Archive for 2008

Cohabitation – still just shacking up

It’s called cohabitation, the progressive, enlightened, and politically correct term for old-fashioned shacking up.  The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reports that “cohabitation, once rare, is now the norm.”  Roughly 10% of couples living together are not married.  It used to be wrong, discussed in whispers.  Our mothers would point to those […]

We need to return to a citizen government

Our Founding Fathers believed serving as President or in Congress was a duty to country, a sacrifice for country, a calling. They did not anticipate Congress becoming a career choice with members subservient to the power of the incumbency and the money it attracts. Rather, the Founding Fathers intended a weak federal government, subservient to much […]

The power of advertising prescription medications

Traditionally, pharmaceutical advertising has focused on advertisements in medical journals and sending representatives to meet with individual physicians.  During the last ten years, their advertising has increased over four-fold and they have also added direct to consumer advertising (DTCA).  According to Emergency Medical Abstracts, only the United States and New Zealand allow DTCA.  Is there […]

Remembering Pfc. Joseph Dwyer

Our country has a large group of people who hope we never go to war. No, they are not the people disparaging our military; rather, they are our military personnel. Our military is full of reluctant warriors who understand better than anyone the travesty of war. They know the price to be paid; but, unlike […]

“The right of the people to keep and bear arms”

The Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” As most of us now know, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that the Second Amendment right of an individual to “keep […]

“We hold these truths to be self-evident” – July 4th

The birth of a nation, the realization of a dream, an eloquently simple statement:  “We hold these truths to be self-evident.”  During June and July 1776, the Continental Congress was debating the future of the Colonies.  King George III continued his abuse of the Colonies with over a year of armed conflicts between the British […]

Civility in presidential politics

Will civility ever return to presidential campaigns?  Is it reasonable to hope for respectful debating?  Or, are we obliged to accept the mudslinging as a given in politics?  What would our founding fathers think if they were to witness one of today’s presidential campaigns?  Would they be impressed or would they be embarrassed?  Can we […]

Use as intended and die

Imagine selling a product that kills the consumer if they use it as intended.  Then imagine convincing our government to allow it to remain legal.  It is a one of a kind product, legal and if used appropriately, lethal.  It is cigarettes.  We have other products available to us that would kill us if we […]

Of elephants, prisons, and fathers – FATHER’S DAY

Several years ago, our pastor told a story about a men’s prison that provided free Mother’s Day cards to inmates who wanted to send cards to their moms. Nearly all the inmates asked for a card and sent to someone they identified as “mom.” It may have been their mom, someone else’s mom, their grandmother, […]

Who takes the risk and pays for our choices?

On June 6, 2006, a tragic accident occurred during a little league baseball game.  The 14-year-old pitcher was hit in the chest by a line drive off a metal bat. Unbelievably, when the ball struck the young man’s chest, his heart went into ventricular fibrillation, a rhythm incompatible with life.  He remained in this rhythm […]

Taps for the fallen brave – MEMORIAL DAY

Today we remember those who died in our nation’s service. Today we proudly display the American flag, a small flag in the living room window or a huge flag on a flagpole, the size is irrelevant. The flag is flown at half-staff until noon to honor the fallen brave, and then flown at full staff […]

What to do about illegal aliens?

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is challenging a federal government plan to use the Social Security Administration’s “no match” rule to crack down on illegal aliens.  Currently they send “no match” letters to employers who have more than 10 employees with a mismatch between their name and their social security number. Previously, there were no incentives […]

Science or religion – must we choose?

A thank-you to mom for all she did – MOTHER’S DAY

The Sunday is Mother’s Day.   I would like to remember my mom, the woman dad often referred to as ‘Mother,’ rather than by her name, Alice.  He used the term ‘Mother’ when he was referring to her with admiration and respect.     Recalling my childhood, I can now appreciate how difficult those years were for us, […]

Intelligent design or random chance?

Is it one or the other?  Don’t ask me to give up my faith.  Don’t ask me to give up my science.  Who’s right?  Who’s wrong?  What did Darwin say about evolution, about random chance?  What does the Bible say about intelligent design, about God? I refer to the Bible because that is my faith.  […]

Should America boycott Beijing?

August 8th is the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.  This Olympics will open with controversy, just as have some earlier Olympics.  The controversy surrounding this Olympics is the ongoing human rights violations attributed to China.  Political dissidents in China often face imprisonment, torture, or even death.  There is escalating violence […]

Virginia Tech, one year later

April 16, 2008 is the first anniversary of the 32 people murdered on the Virginia Tech campus.  The state of Virginia has reached a legal settlement with most victims’ families.  The reactions to this settlement, the ongoing evaluations of what occurred that day, and the many assertions of who is to blame for the tragedy […]

“A brother’s a brother”

I recently made each of my three brothers a gift, an irregularly shaped piece of three-quarter inch thick walnut about seven inches square, with a two-inch by six-inch brass plaque.  In front of the plaque sits a metal scale model 1996 John Deere riding lawn mower and four small sticks tied in a bundle.  I […]

How dare ‘Juno’ make a choice

My wife and I recently saw a movie that was delightful and comforting, with a surprisingly politically incorrect choice.  Juno, a high school girl, gets pregnant and immediately wants a “quickie abortion.”  Approaching the abortion clinic, she interacts with a girl picketing the clinic.  She then goes into the clinic but changes her mind and […]

Introduction to men and women

I am approaching thirty years in our emergency room.  I am not sure I can any longer recall patients I have seen, the histories I have taken.  Some histories are fascinating, some adding to my life education knowledge I never needed to know. The one constant that has remained throughout these years is that men […]