Yesterday I accidentally deleted a new blog post I had just completed and, with it, the two previous blog posts I had done during the past week.

    So I am giving them new life in a short form.

    Blog "1" asked the question:  Why can't the people who are running for the presidency take off their masks.  The phoniness of the 1920's was 90 years ago.  This is 2007.

    I think we have a right to know whether they drink too much or have other dependencies.  If so--are they taking care of them or not?  What about their families--was there alcoholism or drug dependency or mental illness in their family of origin?  What did they do about it?  How is their physical health? Do they stay fit?  Do they use presciption medications--if so, how much and which ones?  

    What about their spiritual condition?  Can they talk about it in a non-political context?  How do they treat the people who work for them?  (Big question.)  Are they generous?  How much do they give to faith-based organizations or charities?  

    Why not open up?  This is the 21st Century.  

    The second post is this:  If people want to immigrate here, they should be most welcome to go for it, but only legally.   Refugees from a war-torn nation are an exception.  Those who want to come here should do the paperwork, wait for a visa, and while they're waiting -- learn English.  I think that language dependency is the largest resentment resident Americans have against current immigrants -- they can learn to speak English -- every else does.  There's no future in a bilingual America.  Spanish is a beautiful language -- it just doesn't happen to be our language in the US.

    Then there is the quesion of "Why do they hate us so?"  The answer to the question is more likely to be found in the heart and soul of the one who "hates" -- not in anything about the US.  There is much to like in the American lifestyle, and some to view with disgust.  Drug abuse, pornography peddling, and a certain degree of mindless self indulgence that are without a doubt unbeautiful.  On the the other hand, take a look at the photos out there depicting the friendliness and kindnesses shown by our soldiers, sailors and airmen in Iraq and Afghanistan when their lives are in grave danger, and you can say with pride, these are some of Americas finest--and ask yourself who else would do these things at such a risk for the modest possibility of liberating a country that has only known brutality, murder and deceit?

    Let those who hate, do so.  They get what they deserve in response.