Judging others.

The Bible tells us not to judge others, that is, if we don't want to be judged!   Makes sense to me.  But the Scripture verse that is often quoted, mainly by those who misunderstand or misinterpret that verse, say that we cannot, under any circumstances, judge anyone for any reason.

This is false.

So, what is meant by that verse?  

First, it should be mentioned that there are four types of judgments: Divine judgment; General judgment; Last judgment, and the Particular judgment.

I'm not going to write a book here, and it could very easily fill a book to discuss these four types of judgments.  Instead, I just want to concentrate on what it means to "judge" someone, and to show that it does not mean that we shouldn't judge anyone at all, at any time.

In fact, just the opposite is true.  And I can prove it using reason and God-given common sense.

For instance, admonishing the sinner (a spiritual work of mercy), by its very nature, means that we have "judged" someone that has done or said something that is wrong or evil.  And this is where common sense comes in.

As an example, if you or I were walking down Main Street, USA, and as we approach a bank, out comes this guy holding a bag of money, with a smoking 45 pistol in his hand.  Common sense tells us (or should tell us!) that this guy is a bad dude; a bank robber, and potential killer.  Would you or I walk up to this guy, and with a big smile on our faces, say: "have a nice day, brother."

I don't think so.

But why not?  

Because we have JUDGED him to be an outlaw, a gangster, a felon, and a threat to life and limb; maybe our life and limb!

We take cover and hope that he doesn't see us and take a shot at us.

When he is caught, he is tried, and if found guilty, is sentenced to prison or death.

A judge and jury found him so, and passed sentence.  They JUDGED him.

In fact, we make many hundreds of little, and sometimes momentous, judgments every single day.  We have to, in order to function in society.

Some of these judgments can be very simple, and easily accomplished.  Others, can literally mean the difference between life and death, as in the bank robber example.

The thing to keep in mind here, is that we make righteous judgments of others.  And with true humility, we can, indeed, make those necessary judgments righteous.

One last thing; only God can judge the interior, the heart of a person, we, on the other hand, can only make objective judgments of others, as we cannot know the interior or heart of a person...

E. DeLalla

   

Real American Heroes...

Patrick Henry: Give me liberty, or give me death!

John Paul Jones, father of the American Navy: I have not yet begun to fight!

Col. Travis, of the Alamo: Victory or death!

What did all these nascent Americans have in common?

The will to fight for what was right; freedom from a foreign tyranny; for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (enshrined in the Declaration of Independence).

On June 6, 1944, began the allied invasion of Europe, and the beginning of the end of the Nazi scourge under the murderous lunatic, Hitler.

How many Americans walking down Main Street, USA, remember, that yesterday, June 6, was the 74th anniversary of D-Day?

With the current sad state of American history being taught in the school systems today, I would think that the average "Joe" doesn't know, or, even worse, doesn't care about a titanic event that is seventy-four years old.

But, to the families of those soldiers who died in that horrendous assault on the beaches of Normandy, I'm sure that they still remember or at least have grandchildren that were taught what their grandads did, not only for their own country, but also for the enslaved peoples of Europe.

And with all the deficiencies of our American system of "democracy," it is important to remember those aspects of our heritage, especially those of freeing others unable to free, or defend themselves.

I love my country, not necessarily my government.

Do you love your country?

E. DeLalla

 

The lack of moral absolutes and its disastrous results.

The culture of death is "alive" and well here in our beloved country, as well as in many -- far too many -- Western nations.  I contend that the lack of moral absolutes are the main cause, and that stems from the misuse of our free will.

The results are disastrous.

This can be seen in the snuffing out of life of the pre-born, euthanasia, homosexuality, promiscuity, contraception, pornography, the invasion of illegal immigrants, and numerous other facets that seem to be accepted because it is "legal" -- or wanted -- in many states and nations.

There are exceptions to this plague, such as Poland, and a few other sovereign countries, some in Africa, fighting for their very existence in the face of the onslaught of money and influence, mostly from outside sources attempting to smash the resistance of a God-fearing people.

The recent debacle in Ireland is a prime example.

But that debacle was not a flash-in-the-pan; something new or foreign.  The repeal of their Eight Amendment (protecting the life of the mother AND her preborn) was the result of decades of weakness of the Catholic Church and her willingness to accept the "spirit of the age."

Even non-Catholics, at one time, looked to the Church in Ireland and elsewhere, as a moral beacon in a world gone mad, but apparently that is no longer the case.  Not only is this a sad turn of events, it is a disaster of an unimaginable magnitude.

It seems that the demon is winning the battle for individual souls and nations as well.

What chance do we have to counter this abomination?  Is despair the only answer?  

I say, no!  

Remember, charity begins at home.  Strengthen your families; pray; instill love of God; discipline your charges; abide by the Natural Law; practice your Catholic faith; if not Catholic, come into the Church; find, and talk to a traditional Catholic priest.  If your children are not already baptized, get them to the baptismal font, quickly!

