Satisfaction Survey

On the morning before I got my discharge orders from my doctor, a sharp looking, pleasant woman knocked on my door to ask me if I had any comments or complaints about my hospital stay.  She encouraged me to speak freely.  I told her that I was impressed.  As a practicing dentist in Carroll County, I had heard conflicting reports over  the years, about the quality of care at Carroll Hospital.  I told her the nurses were great, and the physicians seemed to pull together to  provide a successful treatment. 

She then broadened the conversation by sharing her fear of root canals, and her need for nitrous oxide to cope with the anxiety.  I related to her fear, with this being my first hospital stay in 63 years.  It started in excruciating pain, involved surgery, scans, and a few complications, which resulted in prognosis of uncertainty into the future.  I quickly showed her my cell phone photo taken yesterday, of seven Dominican sisters around my bedside.  “Here is my nitrous oxide.”, I exclaimed.  I told her that this was a group of over three hundred sisters, who had included me on their prayer list.  I told her that the sisters, several churches, my family, and several extended families had been covering my back with prayer. 

She tried to get back to her survey, so I tried to expand on the difficulties in getting three or four doctors to agree on treatment.  Before I could phrase my comment, I told her that our eldest daughter was one of the Dominican sisters, and that she caught a flight from Minnesota, when she heard of my hospitalization.  She sensed my appreciation as I attempted to articulate how our grown children reacted to this crisis.  “Our eldest son lives  in  Chicago.  He dropped everything, canceled work, put his pregnant wife and three active boys on hold, and booked a flight.”  At this point I could feel my voice cracking as my eyes began to tear. 

I continued, “Our youngest daughter, who just started a new job, left her husband and two adorable kids in Dayton, as she also got the first possible flight”  Now, I became incoherent as the tears took over.  I concluded with our youngest son, Spencer, his wife Bess, and their six month baby, who drove all night from Dayton, Ohio.  They came for me.  They came for my wife, Jane.  I completely broke down.

She maintained her distance as she observed, “You are loved.” 

I nodded, and mumbled, “No complaints.’”

Faith Moves Mountains and Bowels

Day six of my recent, and only, hospital stay, had reached an impasse.  To remove the NG (naso-gastric) tube, running down my left nostril to my stomach, my bowels had to move.  An x-ray, taken the night before, clearly showed stool, stacked and packed, on my right side in the ascending intestine.  I had a frozen bowel.

Two mild enemas administered the night before were not productive, so I was scheduled for a surgical enema. 

As I awaited this stronger concoction, the Eucharistic Minister stopped to say some prayers.  Earlier ministers had prayed with me, but did not offer the Eucharist, due to the  sign at my door, “Nothing by mouth”.  Realizing that Christ’s full presence: “body, blood, soul, and divinity”, was fully present in the smallest particle, I requested to receive.  My spiritual messenger looked doubtful, but agreed to ask the nurse.

She returned with an “ok”, so she knelt next to my bed, said a prayer, and placed Christ on my tongue.  A profound peace came over me, as the minister quietly exited, giving all credit to Christ. 

Within thirty minutes, my bowels moved.  I had to share my achievement with a nurse, but my surgeon unexpectedly had just stopped-in to examine me.  I asked him to come into the bathroom to confirm my results.  He announced, “It’s a boy!”  Then he sat me on the bed, and pulled my stomach tube out of my nose. 

What a relief!  What a blessing!

“He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  Matt 17:20 NIV

Another Smeared Label

I am amazed that the Frederick News Post went to the extent of requesting the e-mails through the Public Information Act from Sheriff Jenkins, because he traveled to the border to see first hand, why our borders are not secure. (August 31, 2014, “In e-mails, sheriff rejects criticism of trip”) Isn’t our sheriff responsible for the residents in Frederick County? And hasn’t illegal immigration, exploded at our borders, and continued to take its toll on our economy, our schools, and our security?

But, what a great deal for the Democratic challenger, Bickell: having the Frederick News Post do the campaign chores of sifting through the sheriffs garbage e-mails. It seems a little biased, but the managing editor, Terry Headlee, gave a self serving opinion that, “he believed the coverage was fair”.

After proclaiming the trips sponsor, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) a “hate group”, based on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Mr Headlee also said that the paper presented arguments for and against the assertion that FAIR is a hate group. Really?

The News Post would spend its time better by checking the credibility of its references, than going on a fishing expedition for dirt on our sheriff.  The SPLC considers anyone who believes in the Constitution, and or the Bible, as an extremist. The SPLC has labeled the likes of presidential candidate Pastor Chuck Baldwin, Gun Owners of America’s Larry Pratt, and the Tenth Amendment Center for its Hate Watch. Also great people like libertarian blogger, Lew Rockwell, and Judge Napolitano have appeared on their extremist list. This bogus group even consulted with Homeland security to label pro-lifers, third party activists, and patriots as a threat.

We have the most constitutional sheriff in our state, and it is sad to see Frederick’s newspaper being used to spread hate labels, and undermine our county leaders.

An Establishment Hit

Fridays’ attack on Mike Anthony Peroutka by the political establishment, the Baltimore Sun, and its subsidiary publications is nothing less than character assassination in an attempt to kill his candidacy for Anne Arundel County Council. 

