.

Vital Signs Ministries hosts frequent P.A.L.Nights like this and you are always cordially invited to be a part. Just give us a call for info on the next one. You can also use the information you receive from places like Vital Signs Blog to be a "shiner" instead of a mere "whiner" and write letters on your own -- or, better still, with a few friends or family members. (As an example, I've always thought advocacy letter-writing should be a staple of home school education.)

There are letter-writing tips right here at the Vital Signs Ministries web site and feel free to use the address sheet we used last night. You'll find it right here.

So go on and write a few letters. It does a lot more good than just complaining. In fact, as that Omar Ahmad clip reveals, it does a lot more good than you think!

By the way, over the next few days I'll post a sampling of the letters written last night. They may give you an added bit of oomph to write a few yourself.

Clint Didier Has a Game Plan for Washington

No wonder this potato farmer and former Washington Redskins NFL tight end got Sarah Palin's endorsement for the U.S. Senate!



From the web site of Clint Didier for Senate:

I’m running for the U. S. Senate because I will not stand by and watch the future of our children be squandered by those who have lost respect for the fruits of the people’s labor – those who arrogantly believe they know how to spend your money better than you.

Many would have you believe it’s so complicated we need experienced politicians to lead us. However, that belief causes us to keep re-electing career politicians who soak up the perks and privileges. Meanwhile our freedoms shrink, our tax burden increases and the American Dream fades. It is true; I have no experience in public office. Haven’t we elected enough “experience”? Is it working for us?

I’m running as a Republican only because I believe in the tenets of the GOP platform. But, make no mistake, I’m fully aware existing Republican leadership has failed to lead and has given us much of the same as the Democrats.

It’s not about party; it’s about principles and convictions. What do you gain if you elect someone with all the right rhetoric, but lacks the courage to carry out his, or her, convictions? I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe and speak out when I see things are going the wrong way...

I am pro-life – from conception until natural death. Our Declaration of Independence states our inalienable rights are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: and “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men…” Therefore, it is the express job of government to protect all innocent human life. Taking a public policy position otherwise leaves all lives in jeopardy.

Regarding marriage, I am not willing to throw out 4,000 years of core traditional marriage to assuage the wishes of a few. I believe marriage is between one man and one woman and should remain so for the sake of children and the perpetuation of the traditional family unit.

I believe benevolence and charity belong to our citizens, not government. To believe otherwise, is to assume if government doesn’t do it, neither will the people. I have not seen evidence to support that theory. Americans give to domestic and foreign charities more than any other people in the world.

Here's a Washington Times story with more about Didier's candidacy.

Growing Old Can Be Dangerous (And Lonely)

Mark Early has a very brief but very important exhortation about America's treatment of the elderly in this Breakpoint commentary.

Ray Stevens Is Winning A Bunch of New Fans

You loved Ray Stevens' "Come to the USA" so now enjoy (and pass around) his terrific "Throw the Bums Out" which I embed below. But after watching this great clip, please consider throwing a few kudos Ray's way for producing these creative, funny and punchy songs -- songs that will definitely help fuel the ongoing political reformation.

You can do this by visiting Ray's web site which is full of interesting info and fabulous entertainment. Among the things to consider is the nifty 22-song CD "We the People" which I just bought (along with a couple of other albums). Neat stuff.

Among the 22 songs in the "We the People" album are the title track, Dear Andy Griffith, The Global Warming Song, Fly Over Country, We Are the Government, If 10% Is Good Enough for Jesus, Obama Nation, and, of course, Throw the Bums Out and Come to the USA. Plus a free DVD accompanies each order with the songs We The People, Thank You, Caribou Barbie and Throw The Bums Out on it.

C'mon, you can't lose here. Ray Stevens is a terrific music talent, a very inventive and funny guy and a genuine patriot who is sticking his neck out to bring our country back from the brink. Let's give him our support and, by so doing, enjoy some down-home country humor.

Now check out "Throw the Bums Out."

Today's Posts

Vital Signs Ministries Update

Barack's Muslim Past Confirmed

Public Schools: Get Those Crosses Off or Get Out!

School Choice Championed From a Most Unusual Source

Beware the Hidden Agenda in Those School Anti-Bullying Laws

Secretary Salazar, Call These Guys ASAP

Vital Signs Ministries Update

Excerpts from the latest edition of the Vital Signs Ministries LifeSharer letter:

...Let me begin with a quick recap of the last several weeks. 1) The Omaha World Herald published a pro-life op/ed piece of mine which drew a lot of attention. Historically, the newspaper has been anything but positive to my entries but there has been a few changes at the top there. This was the second op/ed of mine they published in the last couple of years.