Never give up the fight!  

E. DeLalla

 

Poem on Vietnam Veterans that were killed in action...

I wrote the following poem; it is dedicated to all Vietnam Veterans that were killed in action (KIA).  It is taken from my book: Tragedy and Triumph at Sun Valley.

To My Brothers...

Side by side we stood,
Black or white, it made no difference.
Catholic, Protestant, Jew, or atheist,
I may not have liked you, but I loved you.

Only God can give and only God can take away,
But Charlie took and never gave.
Why did my bunker-mate die and I live?
To fulfill my dreams but not his?

Yet he is with me always -- in my dreams,
Not wanted there, as I struggle to sleep.
Lord help me to live and not just exist;
Take this burden from my soul.

Have mercy on them that stayed,
Some here, some there.
Arlington is their home now,
As mine will sometime be.

E. DeLalla

Do our rights come from the government?

The government, through the courts, grants us, and enforces our rights.

The above statement is false!

The job of the government is to guarantee our rights; it doesn't grant our rights to us.

Further, the courts have no authority over our natural rights.

Those that argue that the courts (the government) can determine if we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are in grave error.

The simplest of answers is that our natural rights come from our Creator, our God, and not the government or the courts.

When Kagan was before the Senate Judiciary committee (as a nominee to the Supreme Court) she was asked the question: what are your views of natural rights?

Her answer was astonishing.

She told those senators that she had no views on natural rights!

Let me repeat that: she said she had no views on natural rights.

Right then and there, those senators -- after picking up their respective jaws off the floor -- should have immediately rejected her nomination.   Instead, she is now on the court, and will be for 20, 30, or 40 years, there, to do more damage to our natural rights, especially, the right to life.  The most fundamental of all rights.

I must ask again: God have mercy on our country.

E. DeLalla  

Is all the news bad?

Reversing the question: is there any good news out there?

The answer is yes -- it has to be yes!   Why?   Because it would be easy -- really easy -- to crawl into a cave and just quit.  The events occurring in the world on a daily basis would be enough to lead us to give in, and despair.

But quit?

We can't to that.  If we did just quit, we, as a society, would deny that good exists.  It exists in the form of our good God, Who, despite using our free wills mostly for evil; for selfish acts, He hasn't deserted us -- we, for the most part, have deserted Him!

But!  As long as we have breath in us, there is hope.

We have to recognize the bad news; the evil things that happen, and do what we can to change, not only the bad news into good news, and evil into good, but also recognize that we have to start with ourselves.  We cannot do for others, if we don't first do for ourselves.  Charity, it is said, begins at home.

Think about this: how do we treat our immediate family members?   Our parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, and extended family, our neighbors...

How can we take up other causes, as good and virtuous as they may be, if we neglect our own physical and spiritual well-being, and that of our family's?  It's not going to work.

Pray for your family, our country, and, yes, pray for yourself!

E. DeLalla  

Gun Control?

Chicago, with, perhaps, the toughest gun control laws on the books, had 38 shootings, and 8 fatalities over the Memorial Day weekend.

Was there much or any coverage in the liberal media?  I didn't hear or read it.

I think I have the answer: the mayor of Chicago is the ultra-liberal Democrat, Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff of Obama.

Now, just think if the mayor was a conservative Republican!  He would have been tarred and feathered, and run out of town on a rail!  But the deep-stater, Rahm, is exempt from any such actions, let alone any criticism.

So, if you think there is no bias in the "news" these days, I have a bridge for sale....

As you can now see, "gun control" only further ties the hands of LAW ABIDING citizens, not the OUTLAWS.

Does anyone think that the bad guys: the gangster, the drug dealer, the murderer, the bank robber, the kidnapper, the rapist, the mugger will turn in their weapons, whether they be guns, knives, machetes, baseball bats, cast-iron frying pans, etc.?

I think not.

If the bad guy wants to buy a handgun, or rifle, or shotgun, or whatever, all he has to do is to put the word out on the street, and, for the right amount of filthy lucre, he gets what he wants.

Don't you think that the esteemed mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, knows that?  Of course he does.  So why doesn't he crush the bad guys?   Because it re-enforces his argument for more -- that's right -- more gun restrictions in the former playground of Al Capone.    

Remember, this is all about CONTROL!  Control of weapons (guns and such), and, ultimately, control of the people themselves.  If it can happen in Chicago, it can happen anywhere, even in the "Live Free or Die" state of New Hampshire.

And as each day goes by, I am more convinced that we just might have to fight for our rights -- or die.

Does that sound a little extreme?   Perhaps, but I can ask the question this way: would you (and I) allow ourselves to "live" under such a tyranny without a fight?

Remember the movie: Red Dawn?   Think it can't happen here?

I'll let you folks answer that question...

E. DeLalla