I hope you enjoy reading the prologue of my soon-to-be-released book, The Scrolls of Tora Bora.
Monday 18 June 2007
Saturday 2 June 2007
Ockham’s Islam
In the movie The Matrix, Morpheus asks and answers the question: what is real? In response to himself, he muses (I’m paraphrasing) that whatever electro-chemical signal your brain interprets as being real, is real. So, then, what is Islam?
In my estimation, there are two possible answers to this question.
First, perhaps Muhammad actually was visited by a being of light who did reveal what became the Qur’an. If this is so, then the Satanic Verses provide the clearest evidence of who and what that being of light may have been. Amazing how Islamic clerics decided the Satanic Verses needed to be expunged from the text of the immutable word of God. Certainly they know better than Allah what should be in the Book.
Don’t know what the Satanic Verses are? Simply put, these are verses that have been edited out of the Qur’anic text. They deal with an episode during which the angel Gabriel gives his seal of approval on Muhammad accepting some popular Goddesses in Medina. During a later visitation, Gabriel tells Muhammad that he was deceived during that revelation, that it had not been he, Gabriel, but Satan that had given him that approval. The goddesses were out of favor in Allah’s monotheism.
Easy to see how those verses could be somewhat confusing to the rabble… er, true believers. The point is that if Satan could have fooled Muhammad once, then perhaps all of his visitations were Satanic. That notion sure would have my vote. Considering the total lack of any structure and the conflicting instructions contained within the Qur’an, I would have to say that it simply could not have been the work of a supreme being.
I’m also a little confused as to how a supposedly monotheistic god with no partners could keep referring to himself in the plural, such as, “We” did this, and “We” did that, and “We” blah, blah, blah. Just a small point of contention.
OK, so the first possibility is that Muhammad was actually visited by Satan. It would explain a lot.
The second possibility is that Muhammad made the whole damn thing up. No matter how warped, twisted and demented he may have been, he was no dummy. His first wife’s cousin was a biblical scholar and was in fact the first person tell Muhammad that the small bump on his back was the ultimate sign that he was indeed the next prophet as foretold in the New Testament… uh, somewhere, I guess.
Back in 6th century polytheistic nomad-land, even the unwashed had probably heard of the very popular and prevalent angel, Gabriel. Having conversations with Gabriel would have given Muhammad instant credibility among the heathen, the Jews and the Christians. Smart move – he wasn’t having conversations with God, just an angel. No requirement for performing miracles. Nice! Expectations are lowered.
The total lack of any structure and the conflicting instructions contained within the Qur’an are now easily explained by the fact that it was produced by an illiterate fraud.
To steal a scene from one of my favorite movies, Ockham’s razor states that all things being equal (a stretch, I know), the simplest solution tends to be the right one. So, what is simpler: Satanic visitation or maniacal manifestation? Let’s see, power hungry, homicidal maniac creates crap out of whole cloth, or Demon deludes the masses into believing evil is good. OK, so it’s a toss-up.
You decide.
Demi Kaeffer
In my estimation, there are two possible answers to this question.
First, perhaps Muhammad actually was visited by a being of light who did reveal what became the Qur’an. If this is so, then the Satanic Verses provide the clearest evidence of who and what that being of light may have been. Amazing how Islamic clerics decided the Satanic Verses needed to be expunged from the text of the immutable word of God. Certainly they know better than Allah what should be in the Book.
Don’t know what the Satanic Verses are? Simply put, these are verses that have been edited out of the Qur’anic text. They deal with an episode during which the angel Gabriel gives his seal of approval on Muhammad accepting some popular Goddesses in Medina. During a later visitation, Gabriel tells Muhammad that he was deceived during that revelation, that it had not been he, Gabriel, but Satan that had given him that approval. The goddesses were out of favor in Allah’s monotheism.