Mr. Hogan’s disavowing of Peroutka, incorrectly implies that he had avowed him to start.  Hogan’s campaign manager’s statement, “Those views have never been part of the Republican Party... “ is vague, and lacks clarity about what ”those views“ are.  For the Sun Papers to print this story with no evidence that Peroutka is anything but a respected scholar and teacher of the U.S. Constitution, is unfortunate.

If Peroutka is a racist, than why did he give Eric Knowles favorable coverage when he ran for Governor?  If he is a racist, than why does he feature commentaries from Robert Broadus?  And for the Baltimore Sun to cite the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in its articles, as a credible reference to label anyone, or group, as racist, only shows the total lack of journalistic responsibility.  

The SPLC considers anyone who believes in the Constitution and or the Bible as an extremist.  The SPLC has labeled the likes of former Presidential Candidate Pastor Chuck Baldwin, Gun Owners of America’s Larry Pratt, and Tenth Amendment Center’s Michael Boldin for its Hate Watch.  They also paint great people like libertarian blogger, Lew Rockwell, and Judge Napolitano as extremists.  SPLC even consulted with Homeland Security to label: pro-lifers, third party activists, and patriots as a threat. Without racist statements SPLC’s portrayal of the League of the South as a “hate group” is just another meaningless label. 

This is yellow journalism at its worst, aimed at one of Maryland’s finest constitutional statesman.

GOP Central Committee Race Draws Candidates

When Frederick County residents go to the polls on June 24th to vote in the primary election, their picks for the Governor and the new County Executive may be secure, but there may be some unexpected contests.  Before you schedule time to vote, be aware that Maryland's primaries are "closed" to residents not in the two major parties.  Only registered Democrats or registered Republicans can vote in their Party’s primary.  Probably the largest field of candidates in a race, in Frederick County, is the 23 individuals running for nine seats of the Republican Central Committee.

Some may ask, "What is the Republican Central Committee?"  The simplest answer is that it is the party leadership within the county. These nine members are elected every four years during the gubernatorial primary.  The website for the current Central Committee is:

http://www.frederickgop.org/mission/frederick-county-republican-central-committee

GOP Central Committee members work to get Republicans elected, host fundraisers, register voters, put on workshops for potential candidates, meet twice a year with the state party to vote on leadership, bylaws, and select delegates to the National convention during presidential years. But the most important official duty and responsibility of the Central Committee is to appoint persons to fill vacancies (that may occur between elections) for offices currently held by Republicans.  Therefore it is important to elect committee members who represent your party leanings. Perhaps you are socially conservative, pro-business, a strong liberty advocate, interested in party over principle or principle over party, etc.  Some of the candidates completed the League of Women Voters survey, and their answers can be viewed on this web site:

http://onyourballot.vote411.org/race-detail.do?id=12046958&party=Rep#.U3Jy3i-0x3I

One obvious difference amongst the candidates is their opinion on whether to change the closed primary system, to allow the third largest group of Maryland voters, the Unaffiliateds, to possibly vote in the primary.

The official list of this year’s candidates from the Frederick County Board of Elections can be found starting on page 15:

http://www.frederickcountymd.gov/documents/254/7936/Candidate%20List%202014%20Apr24_201404240941557579.pdf

Seven of the nine current members are seeking re-election.  There are also nine candidates who have filed to run together as a slate called: “Republicans for Frederick County Slate”.

http://www.facebook.com/RepublicansForFrederickCounty

Their slogan is, “Party Unity through Constitutional Principles!”   This slate contains three current committee members (the current Central Committee Treasurer: Jason Laird, a current candidate for State Delegate: Darren Wigfield, and Committeeman Benjamin Reddington), one current Auxiliary member, Joel Lea-Wilson, and Emmitsburg’s resident dentist, Dr. Mike Hargadon.

Before you go to the polls, take time to do some research on who is running and determine how you want your party to move forward.  Do you want county committee men and women who will question directives from national and the state, or should they rubber stamp descending policies?  Should the Party grow by allowing some of the unaffiliated voters a say in the Party’s direction?  Think about who you want to lead the Republican Party in Frederick County, and then, Vote!

 

M. T. Hargadon

What Happened to Delegate Impallaria?

"The chieftain chosen to be the friend of the people becomes the enemy of the people;"  G. K. Chesterton

After the 2008 Congressional Campaign, Maryland's GOP allowed their Annapolis office to be used for a meeting of the Republican Liberty Caucus.  This was a formation meeting, and we had a guest speaker.  It was the first time I heard State Delegate Rick Impallaria, who encouraged our participation and activism in the political process.  He spoke about our constitution and our liberties.

Weeks later, I spent a day in Annapolis visiting delegates.  I was attempting to get co-signers onto an Honest Money Resolution, which Impallaria helped introduce.  He knew that we were far from the monetary system our founders had described.  He was not just talk.  He was action!

When a Carroll County group brought Sheriff Mack to Maryland, Impallaria's office was the "go-to" contact, to obtain a box full of Maryland State Constitutions to distribute.  Additionally, Delegate Rick's appearance at the Maryland March for Life, had embedded in my mind, the label of "patriot".