2) Several posts from Vital Signs Blog have been picked up by “big blogs” like Lucianne.com, Blogs Lucianne Loves, The Point and others which have not only driven our daily average to over 400 page loads but have created extra “spikes” in traffic that have gone as high as 1900 in one day! Wow.

3) We have begun a new series of P.A.L. Nights where we take advantage of the special punches that a handwritten letter creates. Always fun, always encouraging, and always helpful, these P.A.L. Nights really do make a difference. The next one will be Monday, May 24th at 7:00 P.M. at our place. Please consider joining us.

4) The sidewalk counseling on Monday mornings now involves two shifts: one from 7:30 to 9:15 and the other from 9 to 10:30. That usually allows 4 of us to be present at any time. However, in the summer, we lose two of our regulars. Therefore, any additions to the team would be most welcome.

5) The latest Book It! discussion covered Amity Schlaes’ The Forgotten Man and it was (both the book and the conversation) superb! Next in line is Randy Alcorn’s Money, Possessions and Eternity with the evening discussion scheduled for Monday, June 28th. Give us a call if you’re interested.

6) Our ministry of one-on-one and small group discipleship goes on as usual. For example, since the last LifeSharer, we have hosted nearly a dozen lunches or dinner meetings. And that doesn't count those involving visiting family, the Board meeting, the literary club, etc.

7) As I’ve mentioned before, we have seen a revitalization of our Mercy Ministries with our frequent visits to the nursing home where my Mom lives. We’ve made many friends with both residents and staff and we’ve really enjoyed developing those relationships. Whenever I’m there, I “work the rooms” a while which seems to be warmly appreciated by all though not as much, I must confess, as Claire’s frequent donation of cookies are! Other Vital Signs team members engaged in regular nursing home visits (that we know of) are Keith and Carol Moran, Quint Coppi, and Ruth Denzler.

8) I was honored to fill in for a friend when he needed a “substitute teacher” for a couple of his Old Testament classes at Grace University. But I had to hit the books for a few hours to be ready for whatever they might throw at me. It went very well.

9) We’ve had some intriguing correspondence in recent weeks from all over the country and from a few more far-flung places like Norway, Belarus, England and the Philippines.

10) Steve Young is nearing completion of his renovations of the official Vital Signs Ministries web site. It looks cool now but it will be even better when he launches the new one. Moreover, the site will also be more comprehensive (incorporating much of what is now on individual blogs), more interactive, more user-friendly and, probably most important of all, more Claire-friendly! That last bit means that Claire will be better able to add, subtract and otherwise regularly maintain the site...

Read the rest of the LifeSharer letter right here.

Barack's Muslim Past Confirmed

If you want to see a liberal pundit go ballistic, raise the matter of Barack Obama's being (at least for a time in his past) a Muslim. The explosive ire that results will not bring any facts to the question. But that isn't considered necessary. The virulence of the resultant outrage is, by itself, designed to end all speculation.

And if that doesn't do the trick, there's always obfuscation, distortion, outright lies, ridicule, and the alarming incredulity that the Mystery President (see last week's post) isn't believed on his mere say-so. How dare you question...HIM?

But some facts do out, despite the best efforts of Obama's pals in the press to keep them buried. Like the ones Daniel Pipes first brought up in January 0f 2008 in this illuminating article: Confirmed: Barack Obama Practiced Islam.

Public Schools: Get Those Crosses Off or Get Out!

When it comes to fashion statements allowed by government schools, we know that Che Guevara, droopy pants, death-head tattoos, Barack Obama, gangsta rap shirts, cleavage and gaudy bling are generally okay.

But American flags, pro-life statements and Jesus T-shirts? You gotta' be kidding -- modern tolerance refuses to stretch to the right.

Now a Fox radio report describes how religious jewelry is next on the taboo list.

For instance, a New York middle-schooler was recently kicked out of school for wearing a rosary in honor of his brother killed in a car accident and an uncle who died from cancer. And a Texas 8th grader had his braided cross necklace (worn in memory of a soldier friend who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq) confiscated by a school official. Why? Because it looked like a rosary!

How long does this kind of thing go on before American citizens demand a return by school administrators to civility, genuine tolerance and common sense. And how long before American parents start to finally remove their children from a system that is educationally ineffectual, physically dangerous and morally corrupt?

School Choice Championed From a Most Unusual Source

The letter reads like a conservative manifesto both in its honest analysis of the government school's lousy performance and in its rousing call for school voucher programs as one of the ways to help fix the problem.

