Knoxville —  

There have been many stories out there this week, regarding a US soldier who killed approximately one dozen Afghan civilians, including women and children. 

One of the many, many things that disappoint me about my journalistic brethren is that they are more than willing to tell, over and over again, the story of this one soldier who snapped, but they are rarely willing to share the story of individual soldiers who don’t commit atrocities. 

What’s wrong with occasionally throwing in a story, highlighting a man or woman who is there, serving his country, who has his/her unit’s back and does so without creating a controversy? 

I realize there have been stories about local soldiers coming home, with the video of hugs between spouses and parents and children. Those are all great. I’d love to see more of that. 

What I don’t like is when national media seems to try to make all of our soldiers look like bad guys. Look at the coverage they gave the accidental Koran burning recently. How many times did they even mention “accidental” or provide focus on the trauma befalling our soliders as a result? Most of what I saw seemed to be sympathetic with the Afghans who were rioting, harming and killing our soldiers. 

All the while, anytime someone back home even so much as mentions God or morals in a school, he or she becomes a pariah. I guess I forgot. Christians are oppressors, not those Muslims who mistreat women and kill soldiers who mistakenly burn books. 

I don’t encourage any kind of book burning nor do I believe all Muslims are radical, women-hating killers. Only a fool would believe all Christians embody the spirit of Jesus Christ. I am not a fool.

But, when was the last time a group of Christians, anywhere in the world, rampaged against someone for burning Bibles? When was the last time anyone reported outrage over any kind of disrespect shown toward Christians or Christianity?  

Nobody is condoning the killing of women and children. I certainly don’t. The soldier who allegedly did this does not exemplify our service men and women. I would simply like larger media outlets to emphasize THAT. 

The coverage of the accidental killings is just the latest in a long line of malarky coming from national “journalists.” 

Back in the days of President Bush, it seemed as though the numbers regarding the death and injury toll on our soldiers was on every nightly newscast. 

Now, not so much, now that the media’s hero is in charge. You only see it now when there’s a drawdown or when one of our guys screws up and they have the opportunity to humiliate the USA or our fine service people, on the whole. 

It’s just not right, and that’s all I’ve got to say about that for now. 

Back here at home, the idea of an Economic Development Council bothers me. Regardless of what justification anyone may have for any governmental body’s involvement, including the Knoxville City Council, in business development, it is still wrong. 

As I’ve mentioned before the City does not have any money it has not already confiscated from someone else. Why should they confiscate money from you to hand over to anyone else, who has not provided a service you as a taxpayer directly benefit from? 

They have no right to do that. Nor does the State of Iowa. Nor does the United States of America. It needs to stop. 

I know, the council will be upset about that and they’ll try to explain why I’m wrong. The problem is, I’m not wrong. 

If they want to collaborate private, volunteered donations, that’s fine. The existing $50,000 pot was not donated. 

The council’s justification will be that other communities are doing it and Knoxville has to do it to keep up. I disagree. I believe the community would find more success in believing in those who are already here. That, and I believe in capitalism. 

During a recent interview with Dick Schrad, he mentioned that the Chinese government constructed a building to suit the needs of Apple, to entice that company to locate a new operation there. 

The Chinese were able to do that because they’re communists. Sure, they may be our big buddies now and our banker, but they’re communists. Their people are not free and they have no rights. Essentially, the Chinese are slaves. 

Construction of a spec building by the City of Knoxville, in the hopes of attracting a business to it, is no different than what the Chinese have done. Frankly, I believe the course to take, to right the ship of Knoxville and America, is to become LESS like the Chinese and more like the freedom-loving, capitalist nation that rose to prominence in the world. 

That seems like a better alternative than becoming a slave to any government. 

Take care of yourself and thank you for reading.