Once again terrorism has been moved to the forefront of everyone’s mind. And once again, its contrast with everything that is good and right and decent in the World has been brought into razor-sharp focus. The blasts in London were apparently timed to coincide with the G-8 summit less than 500 miles away. Leaders of the sane portion of the world were meeting to discuss ways to alleviate misery in places like Africa where poverty is rampant. The G8 members issued a statement, a potion of which reads: “We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks…Those responsible have no respect for human life. …[This] is not an attack on one nation, but on all nations and on civilised (sic) people everywhere.” In a separate statement, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, “It is particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa, and the long term problems of climate change and the environment.” The terrorist’s targets were the civilized, economically developed countries of the world. But by staging such an attack, they placed themselves atop the discussion agenda at the G8 summit, effectively removing from the table aid for Africa and in so doing, may have hurt some of the very people they rail against the civilized world for ignoring. But then again, who really believes Islamo-fascist terrorists have any agenda other than to maim, kill and destroy as many innocent people as possible?  

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive," wrote Sir Walter Scott. In light of the Supreme Court's recent split decision on the right to display the Ten Commandments, ponder this: The irony of Martha Stewart’s four convictions is that she was found guilty of trying to cover up a crime for which she was never charged. The charges she was convicted of were conspiracy, two counts of making false statements and obstructing justice. Not included was the charge of insider trading—selling her shares of ImClone based on information that was not at the time known to the general public. Ostensibly, Stewart was convicted of lying - of breaking the Ninth Commandment, which along with the other nine are no longer allowed to be displayed in some courtrooms. Confused? Imagine how confused Martha Stewart and Bill Clinton must be. The former president was charged with “willfully provid[ing] perjurious, false and misleading testimony to the grand jury.” 

“Ban cell phone use from automobiles? Get serious. If cell phones are banned, that will just be the beginning." I wrote that over 5 years ago in a column entitled, “Cell phones in cars are the least of our worries.” But now I am not so sure. No, I haven't been involved in an accident with a driver who was on his (or her) cell phone. But I am an observant motorist and I can't help but notice how brain dead people act when they are talking on the phone while operating a motor vehicle at the same time. People have become obsessed with talking on their cell phones.  What did we do before their advent? Is it that we are lonely? Bored? Or so loquacious that we cannot shut-up for one hour? After 5 years, I have changed my mind. Ban them from automobiles, hands free or not.

The complete story of the adoption of his first daughter, Wu Min Jian appears in Rummo's second book, “The View from the Grass Roots—Another Look.” It's 536 pages of sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant and almost always provocative commentary on American Culture. $14.95 shipping and handling included. Click here for more information.

Andrew Sullivan - puleeeze, can't we all just ignore this guy! It's like repeatedly quoting The New York Times. Who cares? - While condemning the hubris of James Dobson, gushes over Billy Graham, writing: "His refusal to meld his religion with a political ideology is now an anachronism, as contemporary Christianism has fused with a political party in condemnatory bitterness." The main error made by those quick to decry an American Christian-political amalgam is ignorance about the intentions of the Founding Fathers. Certainly they did not want a Theocracy, the oft-cited hyperbolic criticism by the Irreligious Left in America when they condemn the Religious Right for their political involvement. But the Founders most certainly did want Christianity to inform and influence public policy.

The AP reported on June 29 that the economy grew by 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2005, "a performance that was better than previously thought and a fresh sign the expansion is on firm footing." The American economy is a cycle based largely on consumerism. People spend their money on things which necessitates more things being produced, which means manufacturers have to hire more people to make more things. This results in the unemployment rate dropping, the GDP rising, more taxes paid to the government and everyone having more money to buy more things. This in turn generates confidence about the long-term economic prospects which makes people celebrate and, well...buy more things. When hand-wringing Democrats whine about the state of the US economy, they hope to break in at the only stage of the cycle they can. If they can keep up the negative rhetoric long enough, and have it affect enough people, then those people may decide it's time to pull in their horns, stop buying so many things and, well...you get the idea. n

Rummo’s blog may be accessed from his homepage, GregRummo.com