Free Speech: Allowing for Cross Pollination

Free speech in its purest expression engages a cross pollination process. Here are a few who are cross pollinating my field of thought this morning.

Steve McCurry

James Oppenheim

Anwaar Hussain


Best regards,
Tammy

Iran: Political Movement within the Land of Sham

Prior to the Sykes-Picot Agreement, long before Syria was known by its classical Arabic name Sham, Muhadithun identified a geographic region known as "Sham". It is a land which was traversed by Zaid bin 'Amr Nufail during the days of Muhammad. This land, noted within Atlas of the Qur'an and viewed through historical and ancient lens is a region roughly comprising modern Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.

As Iran moves missiles via the land bridge of Syria to what is essentially the detached brigade of Nasrallah they are essentially solidifying the concept of a ribaat of Sham. Syria and Lebanon remain the key players with Iran. HizbAllah receives a wink and a nod of approval from Hamas, albeit Hamas is a Sunni-dominant organization. Jordan? Their place on the map presents its own challenges.

In the 20th century the Hashemite Kingdom received the largest wave of the Palestinian diaspora, with a UNRWA head count of approximately 2.7 million Palestinians salted across Jordan, Lebanon and Syria in the current century. So although Jordan provides a traditional political buffer against regional provocations, their own unique demographic will come into play should the region collapse into chaos.

The ability of Iran to manage this loose historic confederacy is foundational to their geopolitical aspirations in the region. Flooding the area with agents and assets, the continued rise of the Shi'a in this century will create new diplomatic realities, but also the potential for a few nightmarish scenarios.

It is possible that the flurry of activity to increase the military armory of Nasrallah is a decision not only to maintain a strategic depth in the region but also a convenient "insurance policy" against Israel. Who blinks first, will determine the outcome.

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Move over "The Sopranos" - Make Room for "The Oracles"

Appearing as Glenn Beck’s sidekick at a town hall meeting, Texas State Rep. Leo Berman crowed, “I believe that Barack Obama is God’s punishment on us today....”

Also joining the ranks of brainless roosters this week is the Tehran cleric who explained how Boobquakes happen. Forget tectonic plates and all of the scientific jargon. It is ill-clad women who release the wrath of God. Uh huh.

It is always fun to point the finger and identify the sinful target. For example, a few self-righteous obese citizens identify their skinny chain-smoking counterparts as the source of evil. Whilst not wishing to associate with those who "drink, dance and chew" they negate the very real possibility that their 350 pounds of hunka-hunka burning love might place them in the big boy casket much sooner than the cancer which may hit the lungs of the Marlboro man.

We pick our sins, ya' know. We hide the ones we commit whilst conveniently lambasting others for the frailty of their own frame.

It is good to remember the words of Jesus regarding sin, folly and retribution. We suffer endless angst trying to assign blame for things in which it is possible we lack comprehension. Our minds are finite. I never forget that point.

The logical answer to finger-pointing behavior eluded Jesus' disciples when casting a critical gaze to the beggarly blind man and asking, "Whose sin? His or his parents?" The answer which rang out then is the same which we should embrace today: "Neither". Let us have grace for each other. And for the rest, I fall back on democratic process.

Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Accessibility for the Disabled in the Public Domain

This quote greeted me as I opened the Fort Worth Star Telegram today:

"I wasn't driving drunk. I wasn't speeding in a school zone."

The article was front page and above the fold. It was about the penalty for parking in a spot designated for handicap access. So it seems a good time to send out a gentle reminder regarding accessibility for the disabled in the public domain.

While the premise of the article written about Ms. Clark's complaint is primarily that of the disproportionate fine-for-offense (a $640 dollar ticket for blocking a handicapped parking spot) it is necessary to look through the wider lens. What was only "a few minutes" for Ms. Clark can be just one more hurdle for the citizen who spends his or her life sequestered in a wheelchair.

We can all point to the times when we have seen an individual violate the "privilege" of the handicap tag hanging on the mirror and sprinting into stores during the holidays with the best spot on the lot. But especially for individuals who depend on a van with a hydraulic lift system it is imperative that the access to their vehicles not be impeded by either the careless or the uncaring.

