Tough Week All Over!
by Dr. W. David Currie

American forces continue to come under sporadic fire from the remnants of Saddam Hussein's military.  As we have heard repeatedly, American forces swept into Iraq so quickly that, while many Iraqi soldiers dropped their arms and ran, evidently many returned to their homes or other shelters with their arms.  This group most likely consists of hard line members of the Baath party, who ruled Iraq through inhuman cruelty for over 3 decades... and this minority no doubt want their old lives back.  With continued successes by American forces (the death of Saddam's sons, Uday and Qusay), let's pray that Iraqis will feel progressively less threatened by the former Iraqi ruling party, and will continue to provide information and assistance to U.S. forces.

Here in the relatively isolated farmlands in the southwest corner of Virginia, our neighbor and friend, Conley Peters, was shot and killed earlier this week.  Conley was a farmer, who lived a life of kindness, caring and incredibly hard work.  He appears to have been shot in the back of the head, by a shotgun held at close range; he was killed while working outside, alone... and was probably killed for the money on his person.  His killing reflects the degree of inhuman, hateful, base meanness that continues to reside within some people.  I can think of no more cruel death than that which occurs when no friends or family are nearby.  Through the great sadness and anger brought about by the killing of this good man, members of our community pray that the perpetrator(s) is soon captured and justly punished.

Another great American passed away peacefully, with family by his side... no more can we ask when leaving this world.  Once asked where he wanted to be buried, Bob Hope quipped, "Surprise me!"  As children, my brother and I often attended the Saturday afternoon matinee theater.  Even before I could read, I remember who my heroes were... Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Jerry Lewis, Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins), Vincent Price, Ma & Pa Kettle, Abbott and Costello, and Bob Hope... yes, Bob Hope.  Upon hearing of his passing, it was all I could do not to rush to the nearest Wal-Mart and buy copies of what I considered to be Bob Hope's all time classics... of course, the "Road to" movies with Bing Crosby, Son of Paleface, and Casanova's Big Night.  Above all, Bob Hope was a great humanitarian... his sincere enthusiasm for life shone through in his interviews, his comedy routines, his USO tours, his charity work, and even in his movies... it was this great enthusiasm and enjoyment of life that that memorized generations of his fans.

Duane "Dog" Chapman continues to face legal problems associated with his capture of convicted serial rapist Andrew Luster, in Mexico.  Mexican authorities were displeased with Chapman's high profile foray into their country to round up Luster.  Fortunately, Chapman's legal problems are within Mexico, and it is unlikely that Mexico will press too hard to have Chapman returned for trial... after all, Chapman just extricated a dangerous, serial rapist from a popular vacation resort area in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta.  No doubt, Luster was planning to make Mexico his new base for his well established criminal activities.  Luster now resides at the Wasco State Prison in California, hopefully for the next 124 years.  In internet chat sites, Chapman is frequently referred to as a hero... I'm not sure about hero status, but he certainly did the world a favor by capturing Luster.  Chapman boasted to the media that he was after Luster, and then proceeded to find him in another country, and go and get him... all in all, an impressive feat.  Everywhere I turn, I read that Chapman cannot carry firearms because of youthful transgressions... does that rule him out as a candidate for CIA director?  I wouldn't have a problem with that... after all, this country was not built by leaders with sterling reputations all.  George, do you have Dog's phone number?

As the Homeland Security Office warns Americans of new terrorist threats, certain members of the media, including a few annoying Hollywood stars, continue to decry, from astride their marble toilet basins, that all of the world's problems can be solved with love, love, love... and that the Homeland Security Office should be dismantled.  When the President appointed Tom Ridge as head of Homeland Security, absolutely no one conceived of the possibility that terrorist activities would be so quickly ground to a halt in America.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying for the country... in the meantime, I sleep better at night knowing that Tom Ridge continues to head up the Homeland Security Office... two thumbs up, Tom.

Dr. W. David Currie