No Labels

The inception of the NoLabels.org group (or, movement) may just be the perfect antithesis to the so-called "Tea Party Movement," which simply polarizes the American landscape even further, thus leaving the overriding national spirit in very hateful mood.  Although it remains to be seen exactly how this group will use its influence to yield any "real" positive changes, it sure is nice to see someone trying to mend society, as opposed to dividing (and subsequently conquering) it.

With the official lauch date of December 13, 2010,  this new-wave groups intends to "unite Republicans, Democrats and Independents with a simple, single idea -- our leaders need to work together to do what government was intended to do: solve problems.  No Labels is not a political party nor aspires to be one, our focus is on building a broad citizen movement, not running any one individual for office."  The purpose of this group just feels a lot better than the aforementioned Tea Party, which had ulterior motives oozing from its stubborn, conservative pores.

NoLabels.org claims to be merely asking conservatives, liberals, democrats, and republicans, not to abandon their core ideologies, but to merely put them aside in order to work together and find practical solutions to our nation's problems. Sounds good to me and as the 10,851st person to sign up in support of this group, I hope they mean what they claim.

My bottom line is that, we the people need to stop allowing ourselves to be lumped into these ridiculous socio-political categories by groups that care very little about change, but more about gaining power, influence, and of course money.

Men Be Careful...PLEASE!!!

"Homosexuality Will Ruin the Military???"

"If open homosexuals are allowed to serve in the U.S. military, it will harm recruitment, retention, and readiness and will without question weaken our national defense. Repeal is bad for the military and bad for the United States."  This is the bottom line statement the "American Family Association" asserts on its website. 

REALLY??!!

They are, of course, talking about the "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" debate currently ensuing on floor the U.S. House of Representatives.  Currently, a stand-alone bill repealing the 1993 legislation barring openly gay men and women from serving in the military is undergoing heated debate in the House and Senate.  Does any average citizen really care two-cents about this issue?  Is it (really) a burning topic of discussion across kitchen tables throughout America?  Let's see, are people more worried about the sexual habits of soldiers or rather the soldier(s) are well-trained; and, how are we going to pay this rent?  Being one of those average Americans that politicians so often speak of, I'll say that our major concern is for the latter debate.  Rent.

The American Family Association cite statistics and make broad statements, such as:

-at least 30% of active service members believe the repeal is problematic

-24% of active duty personnel indicated that they either would resign or would consider resigning from the military if open homosexuals are allowed to serve

-it is clear that allowing open homosexuals to serve will have the opposite effect. It will weaken rather than strengthen our military

-Repeal will mean the end of careers for conservative Christian chaplains, who have deeply held moral and spiritual objections to the normalization of homosexuality. This will bring to an end a tradition of conservative Christian chaplains that goes all the way back to our first commander-in-chief, George Washington, who made the appointing of such chaplains one of his first orders of business. General Washington knew that military success depended upon the spiritual strength of the military

-Repeal will be the end of careers for conservative officers. They will be forced to publicly affirm the normalcy of homosexual behavior

(http://capwiz.com/afanet/callalert/index.tt?alertid=20024566)

The aforementioned statements (by the AFA) are obviously the opinions of a few pseudo-conservative tight-a$$es spending far too much time bible thumping and less time actually living the principles of the GOOD BOOK.  Dont' get me wrong, I carry a few conservative principles myself.  For instance, I feel that the FCC has lowered its standards to very dangerous levels.  The loosening of our core cultural standards is leading our civilization down a slippery slope of destruction.  However, to profess that homosexuality will ruin the military is a gross over-statement.

I am a straight man, who has never had the privilege to serve in the military.  As such, I deeply appreciate any man or woman willing to place his or her life on the line for my freedom, regardless of that person's sexuality.  In stead harassing these soldiers, it would be nice if the AFA simply said, "thank you."

Instead of pretending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation is a major concern for us average Americans thus garnering a lion share of their attention by our congress, congress needs to have a very real discussion about the "Omnibus Bill."  Last time I checked, everyone was against earmarks --- right?