Within the population of the disabled reside those with spinal cord injuries and spina bifida. Some have short windows of time to be in public. They require self catheterization every two hours due to neurogenic bladder conditions. Many are also dependent on a volunteer driver who has given of their time to shuttle the individual to doctor's appointments, etc. So the inconvenience of blocking access has a trickle down effect for any assistant.

Many people in wheelchairs maintain disciplined calenders which divide their time between public life and hearth to meet their distinct health challenges. They must be able to navigate when they choose to navigate in public without unanticipated hurdles. Ms. Tweed created a potential problem, ignored the yellow lines, hence must pay her fine.

Having access to that "prime spot" is one of the few privileges afforded the handicapped. But it is certainly not a luxury. It is a necessity which accomodates the need of the weaker members of our society. I appreciate that our government shows such concern.

To put this in perspective merely imagine the following scenario. You return to your car to find a vehicle on either side of your own, both of them a couple inches from your doors. You cannot get into your car and cannot either proceed home or to an important appointment. Would you be upset? What if it happened every week?

Let's be kind and thoughtful regarding van accessible loading zones and handicapped parking spaces. Many people depend on your compliance.

Article Link

Tammy Swofford

Independence Day

This past week my husband and I viewed the film "Independence Day" again. It is relaxing entertainment without the need to ponder artistic content after the credits roll across the screen. Naturally, a prominent astrophysicist now presents a scenario which provides a haunting parallel to the script.

According to Stephen Hawking, extraterrestrials are out there and hopefully, they are venturing through other galaxies with only a scant flicker of interest in our direction. Shudder.

Here is the link.

It seems plausible to consider the logic of extraterrestrial life. Our own galaxy is but a small piece of the kaleidoscope of that which is in existence beyond our technological and perceptual capabilities. Further handicapping our condition is the finite position we hold in the greater scheme of things. We are the splash the size of a micron on the historical timetable. We are the "dash" between date of birth and date of death on our tombstone. Are there other advanced species "out there" with predatory tendencies or resource driven agendas?

There are the few citizens who claim to have been abducted by aliens to later be released, forever looking behind their backs and twitching at the sight of their own shadows. While lumping most of them in the same category as the 9/11 conspiracy theorists, I am now reminded of what my father always said to me as a child: "What you can imagine is in the realm of future possibility."

My imagination has always been grand enough to enjoy films such as "Independence Day". In light of the statements by Mr. Hawking, I am thinking of pulling a few other Sci-Fi selections off the shelves and viewing them with renewed interest. smile

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Is Allah the God of the Christian?

CHRISTIANITY:

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

ISLAM:

And they (Jews, Christians and pagans) say: Allah has begotten a son. Glory be to Him, (exalted be He above all they associate with him) Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth, and all surrender with obedience (in worship) to Him. Al-Baqarah 116

Moving into Usool Al-Hadith we will take a look at a text and chain of transmission -matn and snad- considered to be "Sahih" - hence it can be used to solidify a standard of Islamic jurisprudence. Hadith are the second most important source of Islamic law and these sayings are to be followed based on Al-Hashr 7. So here we go!

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet said, "Allah said: The son of Adam tells a lie against Me though he has no right to do so, and he abuses Me though he has no right to do so. As for his telling a lie against Me, it is that he claims that I cannot recreate him as I created before; and as for his abusing Me, it is his statement that I have a son. (or offspring). No! Glorified be Me! I am far from taking a wife or a son. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 6, no. 9)

*Allah.... did not create nor send a Son. The God of the Christians sent his Son, Jesus Christ. Allah is not the god of the Christians. He is the god of the Muslims.


CHRISTIANITY:

That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10

ISLAM:

Narrated 'Abdullah: The Prophet said one statement and I said another. The Prophet said: "Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell. And I said, "Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allah, will enter Paradise."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 6, Hadith no. 24


CHRISTIANITY:

And Simon Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Matthew 16:16

If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

ISLAM:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Allah says: I am just as my slave thinks I am and I am with him if he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I also remember him in Myself; and if He remembers me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than them; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking I will go to him running." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Hadith no. 502

There are many more references within both Christian and Islamic texts which firmly identify the one pivotal difference between Christianity and Islam. Christians believe that God became clothed in flesh and dwelt among us. They worship him as the Son of God. Muslims consider it a blasphemous and unforgivable act to consider Jesus (Isa) as anything other than a prophet of Allah, with Muhammad being the Seal of the Prophets - the final revelation of their God.

