Lessons from Mexico

Earlier this month, Texas executed a Mexican citizen for the heinous 1994 murder of a teenager in Houston. Mexican authorities were quite upset that Governor Perry did not issue a stay of execution. Their beef is that the man was not told that he had the right to contact the Mexican consulate for legal help.

But what struck me as really funny were some of the quotes from Mexican officials. Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan wrote Governor Perry that "Our nations are bound not only by their common border, but also by a mutual commitment to the rule of law." Really? Anybody have any idea how many revolutions they've had in Mexico? Have you read recently about the drug gangs taking over Mexico, running guns, and killing anybody who gets in their way? Did you read about the young man murdered last year on Falcon Lake? I just wonder if Ambassador Sarukhan had a straight face on when he wrote that ridiculous assertion.

One of the murderer's lawyers said, "If the Mexican consulate had been involved at the time, Leal would have had highly qualified lawyers who would have transformed the quality of his defense." Yeah, I'm sure -- just like the ones they provide for the prisoners in Mexican jails.

If I couldn't have come up with any arguments better than those, I think I'd have just kept my mouth shut.

"Mexican's execution is likely." The Dallas Morning News; July 7, 2011; p. 1A.

Pardon that man!

Jerome Ersland is a pharmacist. He had a drug store in Oklahoma City. He was found guilty of first-degree murder in the May 19, 2009, shooting death of Antwun Parker. He was sentenced to life in prison.

I am a real law and order type of person, but this man deserves a pardon from the Governor. Why am I taking up for a murderer? Here's how the "murder" went down. Antwun and one of his brothers from the 'hood, Jevontai Ingram, came into the pharmacy wearing ski masks and demanding money and drugs. Ersland shot Antwun in the head. He then chased Jevontai from the store.  When he came back in, he grabbed another gun and fired five more bullets into Antwun.

I can't say as I wouldn't have done the same thing. When Antwun and Jevontai entered that store, they didn't care who got hurt. Ersland just made sure it was not the innocent people in the pharmacy. Ersland's son, Jeff, stated it quite eloquently: "We believe that armed robbers who enter our businesses and threaten our lives bear the responsibility for the outcome of an armed conflict that they initiate."

Jeff has circulated a petition asking Governor Mary Fallin for a pardon. He has 17,000 signatures. I'd gladly add my name to it!

"Pharmacist gets life in teen's shooting." The Dallas Morning News; July 12, 2011; p. 4A.

Character - you either have it, or you don't.

The Atlanta, Georgia, school system is involved in one of the largest cheating scandals in U.S. history. Teachers and principals are accused of changing student test answers in order to increase the scores, leading to job security and higher pay for themselves.

The newspaper says pressure to meet testing targets was a major reason for cheating by 178 educators in 44 Atlanta schools. I disagree. The major reason for cheating is the lack of an ethical standard.

DeKalb County teacher Laura Pittman said she was convinced that teachers would be forced into more cheating. "Anybody whose job is tied to performance, it is a setup." What a sad way of thinking! In essence, what she is saying is, "We have to cheat because you expect us to do our jobs."

In today's society, it seems most people don't want to do what's right. They want to do what will get them the most in the shortest amount of time. Young college grads don't want entry level positions -- they want to be CEO's. People don't want to save a down payment for a home -- they want a sub-prime mortgage. People who can't afford a new car think they deserve it anyway. And teachers who don't want to put the time and effort into educating their students have to cheat on tests. For sure, it is a testing issue -- a test of character. And the teachers are failing.

"More cheating scandals loom, some say." The Dallas Morning News; July 12, 2011; p. 2A.

How to Make a National Fool of Yourself

This woman was protesting outside the Casey Anthony trial. Perhaps if she'd spent less time getting tattoos and more time in school, she wouldn't have made a national fool of herself.

The kicker: This sign was the correction. The first one read "Gulity of Muder."

Paris News funny: In a caption to a photo of some recent storm damage, the News reports that a tree branch was ripped off its roots. FYI, Mr. Caption Editor, trees are ripped up by the roots, and branches are ripped from trees. 

Paris News funny #2: Mary Walker Clark describes Marilyn Stephenson, a retired Sergeant. "Her gate is forward and deliberate, and she speaks with Army punctuated precision." If that gate is forward and deliberate, she might try some WD-40 on it.

Freedom OF Religion -- not FROM Religion

There is a group of atheists and agnostics who call themselves "The Freedom from Religion Foundation." If they are telling the truth, they ignorantly believe they are upholding the 1st Amendment. But they need some basic civics instruction. First, the text of the amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So that immediately negates the significance of their name -- we are not guaranteed freedom FROM religion. The current burr under their saddles is Governor Perry attending a prayer and fasting event scheduled for next month and encouraging others to join him. They claim that amounts to the government endorsing a religion. News Flash! The 1st Amendment enjoins the government only from making a law establishing a religion. That's it!


You notice, though, that they don't like the rest of the amendment, for they are asking Governor Perry to give up the rights he has: they do not have the right to forbid him the free exercise of his religion or the right to forbid him to peaceably assembly with whomever he wishes . . . no matter what office he holds.

I say it's really too bad we don't have more politicians like Rick Perry. I can't know his motives, but his actions are certainly a refreshing alternative to a President pushing a gay-rights-and-redistribute-the-wealth-and-spend-ourselves-into-oblivion-and-blame-it-all-on-George-Bush agenda.

"Suit filed to stop Perry's prayer event." The Dallas Morning News; July 14, 2011; p. 3A.

You have to administer the medicine for it to work!

People are incensed that a doctor in Burleson gave a prescription to Courtney Capps for her 5-year-old son, Isaiah. The prescription was to "Apply large paddle to bottom of child anytime he needs it."

Courtney has filed a complaint with the Texas Medical Board, and Dr. Carl Gossett has been fired from Huguley Memorial Medical Center. That's too bad. Can you imagine how that child must have been running amok in his office for the doctor to prescribe such a thing?

I'm sure his prescription was just what the doctor should have ordered. But Courtney disagrees. "My kids are my world. They're my everything." Most parents feel that way, Courtney. That's why they discipline their children . . . sometimes with that large paddle to the bottom.

I have a feeling we'll be hearing about little Isaiah in 15 years or so . . . when he's sentenced to TDC.

"Mom says doctor prescribed spanking for son." The Dallas Morning News; July 15, 2011; p. 2B.

I take it back!

Several weeks ago, I commended The Dallas Morning News for standing on principle by not publishing same sex "marriage" announcements. There is no such thing as same sex marriage in Texas (or anywhere else for that matter, no matter what the law says), and such announcements are a sham and a slap in the face to those who believe God means what He says.

I hereby take back my commendation. In the July 17 edition, there were three marriage announcements. One bride was pictured without her groom. The other two "marriages" involved four grooms. Not content with a standard size photo, these perverts have a 5 1/2" x 5" poster plastered on the page. How "in your face" is that? But they just want tolerance. Yeah, right, and Hitler just wanted a little piece of Europe.

The Dallas Morning News; July 17, 2011; p. 11E.