<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>. . . and, somehow, very appropriate.</div><div><br></div><div>Back during the Vietnam War John Kay of the band Steppenwolf (in my opinion the hottest band to ever perform) wrote the song "Monster". It reflected the attitudes of people about war and the concern for the degeneration of America.</div><div><br></div><div>That song, somehow, seems applicable today as our country becomes more and more entwined in, yet, another war.</div><div><br></div><div>---------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div><b>"Monster"</b> by Steppenwolf</div><div><a href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/Songs/Steppenwolf/Monster.mp3">http://www.TomandRodna.com/Songs/Steppenwolf/Monster.mp3</a></div><div><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Once the religious, the hunted and weary<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Chasing the promise of freedom and hope<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Came to this country to build a new vision<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Like good Christians, some would burn the witches<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Later some got slaves to gather riches</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But still from near and far to seek America</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They came by thousands to court the wild<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">But she just patiently smiled and bore a child<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">To be their spirit and guiding light</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And once the ties with the crown had been broken</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Westward in saddle and wagon it went<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Many the lives which had come to an end<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">While we bullied, stole and bought our homeland<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">We began the slaughter of the red man</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But still from near and far to seek America</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They came by thousands to court the wild<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">But she just patiently smiled and bore a child<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">To be their spirit and guiding light</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The blue and gray they stomped it</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They kicked it just like a dog<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">And when the war was over<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">They stuffed it just like a hog</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And though the past has it's share of injustice<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Kind was the spirit in many a way<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Now it's a monster and will not obey</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The spirit was freedom and justice</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And it's keepers seem friendly and kind<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">It's leaders were supposed to serve the country<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">But now they won't pay it no mind</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the people got fat and grew lazy</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now their vote is like a meaningless joke<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">You know they talk about law, about order<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">But it's all just an echo of what they've been told</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause there's a monster on the loose</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's got our heads into a noose<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">And it just sits there watchin'</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our cities have turned into jungles</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And corruption is stranglin' the land<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">The police force is watching the people<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">And the people just can't understand</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We don't know how to mind our own business</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Now we are fighting a war over there<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">No matter who's the winner, we can't pay the cost</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">'Cause there's a monster on the loose</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's got our heads into the noose<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">And it just sits there watching</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">America where are you now?</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Don't you care about your sons and daughters?<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Don't you know we need you now<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">We can't fight alone against the monster</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">America where are you now?</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Don't you care about your sons and daughters?<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Don't you know we need you now<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">We can't fight alone against the monster</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">America where are you now?</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Don't you care about your sons and daughters?<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Don't you know we need you now<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">We can't fight alone against the monster</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">America where are you now?</span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Don't you care about your sons and daughters?<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Don't you know we need you now<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">We can't fight alone against the monster<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">America</span></p></div><div><br></div><div>---------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>As an old saying goes . . . "Suppose they gave a war and nobody came."<br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- John Lennon</span></div></div></div></div></body></html>