What Does Christmas Really Mean?

'tis the season for what reason? 

Christmas time can bring forth wonderful joy and memorable times...like the first bicycle you received or that GI Joe, with the kung fu grip :-), or the reuniting with long-lost family and friends, the slow-quiet evenings of great expectations and the melting away of all of one's troubles....(if only for a moment). 

But, what exactly does Xmas represent today?  Honestly.  Is it the birth of The King?  Does it represent the beginning of the winter solstice?  Does it truly represent an appreciation of God's gift to mankind?  Does it?  NO!!  In fact, the insinuation of God existence, in this holiday, is shunned and replaced with the glorification of "Black Friday," and "Xmas Specials" sales. Heaven forbid, one does have the means to purchase expensive gifts for one's family and friends...not only is s/he shunned by society, but that poor soul is made to feel like some sort of inferior ingrate.

Although it is not my place to place judgment on how anyone prioritizes this season, I will only ask that you take a moment to truly thank the creator, and try to give the greatest gift one can give....and that is 'of yourself.'  Shake a strangers hand or greet them with a smile, hold the door open for someone, give a holiday greetings card to a fellow public transit rider, remember to tell your mother what she means to you and thank God for her, really embrace the kindred spirit which connects mankind, shed a tear (as you shed away your past hurts), and laugh as hard as you can in order to invite positivity to plant its flag in your world.

So, what is the reason for the season?  You tell me....

Seasons Greetings!!!

Short Cutting Your Way to Failure...Sen. Jeff Smith Returns from Prison

Released from federal prison to a half-way house in August (2010) and from a half-way house...to ultimate freedom November 18th, convicted MO State Senator Jeff Smith now says that he regrets the actions which led him to prison and to hopes to rebuild himself by giving back to the community.

If you remember, Sen. Smith was a young, political fireball who was sentenced to federal prison in connection with a 2004 political cover-up, in which he'd lied to federal investigators about a negative political flyer.  He was later convicted of two counts of obstruction of justice.  The 36 year old holds a PH.D from Washington University (St. Louis) and earned his political stripes by narrowly loosing the race for retired congressman Dick Gephardt's congressional seat in the 2004 Democratic Congressional primary. 

In order to achieve so much career success, at such a young age, one must have the focus of a lion preying on its meal.  But, as a lion, one wrong move or misstep can render you hungry, homeless, and eventually captured by poachers.  Dr. Smith owned that feline-like focus until he decided to take an ill-advised shortcut.  He lied. 

And, that's is exactly what a lie is....it's a short cut.  Too many of us want only to take shortcuts to success.  We do this by either selling drugs to avoid real work, steal goods/merchandise to avoid earning money to pay for them, we sell our bodies to avoid developing our true gifts to the world, we lie to ourselves to avoid the truth about who we've become.  Dr. Smith spent a year and a day in prison because he lost sight of his true path (if only for a moment).  This momentary lapse, invariably, cost him his career and political future.

My point is: don't shortcut yourself to failure...stay the course.  The road to success can be a long, arduous journey.  It can be a journey that knocks you down more times than it'll left you.  But the righteous journey charters down a lighted path towards honor, respect, integrity, and true-everlasting happiness.  Speak to a family member or friend who's ever had the dishonor of serving real time in prison.  They all will tell you that they wish they would've simply done things the righteous way.  Prison is harsh and lonely.  According to Dr. Smith,  "you're no longer Dr. Smith, you're no longer Senator Smith or Professor Smith, you're number 36607044.... it's a difficult thing to come to grips with."

Keep the righteous path because at the end of it stands God waiting to embrace you.