But it's not from a conservative organization at all. In fact, you're going to very surprised at the letter's origin.

But first -- take a look at some of the specific passages:

"The evidence that our public education system is failing to educate our children is staggering ... high rates of illiteracy, an unacceptable number of high school dropouts and the widening achievement gap between white and minority students merely scratch the surface."

"Despite dramatically increasing the amount of money spent on K-12 education over the past several decades -- per pupil expenditures have increased by 53.6 percent (after adjusting for inflation) -- student performance is abysmal."

The letter goes on to counter the "common myth that school-voucher programs drain financial resources, as well as the best and brightest students from public schools." by showing that "the evidence proves otherwise. Research on voucher programs' effects on the finances of public schools shows that these programs actually save money at both the state and local level. Furthermore, as a recent study by the Brookings Institution indicates, these programs do not 'cream' the best students from the public school system."

But it's not just the liberal Brookings Institution that the letter cites. It refers to nine different studies of the impact of vouchers on public schools and concludes they're all quite positive. "School-choice programs complement public education by spurring the public system, as a result of competition, to perform better. No study has found that school choice makes public schools worse."

Sets forth a pretty good case for school choice, doesn't it? But again, this letter is not from the Heritage Foundation or the Claire Boothe Luce Institute or Focus on the Family.

It comes from the Philadelphia chapter of the Anti-Defamation League!

Could this be the beginning of a sea change on this crucial issue? Cal Thomas thinks it just might be. Check out his intriguing column from the weekend Washington Examiner.

Beware the Hidden Agenda in Those School Anti-Bullying Laws

Parents need to become aware and concerned "that there is a concerted effort to target public schools in every community. Homosexual activists openly acknowledge that this is a top priority. And it's easy to understand why: They realize that if they can capture the hearts and minds of the next generation, they will have settled the debate over the kinds of values that are going to direct the future of this country...

Watch out for initiatives and proposed laws with titles like "safe schools," "student protection" and "bullying or harassment prevention." Many times they are a guise for homosexuality lessons. These initiatives come in the form of everything from teacher training, curriculum, children's books and statewide laws. Also be on the lookout for your school district making alliances with local groups that may just be a front for national homosexual-advocacy organizations...

It's important to understand that this really is a well-orchestrated plan. In fact, as far back as the 1990s, "Safe Schools czar" Kevin Jennings made a speech explaining how he planned to use the word "safety" to put opponents on the defensive. And it is an effective strategy. After all, no one likes to be accused of opposing student safety and bullying prevention.

While those titles sound nice and compassionate, the problem is that, once gay activists succeed in getting special protections for homosexual categories into policies, they then use those mandates as leverage to get what they want in the schools...

It's important to acknowledge the problem, while also promoting the right solution. As Christians, I think we can and should acknowledge that bullying and peer abuse is tragic and wrong — and it should be prohibited. But this can be done without sexualizing and politicizing the entire school environment. Our viewpoint is based on the fact that all human beings are created by God in His image — which means every person has innate dignity and worth. Every individual is worthy of being protected from harm — not because of the political subgroup they belong to — but because they are the unique creation of God. That's why we advocate strong and objective policies that prohibit bullying for any reason against any child. A fair and objective policy should put the emphasis on the wrong actions of the bully — not on the characteristics of the victim..."

(Candi Cushman, education analyst for CitizenLink and organizer of the True Tolerance web site)

Secretary Salazar, Call These Guys ASAP

Looking for some ideas from the private sector to help with the cleanup for the BP oil spill? How 'bout the clean, green proposal from these good ol' boys? Very interesting clip but you may need to turn the volume up to catch everything they say.

Today's Posts

Calderon and Washington's Democrats Got It Despicably Wrong

Push Button Abortion: Part Two

Saudi Woman Beats Up "Islamic Virtues" Cop

Facebook CEO Sees "Privacy" Differently Than You Do

Is There an Intruder in YOUR Computer?

More Condemnation of Cuba's Tyranny (And From an Unexpected Source)

WWII Vet Fights for the Right to Fly the Flag

Calderon and Washington's Democrats Got It Despicably Wrong

Tom McClintock, Republican Congressman representing the 4th District of California, takes exception to the dishonorable (and highly hypocritical) speech by Mexican President Calderon in the House Chamber. McClintock speaks of assimilation, patriotism, the law and the despicable applause given Calderon's harangue by Democrat lawmakers. It's a brief but very good speech. Pass it on.

(Thanks for the alert to Tim Nobles.)

