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I have read different versions of this on the internet before. This one put out by Pat Boone is the original version by Irma S. Chambers.

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Fighting the ostrich syndrome
Posted: January 14, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Pat Boone
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Last week in this space, I delivered a disgruntled "review" of Dave Letterman's discourteous and heavy-handed treatment of Bill O'Reilly on Dave's late night show. I really hated to do it, because I've been such an admirer of Dave's, but I also greatly admire Bill, and the whole scene had made me squirm. It just felt wrong.

Obviously, I wasn't alone. I've never received such an avalanche of response, most of it very favorable, some negative, and some much angrier and upset with Dave than I was! The overwhelming theme of the response is this: We're at war. It's a real, fighting and filthy war. Some of our finest young men and women are being wounded, and too many dying, in this war. And it's a war we must win!

It's not the time for endless debate about how we got into Iraq and whether or not we had sufficient provocation and what, if anything, we should have done differently. We're there – and if we're still anything at all like the Americans who made this country great, we need to be supporting our president, our leadership, our military, in every way we can!

I'm sick of seeing bumper stickers (and some of my negative e-mails) declaring, "He's not my president!"

Oh yeah? Exactly who is "your president"? That guy, Harry Belafonte's friend, in Venezuela? Have you and Michael Moore and the Dixie Chicks nominated and elected somebody else?

These thoughts were the main, central theme of your responses. But many – like the one I want to reproduce for you now – actually undertook to answer Dave's throbbing, accusatory question to Bill O'Reilly: "Why are we in Iraq anyway?"

I thought I had given him a fairly cogent answer; I endeavored to address this widespread, Ostrich-like attitude that we should just keep our wussy heads buried in the sand, and maybe, please God, the big bad terrorists won't see us and they'll just go away and pick on somebody else. But then I got the account, written as it actually happened, by a military wife – she turns out to be a military veteran herself, name of Irma Chambers, now a Caldwell, Idaho, real estate agent and mom of kids aged 6 and 11 – that seemed the most appropriate answer for Letterman I've heard yet.

Our L.A. staff reached her, and though you may have seen it circulating on the Internet previously ( I hadn't), she gave me enthusiastic approval to share it with you now. She wrote it back before our military ended Saddam's rule in Iraq. Turns out she feels its relevance even more now, because her husband is being deployed soon to Afghanistan with the 1-183rd Aviation Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, after being stationed back in Virginia since last August for training.

I sure hope my pal Dave Letterman reads this:

    From 2003, 'A lesson for my son,' by Irma S. Chambers

    My 9-year-old son wanted to know why we were at war. My husband thought for a few minutes and then told my son to go stand in our front living room window.

    "Son, stand there and tell me what you see?"

    "I see trees and cars and our neighbor's houses," he replied.

    "OK, now I want you to pretend that our house and our yard is the United States and you are President Bush."

    Our son giggled and said, "OK."

    "Now son, I want you to look out the window and pretend that every house and yard on this block is a different country," my husband said.

    "OK, Dad, I'm pretending."

    "Now I want you to stand there and look out the window and see that man come out of his house with his wife and he has her by the hair and is hitting her. You see her bleeding and crying. He hits her in the face, he throws her on the ground, and then he starts to kick her to death. Their children run out and are afraid to stop him. They are crying; they are watching this but do nothing because they are kids and afraid of their father. You see all of this, son. What do you do?"

    "Dad?"

    "What do you do, son?"

    "I call the police, Dad."

    "OK. Pretend that the police are the United Nations and they take your call, listen to what you know and saw, but they refuse to help. What do you do then, son?"

    "Dad, but the police are supposed to help!"

    "They don't want to, son, because they say that it is not their place or your place to get involved and that you should stay out of it," my husband says.

    "But Dad, he killed her!" my son exclaims.

    "I know he did, but the police tell you to stay out of it. Now I want you to look out that window and pretend you see our neighbor who you're pretending is Saddam turn around and do the same thing to his children."

    "Daddy, he kills them?"

    "Yes son, he does. What do you do?"

    "Well, if the police don't want to help, I will go and ask my next door neighbor to help me stop him."

