Note: This is a letter written to Chris Core of WMAL, host of the Chris Core Show.
Dear Chris:
I am writing to you because I have been listening the last few weeks over all the contraversaries people have been making up concerning the holidays. It's bad enough people our fighting over what to call a Christmas tree (come on, only people who celebrate Christmas plus maybe a few old-time pagans decorate a tree for a holiday). It's bad enough that we have to walk around on tippy toes on how to address people during the holidays (I've settled on saying Merry Christmas only if I know they're Christians or they are wearing a cross or Christmas related appearal and say "Happy Holidays" if I'm not sure.) All this to accomodate a few extremists on the left who want to wipe out any public practices of Christianity even though it is the religion of the vast majority of Americans. However, on the extreme right, there are also problems which has prompted to me to write you.
Last Saturday, I was honored to recieved a holiday greeting card from the White House, signed by President Bush and the First Lady. I suspect because of how it was addressed, it was sent to me because of my participation in my local Republicsn Committee. I'm not mover or shaker, just an average member, contributing some of my time and money. I appreciated the nice gesture from the Bushes. This morning, I was surprised to see in the Washington Post that some Christian groups have seen fit to make issue over the same greeting card, because it did not specifically state "Christmas" or make reference to Jesus' birth. Come on! The cards were sent to over 1.2 million supporters of the President. How is the White House suppose to know the religious preferences of each one of them and what would be offensive or not? I knew the card was to me because I'm an active Republican and it was addressed to me and not my wife, who doesn't get involved in the party. She is not listed in any party database, so she wasn't addressed. If the White House didn't know enough that I was married, who is it going to know if I'm a Christian (which I am) or Jewish or Muslim or another religion? There is no legal registry of your religious faith in America outside of the military. The military only does it so they can stamp your dog tags and send the right Chaplain if the need arises. So I do not think it is fair to slam the White House over this issue. There is no way the White House staff is going to be able to know the religion of each person who gets a card, so it was right for the staff to send cards which has a common holiday greeeting which should offend no one. However, there are always people who want to fight over anything.
I thought this would be a good topic and I would be happy to discuss it on your show.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005
No Offense But Merry Christmas!
Dear Everyone:
Under the First Admendment of the US Constitution, I am permitted free excercise of speech and religion as an American citizen. As a Christian and an American who has traveled throughout many parts of the world, I have respected the customs and practices of all kinds of other people, including those who practice other faiths. I expect the same from everyone else. I don't expect you to practice my faith, but I do expect you to respect my free to practice it. I do not believe I need to hide the fact that I am a Christian from the public just as I would force you to hide your beliefs.
This is why I was offended this morning when I heard a discussion on a radio station this morning about selling housing during the holiday season. One of the radio hosts seriously asked the business reporter if decorating your house for Christmas when you have it for sale would be considered offensive. I was aghasted. You mean in order to sell my house during the holiday period, I'm supposed to hide the fact that I celebrate Christmas, one of my religious holidays? If a potential customer is offended, so be it because I would not not want money from such a prejudiced person. Would you expect a Jewish family to hide the Menorah and decorations if non-Jewish lookers came to their house?
I understand if someone may be made to feel uncomfortable if I said "Merry Christmas" to them if they were not a Christian and I have the maners to say "Happy Holidays" unless I knew they were Christians. However, those who want to force out all public displays of the word "Christmas" need to get a grip on reality. You can't force Christmas away, no matter how hard you try. The Romans, Soviets, and other opressors of freedom have tried and failed. We should celebrate or at least respect everyone's holiday unless it somehow it intentionally designed to hurt someone (e.g. Marching down the a street in a Jewish neighborhood to celebrate Hitler's birthday.) I rather live in a country where all good people of faith are allowed to express themselves as long as they respect others. Schoolchildren should know what Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan and all other major holidays are all about. This way, when the kids grow up, they can be more knowledgeable about the world and other peoples, thus knowing how to live with them in respect, perhaps even love. Isn't that what the "holiday" season is all about anyways?
Sincerely,
John Dittmer
Under the First Admendment of the US Constitution, I am permitted free excercise of speech and religion as an American citizen. As a Christian and an American who has traveled throughout many parts of the world, I have respected the customs and practices of all kinds of other people, including those who practice other faiths. I expect the same from everyone else. I don't expect you to practice my faith, but I do expect you to respect my free to practice it. I do not believe I need to hide the fact that I am a Christian from the public just as I would force you to hide your beliefs.