But now, what happened to Delegate Impallaria?  His support of HB 1513, which would empower the Delegates in Harford County to secure a position on the Harford County GOP Central Committee, while prohibiting candidates for the Central Committee, from running for any other office, is not the action of a patriot.  HB 1513 will also allow the Delegate Central Committee members to remove elected Harford County Central Committee members.  Unbelievable!  Is this the same guy?  What happened to encouragement to activism and participation in the political process?  I guess Annapolis does change people.  I liked the former Delegate Impallaria better.

A DIFFERENCE

I had my keys in my hand, but I didn't leave.  We just happened to attend our Byzantine Church today: Final Judgement Sunday.  This is the gospel of the goats and the sheep.

For years now, I have taken exception with several priests, who have insisted on characterizing goats as stubborn, mischievous, and evil.  These clerics seem to fall into this error, as they try to entertain as they unpack Christ's parable of the final judgement.  Matthew 26: 32, 33  "And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."  Christ goes on to clarify the difference between His followers and  those who do not reach out to our neighbor in need.  Afterwards, Christ continues to those on the left, "Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."  Matt. 26:42

My complaint, is that Christ's point is simply, that there is a difference: a difference between a goat and a sheep, as there is a difference between a dog and a cat, and as there is a difference between someone who lives for Christ, and someone who does not.  That's it: a DIFFERENCE!

I take offense, because I love goats.  They are made by God.  With each negative quality this priest painted on goats, I became more irritated.  But then, when he mentioned how well-behaved sheep are,  I grabbed my keys.

The urban view of goats just naturally makes an easy target for a homily on unacceptable behavior, which is bound to land someone in hell.  I was ready to get-up and leave, when I recalled another quote from Christ, "Forgive them, they know not what they do".   I just wish they would stop!

Are Our Churches Being Used?

 

Are our churches, and church related organizations, being used to sell an agenda or promote disinformation?  This question haunts me as I worship, and live in a somewhat Catholic culture.  The most obvious use, is when the government dumps large amounts of money into a church, to enable the church to do more charitable tasks.  Reports to as much as 67% of Catholic Charities funds, come from the government.  These sums of money create a dependency, and often come with attachments.

Other times, this use of church may be indirect, not quite in our face. Like, how the establishment’s Republican Party, and its pro-life shill organizations, maintain a lock on the anti-abortion message.  The pro-life message is embedded in many churches, which these organizations then wed with the interventionist pro-war policy.  How could all those good pro-life leaders be for a war that is unconstitutional, and immoral?  The war must be just? (Sarcasm)

The most powerful use of church however, is very subtle. The problem is, there is nothing subtle about the truth.  In fact, truth is an absolute!  And for Christians, truth is somebody: Jesus Christ!   The church needs to be in a constant search for this truth: looking at all possibilities, and warning the flock, when a situation does not pass the probably true test.

An example of using a church organization to eliminate possibilities, became obvious with the Catholic Channel Raymond Arroyo’s coverage of the GOP Presidential Primary race.  The Catholic Channel, (EWTN), is the world’s largest religious media network.  In 2008, it reported a viewership of 146 million homes worldwide.  As the last GOP presidential primary began, this charming news spokesperson, Mr. Arroyo, did interviews, and coverage, for the first half a dozen weeks, on all the candidates, and bottom feeders, with the exception of Ron Paul.  Why?  Why were Catholics denied coverage of this pro-life, constitutional religious freedom advocate?

Our government has been harping on the dangers of the flu, and the need for everyone to get vaccinated.  There is evidence however, that the flu is not as lethal, nor is the vaccine as protective, as reports would indicate.  Catholics prior to Vatican II, only received communion on their tongue.  I do not recall the elimination of distribution of communion due to the flu or a bad cold.  In the past few years, dioceses have been known to suspend the use of the cup, and restrict reception of communion on the tongue, due to flu.  Not that colds, and flu do not occur, but changing the means of reception, legitimizes the severity of the pandemic

We have also been indoctrinated into the official story, when the story enters our official prayers.    A huge failure of our church, has been the silence in the face of the 9-11 lie.  How often have we heard prayers, or comments in homilies, about the Muslims who orchestrated 9-11?  There is much evidence however, that casts serious doubts about the official report, but no mention of “uncertainty” from our church.  We are encouraged to poo-poo the “Truthers”, as we wallow in this lie.  Even the head coach for the Seattle Seahawks made the news for publicly doubting the official 9-11 story.  Isn’t the Church responsible to at least mention the weakness in the conclusions?  What about truth?

Now, this use of the church is becoming constant.  EWTN is now producing nightly news.  Similar to how the Weather Channel incorporated the establishment’s news into their weather-only format.  The problem is, who determines what is news?  Who determines what is not worthy of news?  It is the same intelligence community cliché’, “Need to know”.  We are told which wars are to be cheered, and which are to be booed.  We are to accept their conclusions, and disregard the obvious unanswered questions.

I love my faith!  I love my country!  But, most of all, I love Jesus Christ, and he is Truth.  How about some truth?