The Tamminator Speaks: Political Iguanas

Our Mexican host for a "Dia del Campo" took me by the hand and showed me the iguana sleeping on the large hot rock. Putting his fingers to his lips he pulled out a small gun and placed a small caliber projectile into the reptile's skull. I watched with fascination as he then picked it up by the tail and we casually returned to our camp site. Handing it to me, a picture was taken of little Crocodile Dundee. The iguana was field-dressed and served in tacos. I do not remember the taste of the meat but I remember the beginnings of conceptualization. I now knew that the environment could be changed and mastered by the more powerful hand. I was three years old. My memory of the event is clear to this day.


Click here for link to photo.


The rocks of our Capitol now support too many political iguanas. The Kingdom consists of the incumbent members of both Houses of Congress. Warming their cold blood on rocks of "justice for all" and euphemisms of defiled truth, they bask in the warmth and surety of their position. They have the incumbency advantage. But the reptilian nature of incumbency creates an eventual devolution of political process and lack of restraint. The exhiliration of power degrades the character of men. Incumbency is nurtured by the most powerful mistress of all: Her name is Seduction.

The Capitol Kingdom then breaks off into the phylum and chordata, moving in evolutionary manner into the more recognizable classes and orders. But the iguanas rule. Their Kingdom is inhabited by other mammalia such as the mice, monkeys, moles and zebras. Yet the iguanas also absorb some of the traits of lower class distinction.

We see the incumbent Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who is more commonly referred to as an Insectivora shrew. She has been sunning on the Capitol Rock for too long.

We marvel at incumbent Senator John Edwards, now more commonly recognized as the lowly Carnivora. How many men have the power and cult-like status to frolic with a mistress, be dumb enough to make the sex tape, and also talk a staff member into lying about paternity? Isn't it time to get rid of this weasel? His marital indiscretion is between him and his wife. But the rest.... should scare us. The man who will abandon his own progeny is not fit to govern within a nation.

What about incumbent Senate Majority leader Harry Reid? This old bat needs to go. When the good times roll, he glad claps for the healthcare overhaul of the Obama administration whilst thumbing his nose at the will of the People. But when Massachusetts voters suddenly mount an electoral rout, he proclaims there is no need to "rush" into the thing. What do you believe Harry, old boy? Or is it all about continuing to sun on the Capitol rock?

At age three I was beginning to understand the world, its order, and how environment could be manipulated. It is the lesson of the iguana. Isn't it time that American adults take their own simple childhood lessons to heart and enter the political arena with renewed intent? Make a list. What other political iguanas need to be relieved of their place in the sun?


(*Bloggers note: "The Tamminator" is my given nickname by those who know me well. smile)

Tammy Swofford

Article 51 of the U.N. Charter

The government of the United States is keeping Aegis cruisers on patrol off the Iranian coast and deploying anti-missile systems into Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar.

It is good to take a moment and read Article 51 of the United Nations charter which gives member nations the inherent right to self-defense, and even collective self-defense. We are seeing a move to collective self-defense.

Taking a look back at history:

U.S. joint forces (Navy, Marine and Air Force) struck Libyan facilities in Operation El Dorado Canyon in April of 1986 under the tenets of this doctrine.

But it seems that the current movements are defensive as opposed to any pre-emptive strike. Israel will provide the wild card.

President Reagan's speech to the Nation

Tammy Swofford

Political Arsenal: Choosing our Weapons

This bit of advice regarding questions to ask when considering new legislation found its way into my email this a.m. I am familiar with this organization and their goals for the State of Oklahoma. Their thoughts are worth passing along for those of us who want to enter the political swell of the coming electoral season. It has been a pleasure to observe from afar the political maturation process of this organization. Enjoy what is shared below. And remember the goal for this season. It is time for the electorate to restore a Constitutionally- limited government!
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Many individuals and groups have to come to the fight to restore constitutionally limited government and liberty for different reasons. With so many differing viewpoints, experiences and worldviews, some disagreements are likely to happen over which legislation to support and which to oppose. Most folks have come to realize that the 'rise of the State' has led to the growth of government beyond it's proper limitation, and has led to a diminishment of our remaining liberties and freedoms.

When reading a bill, ask this simple question: "Does the new legislation expand the reach and scope of government?" This question is a good starting point in the decision making process.The techniques used by experts to promote a bill idea include marketing the bill, just like any good advertising company would market a new product - to convince people to buy that product.

Formula: Introduce a need or problem; find a 'victim' and package a solution; then promote, promote, promote that packaged product. Result - the public buys into the legislation 'solving' the problem, the bill becomes law, and government expands its' reach and scope. Simple.

Two views:

Group 1) Now, if an individual believes that more government, or only government, is the solution to the 'problem', then that individual will most likely support the new legislation expanding the reach and scope of government to fix the problem.

Group 2) But, if an individual believes that more government is not the solution to the 'problem', that government is too big already and has gone beyond it's clearly enumerated functions, then the individual would most likely oppose the new legislation expanding the reach and scope of government. Again, ask the question about each bill, "Does this legislation expand the reach and scope of government?"

How Group 1 and Group 2 people answer that question and whether they decide to support or oppose a bill should prove to be both interesting... and revealing. Getting involved in the legislative process is a good thing - knowing the proper role of government and the purpose of law is a necessary thing. To find your state Representative and Senator, click here.Put the legislator's contact information in your cell phone and be ready to make those calls and visits to the Capitol beginning February 1, 2010.


Posted by Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Suicide Bombings

Well, Dear Readers:

Another day in Jihadville and the stuff is just amazing. Trolling through a site coming out of the Caucuses I ponder a YouTube with a Sheikh rattling about and giving his latest fatwa on suicide bombings.

How the hell is a man able to convince other men to blow off their own testicles in exchange for Paradise? I just.... don't get it.

One of my earliest blogs was titled, "Islam Heal Thyself". (October 1, 2005) It ain't happening within the radical undercurrent. The jihad sites support colonies of Raptors.

But aside from men and their testicles, my gut tells me the next attempted suicide bombing on our soil will be accomplished with detonation by a female hand. The Jihad boards are psychologically posturing the women into their ranks. I have articles in my files. It ain't pretty. The unnatural mating of religion and hatred is quite a bastardization at this point.

Islam, Heal Thyself.

Tammy Swofford

State of the Union Address

The President and his party have alienated a large majority of American voters. They have insulated themselves from We the People, and frankly my dear, they don't give a damn.