    "Son, our next door neighbor sees what is happening and refuses to get involved as well. He refuses to open the door and help you stop him," my husband says.

    "But Dad, I need help! I can't stop him by myself!"

    "What do you do, son?"

    Our son starts to cry.

    "OK, no one wants to help you. The man across the street saw you ask for help and saw that no one would help you stop him. He stands taller and puffs out his chest. Guess what he does next, son?"

    "What?"

    "He walks across the street to the old lady's house and breaks down her door and drags her out, steals all her stuff and sets her house on fire. Then he kills her. He turns around and sees you standing in the window and laughs at you. What do you do?"

    "Daddy."

    "What do you do?"

    Our son is crying and he looks down and he whispers, "I close the blinds, Daddy."

    My husband looks at our son with tears in his eyes and asks him "Why?"

    "Because, Daddy, the police are supposed to help people who need it, and they won't help. You always say that neighbors are supposed to help neighbors, but they won't help, either. They won't help me stop him. I can't do it by myself, Daddy. I can't look out my window and just watch him do all these terrible things and … and ... do nothing. So … I'm just going to close the blinds, so I can't see what he's doing. And I'm going to pretend that it is not happening."

    I start to cry. My husband looks at our 9-year-old son standing in the window, looking pitiful and ashamed at his answers, and he tells him, "Son …"

    "Yes, Daddy?"

    "Open the blinds, because that man … he's at your front door. What do you do?"

    My son looks at his father, anger and defiance in his eyes. He balls up his tiny fists and looks his father square in the eyes. Without hesitation he says: "I DEFEND MY FAMILY DAD!! I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM HURT MOMMY OR MY SISTER, DAD! I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM, DAD, I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM!!"

    I see a tear roll down my husband's cheek and he grabs my son to his chest and hugs him tight. "It's too late to fight him. He's too strong and he's already at your front door, son. You should have stopped him before he killed his wife. You have to do what's right, even if you have to do it alone, before it's too late."

    That scenario I just gave you is why we are at war in Iraq. When good men stand by and let evil happen, it's the greatest evil of all. Our president is doing what is right.

    We, as a free nation, must understand that this war is a war of humanity. We must remove this evil man from power so that we can continue to live in a free world where we are not afraid to look out our window and see crimes on humanity. So that my 9-year-old son won't grow up in a world where he feels that if he just "closes the blinds" the atrocities in the world won't affect him. The second day of the "War on Iraq" I felt compelled to write this and pass it along. Hopefully, you will understand the lesson my husband tried to teach our son.

    "You must never be afraid to do what is right, even if you have to do it alone!"

    Be proud to be an American. Be proud of our president. Be proud of our troops. Support them. Support America – so that, in the future, our children will never have to close their blinds.


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Brother and Sisters, this ostrich syndrome plagues us today and has for many years, not just as Americans but also as Christians. People have too long closed their blinds to what is going on around them saying it doesn't affect me. Not just where this war is concerned but in many other areas also. Abortions, crime, taking God out of our schools and public, teaching our children that homosexuality and other promiscuities and various sins are ok to do. It is time for people to stand up for what is right. For Christians to get their head out of that ostrich hole, to stand up for Jesus Christ.

To close our blinds and say it doesn't affect us is the biggest lie that one can tell themselves. We as Christians are taught in the Bible that if we do not preach the Gospel that those peoples blood is on our hands. If we do not love our neighbors as ourselves that we are not following God teachings. Is it love to shut our blinds and let people be tortured and die without trying to help them?

Pastor Roger,

Brother, it really is just this simple. Freedom isn't free - someone has to pay for it and preserve it - the cost is high but WELL WORTH IT! I pray for our young men and women several times per day. I am EXTREMELY PROUD of them, and I give thanks for every drop of sweat and blood.

The analogy is completely correct - the bad people will be at our own door if we don't have men and women with sufficient courage to deal with the bad people on their own soil. I give thanks that we have more than enough men and women of COURAGE AND DETERMINATION to get the job done. I'm old and disabled, so my job will be at home to support them in every way that I can. I will speak up against those who are trying to back-stab our men and women with their speech. They do have freedom of speech, but so do I, and it's only because of previous generations of men and women of COURAGE, DUTY, AND HONOR! These same men and women paid for our freedom to worship God and every other freedom that we enjoy.