So where do we go from here? The historical stories we share play out on parallel tracks. Christians identify Abraham and his progeny Isaac as the spiritual tap root of our faith. Muslims identify Abraham and Ishmael as the spiritual tap root from which they hail.

The Biblical 12 princes of Ishmael skirmish with Al-Asbat (the 12 sons of Jacob) to this day. (Al-Baqarah 140) The Christians are my camp. We play our own distinct part. But it does seem that truth is the best disinfectant. Let's just admit it. In spite of what Madeleine Albright spouts, we aren't cut from the same weave of the spiritual cloth.

But can we hope for some level of reconciliation within our lifetimes? Not in the truest sense, if "reconciliation" means violating spiritual convictions to accomodate the other. Allah is the God of the Muslims. The god of the Christians is Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The dividing line is evident. But should we seek a basic reconciliation of the historical wounds?

I would like to hope for reconciliation which does not require the compromise on any level our individual religious beliefs. But it will not happen. We have dug our trenches.

Tammy Swofford

Swofford Unleashed: Madeleine Albright -The Mighty and the Almighty

The writing is thought-provoking. The author alternates between fair-handed analysis and knuckle-cracking personal bias. But there is one chapter tucked into "The Mighty and the Almighty" which brings a level of discredit to a woman who was tasked with oversight of foreign policy under President Bill Clinton.

Her name is Madeleine Albright. She has a right to her opinion. But titular authority does not exempt any American from the scrutiny of their particular freedom of expression.

Chapter eight of "The Mighty and the Almighty" is titled, "Learning about Islam". Ms. Albright unleashes a highly scripted and wordcrafted synopsis of Islam. Somewhat as simplistically presented as a Christian would recount the parable of Jesus multiplying the loaves and the fishes, a children's version of Islam unfolds. Islam is vastly more complicated as both geopolitical entity and all-encompassing system of belief. As in most things written with underlying agenda this chapter is a real lullaby of a melody. It induces a calculated lethargic response which seeks compromise at the price of truth.

There is nothing more enjoyable for me than deconstruction of journalism with use of primary source documentation. History should not scare us but neither should it suffer the erosion of revisionism.

There is one particularly glaring deception presented by the author which must be addressed. We should never fear truth which exposes a dividing line. The force of future negotiations is facilitated and capability for parties on either side to step across the line is strengthened when truth is the foundation. Programs and policies executed from the beginning point of a lie are unhealthy for all of us.

While Ms. Albright allows a tried and true Arabic maneuverability in chapter eight - that of Taqiyya - this attempt at plausible deniability should have no place in our domestic and foreign policy aspirations. There is no need to whitewash anything. But there is an immediate need for integrity amongst the players which seek viable and equitable solutions. The 21st century world is too dangerous a place to employ prior means of accomodation between distinct civilizations which deny the distinct challenges of our differences. Islam is not merely a "religion"; rather it is a gestalt. To consider it otherwise is obtuse and lacking in sufficient intellectual enquiry.

Here is the statement by Ms. Albright which requires deconstruction.


*Muslims worship the same God (in Arabic, Allah) as Christians and Jews. (p 112)

Is Allah the God of the Christian? Quite simply stated, the answer is and always will be the same. Allah, is not the God of the Christian. Why are we afraid to identify the line? Beats me.

The next blog will move into primary source documents to further identify this foundational dividing line between Islam and Christianity and follow through with a bit of analysis.

Tammy Swofford

American Airlines: The Continuing Bailout Fiesta

President Barack Obama's bailout still reminds me of the lowly Mexican pinata. Except the pinata is filled with cash and only the executive class are allowed to wildly whack with the stick and scramble for the goodies. But in this case, it was an employee-asssisted bailout which allowed American Airlines to stay afloat. Possibly I will launch the Pinata Party? It will certainly be more colorful than the Tea Party! smile

Article from Fort Worth Star Telegram


Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Earth Day 2010

Physical attributes never impress me. It is beauty which fades with time. Inward beauty is usually the first impulse toward mature adult love. We are swept along in its current. But what of creationary beauty? It is a resplendent renewal of the face of the earth from day to day. Here is the view from my favorite little patch of earth this morning. Smiling!