I am completely alienated from the current Commander in Chief. As such, there will be no commentary from me on President Barack Obama's State of the Union address tonight. The veneer of wisdom holds little fascination or mystique for me. Rhetoric bores me and scripted and verbose monologue interests me even less. I much prefer a plain-spoken truth to a highly-spinned deception.

For those who watch the address tonight, feel free to post a comment if anything strikes you as being noteworthy, any startling burst of illumination. smile

Tammy

South Carolina's Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer: Political Jackass

We have experienced the best of times during some of the American political seasons of the past. But this decade has confronted us with some of the worst political contenders in recent history. For the average American it comes down to reluctantly casting a vote in the next election or merely vacating the polling booth in disgust.

There are asses-a-plenty already seated within our halls of government and some of them need to find themselves languishing in an unemployment line. But it is also counterproductive to vote for the next local jackass seeking a paycheck.

Thank God the latest braying political donkey belongs to the fine folks in South Carolina.

Lt. Governor Andre Bauer will never receive an award for noble oration but he deserves a squarely placed kick in the seat of his britches for the insulting remarks directed at the poor in his state.

I agree that America has a problem with generational welfare and generational poverty. Longitudinal studies have tracked family trees in certain states to demonstrate the career path of choice remains one of a perpetual welfare trajectory. These issues must be rectified through programs and policies which bring an opportunity for basic vocational education for some of the poorest of the poor, and a financial leg to stand on as the welfare family tree makes transition into the various branches of the economy.

For Braying Bauer to compare assistance to the poor as one of merely feeding "stray animals" who are best suited to rutting behavior and not much else is a bit of a stretch. My guess is there is a good bit of rutting going on in his own neighborhood, and snobbishness abounds.

This week I am mailing a box of goodies to a blog reader. She is a single mother with a chronic and debilitating disease. Her children receive no support from their father. I hardly consider her a stray animal, and more envision her an average American who has had a rather difficult life.

I can only hope that Lt. Governor Bauer can begin to open his eyes to the very real plight of the American poor. They are in need of a helping hand and a compassionate response. They don't need to be kicked when already in the ditch.

Article link


Tammy Swofford

Roe v Wade: From Sci-Fi Analogy to Stark Reality

The upswing in the death demographic of 2006 for Tyler, Texas was subtle at first. Hardly anyone noticed. But when by early spring when the number of deaths was released - 20,000 souls - the citizens began to panic.

Studies were immediately started. Soil and water samples were sent to area state labs and to the chem-bio labs run by the federal government. While some were found to have died in their sleep others died in a fully awake and viable state. Calenders were checked and it was noted that the highest incidence of deaths was on Fridays and Saturdays.

By summer the death march in Tyler, Texas was a daily headline in major media outlets. Commerce languished, families hastily and fearfully packed their belongings, and homes were left silent and vacant of sound. A hollowness pervaded the city and it was most noticeable with the lack of the shouts and laughter of the children as they played on their lawns and in the city parks.

By the end of 2006, Tyler, Texas was a ghost town. No one ever really knew why nearly the sum total of a previously vibrant community had been struck with fierce specter of death. But everyone knew that something had gone horribly wrong in Tyler, Texas in 2006.

*Reported abortions in Texas in 2006 are estimated to be around 82,000. This number, is a little less than the population of Tyler.

*Line up one hundred American women who have reached the age of forty-five. One-half of them will have had an abortion.

*We kill more Americans in six minutes than were killed in the first year our troops were in Iraq. You want to talk about bloodshed? Let's be honest about American blood.

*We have killed a generation of Americans since this decision was made. More than 46 million Americans have been lost in this war.

There must be a historical accounting, a damning indictment against the nine men seated on the highest court of the United States of America who opened the door to a Pro-Death Movement. This movement is now taking the elderly, and the infirm. Do you hear the thundering of the boots? In years to come, this march will come to your door and take one of your family members.

Welcome, to Tyler, Texas.

Tammy Swofford

Roe v Wade: January 22, 1973

The day passed quietly for most of us. Roe v. Wade has brought many subtle changes into the fabric of our society.

Nine men. Nine men seated on the highest court in our land made a decision which would forever change the lives of American women.

When nine men gave all American men the right to vacate their primary role as protector and guardian of their progeny the quality of life for women decreased in America. Roe v Wade has harmed American women.

There must be a historical accounting for the actions of these nine men.

We will take a look at the effects of Roe v Wade in the next blog.

Tammy Swofford

The Earth is the Lord's

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

Psalm 24:1

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After our beloved and faithful beagle died my husband decided we would raise laying hens. Checking the city ordinances he found that chickens were an allowable suburban acquisition. I grumbled along whilst my husband merrily put up a small chicken coop in the back yard behind the vegetable garden.

"Tammy Swofford: chicken farmer." It sounded like a curse muttered under my breath.

My husband bought five of the finest Rhode Island Reds, the pride of Fort Worth. Depositing them in the back yard it was not long before the smallest of the females established herself as the leader of the pack. The chickens behaved predictably and at other times, in crazy fashion depending on their mood.

An amazing thing happened. As I began to move about the garden, turning the soil, or just merely sitting to read a book, these five senseless little creatures found place in my heart.

Running to the back door whenever it opened, quizzical and slightly cocked heads would greet us. One of them, had what I called "drunk eyes" but all of them received humorous names. "Chicken Dumpling", the smallest and bravest became my favorite. Obviously, there could never be a place in the Swofford stewpot for these unusual "pets" because lil' Dumpling would let me carry her around the house. One day I answered the door with chicken in tow. UPS was delivering a package and I proclaimed, "Yes, we are the 'Adam's Family'".

The hawk was seen lifting off from the backyard two weeks ago. A beautiful display of white and grey, this grey-lined hawk left us with a sense of foreboding. Chicken Dumpling had taken the hit. Decapitation was obviously the first strike. The hawk had eaten all which was needed for sustenance leaving only the esophogus and stomach, which had been pushed aside. I never thought the day would come where I would mourn the loss of a chicken. smile

Last week I was walking in a beautiful city park. I love this little haunt. It supports a pond with ducks and turtles, fish and small snakes. Squirrels are in abundance, and nature is in full display on small scale. Looking skyward to the bare tree branches I saw a magnificent white and grey hawk, silent observer of the ecosystem below. Somehow, I could not blame the hawk for his predatory act. It is his part to play in this world which is a self-sustaining, self-replenishing orb created for our pleasure and to sustain our lives. All Creation testifies.


Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Chronicles of my Closet: Almost Narnia

A beloved book and movie selection is "Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. These flights of fancy have enthralled both children and adult readers for years. In the first book of the series the children enter the wardrobe in a game of hide-and-seek. They soon find themselves in a new world where mythical creatures and adventure await them.

The last time I really cleaned a closet it seemed a despised task which was loathsome to my soul. This week, the entrance into both closet and an armoire brought much happiness as I found many reminders of the warmth of friendship. Among the treasures unearthed:


*A beautiful embroidered vest from the Hashemite Kingdom. It is lovely indeed!

*A scarf from Turkey, a gift from a scholar's wife.

*A cap from Pakistan, made of goat's hair and quite - ahem- stylish. This also from a friend.

*A deep jade silk wrap from Syria from a Palestinian friend. Too nice to wear!

*Key chain from Mongolia, the gift from a translator who assisted our medical team.

*Traditional garb from Nigeria, from a family friend.

So it was almost like Narnia, the childlike joy of discovering these beloved items, each carefully stored, yet needing display.

Tammy

America's Growing "Tea Party": Delivering their Calling Card in Massachusetts

The American Tea Party movement has been critically and relentlessly clobbered by liberal media giants aligned with the goals of the liberal and free-wheeling socialist Obama Administration. Justifiably angered and liberty-loving Americans venting their spleen within town hall meetings have been treated as politically inept Frankenstein creations. Allowable acts of civil obedience, and let me confirm, CIVIL OBEDIENCE, because the acts seek the continued adherence to the Constitution of the United States, are falsely reported as seditious and dangerous events.

But the American people have spoken. And they have lifted their voices within the confines of one of the most liberal of the states in our Union, the state of Massachusetts. Conservative Americans lost the presidential election. But we promised that we would be back. We are back, with a political vengeance.

Government can engage many opportunities on behalf of the citizenry. But when government becomes increasingly burdensome on the backs of the tax-payers, when the life is squeezed out of the individual states, and when policies consider the needs of the non-citizen illegal immigrant as of equal importance to those of the legal citizen, the electorate begins to arise.

We can no longer afford to tell the world to give us their hungry and poor. As Americans, we must first provide for the hungry and poor legal citizens of our own nation. We can no longer afford to allow our government to perform as an agent of any greater global entity or geopolitical superstructure. As Americans, we must demand a return in increasing measure to sovereign movement within the political ranks of the world. We can no longer afford to increase our welfare rolls while decreasing the job opportunities for Americans who need jobs which suit their vocational capabilities. Every American man should be able to earn a living working with his hands, if that is his choice and capability.

We can no longer afford the self-serving, unpatriotic and compromised service of those with checkered voting records in Washington. The pro-partial birth abortion, pro-amnesty of law-breakers, and pro-Big Brother healthcare folks need to go. Let the American Tea Party continue. And let this movement restore American ideals in a state by state, county by county, and city by city manner.

Tammy Swofford

Doctrine of War: VI

Editors Note: If you are just now familiarizing yourself with the series "Doctrine of War" please make your beginning point the blog "Gestalt. Islam!" You will find it in the November archives. All Doctrine of War blogs can be found by clicking on the meta-tag. Eventually, this series should provide a mini field guide for students of Islamic Doctrine of War.

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Background for the Battle of Badr.

It was the first decisive battle in the win column for the Muslim army. It is called the Battle of Badr. As with all things during this era, a bit of encouragement came by means of Qur'anic revelation. The instructions which preceded the battle would place the Muslim population on a war-footing with their enemies and bring them into a face-off against various tribal political alliances.

"To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because They are wronged; - and verily, God is most Powerful for their aid; -" Hajj 39

The reason for the war footing is found in following through with the reading in subsequent ayat of this Surah. This prior ayat is believed to be sent contextually with Hajj 41 which commands:

* Iqamat-as-Salat (compulsory prayers five times a day), *payment of Zakat (codified system of charity), *to enjoin Islamic Monotheism and Islamic commands and also cast aside Polytheism and the things forbidden by Islamic law (Al-Ma'ruf and Al-Munkar, respectively).

It was time to make the Qur'an begin to come to life as the tangible law of the land. The Muslim power base in Madinah was being strengthened, there was the need to deal with 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salool and the tribes configured around his powerful persona and leadership. The arch enemy Abu Jahl was also heavily into political play, and had been in the thick of things for quite some time. Surah 96 (al-Alaq) is the first Qur'anic revelation, hence a Makki revelation. It addresses the actions of Abu Jahl in the ayat (verses) 9-19. So the clash of the titans already has historical precedent. Now, plans are moving forward rapidly on both sides for this first major confrontation with the government of Allah.

The permission to fight had already encountered abrogation within Qur'anic text, but the pivotal revelations within Surah Hajj were the Madani revelations which brought firm understanding that "against whom war is made" did not necessarily mean merely those taking up physical arms against the Muslims but - suck in your breath - those driving Muslims from their homes by persecution and denial of the right to worship, the right to pray.

As Prophet Muhammad worked to form non-aggression pacts and cobbled together his own alliances within the tribes the battle was brewing on the horizon. It would be a nasty one. But it would be one which the Muslims would win.

In modern context, seeking to deny the construction of a masjid (mosque) in a city in Europe (read the news) will be seen as an act of war through the eyes of some Muslims. In America, the majority of Muslims do not feel a sense of persecution. But in Europe the coming decades will bring sudden flashpoints of civil unrest as Muslims seek to imprint more firmly their beliefs within the existing Western governmental structures. You must understand the very strong sentiment which is driving a few of these issues today. The answers are to be found within the Qur'anic Sciences.

Tammy Swofford

The Navy Shower: Wear your Prettiest Smile!

There are just some valid reasons why Navy recruiters will end up in Hell. When I joined the Navy my recruiter gave me a key chain, a coffee cup and a tote bag. I toured the local base and had a hamburger at the Chow Hall. I scurried home to fill out a massive amount of paperwork and endure the indignities of a complete physical at some obscure federal building. But never, oh never, did the recruiter mention the "Three minute Navy Shower", a glorious field tradition!