Female Employee Shots Teen Shopper in the Buttocks and Gets Away with It

KSDK news (St. Louis) is reporting that a teenager, at approximately 1:00 pm 11/23/10, is shot in the buttocks while trying to steal a bag of potato chips.  Apparently, the young man and two of his buddies entered Myrt's Northland Market, on 2814 North Kingshighway and attempted to steal a bag of potato chips when the 50 year old lady-employee noticed the act.  Upon confronting the guys, they gave her the chips back.  Now, according to the lady-employee, one of the three teenage boys pulled out a gun.  In response, she states that she then shot him in the buttocks. 

REALLY?! 

The injured child is in the hospital recovering from the wound, while the second is being charged with petty theft, and the third hopped on the bus and got away.  Meanwhile, no weapon was found.  OK, back to the lady-employee's statement.

While police say she is very shaken-up by the incident and was treated by EMT, they all seem to be totally buying her story.  Now, I'm no detective, but allow me to point out a few inconsistencies (if you will). 




First:  She asked for the stolen chips back and they returned the item with no argument

Second:  Out of nowhere, one kid pulls out a gun (for some chips?)

Third:  She shoots the kid in the buttocks.

OK, if the kid returned the chips with NO argue, why would he pull out a gun?  What's his motive?  Also, how did a gun magically appear in her hands?  It didn't.  She must've approached these kids with the gun out already.  Then, she shoots him in the buttocks?  How would the bullet magically go towards the kid, then make a wicked 180 degree turn to hit him in the rear?  It wouldn't.  Apparently, the kid was running away.  In addition to all this, the police never found a weapon? 

REALLY?!

Now, I'm all for justice but c'mon, man.  Is this where the system is now....where a woman can shoot a kid, cry, blame the kid (with zero evidence), and be seen as a hero?  I'm just saying....if the she were a he, I'd have a whole different outcome to report.

Breaking News!!! Hit and Run... Mother and two Babies Run Over...

According to KMOV.com (St. Louis, MO), a mother and two infant children are currently in critical condition after being run down by an impatient driver.  The incident happened around 5:30pm, as the mother was crossing N. Kingshighway near Raymond.  Apparently, other motorist yielded for the young family to cross when an impatient moron said, "screw it, I'm going anyway," and ran through these innocent pedestrians.  They are currently being monitored at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

RUSH, RUSH, RUSH!!!  You see it, I see, we all see it everyday.  Every one's in such a damn rush that many forgo all common decency in order to get where they are going or what they think they need. 

SLOW THE HELL DOWN!!!   You cannot tell me that your business can't wait long enough for a mom and her babies to cross the damn street.  Now, before you simply nod your head at this moron's criminal actions, check yourself.  Are you moving too damn fast to take caution?  Think about it and please be careful because you are driving a two-thousand pound bullet....

Now, to the real point....  the assailant sped off and got away, but was driving this car:





If you see it, call the police....

'Ground Zero' mosque approved

 
The NY Post reports the following news today (Nov. 22, 2010):
 
The developers behind the proposed Ground Zero mosque have applied for about $5 million in federal grant money set aside for redeveloping downtown Manhattan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to a new report.  The application was submitted as a "community and cultural enhancement" grant, which is a program run by the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corp. Developer Sharif El-Gamal discussed the grant proposal in recent closed-door meetings, according to The Daily Beast. The revelation that the developers have asked for this grant could reignite outrage about the mosque's proposed location.



This is a very difficult issue take grasp of.  The events of Sept. 11th were among the most horrific incidents in U.S. history.  The utter mentioning of the events conjure feelings of shock, hurt, sorry, anger, and helplessness.  Once thought to be the safest land on earth, September 11th became a firm reminder that we are no more safe than many eastern european nations. 

Following that dreadful day, our government instituted an immediate payback plan with launched us into two wars.  In that moment, we called for war.  We needed to fight back (if only to mask our victimization).  We needed to, again, remind the world not to mess with us.  I get it.  The world got it.  But, that was then (9 years ago), and this is now.

What do we need now? Isn't that the real question?