Tammy Swofford

Court Martial of Navy Seal, Petty Officer First Class Huertas

The emails have made their way to all of our mailboxes. Pictures of P.O. 1st class Julio Huertas in uniform, shaking hands of well-wishers. We have been recipients of email speeches, private thoughts and in some cases, public discourse. Now it is time to move back, settle down and allow our U.S. military to move via due process.

The facts are clear. Ahmed Hashim Abed orchestrated the attack on four U.S. citizens, Blackwater security guards. Their convoy was ambushed and we endured images of their burned bodies dragged through the streets of Fallujah. I still remember my sentiment seeing one corpse hung from a bridge. Desecration of the dead.... indignity after the life is snuffed.

But we are the military of the United States of America. We are governed by rules of conduct and a code of ethics which far supercedes what is required of the civilian.

Ahmed Hashim Abed was in the custody of the U.S. military. As such, he was not the prisoner of Navy Seal Huertas. He was the prisoner of the United States of America. P.O. Huertas was part of a larger chain of custody when transporting Ahmed Hashim Abed. It was his duty to provide secure transport of his prisoner.

The court martial of a sailor is a sad spectacle. But it is a necessary tool available to the military to remind us that all professional standing armies require good order and discipline. Navy Seal Huertas allowed his passion to supercede his judgement and training. It was a moment in time which is regrettable and possibly not a reflection on the man. But it is a reflection on the U.S. military. The court martial process will also be a reflection on our capability to enforce our traditions.

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

Islamic Discourse: Entrance to my Mailbox

Isn't it time we move into vibrant dialogue and negotiations regarding how to curtail the recruitment and movement of women and children into terror organizations?

This week I noted the following message on a Jihad forum site. It is written by a woman. Below, I will allow you a peek into my email to see how I address these issues with prominent Islamic scholars. The identifying information for the scholar in question is deleted.

Dr. -


"As-salaam alaikum to all sincere brothers and sisters! Want to share with great joy! "Today I saw a dream, as mujahedeen (in their ranks were sisters) and was I were exchanging fire with the dogs, and I shut him one mujahedeen, my hand hurt. I woke up with such incredible joy and ease, yet in itself can not come .... Allahu akbar!"

The encroachment of warfare, the movement of terror organizations into your homes appears such a small seed in the ground. I don't look at the landscape. I see the horizon. My predictions for the future seem fairly accurate as I watch how things trend within the Ummah. There is a Jihad for the soul of your faith. And when the children are corrupted, the women are corrupted, what will be left? There is a plague on the threshold of your homes.

There is need for an international symposium to meet and address this plague which is coming to Islam. Consider it not too small a seed to seek to pull out of the ground. The graphics are astounding at this point, things on line which promote children entering Jihad. How fraudulent to brainwash small minds.

Narrated Usama bin Zaid: Allah's Messenger said, "Plague was a means of torture sent on a group. So if you hear of its spread in a land, don't approach it, and if plague should appear in a land where you are present, then don't leave that land in order to run away from it." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, no. 679

*Don't approach it.
*But don't run away.
*Face it. Squarely.

".... I have named you Al-Mutawakkil. You are neither discourteous, harsh, nor a noisemaker in the markets, and you do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness...." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, no. 335

You have women and soon, more children, who are "noisemakers" in your markets. Boom! It doesn't get any louder than that. There is the need for a symposium to begin to build a platform of both policy and education. You must diligently seek to sweep out the corners of your masajid worldwide and demand standardization in the literature available to women and children. Literature must be mass-produced which teaches children strong character, and to be at peace during their childhood.

The plague is at your doorstep. Not in America yet, but it will arrive in time.

Tammy

Book Review: The Nightingale of Mosul

"The Nightingale of Mosul" by Colonel Susan Luz will land on bookstore shelves next month. It will join a small flank of combat journalism which is unique in both style and perspective.

Military men write with grit and valor. The women who wear the cloth of the nation choose to write showing the underbelly of war but also humanity at its best. Col. Luz offers a heartfelt tale of the rigors of combat medicine. Yet it is also written with a professional perspective and devotion to duty which is hard to miss. It is great to get the sense of a strong military backbone. Most of us in the military have little use for "whiners".

