Justice Shows its Face in Texas

Finally! A Texas appellate court has ruled that state authorities had no right to seize over 400 children from the Mormon compound. The judge ruled that those authorities overstepped their authority and presented no evidence of danger, abuse or "grooming" boys to be abusers.

The Third Court of Appeals in Austin ruled that the grounds for removing the children were "legally and factually insufficient" under Texas law. .............The state never provided evidence that teenage girls were being sexually abused, and never alleged any sexual or physical abuse against the other children, the court said.

Also, to follow up on another issue relevant to this case, state authorities conceded that along with the over 15 adults taken in their raid of the compound, they also took away a 27 year old woman. Some still haven't been released. Strangely, they still say that it will take a few days to get them "reclassified" in the system.

Score one for justice, due process and religious freedom!!

Talking NOT Appeasement

President Bush spoke in front of the Israeli Knesset last week on his farewell tour throughout the Middle East. He emphasized his longstanding public policy of not negotiating with hostile enemies. Right or wrong that came as no real surprise because this has been a longstanding policy of his administration during his tenure as President. However this time, he added an additional caveat that has drawn world-wide scrutiny especially in the United States.

For the most part, American politicians have left partisan politics at the coast and usually refrain from domestic criticisms while abroad. However, this time the President packed plenty of condemnation with him for his visit to Israel.

The President was not shy about his supporting his policy of not engaging those opposed to America. He likened those who believe that we should be speaking to Iran to naive Hitler appeasers.

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is – the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

I think this line of thinking has been discredited not only by history, but also by almost every spiritual leader that has walked this earth. If you found yourself locked in a disagreement with another party, war and violence is not the only answer. You cannot kill or battle everyone that doesn't agree with you.

At the height of the Cold War Ronald Reagan used fierce negotiations with the Soviets to avoid nuclear war. His use of alternative means of persuasion finally led to the demise of U.S.S.R. while keeping our nukes in our submarines.

At a time when China was lobbing very vocal threats towards the United States, Richard Nixon negotiated a way to avoid war and bring China into the world community. He also negotiated the end of the Vietnam War.

There are countless other examples of the validity of peaceful negotiations with enemies. Even Israelis themselves negotiated peaceful agreements with Egypt and Jordan. It was confirmed earlier this week that Turkey is assisting them in their negotiations with Syria. Obviously, they also see the need to find peaceful solutions.

President Bush wake up! You cannot kill everyone who disagrees with you. Otherwise, how do you plan on dealing with your 68% disapproval rating in the United States?