Daily Misery

Unless you absolutely have no other options, don't apply for a job you know you'd hate. You just might get it, and then the best you could hope for is daily misery.

Symmetry

As Terri Schiavo's husband fights to keep her feeding tube out so she can die, John Paul II has one inserted so he can live. The pope knows–and is literally willing to live by–the truth that human dignity comes not from what we can do, but from who we are.

Social Laughter

Last night we were watching some old "Carol Burnett Show" reruns. Now, this was not my favorite TV show by far when I was growing up, but last night I was struck by how different such programs are from today's fare. Of course there is no dirty talk or profanity on the old reruns. But it dawned on me that perhaps the biggest difference was the fact that Carol wasn't trying to change my thinking about gay marriage or abortion. No one was coming out of the closet or making an anti-war statement. No, Carol, Harvie, and Tim were there solely to make me laugh–and they did. Perhaps today's more "enlightened" performers–who attempt to sneak some article of faith from the liberal social agenda into every show–need to start taking some cues from the classic and classy veterans. If they want to improve society, they can start by keeping their politics to themselves. Just make us laugh.

Terri's Legacy

Terri Schiavo's impending death in the face of an ambiguous diagnosis and a husband-guardian with ambiguous motives is a clear-cut loss for all of us. With appeals from the executive and legislative branches turned down flat by judges, the case reveals the extent to which we have moved toward a culture of death.

Empty Tomb

Other religious leaders have great teachings, but only Christ has the empty tomb.

Lottery Losers

Every news program that participates in the lottery con game by reporting the winning numbers every day ought to be required to also report the losing numbers (or at least a representative sample), as well as do occasional stories on lottery losers.

Day of Death

With the nation focused on the imminent death of a brain-damaged woman in a Florida hospice, let us ponder the death of a Man on a hill outside Jerusalem nearly two millennia ago. Crucified between two thieves, He willingly laid down His life for you and me, sanctifying our sufferings for all time by His participation in them. This death–seemingly a brutal and senseless episode at the time–was for us the indispensable gateway to life.

Bonus Thought: Two Objections

Earlier this week, after over an hour of personal observation and extensive viewing of videotapes, Mayo Clinic neurologist William Cheshire submitted a seven-page report saying he thinks Terri Schiavo may have been misdiagnosed. Cheshire believes that Schiavo, who is dying because her feeding tube was removed nearly a week ago, may not be in a Persistent Vegetative State, and that a new medical examination is called for. Those who want Terri to die cite two primary objections: (1) Cheshire has not done a medical exam of Schiavo and thus can't know her true condition; and (2) he is a Christian. Regarding the first, of course he hasn't, as Michael Schiavo and attorney George Felos have fought tooth and nail to prevent any such medical exams. I wonder why? Regarding the second, since when is it wrong for a physician to be a Christian? Should all Christians leave the medical profession? If they do, maybe they should take their hospitals with them, too.

Dog's Life

Yesterday 13 protesters were arrested outside Terri Schiavo's hospice. Their crime? Trying to bring her water. By the way, Bill Bennett notes that Florida law prohibits you from denying food and water to your dog. If Terri were a dog, she would get more protection than she is getting now.

Sick Society

Five years after Columbine, another angry male student has shot up a school, killing nine people and himself, in Red Lake, Minnesota. As before, there will be hand-wringing, a tightening of policies against guns, and new lockdown procedures. Then we will go on as before, wondering what is happening to our children. We apparently cannot see that our society itself is sick, that kids who have nothing positive to believe in will believe in anything, without respect for human life. If we don't address this spiritual sickness, this kind of unimaginable mayhem will become increasingly imaginable.

Schiavo Memo

Memo to the woman who has set up housekeeping with Michael Schiavo: Before you become physically incapacitated, make sure you put down your wishes regarding medical care in writing. After you become incapacitated, don't be surprised if Michael moves on to someone else. After all, he did it before. But, then again, you know all about that, don't you?

Life Presumption

Congress and President Bush have brought about a law that may save brain-damaged but very much alive Terri Schiavo from an excruciating death by starvation. America needs to "stand on the side of those defending life for all Americans, including those with disabilities," the president says. "In cases like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life."

Crunch Time

On a certain Sunday nearly two millennia ago, a Teacher entered Jerusalem riding a donkey. The crowds cried out, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" But a few days later, some of these same people shouted, "Crucify him!" Do we believe what we say we believe, or, at crunch time, will we join the mob?

