Two big events since my last column were that State of the Union speech and Superbowl XXXVI. Most vivid from the first was GW's "axis of evil" expression for Iraq, Iran and N.Korea. It brought back memories from WW II when we called Germany and it's allies "The Axis Powers." That carried about as much evil as any words in use back then. I know the earth turns on it's axis, but just hearing it used again for evil brought a chilling question to my mind: "Could these Islamic radicals be as utterly depraved and dangerous as those Facists and Nazis were then?" Not even International Communism had ever slid to such depths of wickedness in all those subsequent years of the Cold War. But here we are again facing an ultimate monster of human depravity, this international terrorism, via al-Qaeda with a record increase in our federal defense budget. And how elusive ObL has been. It seems incomprehensible that he's still alive, though that's what military experts believe. And some are predicting another attack even worse than 9/11, most likely nuclear or on our nuclear power plants. Then there was an earthquake abroad in Turkey and the continued Enron and K-Mart mess here at home. Yet both were happily drown out Sunday night by the big game in the Big Easy. That tie breaking field goal that gave it to the New England Patriots instead of the St.Louis Rams was an exciting climax. The Patriots had been considered underdogs, but they led for most of the game and finally kicked the winning three points. Niece and I got back from church in time to see the last half, though neither of us cared much who won; only that it stay secure from suicide bombers. I just link the SB to '67 when Israel regained control of Jerusalem, the same year these national football games began. So just as negotiations seem so blocked with the Palestinians again, maybe heaven's shalom can score before an overtime. An overtime's never yet been played during Superbowl history and never can be in the Middle East either, because warfare there is finally over when Christ returns: King of kings and Lord of lords. In Revelation we see that He comes from heaven on a white horse with His mounted but weaponless army following. He alone is armed with the sword of truth to conquer. Right now our next global attraction will be the Winter World Olympics starting Friday at Salt Lake City, where security will be strongest yet because ObL's grand finalle could take place out there, GOD forbid! Or do you recall the scandal about how SLC was chosen? That seems to have been forgotten as the Latter Day Saints use our media expertly to project such a wholesome, family friendly image. In the meantime, Democratic critics are trying to link president Bush with Enron's collapse. Now how would he have let it happen if he'd been tied to them as they contend. Getting no favors from the White House is what helped bring it about, as I see the debacle. I'm neither a Republican or Democrat, though I've been both in past years. Now-a-days I pray for GW and try to have a "fair and balanced" view of events, just as I seek in the Arab/Israeli gap that splits current world affairs; though terrorism sure looses any decent person's sympathy in a hurry. And that ship load of weapons on the way to Arafat from Iran also wiped out still more of what was left here in the USA.
Say, the art for Brickfest this year looks like old folks: that famous work of Norman Collier. I guess Kevin Stark has become infatuated with us because of his cartoon strip, "Geezer." Besides the aged superman, there's a young wonderdog now in it too; plus some old gal making a play for the hero himself. After reading the obits, I always turn to read Geezer. And I'm excited about that Toy Museum that Pauls Valley is to have eventually. A general that I see on TV telling us what weapons are being used in the war is one named Paul Valley. Wouldn't it be great to get him here when that toy museum opens? Talking about toys could be such a change for him, and a happier one I'm sure. And the whole nation would perhaps listen, enjoying the switch. I'm glad that half our Feb.16 6pm Rotary Cajun Feast and Auction profits are going toward the museum.
What a windy night it was. The moaning outside my window kept waking me up again and again. I felt sometimes that the wind was trying to say something: "Events are mounting to an all time crisis! You'd better not be asleep when the hour arrives!!" Then I lay awake and try to discern just where history is headed. The ice storm in central Oklahoma was worse than ours in this area a year ago, and weather seems to grow more devastating each year: earth quakes in the Congo and Turkey and now flooding of Indonesia. It was gratifying to see a turn toward our Maker after 9/11, but that seems to be fading some now. The world goes back to it's Godlessness all too fast. So weather has to shake us out of our easy life. Yet, we still don't have the militant atheism of USSR days. Now it's a more subtle "non-theistic" outlook that considers religious issues irrelevant. In fact, everyone recoils from the overkill in fanatic religion, though we keep hearing that this isn't an attack of Islam on the West. Looking only at the Israeli/Palestinian battles, it would seem to be just that. Of course some facts have to be kept hidden for political reasons i.e. we don't want the whole Arab and Muslim world turned against us. So let's support our president's necessary claims about the ostensible reasons for this conflict. And Angelfire's glad to have discovered that it's causing some Muslims to question the Koran and Islam in general. We've been lead to believe that the Muslim faith was surging in size to formidable numbers, even surpassing Christianity. But reasonable observers can surely doubt that. Muhammad just wasn't a very noble figure in history, and he was Prophet for a new religions rather than a Son of the Most High offering the Kingdom. I read where that God Squad in NYC gave Islam high marks for being "not just a good religion, but a great one. That's the opinion of a Rabbi and Priest, but certainly not mine. Just because their numbers are so large, it doesn't imply greatness (except great size). But so are the Mormons now-a-days. Does that make them a great church? I say not at all. Cult leaders can draw huge followings and that doesn't make them right. They become dangerous instead. Muhammad's cult just happened to engulf the whole Arab people, then neighboring nations. And assassinaltions, suicides (martyrdom) jehads have followed. If only he'd pointed to Jesus and the Christ of GOD instead of claiming to be Allah's true spokesman himself. I wonder if he exploited an ethnic resentment toward Jews who alaimed Isaac as their ancestor by pointing to Ishmael for the Arab link to father Abraham. That way Islam tries to outdo even the Israelites in being religious. And the Christians are seen as an offspring of Judaism, both being preliminary to the all conquering faith of Islam.