Stray Thoughts

By

William D. Dannenmaier

Recently my pastor, Dr. Roddy, quoted, “Memories are much like buckets without bottoms, nothing stays in very long.” I liked the quote, but prefer the idea that they are semi-permeable membranes, permitting us to forget all of our misdeeds and mistakes while keeping memories of our triumphs. For some of us this means that we have remarkably few memories.

All columnists have written on illegal immigrants recently, I bow to the inevitable. Reagan began it by legalizing about a million or so when he was president, Clinton  continued the process when he feared he might lose the presidency and now they are saying there are 15 million more who need to be legalized. In another seven or eight years there will be 15 million more. The next step will be for Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas to vote to secede and join Mexico. It seems only fair. We stole those states from Mexico in the first place.

The usual excuse is that there are too many to arrest and deport. Great argument. In every state I’ve lived in or driven through I’ve seen people, millions of them, disobeying the speed laws. If you can’t punish all of them, why discriminate against a few? Similarly, there are many more people committing rape and child molestation crimes than are ever caught. Since we can’t catch them all, why discriminate against the few?

What a great country we are! We ignore criminals, illegal aliens are breaking the law. We make them legal and then immediately admit them to affirmative action programs as a depraved – wrong word, it’s congress that’s depraved – deprived minority. What other nation takes foreigners who have broken their laws and gives them priority in jobs and schools over citizens who have obeyed the laws?

Paris Hilton has never interested me, but the time and energy the media spend on a woman who can’t act, is not particularly attractive, gives no evidence of intelligence and has the morals of an alley cat interests me. Obviously, wealth and notoriety have value. On May 7^th, a Fox News.com article said she was reported to have received a fee of $200,000 for appearing at a charity event in Cannes.

Still, Paris – as in Hilton – intrigued me. I thought I might do a column on her mind. Then again, I saw little use in sending a blank page around to friends.

Since being released from house arrest following my heart surgery, I walk every morning. My first expedition took me about 150 feet before I had to sit and rest before returning, now I’m up to 3 miles every day that I don’t go to the hospital for cardiac rehabilitation. Anyone who believes that at 77 I’ve lost my creativity should hear some of the reasons I think up as to why I SHOULD NOT walk 3 miles as I trudge away from home. I can come up with 10 or 12. Unfortunately, by the time I’ve settled on the correct reason for quitting my walk, I’m in sight of the road at the top of the hill and stubbornness replaces creativity. On the return trip I always hope some passerby will offer me a ride. But no one ever does.

While on the subject of walking, there are fewer unhappy thoughts than the realization that you are 1½ miles from home on an empty country road and that you would be much happier sitting and reading a book, with a roll of paper nearby.

Sometimes the logic of our judicial system escapes me. According to an announcement on WSMV-TV on May 11, 2007, Tennessee has released 1559 sex offenders from prison early because of their “good” behavior. Child sex offenders behave themselves while in prison, so they are given early exits. Isn’t it nice to know that when men are locked up in cells they don’t bother children? Could there be any better reason for turning them loose?

I suggest that we have a special prison for child molesters. As part of their incarceration, they should be permitted unsupervised time alone with children. That way they can prove they are truly ready for release to society. I’m certain the Liberals who decry their excessive punishment will volunteer their own children and grandchildren for this project. If child molestors are safe in society in general, then they’ll be equally safe with privileged children.

Presidential Candidate Guiliani has clarified something that has confused me for years: how can the Liberals support abortion and condemn the execution of killers? The answer is amazingly simple. Mayor Guiliani said that, although he opposes abortions, people who believe in abortion should have the right to obey their beliefs and commit abortions. This explains everything. I assume he and fellow Liberals think people who believe they have the right to murder should be permitted to murder. They are only exercising their beliefs. They shouldn’t be executed for this to protect future victims. But if this is true, why the “hate” crime legislation for people committing crimes against blacks, whites, women and homosexuals? Aren’t they simply exercising their beliefs in our multicultural, multi-moral society?

“Revenge” is a word used by many media personnel to describe the execution of murderers and how an advanced civilization should not tolerate it. I saw it again in article about a death sentence handed to a middle-aged man for raping a child who subsequently died. Poor word choice. Revenge is something a victim or his adherents do to the person who harmed him. Victim’s families do not authorize the death penalty. Juries do. The proper word is “protection.” That is what a jury is doing. Murderers do escape from prison. They also get released for “good behavior.” They also murder again. But not if they are executed. Execution protects the innocent.