Easy to see how those verses could be somewhat confusing to the rabble… er, true believers. The point is that if Satan could have fooled Muhammad once, then perhaps all of his visitations were Satanic. That notion sure would have my vote. Considering the total lack of any structure and the conflicting instructions contained within the Qur’an, I would have to say that it simply could not have been the work of a supreme being.
I’m also a little confused as to how a supposedly monotheistic god with no partners could keep referring to himself in the plural, such as, “We” did this, and “We” did that, and “We” blah, blah, blah. Just a small point of contention.
OK, so the first possibility is that Muhammad was actually visited by Satan. It would explain a lot.
The second possibility is that Muhammad made the whole damn thing up. No matter how warped, twisted and demented he may have been, he was no dummy. His first wife’s cousin was a biblical scholar and was in fact the first person tell Muhammad that the small bump on his back was the ultimate sign that he was indeed the next prophet as foretold in the New Testament… uh, somewhere, I guess.
Back in 6th century polytheistic nomad-land, even the unwashed had probably heard of the very popular and prevalent angel, Gabriel. Having conversations with Gabriel would have given Muhammad instant credibility among the heathen, the Jews and the Christians. Smart move – he wasn’t having conversations with God, just an angel. No requirement for performing miracles. Nice! Expectations are lowered.
The total lack of any structure and the conflicting instructions contained within the Qur’an are now easily explained by the fact that it was produced by an illiterate fraud.
To steal a scene from one of my favorite movies, Ockham’s razor states that all things being equal (a stretch, I know), the simplest solution tends to be the right one. So, what is simpler: Satanic visitation or maniacal manifestation? Let’s see, power hungry, homicidal maniac creates crap out of whole cloth, or Demon deludes the masses into believing evil is good. OK, so it’s a toss-up.
You decide.
Demi Kaeffer
Thursday 31 May 2007
The Qur'an In Court
Syidah Mateen is the successful plaintiff in a lawsuit brought before Superior Court in Wake County, North Carolina, asking that the Qur’an be included in the Holy Scriptures recognized by the state in order to swear-in a person to testify under oath in court. Bravo.
Let’s not forget the ACLU (Americans Cultivating Litigiousness Unilaterally), always at the forefront of establishing all things deviant as accepted norms. ACLU lawyer Seth Cohen said "we asked the court to rule that government has to be neutral. It did." Oh, great, another example of a Jewish lawyer doing everything in his power to see to it that the belief system that requires his extermination is given credence and honor. Hope Seth won’t mind if the government is neutral when Islamic Law (Sharia) requires his beheading for being one of the unbelieving Peoples of the Book.
Apparently, the last intelligent Jewish person that had anything to do with Muhammad and Islam, was the elderly female survivor of the massacre at Kaibar, who, forced to feed Muhammad and his men after they killed her husband, father, brothers and sons, poisoned him, leading to his death sometime later.
Perhaps it is latent universal Jewish guilt for the death of Muhammad that Jews seem so irrevocably entwined with defending Islam now, at every possible turn, ensuring their destruction and ultimate penitence for have murdered Muhammad, the Prophet – “the Truthful One” (mhrh)*
If anyone has any questions concerning what may appear to be anti-Semitic remarks, I would ask you to find anywhere in the Old Testament or the New Testament where God takes back the fact that the Jews are His chosen people. If that’s still unclear, tough.
*(May he rot in hell)
Demi Kaeffer
Let’s not forget the ACLU (Americans Cultivating Litigiousness Unilaterally), always at the forefront of establishing all things deviant as accepted norms. ACLU lawyer Seth Cohen said "we asked the court to rule that government has to be neutral. It did." Oh, great, another example of a Jewish lawyer doing everything in his power to see to it that the belief system that requires his extermination is given credence and honor. Hope Seth won’t mind if the government is neutral when Islamic Law (Sharia) requires his beheading for being one of the unbelieving Peoples of the Book.
Apparently, the last intelligent Jewish person that had anything to do with Muhammad and Islam, was the elderly female survivor of the massacre at Kaibar, who, forced to feed Muhammad and his men after they killed her husband, father, brothers and sons, poisoned him, leading to his death sometime later.