This is why I was offended this morning when I heard a discussion on a radio station this morning about selling housing during the holiday season. One of the radio hosts seriously asked the business reporter if decorating your house for Christmas when you have it for sale would be considered offensive. I was aghasted. You mean in order to sell my house during the holiday period, I'm supposed to hide the fact that I celebrate Christmas, one of my religious holidays? If a potential customer is offended, so be it because I would not not want money from such a prejudiced person. Would you expect a Jewish family to hide the Menorah and decorations if non-Jewish lookers came to their house?
I understand if someone may be made to feel uncomfortable if I said "Merry Christmas" to them if they were not a Christian and I have the maners to say "Happy Holidays" unless I knew they were Christians. However, those who want to force out all public displays of the word "Christmas" need to get a grip on reality. You can't force Christmas away, no matter how hard you try. The Romans, Soviets, and other opressors of freedom have tried and failed. We should celebrate or at least respect everyone's holiday unless it somehow it intentionally designed to hurt someone (e.g. Marching down the a street in a Jewish neighborhood to celebrate Hitler's birthday.) I rather live in a country where all good people of faith are allowed to express themselves as long as they respect others. Schoolchildren should know what Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan and all other major holidays are all about. This way, when the kids grow up, they can be more knowledgeable about the world and other peoples, thus knowing how to live with them in respect, perhaps even love. Isn't that what the "holiday" season is all about anyways?
Sincerely,
John Dittmer
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Too Conservative
Too Conservative
I can understand why some liberal political groups and the MSM may take issue with Judge Robert's nomination but they are sinking to new lows. First, the NY Times, that foundation of all the unfit to print, went to try to break the legal seals on his children's adoption papers. Where's is their holy "right to privacy"? So, from now on, a nomination means a total lack of privacy? No wonder why we have a hard time getting good, qualified people to serve in the public sector. Why put up with the lower salaries, the petty political bickering, and now the total lack of privacy and constant criticism? Where are the children's right to privacy too?
On top of what the NY Times is doing, NARAL (a pro-abortion group) has bought air time on CNN (AKA Communist News Network, if not, why is the founder, Ted Turner, riding the bus with his ex-wife Hanoi Jane? Maybe they are getting back together, yuck!) Anyways, NARAL is putting out since Judge Roberts made a legal brief that a case against a pro-life group for staging a peaceful protest should be tried at a state court rather than a federal one, that he was defending the abortion clinic bomber, Eric Rudolph. This was proven to be wrong by www.factcheck.org, which is a project of the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, factcheck.org proved that Judge Roberts made the brief seven years in a civil case before the bombing.
Intelligent debate is essential in a democratic republic, lies and outright distortions is not.
John Dittmer
I can understand why some liberal political groups and the MSM may take issue with Judge Robert's nomination but they are sinking to new lows. First, the NY Times, that foundation of all the unfit to print, went to try to break the legal seals on his children's adoption papers. Where's is their holy "right to privacy"? So, from now on, a nomination means a total lack of privacy? No wonder why we have a hard time getting good, qualified people to serve in the public sector. Why put up with the lower salaries, the petty political bickering, and now the total lack of privacy and constant criticism? Where are the children's right to privacy too?
On top of what the NY Times is doing, NARAL (a pro-abortion group) has bought air time on CNN (AKA Communist News Network, if not, why is the founder, Ted Turner, riding the bus with his ex-wife Hanoi Jane? Maybe they are getting back together, yuck!) Anyways, NARAL is putting out since Judge Roberts made a legal brief that a case against a pro-life group for staging a peaceful protest should be tried at a state court rather than a federal one, that he was defending the abortion clinic bomber, Eric Rudolph. This was proven to be wrong by www.factcheck.org, which is a project of the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, factcheck.org proved that Judge Roberts made the brief seven years in a civil case before the bombing.
Intelligent debate is essential in a democratic republic, lies and outright distortions is not.