The first whisper of the shower facilities at FHOTC at Camp Pendleton included what is probably the standard suburban nightmare tale. "A female enlisted was showering last week and a male stepped into the shower and asked to use her bar of soap." Whether it happened or not, most of us had that look in our eyes that expressed horror, while three of us later admitted to wishing for the same shocking experience. smile

Anyway, the truth of the matter is that Navy field showers are segregated open-bay structures with approximately eight to ten shower heads with one drain hole in the middle of a slightly downward-sloped floor. The "dressing room" is a smallish enclosure next to the shower with a few wall hooks for uniforms and two small benches to be used to tighten up the boot laces if necessary. The "three minute shower" rule is mostly peer enforced within the female ranks. So many of us are fighting for the opportunity to wash off the first layer of grime and sweat from the desert sands and heated environment, the law of supply and demand applies.

First night in the field I patiently stood and waited until a shower was open and quickly stripped my clothes and stepped in. Second night, cammies off and towel demurely draped and bar of soap in hand. By about the third day the transition was complete. Naked, bar of soap in hand, didn't care at this point. I was wearing my best smile and looking forward to the cold jet of water to shock me back a bit from a sleep-deprived state. Pretty much the rule of thumb is you can talk in the shower, but politely give eye contact and a nice smile.

The Law of the Jungle can also apply when hilarity takes hold and the undaunted American spirit prevails. At a live fire exercise Fleet Hospital Dallas was manning the medical tents for two weeks. The nearest head facility (military term for restroom) was a torturous trek uphill with burning hot sands under the feet. The temperature was above 110 most days and the operational tempo was brisk. This briskness was also required to make a trip to the bathroom and shower.

One day, coming down the hill at breakneck speed and shouting all the way the nurses noted a man wearing only this and his boots. Poor Mister Boonie-Boots! His buddies had stolen his clothing and towel as he showered and no one else would help the poor guy out. God knows how long he languished in the shower area begging for help and enduring the ridicule. Either he was the most popular guy around or the most despised. Men have weird bonding experiences, don't they? Rule #1 for the Navy field shower is to keep your eyes on your clothes whilst you shower.

Anyway, what made the whole thing so funny is how this American Warrior finally made it to the safety of his field barracks to run out the opposite door chasing his buddies off into the distance. Still naked, but he had that American Pride!

Mr. Boonie-Boots was not quite close enough for us to discern his features but we certainly enquired discreetly about the matter so that we could thank him for being brave and also for giving the Navy Nurses a much needed laugh!

As for Navy Recruiters? Don't trust 'em. They promise you Hawaii. But in the end, you do get something much better. smile

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

In Honor of a Man Who Earned the Nobel Peace Prize: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize speech, Oslo Norway, 10 December 1964:

Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I accept the Nobel Prize for Peace at a moment when 22 million Negroes of the United States of America are engaged in a creative battle to end the long night of racial injustice. I accept this award on behalf of a Civil Rights movement which is moving with determination and a majestic scorn for risk and danger to establish a reign of Freedom and a rule of Justice. I am mindful that only yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama, our children, crying out for Brotherhood, were answered with fire hoses, snarling dogs, and even death.

I am mindful that only yesterday in Philadelphia, Mississippi, young people seeking to secure the right to vote were brutalized and murdered. And only yesterday more than 40 houses of worship in the state of Mississippi alone were bombed or burned, because they offered a sanctuary to those who would not accept Segregation. I am mindful that debilitating and grinding poverty afflicts my people and chains them to the lowest rung of the economic ladder.

Therefore, I must ask why this Prize is awarded to a movement which is beleaguered and committed to unrelenting struggle, to a movement which has not won the very Peace and Brotherhood which is the essence of the Nobel Prize.

After contemplation, I conclude that this Award, which I receive on behalf of that movement, is a profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time ... the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression. Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts. Negroes of the United States, following the people of India, have demonstrated that nonviolence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force which makes for social transformation. Sooner or later, all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in Peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of Brotherhood. If this is to be achieved, man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is Love.

The tortuous road which has led from Montgomery, Alabama, to Oslo bears witness to this truth. This is a road over which millions of Negroes are travelling to find a new sense of dignity. This same road has opened for all Americans a new era of progress and Hope. It has led to a new Civil Rights Bill and it will, I am convinced, be widened and lengthened into a super highway of Justice as Negro and White men in increasing numbers create alliances to overcome their common problems.

I accept this Award today with an abiding Faith in America and an audacious Faith in the future of mankind. I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the "isness" of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal "oughtness" that forever confronts him. I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsom and jetsom in the River of Life, unable to influence the unfolding events which surround him. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of Peace and Brotherhood can never become a reality. I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction.

I believe that unarmed Truth and unconditional Love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. I believe that even amid today's mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still Hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded Justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men. I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land. "And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid." I still believe that we shall overcome!

This Faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future. It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the City of Freedom. When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds and our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, we will know that we are living in the creative turmoil of a genuine civilization struggling to be born.

Today I come to Oslo as a trustee, inspired and with renewed dedication to humanity. I accept this Prize on behalf of all men who love Peace and Brotherhood. I say I come as a trustee, for in the depths of my heart I am aware that this Prize is much more than an honor to me personally. Every time I take a flight, I am always mindful of the many people who make a successful journey possible - the known pilots and the unknown ground crew. So you honor the dedicated pilots of our struggle who have sat at the controls as the Freedom movement soared into orbit. You honor, once again, Chief Lutuli of South Africa, whose struggles with and for his people, are still met with the most brutal expression of man's inhumanity to man. You honor the ground crew without whose labor and sacrifices the jet flights to freedom could never have left the earth. Most of these people will never make the headline and their names will not appear in Who's Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of Truth is focused on this marvellous age in which we live - men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization - because these humble Children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness' sake.

I think Alfred Nobel would know what I mean when I say that I accept this award in the spirit of a curator of some precious heirloom which he holds in trust for its true owners - all those to whom Beauty is Truth and Truth Beauty - and in whose eyes the Beauty of genuine Brotherhood and Peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold.

-submitted by Blackfoot

Navy Field Latrines: Keeping a Sense of Humor

Ahhh, yes! In the Navy will you find men using a latrine and not only willingly photographed, but also smiling and waving. This is just one more reason why women should vacate the military and stay near hearth and home, where polite behavior and civility prevail.

The second photo shows the female head (latrine) within the enclosed building, and the field latrine built by one of the men on the Advance Party of WATC02 (Ghana, W. Africa) I was also Advance Party and was one of the first to use the enclosed female latrine. Did I mention that when I sat on the toilet I heard a "swish" and caught sight of a snake in the bowl and ran in terror with my pants around my ankles?

