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Murphy Martin Commentary
July 5, 2006

 "Birthday Time Again"

I am writing this column on July 4, 2006--MY birthday. As we grow older we tend to say things we think will amuse others about our age. Things like: You know you are growing older when: You try to straighten wrinkles in your socks and discover you are not wearing any!

You and your teeth don't sleep together anymore! At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle and pop and you are not eating cereal.

When happy hour is a nap! And you know you are growing older when it takes longer to rest than it did to get tired!

Growing older is not for sissies!

I read something recently that puts it in perspective.

It seems like just yesterday when I was young and just married to the most wonderful woman on earth. Although that was 43-years ago, I still wonder where all the years went. I know I lived them all, but how did I speed through these seven decades so quickly?

Most of all I remember seeing older people through the years that made this country great. It was 230-years ago-TODAY- that the Declaration of Independence WAS signed. Since that first Independence Day, America has struggled fiercely against threats that challenge the ideals so eloquently stated in the Declaration's words:

The injustices of slavery and racism; the hunger and poverty of the Great Depression; the Civil War; two World Wars, today's wars In Iraq and on terror. And a lot more!

USA Today, in a recent editorial, pointed out that ..."belief in individual liberty
has remained the glue that....makes America a cohesive and different nation!" In the face of America today, a recent USA-Today poll shows even in these politically divisive times most Americans cling to the liberties set out in our Constitution. 77% said they respect Freedom of Speech; 74% respect Freedom of Religion. Almost half of those polled said most Americans were less tolerant than they were five years ago and 35% saw less respect for freedom of speech.

The Declaration of Independence we cherish and celebrate today--230-years after it became reality--and Americans at home and around the world have more to think about on this historic American Birthday. And since it happens to be my birthday also, with the help of a longtime broadcast friend of mine, Al Vinson, I am going to climb up on my "soapbox" and share some concerns we have as former radio and television news men.

Would it surprise many people that terrorists now have a significant and politically correct beachhead on our sacred American soil? Many politicians, professors, intellectuals and celebrities seemingly speak with impunity, words that would have been called cowardly or treasonous just a few short years ago. The hard-charging media in this country, leaning on that often used crutch of "the public's right to know" , seem to seldom question these self-anointed problem- solvers of the world.

While Al Queda and other terrorists are at work trying to change the American
political power , could it be we have already seen the beginning of a religious war?
And those Americans who by refusing to stand against the terrorists are siding with the enemy. Again it seems many scholars, some members of the press, some political leaders and entertainers side with the secular insurgents.

The terror groups get a lot of credit for their successful use of cowardly tactics to disrupt political power in the world. The Philippines, Turkey, Indonesia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Israel, Palestine, Pakistan, India---all are examples of use of terror in politics.

Just about the time we focused on the terrorist' vast financial empire, and, with other nations having success in interception of terrorist communications, there was a brief lull in terrorist activities. It seemed a peaceful way had been found to end the threat: slash the cash flow, then cut the cord on the terror network's communications system.

But the enemy found a way to strike back. Having lost impunity to communicate by cell phones and realizing their radio traffic was being monitored, the groups fell back to the lowly VCR tape recorder and video camera. It was easy. Just get a tape into the hands of the eager press and they would again pass along unedited obvious orders on what should be done next.

The world media, American and British included, eagerly ran with any message Osama Bin Laden taped. Within minutes out went the message in every language throughout the world.

Being a broadcaster from the old school, I was always aware of the ethics of journalism which prevailed in World War II. Call it patriotism, naivete, or, pure conservatism, it just was not considered that we would ever assist the enemy by passing even the most innocent information they might find useful.

I am not suggesting the American people should be denied news of the war each day, but I am saying some wartime control of news has value. I see disaster when we publish or air our future political and battle plans.

Should huge casualty lists come in from future terror attacks, I wonder if the American people will ever be able to bring the numbers into perspective. So many of our people seem not to be affected by those initial attacks on the Twin Towers where nearly three-thousand lives were snuffed out---BY TERRORISTS WHO CARRIED OUT THEIR PLANS---FROM AMERICAN LAUNCH SITES!!

The best present I could get on my birthday would be to see Americans WAKE-UP to the other birthday being celebrated today---the 230th birthday of the Declaration of Independence! Freedom is not free. Never was and never will be. We must do everything in our power to keep America FREE and the Declaration of Independence secure from those who plot and scheme to change our way of life?

We KNOW what we have in America is precious and special and unique! That is why it is not surprising NOBODY is trying to LEAVE America. But, untold millions ARE TRYING TO GET IN---and far too many are succeeding--- illegally!

9/11 should be an indelible reminder of that! But is it?

Murphy Martin

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e-mail   murphy@murphymartin.com

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