Military women process war with hinges of vulnerable thought which make their writings more a journal review as opposed to the unfolding and fast-paced stories of their male counterpart. But their books deserve a place in military journalism alongside some of the standard military classics - yet in a class all their own. These books provide a layer of insight and succinct thought worthy of our consideration.

Men begin their tales on the tarmac with duffle bags slung over shoulders. The opening pages give a vista of war. Women start their stories from the heart. Such is the nature of the book written by Susan Luz.

What do you want to do with your life at the age of 56? Are you willing to pull up stakes and move? Will you consider living in an area with 140 degree heat in the summer? Will you transition to a career requiring 12-14 hour days and very few amenities? American reservists make such choices every day. The choice is made when taking the oath and our government determines when the oath makes us wince.

As an Army nurse with a civilian background in both the Peace Corps and also psychiatric nursing Col. Luz makes some important observations. She also dispenses a bit of sage wisdom.

The one deficit in the format of the book is the same as that noted in other combat journalism books written by women. Because we are primarily behind the front lines our view of war is the secondary glance. We aren't looking between the crosshairs of the scope but we are wearing a flak jacket and carrying a sidearm. So the blow-by-blow of a battle is not our domain. But the danger remains on smaller scale. These books tend to migrate between stories of war and stories of home to make up for the ability to produce a fast-paced thriller. It is just the nature of the beast.

Do I recommend this selection? It seems unlikely that men will read it to the last page. It is too feminine for their taste. But I give it a thumbs up for women. It will make for an enjoyable reading selection.

*Colonel Susan Luz: Thank you for your service on behalf of our nation!

V/R LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

Patriot Paws: Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans

Patriot Paws link

Today, disengenuous self-interest dominates the headlines. Goldman Sachs and R. Allen Stanford come to mind. So it is good to pause and honor what speaks well for the character of the American people. It can be disheartening to consider the tremendous financial ruin heaped upon individuals by a few unscrupulous educated financial-vandals-in-suits. Such things anger me immensely. So it is good to step back and remember that for every sinner - a saint resides in the shadows.

This week my husband and I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Lori Stevens, the founder and head trainer for Patriot Paws. We were seated at a table with this outstanding woman and a member of her staff. The two "stars of the show" snored under our feet while we enjoyed our dinner. smile

When it came time for a demonstration the Labrador Retrievers behaved very well and exhibited great aptitude for a series of commands given by Ms. Stevens. Each service dog spends approximately eighteen months learning thirty-five basic commands as building blocks for a few more individualized commands needed to assist their future partner - a disabled American Veteran. The cost of training is approximately $30,000 U.S. dollars.

Have you ever considered it a struggle to pick up a cell phone which has been dropped, open a refrigerator or do laundry? Some of our returning veterans need a service dog to render such aid. Our "save" rate for battlefield trauma is about ninety-seven percent. But what that means in the real world is some of those we are now saving return home needing months of rehabilitation. Some never recover all function, experience lifetime sensory deficits and adjustment to life with a more difficult outlook.

Please take a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the link at the top of the page. It is a small organization with a big heart. Donations are appreciated.

Tammy Swofford

JIHAD AND CHILDREN

Several years ago I was introduced to the world of Jihad and children with a poster displayed on a blog. It seemed logical to follow the issue and determine if it was an anomaly or a trending societal concern. Above, are two of the graphics posted on forum sites in recent days.

There are a few questions to ask regarding these issues, leaving the contemplation and solutions to the Muslim community.

**********************************************************************************

*Where is the father?

In the first photo, a young boy under the age of maturity. Where is his father? In the second photo, a seventeen year old girl, on the right. Where is her father?

**********************************************************************************

*What happens to children when they contemplate acts of mass murder at a young age?

Several years ago I predicted a downward trend: Terror organizations would reach through the doors of homes to sustain recruitment. They would breach the home without the permission of the father. This trend would first target women and then it would target the children. It is a spiral straight to hell.

