Doug

More signs of moral decline…

Ever since the sixties, there can be little doubt that America has been heading further away from the cultural and moral foundations that made us a strong people. Every day we read about the latest tragic and disgusting action perpetrated by one person against another. People in positions of responsibility abusing their power with nary … Read more

America: A Melting Pot No More

According to a USA Today news article, the foreign-born population of NH grew 45% from the years 2000- 2005- putting us in the top five states. Nationally, the average shows the growth at 16%. Taken on its face, I have no problem with newcomers to our great land. I have a great friend from Columbia who is the most patriotic, civic-minded American citizen that I know. Unfortunately, he is now the exception, not the rule. (Click here for more my prior post on the modern "immigrant") He represents the American immigrant of a different era- the era when new citizens assimilated with those already here. And everybody was taught America’s founding principles…
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I recently found an interesting passage in a copy I have of the 1929 Boy Scouts of America’s “Handbook For Boys”. I found it to be quite to the contrary of today’s emphasis on multiculturalism and diversity. The first section of the book asks, “What is scouting?” Part of the answer includes this:
“Scouting helps the Scout to value the great heritage which the past has brought to him in the life and ideals of America… Our America is the ‘melting pot’ of the world. Her strength has come from every people. Good will must be extended to these new citizens, indeed only as ‘the spirit of Brotherliness’ is present, can Liberty develop.”
Ah, the old “melting pot theory”. Do you remember learning about this when you were back in school? You know, people would come to America to shed their Old-world life in order to become Americans and live in a place where they could enjoy the fruits of their labor- free from the fear of confiscation. One people- “melted” together as Americans.

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Let the games begin!

As we get closer to the ’08 presidential primary season, the movers and shakers have predictably begun the quadrennial kabuki dance with candidates and supporters. Who’s in? Who’s out? Will so-and-so still support candidate so-and-so this time around? Who’s really working for who? Living here in NH, where we are "almost first in the nation" to cast presidential ballots … Read more

Study: Shift Away From Broad-based Tax Increases

The state of New Hampshire has thus far resisted the siren’s call to broad-based taxes. Proposals to enact an income tax or a sales tax have spelled doom for many a gubernatorial candidate through the years. While our state still spends much more than it should, a degree of caution is generally exercised when approaching budgets. Because we … Read more

A Wave of Uneducated , Non-English Speakers.

Today’s USA Today reports Mexicans with little education and limited English skills are leading a wave of newly arrived immigrants who are increasingly fanning out from traditional gateway states, Census data released Tuesday indicate. .The dispersal of new immigrants to parts of the Southeast and Midwest that are unaccustomed to foreign-born populations in large numbers … Read more

Baby Bombs

It was only a matter of time before this was bound to happen. From the August 14th Sun Online of Britain: Security sources confirmed last night that alleged “baby bombers” were among those arrested over the plot to massacre thousands by downing transatlantic flights. . Those being quizzed included a husband and wife with a six-month-old … Read more

The “Joementum” fizzles. No big deal.

As I ponder the loss of Joe Lieberman in the CT Democratic primary, I just can’t get that broken up. While Joe certainly supports the war and the right of the Israelis to protect themselves in the current battle of the new world war, he was not much good on anything else. Heck- he gave … Read more

A man’s home is his castle? Not quite…(New story)

The story about the Nashua cops arresting and charging a man for taping police as they were on his porch (discussing how they might make the disabled veteran "more disabled" with a billy club) was if nothing else a cautionary reminder how fragile our private property rights really are. . Now comes this from the … Read more

Notable Quote: Winston Churchill

As I was sifting though some old MS Word files I had saved for future reference, I came across this fantastic and inciteful observation our pal Winston Churchill had regarding Islam: “How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia … Read more

We Might Run, But We Can’t Hide

So let me get this straight. Iranians are found among the Hezbollah in Lebanon. Of course we know the rockets raining down on Israel originated in Iran. We are fighting the ongoing battle of Iraq against an insurgency supported by mainly Iran. The fight against the Islamofascists of Afghanistan continues in a cyclical pattern. Quiet. … Read more

They live among us…

Despite being told otherwise, the American people are starting to wise up with regards to the threat radical Islam poses. With the latest terror  plots shown to include "homegrown" characters, we need to be ever more vigilant. They are here, hiding among us… . Editor & Publisher reports on the latest from Gallup regarding attitudes … Read more

My proposal for peace…

The AP reports that Israel is considering an expansion of their military campaign:   JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel’s Security Cabinet convened Wednesday to likely approve a broader ground offensive in Lebanon, with key ministers arguing that the military must deal more blows to Hezbollah and score quick battlefield victories before a Mideast cease-fire is imposed. Meanwhile, more Hezbollah … Read more

Dope of the Week Honorable Mention

In this previous posting, Skip discussed the meltdown of the mainline Protestant churches: Much has been written here in NH, due to the ascendancy of Gene Robinson to bishop of the NH Episcopalian church (openly gay, recently admitted to a rehap facility for alcohol abuse). As an Evangelical Baptist, I have glumly watched, sometimes in horror, … Read more

