greens tiring of “stirring up the sheeple”?

Paul Chesser’s calling them out over on AmSpecBlog.  Great work, Paul.

modern American exceptionalism

In “Imperial Grunts“, a US Army Major gave great insight to Kaplan.  In summary, Major Lee explained to Kaplan that he would observe the ground realities of a country’s army as a barometer for judging that country’s culture and political system.

It’s not hard to find reasons to be a frustrated American these days, but using Major Lee’s yardstick, we have ample reason to be thankful.  Consider Specialist Monica Lin Brown who received a Silver Star for Gallantry for her selfless actions as a PFC medic on April 25, 2007.  The extraordinary thing is how common such stories are in our Armed Forces.

So keep your chins up, fellow Americans.  Greatness lives on in this country we love – we need only look outside Washington, D.C. to find it.

James Madison, how far we’ve strayed

Would today’s self-proclaimed sultans of smart running around D.C. muster any shame at all if James Madison could see them now?  I doubt they’d be wise enough to feel appropriately awkward in such an encounter.  While a heavy dose of humility and contrition would be in order, these boorish oafs would likely dismiss him as too shy and soft-spoken, instead.

From “Locke, Jefferson, and the Justices“, by George M. Stephens:

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.
James Madison, 1794

common sense in the NPS

Finally, some pragmatism regarding concealed carry in our National Parks.  An agreeable trade for the old Boy Scout joke about pepper spray, bear bells, and how to tell the difference between grizzly and black bear scat in the backcountry.

now you can leave THIS at home