I believe we, as a nation, need Closure.  What is closure?  Is it aimlessly selecting enemies to battle? Is it further dividing our nation into more subsets of cultures, colors, and religions?  Or, is it doing the hard part of making ourselves whole again.  America is a great nation because of the principles for which it stands:  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

Perhaps it is time that we all go back and reread the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.  Once we have recommitted ourselves to the principles for which it stands, we will realize that what makes the U.S. great is its tolerance.  Tolerance is the our key to freedom.  It is the reason we fight wars and protest injustice.  In fact, the 1st amendment confirms the right for freedom of religion.  As a result, we need to fight for our constitution, fight against our own prejudices, fight the hurt by facing and standing true to OUR principles.
Therefore, we should not oppose the right or our citizens to lawfully construct their religious sanctuary.  As hurtful as that may be, it's the only way to heal this pain and move forward. 

Let NO evil deter us from the mission that God has placed before us.  We are special.  Let's never forget that.

Sarah Palin Can Beat President Obama?

A recent Associated Press article reports that former Alaskan Gov. and former Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin pronounces the She can beat President Obama in the 2012 Presidential election.  REALLY, Sarah??!! 

Since when does the most polarizing political figure, on the national landscape, ever actually win the general election for president.  According to an AP-GfK, the public views Sarah 46% favorably, 49% unfavorably, with 5% claiming to not know enough.  What, exactly, does the 46% favor?  Is it her inability to know whether or not Africa is a country or continent?  Is it her zero knowledge of any current supreme court cases?  Is it her lack of knowledge of pertinent U.S. foreign affairs?  Is it her inability to withstand the rigors of incumbency (i.e. quitting her post as Gov.)? Is it her ability to simply make-up new words?  Refudiation?   Exactly what is it?  Is it her cheerleader persona, or that she looks good in a skirt? 

Face it.  Her strategy is a telegraphic, sophomoric attempt to win support.  But, support for what?  Awww, perhaps support that can be parlayed into a multi-million reality television deal....or a book deal...or speaking engagement deal?

These are serious times, and we need serious folks and her 15 minutes are up.  I'm sure the republican party can do alot better than Ms. Palin.  If they don't make the necessary decision to put her in her place, the public will come 2012. 

All that Sounds Good, Isn't Good

I think it maybe time to rethink whom we think of as the "party superstars."  I believe you know of whom I'm speaking. 

Example:  You are at a friday night party, at a neighbor's house, celebrating the forthcoming arrival of their little bundle of joy.  You  sort of know, maybe two other couples at this party and the rest are complete strangers.  That's o.k. because you, actually, enjoy meeting new people while sipping a glass of your favorite wine and nibbling on snacks.  Most of these new acquaintances are decent enough and you actually begin to enjoy their company.  However, you begin to smell the strong scent of arrogance take over your neighbor's home.  "What is that," your mate whispers to you.  What it is (or, whether who it is) is the clown in the worn-out blue sports jacket preferencing all of his introductions with the status seeking..."Hi, I'm a lawyer and what is you do?"

REALLY?!

The aforementiond example takes place in living rooms all over America, every friday night.  And, it drives most of absolutely insane.  However, we've been trained to pay reverence to two professions: lawyers and doctors.  Not that these professions don't garner a certain amount of respect, but come on....is a lawyer any more qualified to navigate corporate minutiae than an MBA.  NO. In fact less qualified. 

My point is:  Stop getting so caught up on job talents as status builders.  Instead, follow your true priorities, which could lead you to own your very own "hot-dog" stand.  But, you'll make $150k/yr and be completely happy.  The true party superstars are those whom don't feel the need to boast about their job title or career...  Who you are isn't what you do?  Who you are depends on that thing that helps you breathe. 

The following article, provided by the Economist, gives a prime example of the trouble one may find for themselves by seeking the title and not the internal satisfaction.

