The Right to Leave

Speech by Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on National Television
"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia : one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off. Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."
"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia " "However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle."
"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"

"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!"
"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."

"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others.

"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,
'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."

"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."

Amen to that!

The War on PBS

If you're not watching The War on PBS, you're missing a very interesting and informative show. It's a Ken Burns documentary about WW II, that began last week and will go on for about 8 weeks, I think. I suggest looking it up in your tv schedule. It comes on here at 7 pm and lasts until 9 and then comes on again later. You can also find info online: http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/

They've interviewed some of the people who were directly involved--some have never talked about the war until now! The loss of so many soldiers through careless planning, and maybe just ignorance, breaks your heart!

I was surprised tonight to hear the name of a professor who taught at the college I went to, Dr Eugene Sledge. I didn't have a class with him but I remember hearing people talk favorably
about him.

Tonight's show will be the Battle of the Bulge.

The Man is Back!

Look who's back for a show every week--Tom Selleck! I'm going to be very happy on Friday nights at 8 pm! I may even need a bib! heh The only thing that would make me happier would be an extra large screen tv with high definition! I guess I can't have everything!

The show is Las Vegas and comes on at 9 pm est on Fridays. What idiot is not casting him in Magnum PI, the movie? Ben Affleck, Ben Stiller--are they crazy?! More people would pay to see Tom than those two losers!

UPDATE: Not enough camera time!

But I did love seeing him get out of the hummer in cowboy boots, jeans and hat!

That was a delight for my eyes! And hey--if I ever go to Las Vegas, I want to go to his casino!

What Camera?

Click to enlarge.

Eye Clinic Visit

I couldn't remember if my appointent was at 2 or 2:30, so I went early to be there at 2--thinking if I was early, I might get thru early! HA! Someone said they were backlogged.

When I finally got in to read the chart, the right eye was not doing so hot and I heard the woman doing the test say softly, something must've happened. Not exactly what I wanted to hear! She put me back in the waiting room where this antsy woman tried to start a conversation about some friends of hers with the same last name that I said I didn't know! I felt like saying just be quiet but, of course, I didn't. She was just there with someone and kept getting up to walk around and tried to talk to several people. I'm sure you know someone like that.

When I went back in the exam room, I managed to hit my head on some of the machinery next to the chair I was trying to sit in! Yes, it hurt! One of the doctors came in and started looking at my eye and said I still had some inflammation and a little cyst! He said it wasn't uncommon after surgery and that was why my vision was still not up to par. I thought I was going to get by with not having my eyes dialated, but no such luck! He picked up the drops and said, I know this is your favorite part! Oh yes, I adore having my eyes pulled apart for drops! Which, by the way, I sure am glad I spent all this time wearing sunglasses and putting lotion around my eyes so as not to have wrinkles and now they're getting pulled apart on a regular basis!

So anyway, I was sent upstairs to look into another machine while it took pictures of my eyes. I'd hate to think how much that machine or what it was spitting out cost! It made some pretty color pictures which I couldn't tell were my eyes but he said they were. He showed me what he said was a slice of my retina and the little bumps on it were what was keeping me from seeing better. To get rid of them he might have to give me an injection in my eye! Because I was alone, they put it off till next time in case it clouded my vision! AN INJECTION IN MY EYE, PEOPLE! He said it would just be a little stick---A LITTLE STICK IN MY EYE!! I said the dr that did the lazer surgery last Sept had said it wouldn't be bad....pfttt!

I left alittle after 5:30 to jockey with all the other people headed for home! Woo-hoo! Four lanes of traffic going full tilt with left and right blinkers blinking like crazy! I was content to let all the crazies whip in front of me. I need to make a sign for my car saying I just left the eye doctor! Nah, they probably wouldn't notice!

UPDATE: I got some eye drops that the clinic had "given" me after surgery and unlike the other drops I'd bought for around $4, these were $98.50! And the bottle is tiny! I'll have to squeeze it dry and scrape up any that hits my face!

Jack Army

In case you haven't heard, Jack Army has been inducted into the Order of the Spur while deployed. I'm sure he's going to look handsome in his Stetson and Gold Spurs! Go by his blog and give him a hearty job well done! ;)

http://gojackarmy.blogspot.com/

Way to go, Pilgrim!

Two Ways to Look at Everything

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asks, "Do you know her?"

"Yes," I sighed, "She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since."

"My Word!" says my wife, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"

So you see, there really are two ways to look at everything.

TV Show or Commercial?

The other day while I was on the computer, the tv was on and one of those judge shows came on--the blonde, Christina, I think. I heard "bunny ranch" and looked up to see a fat guy and two women. Ho #1 was suing ho #2 because she had given her some dresses and she didn't give them back. I guess the fat guy was the managing pimp. Ho #2 said something like she didn't think she had to give them back 'cause they looked better on her! It sounded more like a commercial for their place of employment than anything else. Since when does network tv advertise for low-lifes? Oh wait, never mind!

Aarrgghh

Ahoy me hardeys, guess what day it be?

Get talkin' before ye has to walk the plank!

Pirate's Cove has some eye-poppin' photos!

Mommee….

I love these!

(Icanhascheezeburger.com)