The United Nations Security Council has unaminously approved and adopted the resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea for its activity in testing what is now confirmed to be a nuclear weapon. The sanction, after much negotiation and compromise between the US, France, Great Britain, Russia, China, and Japan. The sanctions include a ban on trade in nuclear and weapons technology, on travel by North Korean government officials, and on trade in luxury items. The resolution also declares that North Korea must cease its nuclear weapons program. Basically, the sanctions are designed to affect the government of North Korea, and not the people of that country.
How this will change North Korea's behavior is uncertain at this time, but in the past we have seen that UN sanctions and resolutions have had little effect on the actions of roque governments such as Kim Jong Il's.
The North Korean government will more than likely ignore the resolution, and continue to test nuclear weapons.
China has objected to the resolution's call to inspect cargo entering and leaving North Korea, but as of the time of this writing, they are reportedly inspecting trucks entering and leaving the country. China has the most sway over the PROK (People's Republic of Korea), being its primary trade partner. South Korea has also kept trade open with its northern neighbor, but 80% of the North's oil fuels come from China. The US has nothing to give or take from its trade relations with North Korea, so the most influence on that country does come from China. In order for the UN resolution to work, China must comply with the sanctions it voted for in the Security Council.
There is a lot of political finger pointing going on in the US, but the truth be told, most US politicians agree that it is the North Korean regime that has been developing the neuclear weapons since 1985. The four US administrations since then have tried various strategies, none of which have been successful, and some of which have merely empowered the ruling Kim Dynasty. In the long run, no matter what North Korea has agreed to, the agreement has always been broken.
If all the signatories to the UN Security Council resolution abide by that resolution and enforce the sanctions, this strategy may work, and return some prestige to the UN. But in the end, it is China, not the US which much deal directly with Kim Jong Il.

Air Force Memorial Dedication

This is a great day for the United States Air Force--it is dedication day for the Air Force Memorial in Washington, DC. As a former Air Force enlistee, it brings a great feeling of pride to me. Granted, my personal trials caused some problems for me, but if I could enlist and go through six years all over again, I would. Having been a member of the US Air Force means very much to me.


The Memorial consists of an eight-foot high sculpture, depicting a four figure "Honor Guard," and a 279 foot high triple spire, depicting the famed "Bomb Burst" maneuver of the USAF Thunderbirds Aerial Demonstration Team. The three spires each represent the three aspects of the Air Force creed, "Service, Integrity, and Excellence."
It is a beautiful Memorial, for those who served and gave their lives in conflicts around the world.

Political Finger Pointing Gets Out of Hand

North Korea--the Democrats blame the Republicans, and the Republicans blame the Democrats. NK is trying nuclear blackmail to get what cannot be given them. And it may not have been a nuclear test after all. Finger pointing gets us nowhere.
This video is from the movie South Park: Longer, Harder, Uncut, and is all about finger pointing.

Partnership on Colorado Ballot

The following is a reprint from the State of Colorado Research Publication No. 554-6--Analyses of the 2006 Ballot Proposals:

Referendum I proposes a change to the Colorado statutes that:
* creates a new legal relationship, called a domestic partnership, providing same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the legal protections and responsibilities granted to married couples by Colorado law.

*defines the criteria and process for entering into a domestic partnership, and

*specifies that domestic partnerships are not marriage and do not change the public policy of the state, which defines marriage as only the union of one man and one woman.

Summary and Analysis

Under Colorado law, there is no process for same-sex couples to establish a legally binding relationship with legal protections, benefits, and responsibilities. Referendum I creates such a process, beginning February 12, 2007, and gives domestic partners the legal rights and responsibilities that spouses have. The legislature is required to pass law to implement the provisions of Referendum I.

My take:

As long as the citizenry is subject to a government that "gives rights," it is unfortunate that such legislation is necessary. All are created equal, but the government is in the practice of defining "equality" and trying to manipulate Natural Law to justify its existence. Benefits such as whom can be legally designated as a benefactor of inheritances, survivor's benefits from insurance, workman's compensation, etc, or joint ownership should be up to the individual or consenting individuals in personal relationships. A government at any level should never define same- or opposite-sex relationships.

