Robert G. Yetman, Jr.

Can We Accept That Accidents Sometimes Just Happen?

The recent, sudden death of actress Natasha Richardson has once again brought to the fore the champions of government do-gooderism.  Not our government, mind you…at least not in this case; Richardson’s accident occurred in that favorite nanny-state-to-the-north, Canada, but what is going on there in the aftermath of her recent, tragic death is emblematic of the efforts of those the world over…including and especially here in America…to save us from ourselves.

To review, Richardson was learning how to ski on a “bunny slope,” a type of ski slope so named precisely because it is so tame.  By all accounts, Richardson simply fell, as many do in the course of learning how to ski, and hit her head.  While initial indications were that nothing was wrong with the actress just after her fall, she subsequently fell ill and ultimately died after suffering what was later learned to be an epidural hematoma, which is bleeding between the skull and brain caused by a whack to the head.

Richardson’s death, by all reasonable accounts, resulted from an honest-to-goodness accident, but alas, true accidents are becoming rare to the point of extinction.  Now, every event, no matter how random or haphazard, has an insidious cause…and more importantly, a responsible party.  Latest reports are that Quebec is now seriously considering making the use of helmets mandatory on ski slopes.  The fact that Richardson died after a simple fall that could have occurred just as easily on her kitchen floor makes no difference; governments the world over will save us.  In associated “news,” much is now being made of Quebec’s lack of a medical helicopter system…without regard to the fact that it was Richardson herself who said she felt fine just after her fall and elected not to receive any medical treatment.  No matter – this is about the lack of a helicopter; surely someone will be sued for that…maybe even jailed.

Simple, uncomplicated realities are not allowed to exist anymore.  Natasha Richardson innocently fell on an innocent ski slope and innocently died.  Sometimes death is just that…innocent.  She was not a victim of an uncaring ski resort community, nor a victim of poor medical services; indeed, she was not a victim of anything or anyone on whom blame or responsibility should be placed.  We can grieve for the loss of another human being, we can express our sincere condolences to the bereaved…without contriving blame and pinning that blame on innocent third parties.  Friends and family should be left to mourn…and the rest of us should simply move on, and be allowed to do so with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that we won’t be held responsible, either individually or as a society, for simple accidents that involve no one other than the victim and his or her personal choices.

Robert G. Yetman, Jr.  Editor-At-Large www.ChristianMoney.com

Tags: natasha+richardson,+robert+g.+yetman,+james+l.+paris

The Future of The Republican Party Rests with its Limbaughs, not its Steeles

Rush Limbaugh has been in the news quite a bit lately, as the mainstream media has been quick to play up an apparent rift between he and newly-minted Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele.  Rush has famously stated that he hopes Obama fails (so do I), and that sentiment has morphed into suggestions that the conservative radio talker is something along the lines of un-American.  Steele, a poor pick for the chairmanship of the RNC, recently took issue with Limbaugh rhetoric in speaking to CNN’s D.L. Hughley last Saturday night (CNN’s D.L. Hughley?  Talk about surreal), and said of Limbaugh: “…his whole thing is entertainment.  Yes, it’s incendiary.  Yes, it’s ugly.”

The pick of Steele as RNC chairman and the heavy emphasis on Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in recent weeks are troubling signs for those of us who embrace traditional conservative ideology and firmly believe that straying from same has put us (Republicans) in the position in which we now find ourselves.  This emphasis on style, or that which is trendy, over substance does not work for us – only for Democrats.  Some cynics might argue that McCain’s selection of Palin is a case of the same thing…except that there is no evidence that Palin is anything but a dyed-in-the-wool conservative through and through.  The same cannot be said of Steele…or even of presidential nominee McCain.  John McCain; our latest big-time mistake.  We ended up with him because too many of you became scared and actually started to believe what you were told by the MSNBC crowd: that we needed a big-tent Republican in order to have a chance.  You fell for it, played right into their hands…and here we are.

The fact that Steele ended up apologizing to Limbaugh for his remarks is very revealing.  It tells you who has more juice…which further tells you what rank and file Republicans are thinking these days. 

Limbaugh is right, and so are folks like conservative attack dog Ann Coulter.  Those who want to play nice are dead wrong…and that wrong-headedness may end up costing us even more than most of us ever expected it would.  The Steeles and McCains?  Sorry guys…but you have to go.  America needs men (and women) of iron who are willing, through their demonstrations of ideological, intellectual, and personal integrity, to put America back on a path of liberty, prosperity, and unapologetic nationalism.  Republicans, and specifically conservatives, need to embrace a new militancy, one that does not allow for cowering in the face of being called a “racist,” or “homophobe,” or “Nazi,” or “fascist” whenever we oppose any attempts at encroachment on traditional American values.  Turn the tables on our enemies; endeavor to fear them no longer – make them fear you.

Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor-At–Large www.ChristianMoney.com

Tags: rush+limbaugh,+michael+steele,+robert+yetman,+james+l.+paris,+christian+money+and+politics