Perhaps it is latent universal Jewish guilt for the death of Muhammad that Jews seem so irrevocably entwined with defending Islam now, at every possible turn, ensuring their destruction and ultimate penitence for have murdered Muhammad, the Prophet – “the Truthful One” (mhrh)*
If anyone has any questions concerning what may appear to be anti-Semitic remarks, I would ask you to find anywhere in the Old Testament or the New Testament where God takes back the fact that the Jews are His chosen people. If that’s still unclear, tough.
*(May he rot in hell)
Demi Kaeffer
Tuesday 29 May 2007
Muhammad the Obvious
I recently viewed the DVD, "Islam: What the West Needs To Know." The experts presenting their opinions are among the most revered and active critics of Islam. As excited as I was to see the presentation, I was sadly disappointed that one major fact the West Needs To Know was curiously omitted.
Yes, they included the fact that Islam's founder, Muhammad, was personally responsible for the slaughter -- beheading -- of hundreds of men and youths from one Jewish tribe alone.
Yes, they mentioned that Muhammad ordered the assassination of his political rivals.
Yes, they mentioned the fact that Muhammad's youngest wife was married to him at six years of age. I don't remember if they mentioned that he waited patiently until she was nine years old to consummate the marriage.
Yes, they skirted around the obvious. Perhaps it is only obvious to me.
For the sake of argument, let us say that we are not discussing the behavior of an alleged holy man and founder of a presumed religion.
Suppose, rather, that we are talking about the behavior of, oh, say... any man. At any time in history. Under any circumstances. How, then, would we judge this man?
How would we judge any man for brutally and wantonly murdering (by beheading) between 600 - 900 men and young boys (any youth with pubic hair)? Would we regard him as a holy man, a prophet, doing the Lord's work, or would we call him a homicidal maniac?
Would we describe any man who ordered the assassination of his rivals as a just man of peace - a holy man - or would we tend to lump him together with members of the elite class of organized criminals, thugs, petty dictators, authoritarian autocrats and the like?
Finally, how would we regard any man who married a six year old and began having sex with her at age nine? Benevolent ruler? Wiseman? Child molester? Pedophile rapist? Monster?
Wouldn't we want to make sure that his profile was no longer available on myspace.com? And by the way, when I say 'began having sex with her' I mean actually engaged in penetration. The Hadiths give account of Muhammad instructing his men in the art of 'thighing' immature females, too young for penetration. Perhaps we should regard him as the Larry Flynt (of Penthouse notoriety) 'any man' of his time.
Perhaps it is no longer obvious just to me. Maybe it is obvious that Muhammad was, as I say through a character in my upcoming book, The Scrolls of Tora Bora: Hafsah's Recension, a "murderous, thieving monster."
So, in my mind, this begs the question of why these outspoken critics of Islam don't come outright and say that Muhammad was anything but a holy man. Anything but a prophet. The manner in which they present their opinions gives credence to the idea that Islam is an authentic religion, when it so obviously is not.
So, then, what is Islam? I believe there are two possibilities which I will cover in my next posting.
Demi Kaeffer
Yes, they included the fact that Islam's founder, Muhammad, was personally responsible for the slaughter -- beheading -- of hundreds of men and youths from one Jewish tribe alone.
Yes, they mentioned that Muhammad ordered the assassination of his political rivals.
Yes, they mentioned the fact that Muhammad's youngest wife was married to him at six years of age. I don't remember if they mentioned that he waited patiently until she was nine years old to consummate the marriage.
Yes, they skirted around the obvious. Perhaps it is only obvious to me.
For the sake of argument, let us say that we are not discussing the behavior of an alleged holy man and founder of a presumed religion.
Suppose, rather, that we are talking about the behavior of, oh, say... any man. At any time in history. Under any circumstances. How, then, would we judge this man?
How would we judge any man for brutally and wantonly murdering (by beheading) between 600 - 900 men and young boys (any youth with pubic hair)? Would we regard him as a holy man, a prophet, doing the Lord's work, or would we call him a homicidal maniac?