Basically, the male latrine required digging a pit, popping a pipe down into the pit and filling the pit with gravel, placing a screen over the top of the urinal. In the field there is really no complete privacy, and so it is up to the individual to either allow a measure of dignity in the latrine or.... have a sense of humor and take a few pictures.

Worst field latrine was during an exercise which went far into the night. The "enemy" had cut our generators and we were working in the medical tents in the dark. Feeling nature's call, a male Naval officer escorted me through the brush and "enemy fire" to the latrine.

Essentially, a few rain ponchos had been strung together. Inside, a pit had been dug and two saw-horses supported a poorly secured mop handle across the front of the pit. Mounting up on the mop handle, er toilet seat, my first concern was to find the can of disinfectant spray. But as my position shifted and I realized that I was precariously balanced over a death pit full of buzzing insects and the deposit of excrement of the previous fifty humans who had used the "facility" my thoughts turned to god and country.

"God! If I fall backwards into this stuff I swear I will go AWOL and the Navy can court martial my ass! Let the country protect its self!"

There is always the option to ignore the field latrine and venture further into the brush to find a solitary and private spot to relieve the bladder. One nurse warned me to never consider such a thing. She had learned her lesson. Venturing into the brush to take care of business she was quite proud of her accomplishment. As soon as she dropped her underwear the bushes suddenly had eyes and whistles. She had stumbled right into the middle of a group of Special Forces types working on being sneaky and invisible in daylight hours. Personally, I would have demanded all of the M&M's and Skittles from their field-stripped MRE's. I would not have been content with a few wolf whistles.

Worst field latrine was at 29 Palms. The SeaBees, those crazy bastards, had installed about a dozen toilets nearly side-by-side, without any partitions. Some of the nurses practically developed bowel obstructions from the constipation. They just couldn't "go" in front of other people. Not me! I would just put my sunglasses on when I went to the bathroom. I figured we were all dressed alike. How would they know it was me?

We will finish up this section of military blogs with one on "Navy Showers". smile

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

How Joining the Navy Changes a Woman into a Freak

One of the distinct disadvantages of joining the Navy is how the experience soon produces a disconnect with prior community bonds. My girlfriends are spending their weekends at Neiman's or busy having cooled cucumbers placed on their eyelids by gay men at the day spa.

I am busy forming rivulets of sweat between my breasts as I stand in 85 degree heat and await my opportunity to enter the "Confidence Chamber". They talk of the latest fashions and lip gloss color. I am discovering the joy of camouflage and faking a boot shine with "Mop and Glo".

One of the fundamentals of military training is the highly anticipated trip to the "Confidence Chamber". The military is pretty dogmatic on these things. As a drill sergeant at DCO school told me: "It is mind over matter." As he drew up the total towering hulk of his muscled body near me and jutted his jaw three inches from my face he elaborated further: "I don't mind and YOU don't matter!" Actually, it is not quite so dramatic. But the fact is that the military will train you until you get it right. If you do not understand the command, you will request a "training time out." But in the end, you will come out of any training with both capability and confidence. Hence, the "Confidence Chamber", which separates out the bold and courageous from those who really wish they could go back in time and strangle the recruiter for not telling them about little things like the trip to the gas chamber.

My first trip to the "Confidence Chamber" was at Camp Pendleton. The initial venture was merely wearing the mask and becoming familiar with how to properly fit the straps, clear the mask, etc. Later training progresses to wearing the full MOPP gear.

*As you will note in the one picture, should there have been a true chemical attack instead of a "gas attack drill", I might have ended up a casualty. One drop of VX gas on exposed skin is sufficient to kill.

Problematic when wearing the gear in a hot climate is proper hydration, which leads to frequent urination. Now while men can hold their bladders all day the female frame is not as sufficiently well-equipped. Secondarily, there is the sensitive issue of selecting a "buddy" to decontaminate your derriere after every single squat in a chemical environment. I asked for a male buddy and the request was denied. It is the old fraternization policy at work. But believe me, you haven't lived until you have entered a port-o-john in full gear with the steam coming up outta the hole....

Anyway, joining the Navy changes women into freaks. How can any of us explain stuff like this to other women who are focused on their latest pedicure and lunch at La Madeleine's? smile

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

New Swofford website

Have a Fine Navy Day!

A blog reader requested that I write a few posts on military operations and field experience based on a love for these blogs:

First link

Second link

There was also the hint of a bribe: A gift card is coming my way. smile So here is the first of several military blogs. Let's talk about the beloved Chinook. And let's ignore the idiot hanging off the side of the aircraft in the second photo.

The CH-47 is just a wonderful and versatile bird of flight. Actually, the thing looks like it cannot get off the ground, but watching it hover a few feet above a field is a miracle indeed. Compared to some of the fancier military bird of prey, the Chinook may seem as despised as the old family station wagon of the 1970's. But I love this particular helicopter. I have spent many a pleasant hour learning to load it with mock combat victims, and also flown to field exercises with my Navy buddies.

My first taste of training was under an officer, "Mad Dog Jack". Male military officers always have to display their testosterone with their double-harness, K-Bar and ammo belt. So while a female officer is always "Ma'am" a male officer is always "Mad Dog", "Crazy Horse" or "Rambo". At home, he takes out the trash on Tuesdays and Fridays just like any other husband but in the field, he becomes a legend in his own eyes. Woof!

Back to the story at hand. "Mad Dog Jack" teaches the basics of Chinook safety. When loading the stretchers onto the Chinook you duck your head coming up the ramp so that your hair is not set on fire by the blast coming off the engines. When you leave the craft via the side-door you duck your head so that you are not decapitated by the blades which drop down to about five feet from the ground.

This is the transport king in the field when it comes to evacuation of injured, movement of detainees, and even transportation of equipment. At 29 Palms I saw a Chinook transporting a jeep across the mountains, dangled from the hook like a small toy in the distance. When flying over Fort Hood once our flight crew dropped the doors so we could see the hundreds of tanks lined up below us, much like cars on a lot. You can't look down for too long. One of the women in the second helo in our airborne convoy puked out the hole and her team never let her live it down.

I love the sturdy Chinook. She is a grand old dame and continues to serve our military well.

