The magnificent job American forces did in Iraq recalled this quote from James Michener's Bridges at Toko-Ri about Navy pilots in the Korean War - which could apply to all American troops (especially pilots): "Where do we get such men? They leave this ship and they do their job. Then they must find this speck lost somewhere in the sea. When they find it, they have to land on its pitching deck. Where do we get such men?"
Beyond Iraq there are one, two, many Saddams. One, in the person of Robert Mugabe, presides in Zimbabwe - the former Rhodesia. Mugabe has impoverished the place, seized 4,500 white-owned farms, imposed famine in what used to be a breadbasket, and terrorized the populace through maiming, torture and random killings. Comrade Mugabe's time to go has come.
And the number may be up for the ballyhooed McCain-Feingold bill, a weird statutory contraption purporting to resolve concerns about overspending on political campaigns but in truth doing little more than limiting the rights of many people to freedom of speech. So it's time to restate the ultimate, simple and brief campaign reform proposal: "(a) No limits on campaign contributions but (b) mandated listing within 24 hours on Internet Web sites of every contribution to every candidate - the Web sites accessible to the press and watchdog groups and anyone with a computer - so that (c) an informed electorate could decide whether X candidates were receiving too much money from Y contributors before election day."
Like Catholicism, Protestantism has its own problems. Mainline denominations continue to be roiled by, among other matters, homosexuality. The Episcopalians chose as bishop of the diocese of Washington, D.C., a man who (a) believes Scripture should be massaged to reflect certain contemporary social views and (b) supports the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals. (c) The diocese of New Hampshire has just selected the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. The expanding clerical cohort embracing such dubious notions in the mainline denominations may do much to explain the flight of many from the pews to the hills - and golf courses.
Or to Yogi. The legendary catcher for the New York Yankees is still offering up his lessons to live by. Some examples: (a) "You can observe a lot by watching," (b) "Ninety percent of the game is half mental," (c) "If you can't imitate him, don't copy him," (d) "He's learning me all his experience," (e) "It ain't over 'til it's over," and (f) - the title of his book, published by Hyperion - "When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It!"