**********************************************************************************

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Living Passionately in a Dangerous World

Yesterday it was sad to view the video release of the two French journalists held by the Taliban. The men were engaging a passion for their craft: finding the perfect story. They are now pleading for a bit of mercy. It is increasingly dangerous for journalists to move about freely in regions of conflict unless secured within a military safety net. And yet across the globe there remains the unseen hand of hope extended to the less fortunate; a cadre of Christians seeking to give that "cup of water" in Christ's name.

So my thoughts turned to a friend, Omar Garcia, a man who engages life in the crosshairs of the dangerous zones of the world for the love of the poor, and in many cases, the plight of the women. Sure, he is "missions pastor" for his local church. But he is not an average guy. While many such leaders take the hop to more stable regions for photo opportunities such as passing off a ten pound bag of rice to a hungry kid, Mr. Garcia travels an unconventional path.

My introduction to this humanitarian engaged in global philanthropy came as he was building a team to provide medical care and assistance to one of the IDP camps in the Sudan. Denied the opportunity to ride the Sudanese range as it was declared too dangerous, I settled for a later medical mission to the steppes of Mongolia. A well-organized venture by a capable man, it was two weeks of hard work with a treasure of memories on my return.

Last time I heard from Omar he was landing in Dubai, en route to Uganda. Traveling in grueling manner through multiple time zones this dynamo of a friend does not lead a glamorous life. It is a difficult life. Did I mention that he loves the poor and cares deeply about women's issues?

Should you choose to take a season to reach across the globe in like manner be sure to tag-team with a leader who knows the ropes. The drama which devolved in Haiti is exemplary of the law of unintended consequences when Americans blast off into the unknown with inept and incompetent leadership. It is important not to violate laws, culture or customs when moving into humanitarian relief projects.

Today Omar has posted a blog on prostitution. It is good to pause and reflect on America and the character of her people today. We remain a generous people with diminishing opportunities to serve others in many regions of the world. Omar Garcia takes flight multiple times a year to zones of instability and poverty carrying the baggage of hope. He does it, for all of the right reasons.

Journal of Omar Garcia

Tammy Swofford

Fey Returns as Sarah Palin: Media Frivolity and Free Speech

The "choices" this morning when loading the home page of the laptop were "Fey Returns as Sarah Palin", a headline on the protests in Thailand, and current talks by world leaders regarding nuclear proliferation. Choices, choices....

Naturally, I chose the Saturday Night Live video. It made for a nice five minutes with the first cup of coffee. Tina Fey does a great job with her parody of Ms. Palin. And it provides a good reminder that Americans should both embrace and enjoy the multi-faceted dimensions of free speech. Sarah took a bashing, and the truth is out there for the politically astute. These things do not bother me in the least.

But what can be said when frivolity moves to blatant pronouncements of ill winds toward our Commander in Chief? Yesterday, I received an email which keeps finding its resurrection into my cyber living space through the wonders of this digital age.

The bumper sticker quotes Psalm 109:8. There are different stickers sporting various translations. But the beginning point, "Let his days be few...." is lacking in prudence.

President Barack Obama did not receive my vote in the election and I am opposed to many of his policies. Yet he is positionally seated at the top of the chain of command for our nation and carries a tremendous load of responsibility. As a Christian, it is my job to pray for those in authority. That prayer, does not seek to bring disaster to their doorstep.

It is cold-hearted to insinuate that an abrupt end to the time-line of a seated U.S. president is in the best interests of our nation. But as far as Tina Fey and Sarah Palin? Just enjoy the moment. Ms. Palin, may have the last laugh.

Bumper Sticker

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Death of President Lech Kaczynski and Upper Echelon Staff

Seeking to land in dense fog with a jet carrying an immense cargo of national treasure seems inadvisable. The attempt to land in spite of instructions to the contrary has wiped out the national treasure of Poland.

Poland is in mourning. The president and his wife are counted among the deceased along with the Army Chief of Staff, Navy Chief Commander, Deputy Parliamentary Speaker, Deputy Foreign Minister and dozens of other individuals vital to the governance of a nation.

History records the chaotic hours after the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan and the "I am in control" moment by a man who in reality, had no constitutional right to the helm of the nation. But it is also possible that Alexander Haig was not seeking to usurp authority, rather calm the fears of a nation.