I make a promise to our men and women serving so bravely around the world:  If the terrorists make it to our own soil while you are fighting overseas, I and many others will fight them to the best of our ability. YOU are serving everyone, including your own family. WE will do the best we can to protect your family in your absence. May GOD give us all the strength and courage to get the job DONE.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 5:8-9 NASB  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Brother,

The bad guys are at our door step. They are here in this country and are currently in the process of trying to change our laws and convert our children to their way of thinking. There is much fighting to be done and not all of it is in the manner that our brave Soldiers are doing. We must fight to keep our laws from being changed that permit these people to take over the country. There is prayer for our country as a whole. There is much work that is more specific to the Lord's work such as witnessing to others, telling them the truth behind those that want us as their slaves or worse.

Pastor Roger,

I agree with you completely. YES, we must all STAND UP FOR JESUS every day until HE takes us home.

NOW, please don't think that I'm hinting to be a prophet of doom or anything like that with what I say next. I honestly do believe we WILL be fighting terrorists on our own soil soon. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it started tomorrow. The recent mass purchases of cell phones in America typically used by terrorists for bombs indicates to me that they are about to hit us. I'm very sad to say that I think we are about to find out what it is like to live like the people in Israel. Our borders have been open too long, and our security measures have been too lax. We can also thank the news media for publishing national security secrets and thank the ACLU for trying to stop every reasonable security measure that is taken to protect our people. As far as I'm concerned, it's too late, and they can't be stopped now. I'm very sad to say that 100% of us will soon learn to appreciate the members of our Armed Forces. We will also feel the full force and effect of what the ACLU and groups like them have done to the security of our people.

I hope and pray that I'm wrong, but sadly I think that I'm right. We can't cripple our security services or give out national security secrets without paying a horrible price, and we are about to pay a horrible price. All we can do is PRAY and do the best we can to protect our families. Please keep in mind that I don't claim to have any special information of any kind, nor am I trying to even hint of any kind of prophecy. It's simply a matter of common sense with a determined enemy, and all of the rules for protecting ourselves in a time of war were violated by our news media and politicians. Some of the common things that were done would have been called treason in World War II. The timing with the purchase of cell phones and events around the world makes me believe we will have attacks all over our country in a matter of weeks. Brothers and Sisters, PRAY!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Revelation 21:23 NASB  And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

And I agree with what you have said. It is not prophecy it is seeing what is going on around us and understanding the enemy. The enemy is already at our doorstep. What I meant by this is the enemy is already here in the U.S. and are making their plans to attack us. There was a recent film released to al-Jazeera that the government has said is a greenlight for an attack on us. The question is when and where. It is only a matter of time and I am with you that time will be soon.

Pastor Roger,

I should have read your post more closely. I apologize. I thought you were primarily talking about our war in the schools for the proper teaching of our children and protecting what we have left in this society that represents GOD. This is a war also, but it isn't very likely that masses of innocent people will lose their lives for it.

I think that we are both on the same sheet of music now. Regardless of what happens today or tomorrow, Christians should already be praying about this.

Love in Christ,
Tom

John 1:10-13 NASB  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

I did mention more or less the war in the schools also. I think that it is all tied together actually. We have CAIR on one side and the ACLU on the other and now the two have joined together. We also have other Muslim factions in the U.S. that are tied to the terrorists. All of these people are using our laws to protect themselves all the while that they are working to destroy the laws and the people of this nation. The war works through our schools, our government and shortly with terrorism added in.

It is a multi-fronted war. As one Muslim Cleric put it and so does the Quran ... they will either convert us or kill us.

Pastor Roger,

I understand exactly what you are talking about - YES, they are all tied together

All I can say about them coming to convert me to Islam is they need to bring a sack lunch, a cot to sleep on, and plenty of extra ammunition. I'm completely serious, and I think they would need a small army just for the retired people in my neighborhood.