Would we describe any man who ordered the assassination of his rivals as a just man of peace - a holy man - or would we tend to lump him together with members of the elite class of organized criminals, thugs, petty dictators, authoritarian autocrats and the like?
Finally, how would we regard any man who married a six year old and began having sex with her at age nine? Benevolent ruler? Wiseman? Child molester? Pedophile rapist? Monster?
Wouldn't we want to make sure that his profile was no longer available on myspace.com? And by the way, when I say 'began having sex with her' I mean actually engaged in penetration. The Hadiths give account of Muhammad instructing his men in the art of 'thighing' immature females, too young for penetration. Perhaps we should regard him as the Larry Flynt (of Penthouse notoriety) 'any man' of his time.
Perhaps it is no longer obvious just to me. Maybe it is obvious that Muhammad was, as I say through a character in my upcoming book, The Scrolls of Tora Bora: Hafsah's Recension, a "murderous, thieving monster."
So, in my mind, this begs the question of why these outspoken critics of Islam don't come outright and say that Muhammad was anything but a holy man. Anything but a prophet. The manner in which they present their opinions gives credence to the idea that Islam is an authentic religion, when it so obviously is not.
So, then, what is Islam? I believe there are two possibilities which I will cover in my next posting.
Demi Kaeffer
Tuesday 22 May 2007
A Recipe for Taking Care of Myself So I Can Be A Healthy Muslophobe
Recently, I tried a gluten-free diet in hopes of alleviating allergy-like symptoms I experience on a daily basis.
But, after 10 $6 loaves of gluten-free bread and many expensive trips to Earth Fare (Not many card carrying NRA members pushing grocery carts among the alfalfa puffs cereal boxes.), I gave up this latest health phase.
However, in my continuing pursuit to take care of myself, I have strong empirical evidence from a golfing buddy that flaxseed oil capsules help elevate the good cholesterol levels. So, I 've started a regimen of flaxseed oil.
And, speaking of flaxseed, I now add flaxseed meal to my scrambled eggs. First, I put 2 tsp into the frying pan with 1 tblsp of Smart Balance. Once the meal has browned a bit, I add to eggs, scramble and cook.
And, here's a double-whammy health drink:
(We use recycled water bottles)
Put about 17 ounces of water into a 20 ounce water bottle
Add 10 drops of Stevia
Add 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed (you'll need a funnel for this)
Shake
Fill the bottle with unsweetened, organic cranberry juice.
Shake.
Ok, yes, this is an aquired taste and requires a trip to the health food store (where I have my son where his "Peace Through Superior Airpower" shirt), but the cranberry juice and flaxseed make this the elixir of life!
So, this is how I maintain my health, so I can continue my Muslophobe rant.
But, after 10 $6 loaves of gluten-free bread and many expensive trips to Earth Fare (Not many card carrying NRA members pushing grocery carts among the alfalfa puffs cereal boxes.), I gave up this latest health phase.
However, in my continuing pursuit to take care of myself, I have strong empirical evidence from a golfing buddy that flaxseed oil capsules help elevate the good cholesterol levels. So, I 've started a regimen of flaxseed oil.
And, speaking of flaxseed, I now add flaxseed meal to my scrambled eggs. First, I put 2 tsp into the frying pan with 1 tblsp of Smart Balance. Once the meal has browned a bit, I add to eggs, scramble and cook.
And, here's a double-whammy health drink:
(We use recycled water bottles)
Put about 17 ounces of water into a 20 ounce water bottle
Add 10 drops of Stevia
Add 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed (you'll need a funnel for this)
Shake
Fill the bottle with unsweetened, organic cranberry juice.
Shake.
Ok, yes, this is an aquired taste and requires a trip to the health food store (where I have my son where his "Peace Through Superior Airpower" shirt), but the cranberry juice and flaxseed make this the elixir of life!