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

The Haiti Earthquake

My grandfather invested both life and finances in the nation of Haiti. A Church of God minister for many years, he found himself at loose ends after my grandmother passed away. In his senior years he entered a dental program which provided vocational training for men and women who wished to provide basic dentistry to citizens within impoverished regions of the world.

He chose to work in Haiti, with the recognition that his services would be greatly needed in this poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. I remember reading some of his letters as a teenage girl, thrilled at the tenacity of my grandfather to do the unthinkable: Leave America and serve the poor for the sake of Jesus Christ. He later began delivering babies. The women of Haiti figured that if he was a dentist, he was also an obstetrician! This work with maternal health led to the later development of a birthing clinic in Mexico, where my grandfather employed midwives to provide birthing services. But my grandfather loved the people of Haiti.

Beyond the immediate devastation of massive loss of life in Haiti there will be greater needs in the days ahead.

*Quelling rampant infectious disease spawned by improper burial of the dead.
*Massive amounts of intravenous rehydration for the critically injured.
*Location and repatriation of orphans with relatives.
*Food, shelter, and safety.

The nation of Haiti has never moved too far up the hierarchy of need as presented by Maslow. The Catholic community has suffered a blow with the loss of their Archbishop and the destruction of many of their cathedrals. The various embassies have injured personnel. But I am glad my grandfather is not alive to see this day. It would cause him distress.

Those of us who are aware of this still unfolding disaster must do what my grandfather would have done. We must pray.


Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

When Graciousness Erases Boundaries

"I would like to make your family some liver and onions. I make a great gravy."

This was the offer given by one of the two workers who had spent several weeks assisting in remodeling the interior of our home. The middle-aged couple had gained our respect for their excellent work ethic - when they showed up - when they were not inebriated. How could we refuse the offer?

"Sure, Kathryn. Pick a day, you bring the liver and I will provide the rest."

Tonight, we dined on liver and onions.

The package of meat stated that the purchase price was $2.09. My bread selection was over double the amount of the entree.

As dinner progressed we learned that three other individuals lived in a trailer with this couple. All were adults, legal Americans, unrelated except for their socioeconomic status. The woman stated in a casual manner, "We each pay one hundred and five dollars a month rent. That is the only way we can make ends meet." It was not presented as a complaint, merely a fact of life.

We spent a lovely evening with our new friends. Hugging this couple good-bye I assured them that it was the best comfort food we had eaten in a long time. We promised to call them soon and continue the friendship.

There was no class distinction as we shared a meal with some very poor Americans. I like to think that the Swofford family received the better end of the deal tonight.

Tammy

Blog Administrative Task

Readers,

I apologize for the loss of comments for a few days. After seeking to merely export the Haloscan comments and losing them I went on line with js-kit support. I was informed the comments would be done in batches and might take several months for that function to again be available to readers.

I value any and all comments, as this is a free speech zone. So I coughed up the small fee for the upgrade (Echo) and it appears all is now back to normal. Amazing, how money talks! wink

But moving back into the world of ideas, this issue is on my mind today:

At what point does the citizen right to any particular pursuit end and the government right to put on the brakes begin? I am thinking about these issues as France is seeking an economic fine against Muslim women for wearing the veil. And on lesser scale, a Texas mother fights a school board for her young son to keep his long hair, contrary to the dress code. Does principle restrain liberty or does liberty trump all other considerations?

I may possibly blog on the issue in the future, but feel free to go ahead and enter the free speech zone. How do you feel regarding the aforementioned?

Tammy

From China, with Love

Whilst the Environmental Protection Agency is keeping our air clean, and the globular Al Gore is concerned about global warming, the import business from China which continues to drop billions of pieces of trash off container ships into "dollar stores" and Cheap-Mart continues to plague us.

Poisoned pets? Bad enough. Cold medicine syrup with diethylene glycol? Ask the citizens of Panama about that little issue. Tsk Tsk. Cadmium in the cheap trinkets which the poor buy to pacify their waif-like little children for a birthday or holiday?

Do we give enough of a Damn?

From trade treaties to Kyoto tricks with men riding in on brooms, the American public can once again raise up a shout: "Duped again".

Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Connecting the Dots

Adam Gadahn released a video in 2008, and "The Believer Isn't Stung from the Same Hole Twice" is the title as translated by an analyst whom I respect. But a deeper look at even this small piece of information is required and as such, a mental land navigation course is needed. Adam slapped us into the next county with his cleverly chosen title. It is all in the terrain of the mind.

We will move from Adam Gadahn to:
Shamil Basaev, Hadith, the Qur'an, Hadith, Arabic linguistics, and Seerah literature. So let's get started.

*Adam Gadahn's title:
What immediately comes to mind? For one analyst, the navigation moved to the analogy of a scorpion. Wrong. I immediately swung my gaze to Chechnya.

Chechnya:
Important strategic jihad doctrine and thought is moving with strength throughout the Northern Caucuses. This thought can be read on one major portal, from which I purchased an e-book by Shamil Basaev and also a sister portal which is actually beginning to compete on some levels.

Shamil Basaev:
In his "Book of a Mujahiddeen" the now-deceased individual shares simple warfare tactics and analysis. In the section on "Experience" he quotes the same thing as Adam Gadahn but with the more accurate line of thought:

"Prophet (peace upon him) said, "A believer will not be stung twice from the same burrow." (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

Qur'an:
The use of the word burrow is important. Because what stings the unbeliever is not a scorpion but a more virulent animal. This animal is called a "Hypocrite" in the Qur'an. Again and again, avoidance of hypocrites is a clarion call for Muslims. The word has quite a bit of play within the portions of the Qur'an which are Madani revelation.

* Hadith:
Let's move back to a key Hadith and include the sanad and matn:

"Bukhari said that Sulaiman Abu-ar-Rabi' informed him saying that Isma'il bin Ja'far said that Nafi' bin Malik informed him on the authority of his father that Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said:
"The signs of a hypocrie are three; whenever he speaks he tells a lie; whenever he makes a promise, he breaks it; and whenever entrusted with something he proves treacherous."
(From personal correspondence files)

Muhaddithun (scholars of Hadith) look at the text and see two key elements: Hypocrites and treachery.

Arabic linguistics:
This is the fun part. The word for hypocrisy comes from "Nifaaq". The concept of nifaaq came into being after Prophet Muhammad migrated to Madinah. A man by the name of 'Abdullah Ubai bin Salool received a spit-upon title of Chief of the Munafiqeen, for moving about under false pretense to topple Muhammad. "Conversion" to Islam by bin Salool and his followers was accompanied by plots and intrigue to get rid of Muhammad.