 

America's law schools and firms

http://www.economist.com/node/17461573?story_id=17461573

Trouble with the law

Graduates of American law schools are finding that their chosen career is less lucrative than they had hoped

Nov 11th 2010 | NEW YORK

THIS year “The Apprentice”, a television show in which contestants compete for the privilege of working for Donald Trump, features 16 who are down on their luck, having lost previous jobs or otherwise having to start anew. No fewer than five of them are lawyers. The legal-job market in America remains dire. But the numbers applying to law school are still soaring, and students are taking out ever bigger loans as tuition fees grow faster than lawyers’ salaries. Increasingly, they are graduating into a world of overblown expectation and debt.

Between 1996 and 2008 private law schools’ median tuition fees almost doubled, to just under $34,000 a year. At public law schools fees grew even faster, albeit from a lower base: for those going to schools in their home state they almost trebled, taking the median to around $16,000. Starting salaries at the biggest firms—those with more than 500 lawyers—roughly doubled, to $160,000. But such plum jobs are hard to get, especially for graduates of the less prestigious public schools. At smaller firms starting pay has for years failed to keep up with soaring tuition fees, and of late has fallen (see chart).

Graduates’ chances in the job market have worsened since the “great purge” of 2009, when firms laid off young lawyers and withdrew job offers. The National Law Journal says that the 250 biggest firms cut their numbers of attorneys by 4% in 2009 and were projected to cut by another 1.1% in 2010, making for the worst two-year period in the 33 years of the journal’s surveys.

Related topics

• New York University
• Industries
• Legal services
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Those that did not lay off any lawyers have frozen hiring and squeezed more work out of their staff. So morale is dismal at many firms. But it is worse among those recent graduates stuck in temporary or part-time posts or working in non-legal jobs. The grim market has given rise to a situations-vacant website, shitlawjobs.com, whose home-page banner reads: “You’re a lawyer, the economy sucks and you need a job.” Among its latest vacancies on November 10th was one for a Spanish-speaking lawyer, on just $10 an hour.

Law schools, of course, disagree that they offer students a bad deal. The statistics they produce, on measures such as how many ex-students are employed nine months after graduation, do not look so bad. But some frustrated young lawyers find them misleading. Some schools report as “employed” those in part-time or temporary jobs, ones that do not involve practising law and posts subsidised by the school itself.
Two students at Vanderbilt University’s law school thus began the Law School Transparency project. Kyle McEntee, one of its founders, said Vanderbilt helpfully gave him the kind of detailed job-placement information all potential law students should have: where graduates were hired and how much they made. Mr McEntee asked all 200 of America’s accredited schools to release the same data. Just one, the little-known Ave Maria School of Law in Florida, has agreed to do so. Ten others said they would consider the request.
The schools tell Mr McEntee that collecting the data is too expensive; he retorts that they already have most of them. Any privacy concerns could be dealt with by releasing aggregate figures that make it hard to discover individual graduates’ salaries. The American Bar Association, which accredits the law schools, is also calling for greater openness on how graduates fare after leaving college.

The lousy job market is, of course, not the law schools’ fault. The market is rigid. Firms tend to hire those who spent their second summer during law school at that firm, and thus begin interviewing students for these internships near the beginning of their second year. So, to a great extent, hiring decisions are made a couple of years before students graduate. This lag makes it harder to trim recruitment according to the economic weather.

But law schools could still do more to help their graduates prepare. Echoing a lament heard in pretty much every industry that hires graduates, Evan Chesler, the boss of Cravath, Swaine and Moore, a New York firm, decries “the difference between what law schools teach and what lawyers do”. Law school, he says, focuses too much on teaching students to “think like a lawyer”, rewarding independent study or working on the student law-review journal. He says they teach few of the practical skills of lawyering, leaving the firms to do much of the training in a recruit’s first years on the job.

Richard Revesz, the dean of New York University’s law school, replies that most firms’ needs are so specific that law school should not be expected to provide them. But he is nonetheless trying to bring NYU’s business and law schools together more often, so students learn to structure corporate deals as well as reading appellate decisions.