So, this is how I maintain my health, so I can continue my Muslophobe rant.
Let's Take A Look At the Qur'an, Shall We?
Please read the following and ponder how Islam can be described as "peaceful".
"The appropriate penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and run about in the land creating disorder is that they be slain or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on alternate sides, or they be expelled from the land. That would be a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they shall have a great punishmen; except in the case of those who repent before you obtain power over them. Take note that Allah is Most Forgiving. Ever Merciful."
Qur'an, 6:34-35)
Ok, so, it's peaceful to cut off a non-Muslim's right hand and left foot? Someone please explain the peacefulness in this.
How can Allah be merciful yet promote cutting off opposite limbs?
Does anyone see the pure evil b.s. in all of this.
Everyone, muslims, non-muslims need to READ the Q'uran and understand what it truly says.
This is not a religion of peace. It's an evil cult. Muhammad was evil.
Do you know that he took a 6 year old girl as his wife. Oh, but nice of him to wait until she was 9 to consumate it, don't you think?
I cannot understand how educated Americans can convert to this cult.
Read and educate yourself. If the passage above doesn't scare you, it should.
"The appropriate penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and run about in the land creating disorder is that they be slain or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on alternate sides, or they be expelled from the land. That would be a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they shall have a great punishmen; except in the case of those who repent before you obtain power over them. Take note that Allah is Most Forgiving. Ever Merciful."
Qur'an, 6:34-35)
Ok, so, it's peaceful to cut off a non-Muslim's right hand and left foot? Someone please explain the peacefulness in this.
How can Allah be merciful yet promote cutting off opposite limbs?
Does anyone see the pure evil b.s. in all of this.
Everyone, muslims, non-muslims need to READ the Q'uran and understand what it truly says.
This is not a religion of peace. It's an evil cult. Muhammad was evil.
Do you know that he took a 6 year old girl as his wife. Oh, but nice of him to wait until she was 9 to consumate it, don't you think?
I cannot understand how educated Americans can convert to this cult.
Read and educate yourself. If the passage above doesn't scare you, it should.
Wednesday 2 May 2007
Shots Were Fired - Where Was My Gun?
I had the occasion of visiting Atlanta a few weeks ago. After several cold, rainy days, a warm sunny day presented itself. I went to the Olympic fountain with my six-year-old daughter.
There were probably close to a hundred people all around the fountain enjoying the day. I disabled my mature/adult judgment long enough to allow her the frivolous enjoyment of getting soaked by running through the fountain with a handful of other children whose parents were of a similar mind. Technically, it might not have been actually warm enough to have allowed it, but it seemed the right thing to do at the time.
Childhood is such a fleeting moment.
My little girl was taking a break and enjoying a cool drink with me at the side of the fountain, when I heard what I recognized as five quick shots from a semi-automatic weapon, nearby. I'd say the shots were within a hundred yards.
Most everyone else recognized the sounds as gunshots, too. As if in a choreographed movement, virtually everyone crumpled into a cowering position, a position from which it would have been entirely impossible to see any threat approaching.
If a gunman had been coming to wreak death and destruction, almost no one would have seen him coming. None of the cowering people would have been able to react with a more defensive action, such as running quickly away in a zig-zag pattern.
I was among a handful of folks who, instead of sticking their heads in the sand, had the instinct to become more alert and survey the surroundings with a keener eye toward locating and identifying any continuing threat. When I say a handful, I mean maybe four or five other people, both men and women, were doing what I was doing. Everyone else looked like sheep waiting for the big, bad wolf to go away.
Please don't misunderstand, I'm no hero. I had never been in a situation such as this before. I have, sadly and to my utter disgrace, no military experience. I do, however, have a CCW license.
I have been licensed to carry a concealed weapon for over six and a half years. Happily, I have never had any occasion to present my weapon. I was not raised by parents that were anti-gun, but neither were they gun enthusiasts. I found on my own how much fun target shooting and scenario shooting could be. Right after getting my CCW, I went for a three-day concealed carry course offered by SIGArms Academy in New Hampshire. God, that was fun. My ability to place rounds on a target has been honed over the years and I have been successful in bringing friends and family into the world of gun ownership.