Nifaaq speaks of deception. It is correlated with an animal such as a mole which constructs an underground den with two entrances. The one entrance has the welcome mat out (as did bin Salool) and the second is used to escape danger. It can also mean a hidden tunnel through which a burrow is accessed. It correlates with the word Nafq, which means an underground burrow which links to a secondary burrow. When attacked, the hypocrite merely turns tail and hides in the second burrow. To be called a hypocrite is a highly insulting term. Non-Muslims are referred to as "kufr" which means to conceal something. ( Tafseer of al-Maududi)

Seerah literature:
The body of literature on the biography of Muhammad further hammers away on the topic of hypocrisy and you can find a Jew by the name bin Saba counted among the hypocrites. Portions of the Qur'anic Surah no. 34 (The City of Saba) are directed against this man.

So the Muslim believer is stung by a hypocrite. The hypocrite makes his escape into his burrow. Undoubtedly more than a few Muhaddithun grasped the nuances of the title of the video immediately. It certainly struck me as soon as I read it.

**Lexicon: Having seen both "Muhaddithun" and "Muhaddithin" used, and a bit perplexed I sought out expertise from an Islamic scholar.

"Latin, French and German nouns have normative, dative, genitive, accusatives forms, etc. This Muhaddthun changes place according to its place in syntax to muhaddithin, same word. Both are plural..... Normative for it is 'un'. You may stick to that."

So when seeking out "dots" you have to be able to see "dots" on multiple levels. Arabic is a very difficult language to grasp and the poetics are tied to interpretive skills which encompass knowledge of the Qur'anic Sciences. The above was taken from:

Rise as One Man: Islam in the 21st Century

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

February 20, 2009

Failure to Connect the Dots

President Barack Obama got it right. There was a failure to connect the dots in taking Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab off the street. But it is also possible that there was a failure to even see the dots.

Within the sterile environment of counterterrorism espionage we have the NSA listening posts and other like-minded intelligence-gathering endeavors, many of these things shared amongst the international community. The quality of the information is only as good as the qualifications of the analyst. I am not a part of this "flock". I am merely a woman who is still on a slow burn since 9/11. Pissed me off. Yep. But back to the topic at hand....

My husband knows the scent of my perfume. He knows that I love yellow roses. He knows..... oh so much more than any other person. Critical data analysis is like my husband. The analyst, must be like the lover. On the one hand, intimately acquainted with the habits, likes and dislikes of the person of interest. On the other, a lover of the Qur'an and Qu'ranic Sciences in what is a global war on Islamic Terrorism. This war, is now also being fought by more than a few brave and decent Muslims moving into rank to salvage a civilization.

I wonder about the emails of the man who slaughtered his fellow officers at Fort Hood. Were there not any "dots" to connect in the communications or were they there in plain view for that very special kind of analyst, the one who functions as a lover?

My studies of Al-Qaedah, their manuals, ideology and tactics have had a necessary interface with the Qur'anic Sciences. This is necessary to validate their line of thought. If what they espouse is true, is it true for all Muslims? Or are they full of crap?

The next blog, which will be posted today will allow the reader an abbreviated look my February 2009 brief, in a section titled, "Moving into the Terrain of the Mind." It will allow you to view the frame used for connecting the dots, albeit not the full uncloaking of my thoughts.

Dots cannot be connected if they are not first identified.

Tammy Swofford

"Whale Wars" and the Laws of the Sea

Yesterday a clash between a Japanese whaler off Antartica and a conservation group turned nasty. The collision of the Shonan Maru and the Ady Gil will be sorted out based on the distinct branch of maritime law.

Admiralty Law, which governs the seas, has been in use for many years, evolving slowly over time. Between 500-300 B.C. a maritime code began to be developed due to necessity. Mediterranean sailors using the busy port of Rhodes needed a few rules of engagement to keep the seagoing commerce moving smoothly. These early laws, such as the ones governing jettison, provided the early seeds of thought for modern maritime doctrine such as the doctrine of general average. These laws governing the seas were actively in use long before British common law from which many of our U.S. laws found maternalistic legal nourishment as our own nation was established. So the laws of Admiralty have distinct differences than those of common law.

The importance of maintaining and supporting maritime commerce found provision in the United States Constitution. The men who penned our document extended federal judicial power and oversight to all cases of admiralty and also maritime jurisdiction. The ships may have been wooden, but the trade was vigorous.

A ship which has been named, launched and the keel touched the water, is actually viewed as a legal person under Admiralty Law. In the U.S. any initial jurisdiction over an admiralty action en rem moves through one of the U.S. District courts. A maritime lien, follows the vessel from port to port. So even as the Shonan Maru and the Ady Gil leave the expanse of water where both ego and vessels collided, the aftermath of the collision and any damages will be decided in court. Interestingly, the last maritime lien against a vessel is paid first, if a vessel is sold. The court considers the liens with an inverse order. Somewhat in "the last shall be first" scenario, it is assumed that the last action on behalf of keeping both vessel and crew seaworthy, benefit all interested parties.

Legal rules for operation and navigation on the seas falls to the International Maritime Organization and all U.S. vessels are to comply with their rules. There is rarely a sole-fault ruling in the collision of ships. Most likely the Shonan Maru and Ady Gil will share damages in proportion to their relative fault in the collision.

For myself, I hope that the Shonan Maru is exculpated in the incident. I have no use for the tactics such as used by the "conservationists".



Tammy Swofford

Anti-Depressants: Chemicals without a Sparkle

The front of the Fort Worth Star Telegram had this headline today:

"New Research: Drugs ineffective in mild to moderate depression".

I imagine that by next week the Fort Worth Startlegram will run full page ads from various pharmaceutical giants vigorously supporting anti-depressants as the first line of defense against mild to moderate depression. There are an increasing number of Americans dependent on anti-depressants and 'thar is gold in them pharmaceutical hills.

Personally, I am glad to see anything in print which shows research that the genie-in-the-bottle might not be the first step toward renewed emotional health. This current research, released by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that seeing a doctor, discussing symptoms, and learning about depression may be sufficient to trigger improvement in mild to moderate depression. The study does not discount the need for chemical intervention for severe depression.