Under the status quo, however, we are forced, if we are to act according to our beliefs in universal equality and Natural Law, to vote to approve such legislation. All legislation in which sexuality is defined is, in reality, discrimination and human prejudice, and all such legislation is blasphemous in that it purports to give the government the power of God.

So, under protest, in order to protect our fellow human beings from the government, we must vote "yes" on this referendum, even though it justifies unnatural power for the government.

Also on the Colorado Ballot, and presumably on the ballots of many other states is this little "gem::"

Amendment 43 proposes adding a new section to Article II of the Colorado Constitution that:
*defines marriage in Colorado as only a union between one man and one woman.

To include a definition discriminating and defining sexuality in the constitution of any level of government is yet another sure step toward fascism. This is a personal and moral issue, and the legislation of morals is tantamount to oppression. Vote no on this issue.

Constitutional Law 101

Over the next few weeks, some items I post here will be relating to issues that will be on the Colorado ballot on November 7th. Since most states will have similar issues, I feel there will be something relevant to most readers of Lift That Torch, etc. In preparation of this series, I will post here the eighteen specific and enumerated powers granted to the Congress of the United States by the Constitution. Although most of the issues are to be voted on by the citizens of each state, and many pertain to the specific state's constitutional ammendments. However, the US Constitution is pertainant to these issues because it is relevent to the states, as is the Bill of Rights. It is important to remember, quoting Andrew Napolitano from his book, The Constitution in Exile, that any government which claims to give rights can take those rights away.

The eighteen specific and enumerated limited powers of Congress granted by the Constitution:

1. "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States , but all Duties, Imposts, and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States."
2. "To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; Congress may borrow money by issuing bonds or by other means."
3. " To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."
4. "To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Law on the subject of Bnruptcies throughout the United States."
5. "To coin Money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the
Standard of Weights and Measures."
6."To provide for the punishmentof counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States."
7. "To establish Post Offices and Post Roads.
8. "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."
9. "To Constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court."
10. "To define and punish Piracies and Felonies commited on the High Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations."
11."To declare War, grant Letters of Marquee and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.
12. "To raise and support Armies, vut no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two years."
13. "To provide and maintain a Navy."
14. "To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval forces."
15. "To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions."
16. "To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may e employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the disclipine prescribed byCongress."
17. "To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District) not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places pruchased by the Consent ofthe Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings."
18. "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

Your homework assignment:
1. Where does it say that the government may apply a person's sexual preference in determining rights and privilages?
2. Where does it say that the government may regulate consentual commerce between two consenting individuals?

As a study aid, here are the Ninth, and Tenth Ammendments to the US Constitution, also known as the Ninth and Tenth Articles of the Bill of Rights:

9. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
10. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This You Gotta See!

I'm sure no animals were harmed in the making of this clip:

Two Extremes

If innocence in the eyes of God can be personified, it is in the Old Order Amish people of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The community met the horrific tragedy brought by Charles Roberts with resilience and acceptance, even expressing sympathy and condolences to the family of Roberts as they mourned their own loss. It would be hard to find elsewhere such testimony to the teachings of Christ as the Amish community exemplifies.
The notorious Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kansas could be seen as the exact opposite. The congregation of that organization is known to travel to military funerals carrying placards that read, "God hates you," "God hates America," and the like. They had been planning to carry their protest to Pennsylvania for the funerals of four of the young victims, until nationally syndicated radio personality Mike Gallagher offered their spokesperson a spot on his radio program.
Westboro spokesperson Shirley Phelps-Roper appeared on Hannity and Colmes last night, to be given the opportunity to explain the actions and intentions of the protesters. She spewed hatred for all of Humankind, saying that the children "deserved to die," and that the Amish people "brought it upon themselves," for "not obeying the commandments of God."
The main commandments I remember from Christianity are those which speak of universal kindness, such as "Treat others the way you want to be treated," "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," and "Judge not, lest you be judged yourself."
Phelps-Roper did not seem to be familiar with these commandments, which brings me to wonder exactly what commandments the Westboro congregation does follow, and, in fact, what God do they worship?
It is the same kind of extremism demonstrated by such organizations as Al Qaeda and Hamas. The silence of the Baptist Denomination concerns me as to whether the Westboro Baptist Church is representative of the tenets of the entire Baptist organization.
This isn't the most recent interview, but the following video gives and idea of what these people are like: