The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted a bitter hate-filled placard in the state of Washington's capitol  hallways alongside normal traditional Christmas decorations including the Nativity and a Christmas tree that was given the PC treatment and is called a "Holiday tree". On the placard it reads ""There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." This is a sick message from dour, sour, bitter minds. The Nativity and the Christmas tree are harmless peaceful symbols that do not denegrate those who don't believe.  But the nasty message on the Atheists "holiday" placard is plainly hateful and derogatory. It certainly does not inspire anyone to want to listen to what they have to say about anything, and lends a dim view to the already dubious title of those who call themselves Atheists.  A better message, a more reasonable message, might have been something like "For those who do not have a religious faith we would like to remind you that you need no holiday to offer goodwill, kindness and charity to your fellow man". And leave it at that. But no, they had to get in thier foul little digs and slaps at religion and thus at those who hold faith.  Anyway, I would like to close this post with a poetic tribute to a special lady, Patricia ( Trish) ,  who lives in a distant place, far from my embrace, but who is always on my mind;
 
Twilight glows,
It comes and goes,
With shifting winds
That bend the rose,
But the chaos
Driving days apart
Can't cool the chaos in my heart.
Through my body
Thunder rips
At the softest whisper
Of your lips,
My fingers tremble,
They starve obsessed
To enclose you tight
To my pounding chest,
Wind can scream
Like a child's birth
And bend the trees
Till they touch the earth
But it can not see
Within its cries
The heaven-born beauty
Of your eyes
That glow with a thousand
sunstruck skies,
And all that is bright
can fade away
Till the world is dead
And the stars are gray
And while others mourn
The loss of day
I would warm my heart
In the soul stirring
Light of your eyes.
 
- Mike Silverman

 I think character is an imperative part of leadership, and I think it speaks ill of the citizens in general when the press suggests that it doesn't matter to us who Obama allies himself with personally. I recall Bill Clinton's first run at the White House. All the "bimbo eruptions" as they were termed, and how many on the opposing side tried to point out that this is a character flaw that shows he will be an untrustworthy leader.  His supporters told us, "hey it's his personal life, and it's completely separate from professional life, so leave him alone".  Of course we know what happened in the oval office, that we all pay to maintain with our tax money. I think Bill clearly proved if you do it to your wife ( affairs, infidelity), you'll probably do it to the country as well. But that's just one example. How many times has an infidelity , or ( use of call girls as a certain governor is now famous for) ended a political career on the spot?  Quite a lot. While adultery is certainly very bad, associating with people who want to see our government and our allies destroyed, who hate the united states, is even worse.  It's wrong to take the question of morality out of leadership ability. It's key. And I think if a strong enough case can be made, then it definitely should be one of the determining factors in who you will give your vote of trust to. I wrote a little poem here about my views on Obama, and his policies.  I call it The Obama Blues...,
 
Obama and his friends
have a plan of attack,
My money's going down,
They say it's not coming back...,
Now I've learned it hard,
What they believe,
They're draining the blood
From those who achieve.
 
I worked and I scraped
To make a good living,
I do my share of
Helping and giving,
But it's never enough
For the left wing vote,
They want what I earn
To keep others afloat.
 
Joe found out
You can't say a thing
If freedom of speech
means dissing the king,
You'll be run on a rail
Straight out of town
If you don't bow your head
To the Democrat crown.

Pulling it back,
And washing it out,
Fighting for freedom
Is truly in doubt,
When the plan is to stop
As the war's being won,
And meeting our foe
Like a petulant son.

So for goodness sake DON'T VOTE OBAMA!
 
- Mike Silverman,

Once, upon a campaign season
As I sorted lies from reason
What was true and what was treason
In the crisp September air,

As I sat here watching wearily
Savage advertisements cheerily
Cast from people who Imperially
Deigned to call them fair,
 
I heard a sound from ages past
Tapping on the frosted glass
That stared out on a darkened pass
The moon could scarcely light,

In a clearing there I saw
A pair of ghostly figures thaw
From out the icy darkened maw
Of the deeply wooded night.
 
Though the glass was wet with rain,
I saw the frame of John McCain
Standing there despite the pain
From injuries long past,

Not looking at me, nor away,
He gazed into the molten fray
Of an eerie evening shadow-play
That the rising mist had cast,

Unfolding like a savage dream
Within that cloud of forest steam
I saw a throng compelled to scream
As buildings burst and fall,
 
Fire burns, explosions roar,
People drop to rise no more
No difference whether rich or poor,
Terror takes them all.

John McCain then reached his hand
Into that brutal vision and
Dispelled that fog from where it spanned,
"Not on my watch!" he said.
 
The second figure there was framed
In the misty light and dappled rain
Barack Obama stood unchained
From the shackles of the past,

He too observed a drama twist
By the flickering of a will-o'-wisp
Where light and shadow might be missed
By other untrained eyes,

A divided road eclipsed the night,
One side black and one side white,
Lit by a flame of a hateful light
On a grimly burning cross,
 
The price that generations paid,
Waiting for that promise made
That here, despite a person's shade
You'll have an equal chance.
 
Both men bring perspective
On America's objective
Despite the rank invective
And a sharp opposing stance,
 
Back within my solemn room
In the failing light
of the evening gloom
I came to a conclusion soon
That only this compels,

From the first intent of freedom
The scope has been more grand
Than any single eye had seen
Or any dream had planned,
Whoever holds this country's reins
Can find a steady hand
By remembering the price we paid
For the ground on which we stand.
 
- Mike Silverman, Milford MA

I thought about what comments I might add to my blog today. But I have been so inspired by the story of Sarah Palin, that I felt I'd like to try something different. Here then is my poetic tribute to Sarah. I call it, Sarah Barracuda.
 
SARAH BARRACUDA

In the cool glow of a wilderness
Left to the grace of God,

In the late breaking nights of Alaska,
Where ice is never thawed,

In the wild morning beauty
Of islands steeped in haze,

There still are trails that got thier start
With a pioneering blaze.

The bravest of explorers
Crossed the harsh terrains

And built up strong foundations,
And Thier spirit still remains.

In different ways, but much the same,
Resolved in thier decision,

Pioneers today display
That same courageous vision,

A fighter's heart , a love for life,
Committed to be free,

Sarah proves those founding men
Are not mere history.

Barbra Washburn conquered mountains,
Sarah Conquered corruption,
 
From Wasilla to the snowcapped ranges
Formed from old eruptions,
 
By silver plains and ancient glaciers,
Lands to hunt and roam,

Sarah keeps tradition
With her family and home.

Like those who came before her
When the trail was so untamed,
 
She defends the place she loves
Proud and unashamed.

Some may think they'll stop her,
Freeze her in her tracks,

But she'll defend her family
No matter who attacks,

Savage critics swinging knives
Had better be aware,

A Barracuda's bite is not
A pleasant thing to bear.

  
- Mike Silverman , Milford MA