John Dittmer
Fairness For Judge Roberts
I can understand why some liberal political groups and the MSM may take issue with Judge Robert's nomination but they are sinking to new lows. First, the NY Times, that foundation of all the unfit to print, went to try to break the legal seals on his children's adoption papers. Where's is their holy "right to privacy"? So, from now on, a nomination means a total lack of privacy? No wonder why we have a hard time getting good, qualified people to serve in the public sector. Why put up with the lower salaries, the petty political bickering, and now the total lack of privacy and constant criticism? Where are the children's right to privacy too?
On top of what the NY Times is doing, NARAL (a pro-abortion group) has bought air time on CNN (AKA Communist News Network, if not, why is the founder, Ted Turner, riding the bus with his ex-wife Hanoi Jane? Maybe they are getting back together, yuck!) Anyways, NARAL is putting out since Judge Roberts made a legal brief that a case against a pro-life group for staging a peaceful protest should be tried at a state court rather than a federal one, that he was defending the abortion clinic bomber, Eric Rudolph. This was proven to be wrong by www.factcheck.org, which is a project of the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, factcheck.org proved that Judge Roberts made the brief seven years in a civil case before the bombing.
Intelligent debate is essential in a democratic republic, lies and outright distortions in not.
John Dittmer
On top of what the NY Times is doing, NARAL (a pro-abortion group) has bought air time on CNN (AKA Communist News Network, if not, why is the founder, Ted Turner, riding the bus with his ex-wife Hanoi Jane? Maybe they are getting back together, yuck!) Anyways, NARAL is putting out since Judge Roberts made a legal brief that a case against a pro-life group for staging a peaceful protest should be tried at a state court rather than a federal one, that he was defending the abortion clinic bomber, Eric Rudolph. This was proven to be wrong by www.factcheck.org, which is a project of the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, factcheck.org proved that Judge Roberts made the brief seven years in a civil case before the bombing.
Intelligent debate is essential in a democratic republic, lies and outright distortions in not.
John Dittmer
Monday, May 16, 2005
Save LT Pantano - Update
It looks like some sense of sanity has crept into LT Pantano's case. The officer in charge of his Article 32 hearing has now determined that there is no evidence that LT Pantano committed murder. However, the officer wants to charge LT Pantano with firing too many bullets into the already dead bodies of the suspected terrorists. Give me a break! The Marine was taught to win by killing the enemy during war and he did exactly that. I didn't know that the Geneva Conventions included a limit on the number of bullets you can shoot into a body. If anyone was in his position, they would be too pumped up full of excitement, fear, anger, etc. to stop until they are out of bullets. This is war and we need to treat it as such until we win.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Respect Michael Graham's Rights
Dear Montgomery County Police Department:
As a former policeman myself, I found your treatment of Michael grahamvery unfair and unprofessional. Michael Graham is a well-knownpolitical commenter who was at the protest for legitimate reasons. Ifsome illegal immigrant might find his choice of attire or questionsoffensive, that's his business. I find it offensive that you keptharrassing him over his identification when you knew that thereillegal immigrants at that rally and you did absolutely nothing tothem. Try enforcing the laws on the books for a change instead ofviolating Mr. Graham's First Admendment rights. If you arrest him, Iwill be excersing my 1st Amendment rights and start a protest movementagainst your baised actions.
Sincerely, John Dittmer
As a former policeman myself, I found your treatment of Michael grahamvery unfair and unprofessional. Michael Graham is a well-knownpolitical commenter who was at the protest for legitimate reasons. Ifsome illegal immigrant might find his choice of attire or questionsoffensive, that's his business. I find it offensive that you keptharrassing him over his identification when you knew that thereillegal immigrants at that rally and you did absolutely nothing tothem. Try enforcing the laws on the books for a change instead ofviolating Mr. Graham's First Admendment rights. If you arrest him, Iwill be excersing my 1st Amendment rights and start a protest movementagainst your baised actions.
Sincerely, John Dittmer
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Save LT Pantano!