Several years ago I lived through what I now term "the year of the scorpion". My elder brother, a man who has spent his life in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I was with him through his first CT scan, first MRI, and initial consults with neurologists and a neurosurgeon. When he was in ICU I bathed him. My emotions shattered as I looked at his small, elf-like little body lying in the hospital bed. Shell-shocked. The thing seemed surreal.

Less than a week later, my spouse lost his job. Stress and grief? You betcha. And when life becomes overwhelming and things come crashing down due to crisis, our circuitry gets overloaded and we implode. One day we are functional. The next, we have to stop to remember how to tie our shoelaces. "Knot, bunny ears..... now what the heck is the last step?"

it can be easy to reach for what looks like instant relief. I made it through that time without a bottle of pills and am grateful for the lessons learned. Let me share just a few.

*Grief is a journey. It takes time. The trick is to keep moving through the emotional stages and not putting the emotional tent stakes down in one spot. To become a squatter in one spot produces bitterness. Give yourself time to grieve and move on. But realize it is a journey and you set the pace. Some days it will resemble a waltz. Have grace for those days. Our frames are frail.

*Stress requires rest. You cannot "kick depression". You have had the stuffing knocked out of you already. But you can rest your way back to health. To be still and quiet, contemplative, is a great gift. Block off time on the calendar to rest.

*Stress requires outdoor exercise. Getting dirt under the fingernails planting a flower bed, walking in the park and enjoying nature, are great stress relievers.

*Intuitively determine one thing each day to do with joy. And then do it! Develop an emotional scrapbook full of these little memories.

*Mild depression can be reduced with the warmth of human companionship and affection. It can be lessoned by spilling your guts about the things which are bothering you. Find that friend!

Life can be hard. We must always take into account that we might fall into depression at some point in time in our lives. When it happens, we should not be surprised. But we should seek out the support to carry us through the difficulties.

And if someone gives you a hug? Always be the last to let go! smile

Tammy Swofford

Doctrine of War: V

An-Nadwah (council) House, the parliamentary-style tribal gathering of delegates representing the Quraishite tribes had been unsuccessful in thwarting the political aspirations of Prophet Muhammad. "Plan B", an assassination attempt, was put in motion. Because of the cascading and rapidly moving events one of the beloved ayat, 'oft quoted by Muslims, commemorates this time frame. It is also one constantly trumpeted by my mentor in Islam.

"And (remember) when disbelievers plotted against you (Oh,Muhammad) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (of your home), they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of all planners." Al-Anfal 30

History recounts that a cordon of individuals moved toward the dwelling of Muhammad as he hastened to make his departure in the shadows of darkness to escape his awaiting enemies. The man who would later become a successor to the nascent Islamic state - Ali ibn abi Talib - both the cousin, and in adulthood, the son-in-law of Muhammad - was used in decoy status to lie on the bed while Muhammad made his way to the home of Abu Bakr where two fattened-up camels laden with supplies awaited him. Oral tradition tells of how Muhammad cast handfuls of dust at his enemies as he moved from his home and hence, was able to pass through in safety.

Mounting his camel with Abu Bakr at his side, the men moved toward the south and the immediate safety of the mountain peaks. It was the first stage of the physical journey to Madinah, one which would take a few twists and turns along the way.

One of Muhammad's recitations of this event, that of throwing the dust and bringing to nought the goal of his adversaries can be found in the 36th Surah.

"And we have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see." Yasin 9

It is important to understand that within Islam there is a distinct branch of literature which concerns the miracles of Allah on behalf of his Prophet. This is the "Dalail" literature. One of the most famous works is "Dalail al Nabvi", by Abu Bakr Ahmed ibn Hussein ibn al-Bayhaqi, a scholar of Hadith.

These miracles on behalf of Muhammad and the Muslims, whether during their travels or times of battle, anchor within the psyche a sense of destiny and the righteousness of cause. Many of the current day battle cries of Islam are merely an echo of the Qur'anic ayat and the oral traditions which have been passed down through the generations. The researcher must sift through the layers of the Qur'an to recognize the individual ayat which point to what is seen as miraculous intervention. Hadith literature also provides ample backdrop to Divine intervention.

"Don't be cast down, verily, Allah is with us."

Sahih Al-Bukhari and Zad Al-Ma'ad
Do you know the context to the above statement?

Prior to the seige of which fortification did the angel Gabriel visit Muhammad and tell him to unsheath the sword again? In what year did this event take place?

The Qur'anic sciences support a doctrine of war which acknowledges a history of miraculous intervention by Allah on behalf of the Muslims. 'Tis in the reading.

Tammy Swofford

Adam James: Daddy's Little Boy

Mama Swofford taught her sons one thing regarding a fair fight: It is only fair if you square off with the other man with your own set of fists. You bring a buddy, you are fighting dirty.

Did Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach get a fair fight? ESPN's Craig James used his position to spread the story of lil' James mistreatment. It seems a shame that a kid is able to bring down the reputation and career of a respected coach with a few little twitters or texts to dear old dad, but that seems to be the case at the moment. Helicopter daddy to the rescue!

Lil' James did not suffer any real harm to his physical self, but he did suffer a blow to his manhood when Mike Leach side-lined him after he had already made it clear that he could not play due to a recent concussion. Now I don't know about you, but resting in a dark room sounds like exactly what Adam James should have been doing, instead of showing up for practice wearing sunglasses and presenting his medical complaint.

For his part, Coach Leach does admit to yelling at his player. That is the prerogative of the biggest bull in the pasture. He gets to flare his nostrils and you get to privately check yourself for testicles afterward. There are rites of manhood, and Texas college football weeds out the men from the boys.

I wasn't there, so do not have all the facts. But the fight was not fair. James brought a buddy along to take a swing for him and that buddy was his own father.

Link to story

Tammy Swofford

A Primeval Honor Code: "Pashtunwali"

Anwaar Hussain and I disagree as often as we agree on aspects of the geopolitical chessboard. Robust dialogue is never "the enemy". But becoming native and never leaving the reservation decreases the ability to think in new ways and on new levels. His latest post is worth reading. Having grown up in a tribal region (Oaxaca Valley) I appreciate Anwaar's candor and latest educational post.

Did you read this? Within the first few pages a comment is made by one of the characters which comes directly from Hadith literature. It is also a custom which undergirds tribal cohesion. Did you recognize it when you read it? Will you recognize what you read in the link today? Enter the IB with me for this first day of the New Year.

Click here for link.


Tammy