Push Button Abortion: Part Two

Remember the Vital Signs Blog post about Iowa Planned Parenthood's "Push Button Abortion" scheme? Well, not only is the rich abortion organization continuing with that deplorable practice, it looks like they're poised to take it nationwide! Here's the story.

Saudi Woman Beats Up "Islamic Virtues" Cop

It was a scene Saudi women’s rights activists have dreamt of for years.

When a Saudi religious policeman sauntered about an amusement park in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Mubarraz looking for unmarried couples illegally socializing, he probably wasn’t expecting much opposition.

But when he approached a young, 20-something couple meandering through the park together, he received an unprecedented whopping.

A member of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the Saudi religious police known locally as the Hai’a, asked the couple to confirm their identities and relationship to one another, as it is a crime in Saudi Arabia for unmarried men and women to mix.

For unknown reasons, the young man collapsed upon being questioned by the cop.

According to the Saudi daily Okaz, the woman then allegedly laid into the religious policeman, punching him repeatedly, and leaving him to be taken to the hospital with bruises across his body and face.

“To see resistance from a woman means a lot,” Wajiha Al-Huwaidar, a Saudi women’s rights activist, told The Media Line news agency. “People are fed up with these religious police, and now they have to pay the price for the humiliation they put people through for years and years. This is just the beginning and there will be more resistance.”

“The media and the Internet have given people a lot of power and the freedom to express their anger,” she said. “The Hai’a are like a militia, but now whenever they do something it’s all over the Internet. This gives them a horrible reputation and gives people power to react.”

Neither the religious police nor the Eastern Province police has made a statement on the incident, and both the names of the couple and the date of the incident have not been made public, but on Monday the incident was all over the Saudi media.

Should the woman be charged, she could face a lengthy prison term and lashings for assaulting a representative of a government institution.

Saudi law does not permit women to be in public spaces without a male guardian. Women are not allowed to drive, inherit, divorce or gain custody of children, and cannot socialize with unrelated men...

(Jerusalem Post, May 21)

Facebook CEO Sees "Privacy" Differently Than You Do

Of all the ideas that a CEO can have, is the most dangerous one the idea that his main objective should be to generate profits for shareholders?

How about a belief in the idea that your privacy -- the privacy of millions of customers, whose information he holds in the palm of his hand -- just doesn’t matter? That’s roughly what Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg seems to believe...

Dr. Chris MacDonald, professor of philosophy and business ethics, blogs at The Business Ethics Blog. He shares a particularly important insight in this entry, "Facebook and Dangerous Ideas."

Is There an Intruder in YOUR Computer?

At a party a couple of weeks ago I had a talk with a couple of guys who specialize in computer security management for the U.S. government. What they told me about worms, viruses, professional hackers, computer vulnerability and more was scarier than a Hitchcock movie -- and a lot more real.

This Atlantic article served to repeat the experience. Check it out.

Imagine your computer to be a big spaceship, like the starship Enterprise on Star Trek. The ship is so complex and sophisticated that even an experienced commander like Captain James T. Kirk has only a general sense of how every facet of it works. From his wide swivel chair on the bridge, he can order it to fly, maneuver, and fight, but he cannot fully comprehend all its inner workings. The ship contains many complex, interrelated systems, each with its own function and history—systems for, say, guidance, maneuvers, power, air and water, communications, temperature control, weapons, defensive measures, etc. Each system has its own operator, performing routine maintenance, exchanging information, making fine adjustments, keeping it running or ready. When idling or cruising, the ship essentially runs itself without a word from Captain Kirk. It obeys when he issues a command, and then returns to its latent mode, busily doing its own thing until the next time it is needed.

Now imagine a clever invader, an enemy infiltrator, who does understand the inner workings of the ship. He knows it well enough to find a portal with a broken lock overlooked by the ship’s otherwise vigilant defenses—like, say, a flaw in Microsoft’s operating platform. So no one notices when he slips in. He trips no alarm, and then, to prevent another clever invader from exploiting the same weakness, he repairs the broken lock and seals the portal shut behind him. He improves the ship’s defenses. Ensconced securely inside, he silently sets himself up as the ship’s alternate commander. He enlists the various operating functions of the ship to do his bidding, careful to avoid tripping any alarms. Captain Kirk is still up on the bridge in his swivel chair with the magnificent instrument arrays, unaware that he now has a rival in the depths of his ship. The Enterprise continues to perform as it always has. Meanwhile, the invader begins surreptitiously communicating with his own distant commander, letting him know that he is in position and ready, waiting for instructions...