I don't walk around with a John Wayne swagger, but confidence in my gun handling abilities does probably translate into the image of someone who is less likely to be thought of as a target by those who are looking for one. None of that mattered on that beautiful spring morning at the fountain with my six-year-old, as those shots rang out.
Why? I had double-checked that the drive to Atlanta would take me through states that offered reciprocation with the state in which my CCW is issued. Georgia reciprocates with my state.
So, why was it that I was sitting there by the fountain with my six-year-old, as the shots rang out, with no gun on my hip? Simple. We were walking from our hotel to the Georgia Dome, where no guns are allowed. My extensive FBI background check notwithstanding. My status as a law-abiding citizen notwithstanding. My extensive training with my handgun notwithstanding.
Back to the moment right after the shots were fired. I was up like a prairie dog. I knew the general direction from which the shots had come. There was no one approaching the fountain area from that location.
My first conscious thought was of anger. I was angry that I was holding my little girl, her joyful excursion now polluted by the unfolding events. I was angry that my outing with her had been marred by the same. But, even more so, I was angry that I did not have my gun to protect myself and my daughter.
I was angry that I did not possess the means to stop a threat, if one decided to present itself to us and the people around us.
After a few moments, I heard a plaintive, male voice calling from behind me: "Don't you know what's going on? Don't you know those were gunshots?"
The inference was that I, and the others who were looking around, were being stupid by not cowering like him and the rest of those who were. With everything else that was going on, I wanted to go over to that man and slap him. I think I was more angry at him than at the rest of the morning's festivities. My God, what has happened to us?
Not long thereafter, I saw police personnel on foot heading into the area from which the shots had come. They were joined by additional personnel on bicycle and the sounds of sirens approaching. I was impressed by the speed with which the police responded. Within five minutes, almost everyone had confidence that whatever had occurred, it was under control. Activity around the fountain began to return to some sense of normalcy. I squeezed as much of the water out of my daughter's shoes as I could and we made our way over to the Georgia Dome, not filled with the same sense of happiness as we might have been.
Hours later, I found out what had transpired. Apparently, a gunman had entered CNN Headquarters across from the fountain area. He had been chased out of the CNN Building and into the park where police shot and killed him. The shots we heard were from police weapons. I spoke with a FoxNews technician as they were breaking down equipment after a broadcast concerning the shooting. He told me that what had happened occurred fairly regularly. "Some nut with a gun goes into CNN almost every week," he quipped, seemingly amused by the whole thing. Sure made me think about ignoring some of the restrictions of where I could carry my weapon.
A couple of weeks later, a lone gunman went into another area where he could be assured that no one else was carrying a gun. 32 innocent lives were lost as much to insane gun laws as to an insane gunman. If everyone had a gun, no one would be stupid enough to pull one out.
Hopefully, Switzerland will be able to fend off the current assault on the longstanding requirement that every able bodied man have at least one weapon... preferably full-auto.
Demi Kaeffer
There were probably close to a hundred people all around the fountain enjoying the day. I disabled my mature/adult judgment long enough to allow her the frivolous enjoyment of getting soaked by running through the fountain with a handful of other children whose parents were of a similar mind. Technically, it might not have been actually warm enough to have allowed it, but it seemed the right thing to do at the time.
Childhood is such a fleeting moment.
My little girl was taking a break and enjoying a cool drink with me at the side of the fountain, when I heard what I recognized as five quick shots from a semi-automatic weapon, nearby. I'd say the shots were within a hundred yards.
Most everyone else recognized the sounds as gunshots, too. As if in a choreographed movement, virtually everyone crumpled into a cowering position, a position from which it would have been entirely impossible to see any threat approaching.
If a gunman had been coming to wreak death and destruction, almost no one would have seen him coming. None of the cowering people would have been able to react with a more defensive action, such as running quickly away in a zig-zag pattern.
