Evil Makes No Distinctions

Evil is running roughshod across the globe.

Last night, evil turned up in The Holy City, Charleston, South Carolina, a city where no building stands taller than the steeples throughout the historic city.

Charleston, South Carolina

A very deranged young man attended a church meeting, and after an hour or so of faked fellowship, did the unspeakable, murdering in cold blood a prominent minister and eight parishioners, before escaping into the night.

Adding to the horrendous nature of this crime is the fact that the shooter was a white man, and his victims were members of the second oldest predominantly black church in the nation, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston.  Obviously, this will be considered a hate crime, and the death penalty will be appropriately sought after.

Given the racial divisiveness the has fallen over our nation in recent months, many involving the police, this savage and sick crime could not have come at a worse time.  The recent altercations, from the Trayvon Martin case in Central Florida to the events in Baltimore, has provided a platform to those who seek racial strife in chaos rather than peace and love.

Some have already taken the opportunity to advance political aspirations and agendas, sadly inclusive of President Obama and 2016 Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton, who today called for more gun control.  We will successfully defend the second amendment with these folks on another day.

On this day, our nation is in mourning.  Our nation is reeling that evil came come so pronounced in such a place where the presence of evil is deemed off limits.  Our hearts are broken, as evil claimed the lives of some our finest citizens, who you can learn about from the Washington Post.  We pray for comfort for the families and friends of these outstanding servants of our Lord.

The last city I laid my head to sleep in outside of my city of residence was Charleston while attending to matters at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).  The city is beautiful, and the town folks are friendly and welcoming, certainly inclusive of  the wonderful staff at MUSC. This is evident by the class and dignity exhibited by the residents in the aftermath of this tragedy, holding strong in faith.

Evil paid Charleston a deadly visit on Wednesday night.  Contrary to the opinions of some, evil does not make distinctions between race, creed, gender, political affiliation, financial status, height, weight, sexual preference or favorite sports teams.  Evil is ruthless; without mercy.

Evil attacks goodness, and although we will have setbacks like the heartbreaking events in Charleston last night, evil will be defeated, and we remain strong in our faith, which will be our saving grace.

Can't You Read The Sign

Nebraska ... the good life.

Indeed, it is a lovely place, free from many of the ills that are increasingly permeating our society.  It is a place that is ideal for raising a family, and a state that welcomes virtue, principle hard work. It has been said the N on the side of the University of Nebraska football helmet stand for "nice people" rather than "Nebraska".

Outside of some of the downtown areas of Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska is a very conservative state, as red a state as sea of red in beloved Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on football Saturdays with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the field.

State Senator Ernie Chambers, a Democrat from Omaha, who tried to take down the storied 'Husker football program a few decades back, has emerged as a leader in an effort to do away with the death penalty in Nebraska.

Although Nebraska has the death penalty, it has not been used very often, and only approximately ten people are the list to be executed at this time.

Even so, led by efforts from Chambers and others and sadly including GOP members who consider themselves Conservative, legislation to end the death penalty in the Cornhusker state passed in the state legislature.

Governor Pete Ricketts, a republican from Nebraska City, vowed to veto such legislation should it land on his desk, which he promptly did.  However, with the help of a handful of "conservatives" there were enough votes to overturn the veto.  One of these individuals was Brett Lindstrom, a former 'Husker backup quarterback who considers himself a 21st century Reaganite, which is ludicrous.

Poof!  Just like that, Nebraska no longer has the death penalty.

The state has been in mourning this past week. Omaha police were serving a felony arrest warrant against an individual with a lengthy criminal record (do you ever wonder like I do how these people do not remain in jail?) when a firefight broke out, mortally wounding the suspect and a member of the Omaha Police Department.

Kerrie Orozco, a 29 year old female member of OPD, died at Creighton University Medical Center from her wounds. Kerrie Orozco, who is survived by her husband and three children, one of whom was reported to be a premature infant who remains in an Omaha hospital.  Orozco, described by Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer as a remarkable person and officer and a perfect representative of the profession, is the first OPD officer slain since 2003.

Omaha came together strong to pay tribute and offer their respects to Orozco and her family, even thwarting efforts by the idiots from the Westboro Baptist Church to cause a raucous.  In Omaha, BLUE LIVES MATTER!


With the legislative vote to repeal the death penalty, the state legislature governed against the will of the people, as Nebraskans overwhelming support it.  Individuals of the sort who have no regard for law and order and think nothing or murdering police officers are those that the death penalty suits perfectly.

Can't the legislature read the signs?

I remember a day, when Lincoln was terrorized by a crazed killer, where everybody and anybody wanted this serial murderer put to death promptly after his apprehension.  In fact, police nabbed him in Wyoming, Charles Starkweather was brought back to Lincoln and electrocuted in the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln in 1959.

The death penalty may not be a deterrent to all, but it is certainly a powerful tool of penance for those who recklessly disobey the rule of law resulting in the taking of innocent lives.  As former Nebraska governor Dave Heineman said, “It’s important for Nebraska to have a death penalty, for the most heinous of crimes. We just had the most recent situation in Omaha, the shooting in Norfolk and a variety of communities across the state.”

Right on Gov. Heinemen, particularly that recent situation in Omaha, which took the life of a top notch member of the community.  It was a sign.

Thankfully the Omaha fugitive was killed in the field, or given the mindset of the moronic legislators, he would be sentenced to a life of three squares a day, lifting weights, congenial visits and watching sports on our dime for the rest of his pitiful existence.

It is sad the members of the state legislature did not see the signs.

A sign noting Blue Lives Matter. A sign of heartbreak in Omaha and a heartfelt sign of welcome on the state borders describing Nebraska as the good life.  And the sign of a Nebraska city in terror in 1959.

Keep your eye on the signs, and Keep Calm and Kerrie On!