NOW, I have to give you one humorous thought on such a morbid topic. I can almost hear them now talking about the CHARGE OF THE WHEELCHAIR BRIGADE!  :D

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 111:3 NASB  Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever.

A rewrite of  a portion of Lord Tennyson Alfred's "The Charge of the Light Brigade"


Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the WHEELCHAIR Brigade!
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the WHEELCHAIR Brigade.

 ;D   ;D   ;D  ROFL!  I think that I want a wheelchair that does wheelies, and I also want a sword. I think that the sword would just be for show.  ;D

Be careful that the sword doesn't get tangled in the wheels.

Here is an article that explains more what Beps and I were talking about. Note the areas that I have highlighted. These people are here at our door.




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Disposable Cell Phone Purchases a Result of NSA Leak and NY Times Story
By Jim Kouri CPP (01/15/06)

The FBI has initiated an intense investigation into the increase in purchases of large numbers of disposable cell phones by individuals who emanate from the Middle East and Pakistan.

The cheap cell phones, which do not require purchasers to sign a contract or have a credit card, have many legitimate uses, and are popular with those who have ubgone21 or for use as emergency phones tucked away in motor vehicle glove compartments. But, according to law enforcement commanders, since they can be difficult or impossible to track, the phones are widely used by organized crime gangs, drug traffickers and terrorists.

The FBI agents are closely monitoring this dangerous situation, which came to light following recent large-quantity purchases in California and Texas. In fact, these two purchases occurred after the New York Times published a story regarding a top secret NSA surveillance program which was leaked by an official or officials unknown at this time.

In a December 31 transaction at a Target store in California, 150 disposable cell phones were purchased. Suspicious store employees called the local police, who in turn notified the FBI.

In a December 18 incident at a Wal-Mart store in Texas, six individuals attempted to buy about 60 of the phones until store clerks became suspicious and notified the police who informed the FBI of the transaction.

The Midland, Texas, police report dated December 18 and obtained by ABC News states: "Information obtained by MPD [Midland Police Department] dispatch personnel indicated that approximately six individuals of Middle-Eastern origin were attempting to purchase an unusually large quantity of tracfones [disposable cell phones with prepaid minutes attached]." At least one of the suspects was identified as being from Iraq and another from Pakistan, officials said.

When the local police officers arrived, the suspects were observed moving away from the registers while trying to avoid detection while they discarded merchandise -- 60 tracphones.

These purchasers are believed to be linked to a terrorist cell operating within the United States, according to counterterrorist sources.

According to sources in the federal law enforcement community, reports are coming in from other cities, including Dallas, and from cops in other states. Authorities in Pennsylvania, New York and other parts of Texas confirmed that they were alerted to the cases. It's believed other local law enforcement agencies and anti-terrorism task forces have also been notified.

The growing use of the throwaway cell phones has been cited by President Bush as an important justification for expanding the wiretap laws under the Patriot Act.

"Law enforcement officials can now use what's now called roving wiretaps, which will prevent a terrorist from switching cell phones to get a message out to one of his buddies," said the President during a press conference following the NSA spy leak.

Law enforcement commanders are being sensitive to allegations of profiling, so they are saying it is possible that some large purchases are being sent to the Middle East for resale in a sellers' markets in their home countries, or as gifts for friends and relatives.

In fact, as a result of news stories regarding suspicious disposable cell phone purchases, the American Civil Liberties Union is looking into legal action they might take to stifle law enforcement's investigation of Middle Easterners making large-quantity purchases.

However, both intelligence officers and law enforcement investigators are monitoring reports of large-quantity purchases.

It's believed that some purchasers of disposable cellular phones could include political extremists, terrorist supporters, sympathizers or others simply shaken by the recent revelations of the National Security Agency's widespread monitoring of calls, including calls to and from the United States to foreign countries.

Pastor Roger,

Brother, I've been there and done that as a Law Enforcement Commander. I remember being told what was politically correct to say. Let's just cut through the garbage and tell the truth. Those cell phones will be used to kill Americans.

