op ed sent to ny times

OP ED ADVICE FROM GRAND PARENTS, TELL THE TRUTH With Washington D.C. now having to deal with issues of I.R.S. problems and probing questions of impropriety, Associated Press inappropriate reporter interrogation and intimidation, Benghazi truth examination in Congressional forums, and even additional unanswered questions, the elevation of truthfulness is paramount if America is to once again enjoy effectiveness and credibility on a global stage. Truth seeking is the only right answer if we truly desire to eradicate political and moral confusion in the land. At this moment it seems the blame game is at high tide in Washington, D.C. Blame is a factor in seeking the truth of any matter be it controversy or political question, yet honesty’s recognition is to primarily help assure all citizens that improprieties will not happen again. Responsibility for actions of malfeasance must be punished through accountability but understood as to their origins. Yet, what is the answer to restoration of a legal ethos which has often served America as an example to others? It must be the discovery of truth by Americans in discovering why today’s maladies occurred in the first place. If we can determine the why of exuberance leading to line crossing we can prevent by mutual agreement dangerous actions from being repeated by anyone in government service. I would hope that patient truth seeking will lead us as a nation to a model of integrity and truthfulness affecting all those in leadership responsibility regardless of political persuasion. Perhaps in this age of digital marvel, traditional old fashion values can both prevail and lead us to higher and nobler actions. Placing truth on a pedestal of priority would be a beginning for America. Alan and Mary Phillips Bloomington, IL

NY TIMES, MAY 5, HILLARY CLINTON, POST AGP

The Secretary of State bears major responsibility and culpability in the lack of protection and oversight of Ambassador Stevens and the others who died. In 2010 resources were positioned off shore by the department to rescue Hillary if needed when she visited Libya. Testimony confirms that she wanted the American Embassy opened in Benghazi by the time she left office to commemorate her service. She has brought dishonor, death and shame on the department she represented. Mrs. Clinton is neither qualified or equipped for the presidency. Hopefully she will not campaign. Dr. Alan G. Phillips, Ed. D.

GREAT CNS ARTICLE, ARCHBISHOP THOMAS WENSKI, AP Miami Archbishop: ‘Gay Marriage,’ Moral Relativism – Society ‘On Its Way To Totalitarianism’ April 30, 2013 By Michael W. Chapman Subscribe to Michael W. Chapman RSS Follow Michael W. Chapman on Twitter Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Catholic head of the archdiocese of Miami, Fla. (AP) (CNSNews.com) – Miami’s Catholic archbishop, Thomas Wenski, said establishing “gay marriage” would corrupt the natural setting for rearing children by a mother and a father, and further spread “moral relativism,” one of the signs that democracy is “on its way to totalitarianism.” The state has always recognized and favored heterosexual marriages “because such marriages best provide the optimal conditions for the raising of future generations of its citizens,” said Archbishop Wenski in an Apr. 24 homily at the Red Mass for the Miami Catholic Lawyers Guild. “And all honest social research as well as anecdotal evidence shows that children are ‘hard-wired’ to be best raised by a mother and father who are married to each other in a low conflict relationship.” In other words, he said, “it’s about what’s best for children. Only in the marriage of a man and a woman can ‘two become one flesh’ (Genesis 2: 24) and thus create a conjugal society – or family – which provides that the individuals who give life to children should be the ones to raise them in a bonded and enduring relationship.” The push for “so-called same-sex marriage, if it prevails,” said the archbishop, “will fundamentally change” the mother-father-children family and “open a Pandora’s Box of unforeseen and, to be sure, unintended consequences – as the more permissive no-fault divorce legislation did some 40 years ago.” “[T]he proponents of so-called same-sex marriage would now redefine marriage for all as existing solely for the gratification of two (and why just two?) consenting adults,” said Abp. Wenski. The archbishop, who represents 1.3 million Catholics in 118 churches in South Florida, said the push for same-sex marriage is just the logical consequence of the moral relativism found in Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood, which “virtually establishes a new secular religion based on the ‘right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and the mystery of human life.’” That is “moral relativism,” he said. St. Thomas More (d.1535), patron of lawyers and politicians. “When a democracy bases itself on moral relativism and when it considers every ethical principle or value to be negotiable (including every human being’s fundamental right to life), it is already, and in spite of its formal rules, on its way to totalitarianism,” said Abp. Wenski. “The might of right quickly becomes might makes right.” In ending his homily, the archbishop noted that America’s founding fathers established a society upon a “vision of freedom” in accordance with “ordered liberties” that are evident in the natural order, such as the complementarity of man and woman, and the right of children to a mother and a father – in short, as he cited from the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident ….” They are natural and obvious truths, said the archbishop, who called upon the legal experts and lawmakers in attendance at the Red Mass to remember the example of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers and politicians, who described himself as “the King’s good servant but God’s servant first.” Archbishop Wenski also quoted a phrase from Abraham Lincoln to argue that gay marriage is a legal construct not based on reality: “If you call a tail a leg, then how many legs does a cow have? Four, because calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it one.”

