Random thoughts while waiting for a bus

The Bush White House is scraping the bottom of the barrel, trying to find the WMD or related items for which we went to war in Iraq. Eureka! Sacks of caster beans have been found in someone’s back yard, beans from which many components are extracted and which can be used in the production of fertilizer or brake fluid, or by a long stretch, contribute to the making of a bomb.

Ann Coulter, who represents the sides of the barrel in the conservative right, and who appears on CNN emphasizing her sexuality by exposing long legs hanging out from under the shortest skirt the networks will allow, was chastised a while back for writing in her column that Christianity should focus on changing the entire world into practicing Christians. While discussing her new book and that written by Hilary Clinton, she claimed that Hilary’s weighed more by 3 to 1 and when asked if she meant Hilary or the book she coyly said that she partly meant the book and then giggled at how she loves the double entendre. What a pity Anne hasn’t learned that what you don’t show can be much more titillating than what you do, and if this is representative of the young American Right----oy vei is mere.

Two seasons ago, oversize crucifixes in varying forms, using precious stones or diamonds or heavy metals, some attached to large link chains, became a fashion statement for the so called cognoscente who follow the latest styles. I think this season should take a leaf from the Christian Majority and make the Star of David a similar fashion statement. Ralph Lauren or Calvin Klein, in recognition of their Jewish roots could accessorize the Fall clothing line with a Star of David, and maybe Barbara Streisand, the icon of both Christians and Jews, could be the first one in her world to be a style setter. As for the rest of us, we can either follow the crowd or wear -as we have done all along – the symbol of Jewish pride, not to be confused with any other pride, if you please.

“ ‘My country, right or wrong’ is a thing no patriot would ever think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying ‘My mother, drunk or sober.’ ” Gilbert K. Chesterton, born in 1874, originally uttered those words and the first part at least, has been repeated over and over in many guises, but the meaning is always the same. Patriots owe it to their country to question every action because countries are run by human beings and their fallibility has been demonstrated throughout the centuries. And so, to keep our country on the straight and narrow we must throw off the yoke of complacency and take on the role of devil’s advocate. Such action does not mean that we do not love our country as some believe, it means that we love our country enough to take an unpopular position even if causes us to suffer personal pain.

The bus approaches and I get ready to board and I say a prayer to the Almighty for my having been born an American. Thus far, at least, my only concern as I enter the bus is whether it will be crowded and will I have to stand on my tired feet? I touch my Star of David and I think of Jews in Israel and what goes through their minds as they board the buses which they hope will enable them to reach their planned destination, tired feet intact.

So as I said, it’s a long way from a rosebush to a bomb.