Dear Friends:
Below is a statement from Mrs. Merry Pantano, the mother of Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano who is currently being accused of "murdering" 2 Iraqis whcih they turned and charged him. 2LT Pantano is a prior-enlisted Marine who served during Desert Storm then rejoined the Corps shortly after 9/11. He left a high-paying job as a executive for a TV and movie production company to become an active-duty Marine again. While in the Triangle of Death in Iraq last year, he made a split second decision to protect him and his Marines. Now he's facing a court-martial over it. Please read his mother's statement:
As America rallies behind the rhetoric, the talk of "bringing terrorists to justice" must be translated into action. Fighting men and women with wills of steel are in dark corners of the world getting their hands dirty where "the rubber meets the road" so policy can become a reality. These men and women are placed in harms way and are required to make split-second, life or death decisions - decisions that could cost them their own lives.
DefendtheDefenders.org stands behind the man who puts his life on the line again and again, who makes life or death decisions in the blazing heat, exhaustion, fear and confusion of war while conducting combat operations intended to capture or kill the enemy and as a result of his actions in combat becomes the subject of an investigation or even formal charges.
DefendtheDefenders.org's initial fundraising effort is for my son's legal defense costs, but it is a sad reality that the longer we are at war the more of these types of cases there will be. In the future, we would like to expand the parameters to help cover the legal expenses of other Marines and soldiers facing similar dire circumstances as a result of combat related actions. There are a number of such cases that are currently under investigation that may result in charges in the near future. The organization will screen requests in order to ensure the principle and the intent of the organization and its various donors is adhered to.
If you don't like what you've read or you don't agree with it, that's okay too. Millions of American men and women like my son put their life on the line so you can say, think or feel what ever you want. Use that freedom wisely. It's their gift to you and it has cost many of them their lives.
God Bless America and Semper Fidelis!
MERRY K. GREGORY PANTANO
So after reading this, what do you think?
Below is a statement from Mrs. Merry Pantano, the mother of Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano who is currently being accused of "murdering" 2 Iraqis whcih they turned and charged him. 2LT Pantano is a prior-enlisted Marine who served during Desert Storm then rejoined the Corps shortly after 9/11. He left a high-paying job as a executive for a TV and movie production company to become an active-duty Marine again. While in the Triangle of Death in Iraq last year, he made a split second decision to protect him and his Marines. Now he's facing a court-martial over it. Please read his mother's statement:
As America rallies behind the rhetoric, the talk of "bringing terrorists to justice" must be translated into action. Fighting men and women with wills of steel are in dark corners of the world getting their hands dirty where "the rubber meets the road" so policy can become a reality. These men and women are placed in harms way and are required to make split-second, life or death decisions - decisions that could cost them their own lives.
DefendtheDefenders.org stands behind the man who puts his life on the line again and again, who makes life or death decisions in the blazing heat, exhaustion, fear and confusion of war while conducting combat operations intended to capture or kill the enemy and as a result of his actions in combat becomes the subject of an investigation or even formal charges.
DefendtheDefenders.org's initial fundraising effort is for my son's legal defense costs, but it is a sad reality that the longer we are at war the more of these types of cases there will be. In the future, we would like to expand the parameters to help cover the legal expenses of other Marines and soldiers facing similar dire circumstances as a result of combat related actions. There are a number of such cases that are currently under investigation that may result in charges in the near future. The organization will screen requests in order to ensure the principle and the intent of the organization and its various donors is adhered to.
If you don't like what you've read or you don't agree with it, that's okay too. Millions of American men and women like my son put their life on the line so you can say, think or feel what ever you want. Use that freedom wisely. It's their gift to you and it has cost many of them their lives.
God Bless America and Semper Fidelis!
MERRY K. GREGORY PANTANO
So after reading this, what do you think?
Monday, April 25, 2005
Welcome!
Greetings! Welcome to my Blog. I'm John Dittmer, your humble host. Later today, I'll be posting some views on variety of political, military, social, and relgious topics. FYI, I'm a moderate Republican who likes to examine each issue on its own merits. I'm also a Greek Catholic (a church which is in communion with the Roman Catholic Church but which follows its own traditions and has its own "chain of command" going up to the Holy Father. I'm a proud veteran who has recently retired from the Navy Reserve. During my Navy career, I have been stationed Denmark, Cuba, Italy, and Bosnia plus San Diego & the DC area. I have a MA in Info Resources Management plus BA degrees in Political Science and History. In addition, I am gradaute of the Naval War College. I work as a Security Analyst for an IT company in Northern Virginia. Combined, these facets of my life have given me a unique perspective on life. I look forward to chatting with all of you and sharing thoughts and ideas.
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