I was among a handful of folks who, instead of sticking their heads in the sand, had the instinct to become more alert and survey the surroundings with a keener eye toward locating and identifying any continuing threat. When I say a handful, I mean maybe four or five other people, both men and women, were doing what I was doing. Everyone else looked like sheep waiting for the big, bad wolf to go away.
Please don't misunderstand, I'm no hero. I had never been in a situation such as this before. I have, sadly and to my utter disgrace, no military experience. I do, however, have a CCW license.
I have been licensed to carry a concealed weapon for over six and a half years. Happily, I have never had any occasion to present my weapon. I was not raised by parents that were anti-gun, but neither were they gun enthusiasts. I found on my own how much fun target shooting and scenario shooting could be. Right after getting my CCW, I went for a three-day concealed carry course offered by SIGArms Academy in New Hampshire. God, that was fun. My ability to place rounds on a target has been honed over the years and I have been successful in bringing friends and family into the world of gun ownership.
I don't walk around with a John Wayne swagger, but confidence in my gun handling abilities does probably translate into the image of someone who is less likely to be thought of as a target by those who are looking for one. None of that mattered on that beautiful spring morning at the fountain with my six-year-old, as those shots rang out.
Why? I had double-checked that the drive to Atlanta would take me through states that offered reciprocation with the state in which my CCW is issued. Georgia reciprocates with my state.
So, why was it that I was sitting there by the fountain with my six-year-old, as the shots rang out, with no gun on my hip? Simple. We were walking from our hotel to the Georgia Dome, where no guns are allowed. My extensive FBI background check notwithstanding. My status as a law-abiding citizen notwithstanding. My extensive training with my handgun notwithstanding.
Back to the moment right after the shots were fired. I was up like a prairie dog. I knew the general direction from which the shots had come. There was no one approaching the fountain area from that location.
My first conscious thought was of anger. I was angry that I was holding my little girl, her joyful excursion now polluted by the unfolding events. I was angry that my outing with her had been marred by the same. But, even more so, I was angry that I did not have my gun to protect myself and my daughter.
I was angry that I did not possess the means to stop a threat, if one decided to present itself to us and the people around us.
After a few moments, I heard a plaintive, male voice calling from behind me: "Don't you know what's going on? Don't you know those were gunshots?"
The inference was that I, and the others who were looking around, were being stupid by not cowering like him and the rest of those who were. With everything else that was going on, I wanted to go over to that man and slap him. I think I was more angry at him than at the rest of the morning's festivities. My God, what has happened to us?
Not long thereafter, I saw police personnel on foot heading into the area from which the shots had come. They were joined by additional personnel on bicycle and the sounds of sirens approaching. I was impressed by the speed with which the police responded. Within five minutes, almost everyone had confidence that whatever had occurred, it was under control. Activity around the fountain began to return to some sense of normalcy. I squeezed as much of the water out of my daughter's shoes as I could and we made our way over to the Georgia Dome, not filled with the same sense of happiness as we might have been.
Hours later, I found out what had transpired. Apparently, a gunman had entered CNN Headquarters across from the fountain area. He had been chased out of the CNN Building and into the park where police shot and killed him. The shots we heard were from police weapons. I spoke with a FoxNews technician as they were breaking down equipment after a broadcast concerning the shooting. He told me that what had happened occurred fairly regularly. "Some nut with a gun goes into CNN almost every week," he quipped, seemingly amused by the whole thing. Sure made me think about ignoring some of the restrictions of where I could carry my weapon.
A couple of weeks later, a lone gunman went into another area where he could be assured that no one else was carrying a gun. 32 innocent lives were lost as much to insane gun laws as to an insane gunman. If everyone had a gun, no one would be stupid enough to pull one out.
Hopefully, Switzerland will be able to fend off the current assault on the longstanding requirement that every able bodied man have at least one weapon... preferably full-auto.
Demi Kaeffer
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