I have never read the modern constitution of the nation of Poland so am unable to speak to the chain of command structure which is in place for just such an emergency. But how does a nation replace nearly one hundred individuals, each of whom was vitally important to the daily business of a sovereign state? These men and women had working relationships with each other, joint counsel and projects on the table. They were mature and experienced in their disciplines and various fields. Today, they share one last commonality: companionship in death.

What will be the political domino effect from the event? May wise counsel and patience prevail.


Tammy Swofford

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison: Breaking a Campaign Promise

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison lied to the public twice regarding her political aspirations. Here was the initial announcement. At some point in time during her challenge to Gov. Rick Perry in the GOP gubernatorial primary Ms. Hutchison would vacate her Senate seat to devote her energies to becoming the next governor of Texas. I didn't put much stock in her words.

Her second lie was to announce that she would leave the U.S. Senate after the primary - win or lose. By then all Texans knew she was insincere.

She has recently justified breaking her campaign promise with guard dog, Senator John Cornyn, by her side as she opined, "I think everyone pretty much knows that I intended to leave the Senate." Oh yeah, lady? We knew you intended to parachute right back into your Senate seat if stomped by Ricky-with-the-hair. It would have been the honest thing, merely admitting that you had a win-win situation from the beginning.

The vacating of Senator Hutchison's seat would have left a power vacuum as she is a serious powerbroker on the Hill. But could opening up the seat to an appointment by Governor Rick Perry have served the greater purpose of introducing a new face to the Republican voting bloc?

But the fact remains: Our Texas Senator is the usual white-knuckling incumbent tightly grasping the wall of power.

Theme song for our Senator in light of her hasty announcement and quick escape to her vehicle in a San Antonio airport terminal?

Feel free to lip-sync along and merely change the words a bit:

"Nobody does it, half as good as me.... Baby, I'm the best!"


Sing along, dear voters!



Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Pfc Bowe Bergdahl: April 2010

The latest propaganda effort by the Taliban is available on jihad sites, file-sharing sites, etc. The latest post on one of the sites, a mere eight minutes ago. Naturally, it has made it to YouTube. I prefer not to post the video, rather just a few still shots of the video.It is good to know Pfc Bergdahl is still alive. He meets Taliban requirements for a beard now. Remember, the beard must be grasped in the fist to be long enough to suit their form of governance. Pray for the parents of Pfc Bergdahl and his extended family members. And do pray for the continued safety of our troops abroad.

Tammy Swofford

Aisha's Necklace

In Sha'aban of the fifth year Hijra, on return of the Muslims from an expedition it happened that Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, lost her necklace. It was during this time of searching for the lost necklace that the ayat allowing Tayammum was revealed. Water was scarce, the Muslims were tired, and in need of respite.

Aisha continued to search for her necklace unaware of the movement of the caravan to a new area. Spending the night in the desert she was located by an emigrant by the name of Safwan. Placing her upon his camel he returned her to the Ummah.

Taking advantage of the situation was the leader of the hypocrites, a man named Abdullah Ibn Ubai. Maligning the virtue of a young woman, the maliciousness of his act propelled Prophet Muhammad to a month of silence. Somewhat like the Year of Grief, this situation cut him to the quick.

It was after this period of silence that Qur'an 24:11 was revealed bringing protection to a young woman who was very much in need of the support of her community.

Does Allah love women? I cannot answer the question as I am finite in both intelligence and wisdom. But it does seem an appropriate question would be to ask how much Muslim men love and care for the women under their guardianship. Apparently, their lives are not worth much in some quarters.

I am fairly simple. I believe that women are a gift of the Creator to man. Our gentleness and unique frame tempers the harsh and war-like bent in our counterpart. As the physically weaker sex our need for protection allows men the full expression of their manhood as they care for wives and family. It is at it should be - the design of Allah, the Clement.

Dokka Umarov is dispatching grieving young widows to their deaths. If truth is eternal it need not bow to political expediency. I am always afraid of eyes that remain dry when looking at women and considering their necessity in battle. Such things should be weighed carefully.

Should not the grieving women be welcomed back into the arms of their community and the protection of their men? Instead, their lives are counted as dung.

Al-amr bi'l-ma'ruf wa 'n-nahy 'an al-munkar.