John Conroy, until last month the boss of Baker & McKenzie, the most globalised law firm, thinks England and Germany do better at helping graduates make the transition to becoming practising lawyers. A recent graduate spends two years combining work and study as a trainee solicitor in England and Referendar in Germany. The English system matches graduates to firms well, whereas the German system produces exceptional legal technicians, in Mr Conroy’s view. In America, clients grumble that they are being billed at high rates for recent graduates who contribute little. “Clients shouldn’t be paying for law firms to train people,” is their refrain. Right now, many graduates wish they could get anybody to pay them for anything.

Mom Puts Hit on Husband - New York Post

Keeping with yesterday's basic theme regarding the total misguidance of today's women, this video absolutely creeps me out.  We are truly trapped in a world gone mad. 

This piece got me to thinking of how it relates to the daily murdering of fathers (husbands)....metaphorically speaking, of course.  But, I get to that later.

Meanwhile, there are several parcels of this lunatic woman's mentality I can delve into, however I will stick with audacity of her proclamation:  ...a woman's right to choose the life and death of another (in this case, her own husband).  Now, before we simply write-off her stance as that of a crazy person therefore excusing this case as a mere anomally, let's ask ourselves have we collectively allowed the global spirit of man to sink to a zone where heinous crimes may sometimes sound like legitimate answers...  More specifically, is this what's happening to our women.

"...hell hath no furry like a woman scorn" is utter nonsence. .. sorry Mr. Congreve.  What gives women the right to put an end to anyone's life simply cause she's mad.  Metaphorically speaking, the same takes place every day in divorce court.  Scorn women have overstepped their boundaries by using the court system to financially and emotionally destroy the lives of men through divorce, and by extension, the children.  It needs to stop. 

How can any mom claim to be a good mom when she works tirelessly to present the ex (or, kids dad) as a worthless piece of turd.  This, of course, excludes great single moms whom actually appreciate the effort of the dads.  But, for the rest of you, stop (metaphorically) killing your ex-husbands (or, baby daddy) with using your children and system as both a shield and a sword.

Rude Women, Ugh!

Is it me or is today's woman simply RUDE?!  It occurs to me that most of the young, attractive women of the 21th century are just plain rude.  They can be rude to their parents, men (young and old), older women, each other, and they will even thump their noses at the very system that has raised them to be this way. They blindly wander the land in a self absorbed, narcissistic stupor.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!

I've been squeezing my brain trying to figure out the exact year when common courtesy and decency among the female sex died.  If only H.G. Wells were here, then maybe rational men could teleport back to that date and make some changes.  At some point, in history, some unknown force must've bestowed upon womankind the irrational guiding principle that allows these illogical women to adopt a ME FIRST and ME ONLY spirit.

Men:  Have you ever, prior to entering a building, noticed a young woman approaching and decide to wait and hold the door open for her...only to have this ingrate waltz pass you without even acknowledging your presence?  Don't worry, I know the answer is yes.  In fact, I was in a long line outside a night club once when one of the young ladies (in the group ahead of me) dropped her ID without noticing.  I politely picked the ID from the ground and handed it to her....  This b..ch snatched the ID from my hand, looked at me with eyes of a serpent, and turned to her girlfriends saying, "can you believe he had the nerves to do that?"  It took every inch of discipline I could muster to not give this chick a piece of my mind.  I know that phrasing might sound a bit parochial, but I'm trying to keep this plan...lol. 

Is the rudeness of today's woman their own faults?  Yes and No.  NO because the world places skinny, good looking 20s something women on a fictious pedastal.  Our legal system (in the US) tends to sway the balance of justice in their direction.  Every commercial image of the perfect person tends to be some young great looking woman.  They can truly live the constitutional promise of innocent, until proven guilty.  I could go on and on and on.  YES because these women are not stupid people.  They are smart enough play men, older women, and the system every day.

My point is that maybe it's time the rest of us jilted citizens stand up for ourselves and fight back against this atrosity by pointing out the rude acts of these women the moment the occurance takes place.  Polite embarassment can be great medicine for a person....  My mom taught me that...lol.