Sex Offenders

John Evander Couey, the man arrested in the murder of third-grader Jessica Lunsford, was a registered sex offender who spent just two years in prison after a burglary conviction. Why are we so willing to make examples of the Martha Stewarts of the world, but so unwilling to keep sickos such as Couey behind bars where they belong? Sex offenders have a very poor track record of being able to overcome their deadly criminal addictions. Registering them is not enough. For the protection of our innocent sons and daughters, we must lock up people like Couey and throw away the key.

Home Run

While a House committee's interrogation of Major League Baseball figures over illegal steroid use is grabbing most of today's headlines, far more significant business was being conducted yesterday in the Senate. With more than 40 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, Senators Dick Durbin and Rick Santorum (a Democrat and a Republican, respectively) passed an amendment to the Senate's budget resolution. The amendment would fully fund President Bush's $3.7 billion budget request for bilateral HIV/AIDS programs. On top of that, it would provide $500 million in multilateral funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Sounds like a home run to me.

Blarney

Regarding the constitutional duty of the Senate to give "advice and consent" on the Executive Branch's judicial nominees, one senator said this responsibility doesn't include denying judges a vote for partisan reasons: "If we don't like somebody the President nominates, vote him or her down. But don't hold them in this anonymous unconscionable limbo, because in doing that, the minority of Senators really shame all Senators." Who said this? Was it a disgruntled Republican, fed up with his colleagues across the aisle, who have taken the novel approach of filibustering George W. Bush's nominees? No, it was Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Leahy said this in 1998 (when Bill Clinton was president). Can anyone guess why he has changed his mind?

Oily Cake

Senate Republicans are trying to open up Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration. Not surprisingly, the Democrats are trying to stop them. Question: Aren't these the same people blaming Bush for high gas prices? Talk about having your cake and eating it, too!

Kramer vs. Reality

With a stroke of his pen, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer ruled this week that California's longstanding ban against homosexual marriage is unconstitutional. We now await a similar decision on why square pegs must fit into round holes.

Protecting Judges

If we can't figure out a better way to protect judges and their families, our entire judicial system will be under threat.

Two Patricks

St. Patrick's Day in Ireland is about the triumph of Christianity over paganism. For all its fun, St. Patrick's Day in America–with the blarney, green beer, and leprechauns–is about the triumph of paganism over Christianity.

Rose-Colored Stupidity

Brian Nichols, the accused rapist who murdered a judge and two other people yesterday at a Fulton County courtroom and who is still at large, apparently was being escorted–without handcuffs–by a lone female deputy when he went on his deadly rampage. Whatever else this case represents, it's hard to resist the conclusion that political correctness combined with general stupidity played a role. The attorney for Nichols said, "Even the larger deputies I don't think would be any match for Brian Nichols." Those who insist a woman can do any job a man can do are ignoring physical reality and shouldn't complain when big, burly thugs like Nichols refuse to go along with their rose-colored version of reality.

Sickness and Health

If you never got sick, how much would you appreciate your health?

Bad Investment

If adultery begins in the heart, then those few bucks spent for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue could be the worst investment you ever make.

Anti-Cloning Bandwagon

Yesterday the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution opposing all forms of human cloning. But will the usual suspects who say international opinion should control what we do in the U.S. jump on the anti-cloning bandwagon? Don't hold your breath.

Sleazer

Do we really need daily updates on the Michael Jackson case? Just tell me what happened when it's over.

Priorities

Rank the following in order of importance: work, home, hobbies, spirituality. Now ask your family to check your answers.

Don't Quit

It is better to fail than to quit.

Other-Focused

Don't think about yourself today. Focus on someone else.

Cuckoo Byrd

On Tuesday, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) likened GOP plans to stop Democrat filibusters of judicial nominees to tactics used by Hitler and the Nazis. Perhaps Byrd meant it as a compliment. After all, he was a Klansman.

Hearing vs. Seeing

If you tell your children to do the right thing, they will hear it. If you model doing the right thing, they will see it. Which approach do you think will be more effective?

Being vs. Doing

Never confuse who you are with what you do. A day will come when you no longer do what you do. Then who will you be?

The Difference

The difference between pleasing God and impressing God is the difference between love and legalism. It's easy to do the first, but impossible to do the second.