Law Enforcement represents the last line of defense in this country for the defense of citizens, and they are grossly out numbered and under-manned to do this job. I always gave thanks that I spent my law enforcement career in a city with outstanding support from the community. That "Thin Blue Line" will be defeated pretty quickly and fall unless there are a much large number of good citizens standing behind them. Good citizens can and do help law enforcement in many ways, and the best way always involves extra eyes and ears to collect critical information that is used to protect each individual community.

I'm not surprised to see the ACLU involved in trying to weaken this last line of defense. The recent actions of the ACLU and the news media are absolutely insane. If the ACLU and the news media continues what they are doing right now, the very lives of all innocent citizens in this country will be at risk. Now we know that the terrorists are here, and they are living among us, so the ACLU wants them left alone to plan and execute their terrorist agenda. SADLY, MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE NEWS MEDIA AND THE ACLU HAVE ALREADY DONE!

I'm reflecting on years of things done by the news media. YES, we have a free press and many good things can be and are done by a free press. HOWEVER, things change when we are at war. It is never good or smart to publish how we protect ourselves, what our procedures are, how we do things in certain situations, how many officers or agents are available for certain situations, information about troop and equipment movements, and all kinds of other information that pertains to our safety and survival. I've seen all kinds of information published that puts our troops, law enforcement, and every citizen in danger. It is insane to tell the enemy what we are going to do in advance or what we are currently doing to win this war and protect our citizens. For all intents and purposes, the news media and groups like the ACLU are working for the enemy, and they don't display any care, concern, or common sense in our safety and survival.

The war is going to start on our own soil. It's not a matter of if, rather a matter of when. When it does, that last line of defense won't have much of a chance if they are crippled first and the news media continues their total disregard for survival with the information they publish. We do live in a free country, but common sense must be used if we wish to preserve a free country. I'm currently thinking about a recent publication about the movement of a bomber group so that it would be close enough to be used in Iran if needed. WOW! - how smart was this? A reporter finding out about critical information like this does not mean that the news agency would want to publish it and help the enemy.

Eventually, I think that it will come down to our last line of defense. I wonder if the news media will now get the bright idea to publish our methods and procedures. Further, groups like the ACLU will attack those methods and procedures. WELL, quit wondering - the news media and the ACLU are already doing just this. I just want to know one thing:  WHAT SIDE ARE THEY ON?

Love In Christ,
Tom

Hebrews 11:6 NASB  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Neither am I. The ACLU and the news media have becom the number one supporter of terrorism here in the U.S. Is it because they are afraid of them, one of them or are they just that stupid!

Pastor Roger,

 ;D  All kidding aside, I mentioned this because I sincerely believe that the time will come when all citizens must be involved in one way or another with the protection of themselves and their families. I am very sad to say something like this and really mean it, but this is reality. Our enemy is ruthless, and their code of conduct is the opposite of what we practice and abide by. They will pick their targets for effect, and the targets will definitely involve the most innocent, vulnerable, and helpless. When it starts, our children won't be safe anywhere. It is shocking to even consider this, but think about all available information and you will know this is future reality. This isn't a matter of fortune-telling or anything like that, rather a matter of simple, common sense.

Love in Christ,
Tom

1 John 5:4-5 NASB  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Amen Brother, you are completely right. It is simply being able to see the trees through the forest.

You mention families needing to be more involved in protecting their families. This has become a reality in many parts of the states already. Not to the extent that you are talking about but it is still already started.

Now don't get me wrong, the majority of the police force in my area are great people (there's always at least one bad apple in the bunch and we have ours.). I work with the police force almost on a daily basis due to the work I do with kids. The force is so strung out that many of them do not have the time to take to do their jobs right. For many of them this breaks their hearts. Those are the ones that really care about what they are doing and why they are doing it. It tares me up also that these people have to go through this. Long hours and very little support if any.

The force here has been cut back in the last year while the size of the city has doubled and crime rate has increased. (It's a liberal run city with a mayor that is up on charges of illicit handling of funds.) It makes the city very vulnerable to such things as you are talking about. I am afraid nothing will be done about it either until after the fact when it is too late.