TERRORISM This word terrorism appropriately labels what happened to those involved with yesterday’s Boston Marathon. The American people on Patriot’s day had their basic freedoms violated because of terrorism. Contrary to news anchors, some politicians, reporters, and others, this word does not require a modifier. Whether it is revealed as domestic or foreign it is still incredibly destructive, terrorism yesterday resulted in the death, injured, and carnage of traditional freedoms people have enjoyed for decades. I retain no sympathy for those that perpetrated the crime, be they plotters, a system, or any motivator that took the life of a young eight year old with the others injured or killed. Call it what it is, whether you are a news anchor, media analyst, crime commenter, or anyone, terrorism is the word. The horrible act in Boston was criminal terrorism, plain, pure and simple, an attack on basic American freedoms. Media and internet outlets are filled with comments today like, reprehensible, brutal, carnage, innocents, etc., certainly those comments are warranted. Yet some in leadership and public position refuse to even use the word “terrorism,” in describing the brutal event that took place in Boston yesterday. Why is terrorism overlooked as a word in our national vocabulary by many notable individuals. Have we disregarded our history and freedoms for items of personal or political expedience? Does terrorism when used to describe the injury and death of innocent Americans offend someone’s friend, nation, system or faith system? Not really, terrorism calls death and injury of innocents by labeling the act for that which it really is, cowardice, immorality, lack of feeling, gross brutality, having no regard for human life, butchery performed without mercy. I label the awful event in Boston and the great Americans injured and killed as an act of terrorism which should be eliminated from the globe. My hope is that we find and dispense justice to any and all those cowardly perpetrators responsible for these deaths and injuries. God bless America, Dr. Alan Phillips

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, April 10, 2013 Strategic patience will not work with North Korea isolated from much of the global nations trying to prove their technological strength. They must know the consequences of their belligerent threats if translated into action. The North Korean military would be eliminated from the face of the earth. We cannot stop this paranoid nation without devastating action. Pre-emption is a must in our strategy. Sad that so many people will lose their lives, even possibly stationed American troops. Our administration and its Pentagon must know this is not a game. I support our nation's leaders in their actions. Dr, Alan G Phillips, Sr

AN ATTACK BY NORTH KOREA WOULD BE A FATAL MISCALULATION The American people are highly resilient when attacked without cause by a dictatorial regime. They immediately coalesce in support of their president regardless of party affiliation. They are immediate in their support and volunteering to ramp up the nation’s military readiness for the conflict at hand. The American people will support the course of our president’s action. If the commander in chief calls for regime change their will be national support for it from all citizens. If the president determines an end to the country known among nations as North Korea it will cease to exist. Americans are no longer interested in entertaining irrational consultation, threats, and aberrant actions from North Korea. The time has arrived to confront its military leaders and the madness in particular of one. Like fellow citizens I will totally support and endorse the actions of our president and our military in dealing with this dictatorial regime. Alan G Phillips, Ed. D. FROM THE ECONOMIST, APRIL 4

NY TIMES, April 1 The danger of isolation and miscalculation seem in world affairs to reenforce each other. We currently have a young, isolated, limited individual acting as a leader for a large military population. Even the North Korean generals seem quick to agree with their leader and accept verbal assurances as their reward. In spite of China being a supposed friend they refuse to accept advice from the world's largest nation. Correspondingly they ignore the signs given to them by the world's strongest military power. They basically follow their young leader, an isolated self appointed dictator whose main line of thought is totally predicated on one dimensional stimulated response thinking. He and his followers will have to be dealt with overwhelming power at the sign of the slightest infraction, provocation orirrational movement toward the U.S. and it's allies. There is no alternative. Dr. Alan G. Phillips, Ed. D.