"And do not kill yourselves, for Allah is indeed merciful to you." An-Nisa 29

"...and do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands." al-Baqarah 195

"Whoever kills himself with a knife will be in Hell forever stabbing himself in his stomach. Whoever drinks poision and kills himself will drink it eternally in the Hell fire. And whoever kills himself by falling off a mountain will forever fall in the fire of Hell."

English translation, Sahih Muslim, Vol.1, p. 62, no.199



Tammy Swofford

Matt James: Invincibility Shakes Hands with Alcohol

Seventeen year old male. Six feet and six inches tall. Two-hundred and ninety pounds. An oak of a man. He is the son for which every father dreams and which every mother dreads to feed; on the cusp of adulthood and a bright future with a football scholarship at Notre Dame.

Invincibility meets alcohol. It works with calculated coldness in regard to brain dysfunction. Drunkeness produces reckless behavior. It is the joker pulled from the deck of life. Matt James represents the tragedy played out with too great a frequency among American youth.

Please remember the James' family and their community in your prayers.

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Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Happy Easter !

Top of my play list today:

Click here.


Smiling,

Tammy

Dokka Umarov: Raising the Misery Index in the Caucasus

Russian President Dimitry Medvedev has made his position clear.

"The measures to fight terrorism should be expanded, they should be more effective, more harsh, more cruel."

These were his words to area officials in Dagestan today after the Monday suicide bombings in Moscow which killed thirty-nine civilians and sent approximately ninety others to area hospitals. On Wednesday suicide bombings killed twelve, including nine police officers, in the southern province of Dagestan. The northern Caucasus has been roiled in turmoil for years now. Things are about to get distinctly worse for the area population.

The search is now on for Dokka Umarov. A self-titled Amir of the Caucasus Emirate, the man will most likely remain camouflaged within the landscape apart from a few video releases. He has been in the game for a long time.

The first active Chechen political parties with the strength of national confluence began to emerge between 1987-1990. These early attempts at national solidarity and identification culminated in the formation of the Nationwide Council of the Chechen People in 1990. The Khasavyurt Accord was the cease-fire agreement signaling the end of the 1st Chechen war. Signed by Russian president Boris Yeltsin and Chechnya president Aslan Maskhadov, it was hoped that a cool down in tensions would be followed by regional stability. It was not achieved.

In the year 2007 Dokka Umarov declared himself the amir of a newly established Caucasus Emirate. Immediately following Umarov's declaration his appointed director of the National Information Service, Movladi Udugov, had this to say: "It is war for the way of life." In a lengthy interview with the media arm of the Chechnya rebels, he laid out complaint, propaganda and basic political strategy.

Since that time, the secessionist government has functioned as the wasp on the rump of the bear. This week, the innocent became the political pawns. Dokka Umarov has raised the misery index for the region.

Having already established a vibrant network of civilian alliances and supply lines within the Caucasus, the footprint of this man was most likely meticulously swept away days before the latest wave of attacks. The region is also well-suited for asymmetrical warfare due to the mountainous terrain and ample ravines.

But what of the innocent who may possibly be swept up in the net cast for Umarov? President Medvedev has promised a new level of harshness. The government will react to the death of their citizens. Misery all around, little of good accomplished.

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Book Review: The Anatomy of Courage by Lord Moran

Having tossed a novel by David Baldacci in the trash - it was trite and quite unreadable - I determined once again to resist what the American literary herd was digesting and keep the bar high. My faith in the power of the pen was restored by a commanding book, written by a man who was influential long before he determined the need for a small treatise on courage.

Lord Moran was a physician who chronicled the stresses of WW I. It was a combat environment where trench warfare and static battle lines prevailed. He lived among the men for many months experiencing both the bloodbaths and the occasional monotony of war. Later in life, Lord Moran was the personal physician of Sir Winston Churchill. Although the view through the lens is primarily that of WW I, the gaze is also turned to WW II with comparative analysis of the manner in which leadership styles effect courage, discipline and morale.

The thoughts regarding courage show the detached observation of a professional yet there is a sense of an underlying compassion for the plight of men thrust into war. An enjoyable side benefit of this selection is the classic dry wit of a British intellectual.

This book is a worthy addition to your personal library.


The Anatomy of Courage

Swofford Commentary Site

Tammy Swofford