Americans are NOT stupid - WITH SUBTITLES

It never stops amazing how republicans (every election year) scream about fiscal responsibility and slicing the federal budget in order to secure the future(s) of our children.  Yet, whenever they are facing questions regarding where to cut the federal budget answer is, invariably, "discretionary funding."

Well, guess what, folks?  FUNDING TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS CONSIDERED "DISCRETIONARY FUNDING!!!" 

Judging from the above video, the education department is the last place we need to cut.  Speaking of which, how can we (as Americans) claim to be the leader of the free world, while considering the education of our young citizens -- discretionary!!!

REALLY?!

The Real Message from Dr King

Good Samaritan Goes to Jail... Really?!

Stopping to aid victims of a car crash on a Saturday afternoon (1/28/07), Orian Paul Stadel, 30, was cuffed and hauled off to jail after speaking with the police.

According to Stadel, he witnessed a car crash, when the car in front of him slammed into another car attempting to enter onto the street from a side ride in Bloomsburg, PA. Stadel decided to assist the motorist and stayed to explain what he’d witnessed to the police. After giving his statement, Stadel asked the officer (Scott Township Police Chief Ray Klingler) if the story would appear in the local newspaper. Upon hearing the Klingler’s affirmative response, Stadel informed the officer that he might have a warrant out for his arrest in the system (something he’d heard from a friend). After a system check, Klingler properly placed hand cuffs on Stadel and told him that he was under arrest for Rape.

Rape?

As it turns out, Stadel had allegedly had sex with a sleeping woman. What? Yes, a sleeping woman. Stadel, of Bloomsburg, acknowledged having sex with the woman while she slept, according to police. However, the charges were dismissed back in August (of the previous year), after the woman failed to appear in court. But, the charges were re-filed (several months later) without Stadel’s knowledge. Stadel was later informed that the story had been in the newspaper earlier in the week. He said that he tried to contact police but the investigating officer wasn’t in.

As the story goes, a woman went to bed with Stadel (back in August) but told him that she was too tired to have sex. While she slept, Stadel ignored her instructions and allegedly had his way with her.

Well, the entire incident births several questions regarding the situation.

However, this entire case speaks to the moral decline of our society. First, the couple (???) was obviously not married. Why were they sleeping in the same bed? I know that this notion of people not bedding together unless they are married may sound a bit “puritan,” but wouldn’t obedience to this simple rule alleviate most of the societal problems that appear to be running rampant in our world today? Making no excuses for Mr. Stadel, wasn’t the message the poor woman sent to him a bit murky? I know that she specifically said that she was too tired for sex that night, however, knowing his desperation, why would she put herself in the situation. Why not go home, or at least go to couch? For that matter, Mr. Stadel could’ve removed himself from the situation.

Sexual impurity is ruining our civilization. Think of all the trouble that you’ve experienced over the years, and I’m willing to bet that most of it has it’s origins in sexual impurity. By sexual impurity, I don’t mean intentional sexual crimes or abuse. I’m speaking about the unprotected sex that you have, but don’t admit. I’m speaking of the unmarried sexual experience that leads to unwanted pregnancy, STD’s, or worse. I’m speaking about subsequent physical, emotional, and spiritual pains that you endure as a result of that “night of passion.”

The choices we make will dictate the lives we lead. In a society where it’s o.k. to do whatever makes you happy, perhaps we should learn to practice more inhibitions. Perhaps the notions of restraint and dignity and respect for society-at-large aren’t such bad ideas. Ask yourself in which direction do you think we are headed, consider it for a while, then lead the charge back into the right direction. The rebuilding of a nation starts with one person taking the first step. You’ll find it to be contagious.

P.S. I won't even begin to attempt the question inevitable question of: how does a man have full sexual intercourse with a sleeping woman and the woman NOT wake up, at all.... Really?!