Retired U.S. Military Commanders Back Israel’s Response to Hezbollah

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ — Over 50 retired top commanders of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard today issued a joint statement in strong support of Israel’s military response to Hezbollah terrorism.
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The statement is signed by former top commanders of NATO, US Naval Operations, Special Operations, Army Readiness, Air Warfare, Space & Missile Defense, Service Chiefs of Staffs and other Commands

"The security of the State of Israel is a matter of great importance to U.S. policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. A strong Israel is an asset upon which American military planners and political leaders can rely. Israel shares our commitment to democracy, freedom, personal liberty and rule of law."

"The problem of militias and non-state actors operating in a sovereign country is precisely the same as that faced by Americans and coalition forces in Iraq — also supported by Iran and Syria.

"We believe that Israel’s military operation to remove Hezbollah from southern Lebanon is a correct and legitimate response to the creation of an armed force accountable to Syria and Iran … and using Lebanese territory to engage in cross-border warfare.

The statement was issued through the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs in Washington, which organizes exchanges and visits between military leaders of the U.S. and Israel to strengthen the security of both nations.

Click the "continue" link below to read the full text with list of the signers.

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Edwards Visits NH- Recalls Cooler Days of Yore

Democratic vice presidential nominee took time out from campaigning against WalMart to stop here in the Lakes Region of NH over the weekend. A report from the Citizen newspaper provides some details of the probable presidential candidate’s visit. First up, global warming (at least I think that’s what he was talking about): He began by … Read more

A New Generation of “Useful Idiots”

In the old days of the Cold War, the term "useful idiot" came to describe those people unwilling to see the true threat communism created for the whole world. These people, living here in the "free world", became "useful" to the Soviets as they created formidable political obstacles for those attempting to beat back the "evil empire." . … Read more

How To End a War: Win. Happy A-Bomb Day!

This week’s events of 61 years ago should not go unnoticed, or unappreciated. On August 6th, 1945 and again on August 9th, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Japan. Prior to that, on July 26, 1945, the Allies, in setting the conditions for ending a war that they did not start, called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese and their military forces. Absolutely fanatical, with a declared fight to the death, the Japanese refused. Years of war, and still, they would not stop. Then the bomb fell.
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President Harry S. Truman, sworn to protect and uphold the Constitution and expected to do all possible to “provide for the common defense”, made the decision. The first atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima, Japan August 6th, 1945. In his address to the nation, Truman spoke:
“Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, an important Japanese Army base. That bomb had more power than 20,000 tons of TNT.”
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“The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid manyfold. And the end is not yet.”
The bomb used in the attack, announced the President was
“an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East.”
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Imagine yourself to be alive at that time. Perhaps you were. I cannot believe that every American, to a person, would not have wanted their leaders to do EVERYTHING possible to end the war, and to make everybody safe. Imagine yourself a young GI at the time- twenty-something years old, training for yet more warfare. Having survived through to the end of the war in Europe, would you ultimately join those less fortunate, living only to see a later death in the Japanese theater? Imagine a young wife back in America- perhaps with children. What will happen to her husband? Where is their father? Imagine a mother. What will happen to her son? What of America’s brave soldiers? Will any survive the coming battles in the Pacific? Will they die storming through hellfire on the beach on some Pacific island, facing an enemy that will not stop? When will this war end? Then the first bomb fell.
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The Commander-in Chief, again, from his speech to the Nation (and the World):
“We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories, and their communications. Let there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japan’s power to make war. It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never before been seen on this earth. Behind this air attack will follow sea and land forces in such numbers and power as they have not yet seen and with the fighting skill of which they are already well aware.”

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Because Inquiring Minds Want to Know…

"How do you do it?" goes the question. "What’s the secret formula?" Some have speculated the black arts might be involved. Perhaps we analyze the entrails of a freshly slaughtered donkey? (What, you were thinkin’ a goat, right?) How many years of scientific analysis went into the method of selection? Many have sought the answer. Few have lived to know… Since the dawning of this blog, countless people (really, because we have no way of knowing) have asked, "How does Granitegrok.com select the prestigious Dope of the Week award?
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Click the link just below to learn our secret. And see who else gets the mantle this week…

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Update 4- A man’s home is his castle? Not quite…

Actually, maybe there is a faint ray of hope for the notion of a man’s home being his castle after all… . Regular readers will recall that I previously blogged a story about a Nashua NH man arrested and charged with illegally audiovideo taping police (saying some unpleasant things) as they stood on the porch of his home (in an attempt … Read more

Good Question…

One of my employees posed an interesting question this morning… Living in a touristy area like we do here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, we have lots of service jobs- restaurants, hotels, etc. Many of the local businesses need to augment their workforce during the summer season. For whatever reason, they can’t find … Read more

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