(NOTE: The essay below was the first installment of my first article written for publication. Although originally drafted as one long piece in March 2005, this article remains relevant three years later. Both Parts One and Two previously appeared in the Ethical Spectacle (February and March 2006, at www.spectacle.org/0206/sout ar.html and www.spectacle.org/0306/sout ar2.html). The article provides a condensed summary of my beliefs about terrorism and how it should be addressed. Check back later for Part Two.)

Note:  The concept for this bit of satire materialized in my e-mailbox a few days ago.  I have failed to identify its creator.  I rewrote and significantly extended the original concept.  Douglas Palmer of Brooklyn, N.Y. suggested the  "birth disqualification" section.

In a bold move that could dramatically alter the playing field of the  2008 GOP presidential race, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee today named Jesus Christ as his vice presidential running mate and personal savior.

Mr. Hannity: "Monarchism, National Socialism, fascism, communism--all these forms of authoritarianism are illegitimate and inherently unjust." (pp. 10-11)

My response: I agree that National Socialism (Nazism) and communism are not legitimate forms of government because of their innate injustice. In different ways, both ideologies degrade the humanity of a people--Nazism through the elevation of society to godlike status, communism through the reduction of persons to mere cogs in the machinery of state. By eliminating socially "inferior" citizens, including Jews, Catholics, the mentally ill, and the handicapped, the racist and eugenicist Nazis worked to create a "master race" hoping to restore Germany's past glory. Communism is a collectivist system of government in which the state controls and regulates all the details of the ordinary lives of its citizens. While attempting to ensure the material security of all the citizens, it strips the individual person of his freedom--to worship God as he chooses, to purchase goods or property, to raise a family without interference, to determine his job, hours, or wage, to freely assemble with other citizens, to obtain a fair trial, or to criticize government policy.