Sunday, April 08, 2007
When was the last time you lovingly explained to your children that one's body is a sacred temple, a gift from God?
How about explaining it with the example you set?
By the looks of the slovenly, zombie-like, dangerously overweight and disgustingly mutilated sacred temples I see out there these days, one thing is painfully apparent. Very few parents have imparted that message.
During my DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) presentations at schools across the land, when asked, not a single child has ever heard the phrase "sacred temple" used to refer to his or her body.
There are so many tattoos and pierced body parts on American kids that in order to really be different nowadays, you simply have to choose to not get a tattoo or piercing.
The sheeping of America is almost complete. Righteous defiance would be a nice change.
Now, mind you, doing these silly things to one's body is no indicator of a criminal mind or worthless character.
Though every meth-infested felon I have ever seen appears to exhibit these traits, I know many decent, caring and even heroic Americans — salt-of-the-earth folks — who on the surface look like uprising voodoo Zulu warriors. Only the bone in the nose and a headdress on fire are missing.
In fact, some of the greatest heroes who have ever lived have these body alterations. Many brave warriors of the U.S. military and the heroes on Sept. 11, 2001, they who courageously dashed into the fiery towers, had tattoos and piercings. Know this.
But if I hear another family squawk that it "can't make ends meet" while wasting money on such superfluous indulgences, I think I am going to puke.
Let me get this straight: We need a $6 billion-a-year wasted government school lunch program because American families claim they cannot afford to make Johnny and Suzie a peanut butter and jelly sandwich — the same parents who can smoke, drink and afford tattoos.
A diet of abject irresponsible waste and body-mutilation bling-bling?
I often wonder how much of this is paid for with welfare handouts. Ridiculous.
The once-sacred temple of the body, heart, mind and soul has now become the repository of poisons and follow-the-leader fashion missteps.
By themselves, these styles basically would be harmless. The big picture, though, shows this wastefulness to be another manifestation of the abandonment of discipline in parenting and in our schools.
With child obesity rates and meth use at national health emergency levels, I am convinced that this abandonment of discipline is directly related to irresponsible behavior in all its forms.
When examined honestly, it is a self-imposed death march the likes of which America has never seen before.
While hero warriors of the U.S. military are putting their lives on the line every day during this tragic war on terror, we Americans should have an even more powerful sense of civic duty to be the best that we can be, now more than ever.
A fat, unhealthy, undisciplined, disprioritized America is a weaker America.
If our fighting men and women are willing to die for freedom, the least we should do is make intelligent, positive choices to show respect and appreciation for the freedom provided to do so.
Our bodies are sacred temples. America is a sacred temple. It is time to treat them as such.
Ted Nugent is a Waco-based musician and television show host.
Comments
By kate
Apr 13, 2007 7:57 AM | Link to this
Here are the lyrics:
WANG DANG SWEET POONTANG
That Nadine, what a teenage queen.
She lookin' so clean, especi'lly down in between; what I like.
She come to town; she be foolin' around,
a puttin' me down as a rock-and-roll clown. It's all right.
Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
Wang dang, what a sweet poontang,
a shakin' my thang as a rang-a-dang-dang in the bell.
She's so sweet when she yanks on my meat.
Down on the street you know she can't be beat. What the hell.
Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
By no fan
Apr 12, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
I am sorry, but I refuse to take moral or ethical lessons from a man whose contributions to musical culture include such life-affirming, equality building songs as "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang"
Ted writes like he plays guitar. If you do it loud enough and fast enough, people will think you have talent.
By Linda
Apr 11, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
Ted,you talk a good talk,but can you walk the walk?Clean up your own back yard before you impose your opinions on others.Have you passed a drug test lately? Beer parties for minors still happening at your house?(I know folks who have attended one or two of parties) Is that what you teach your kids?
By Kate
Apr 11, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
All human beings are worthy of R-E-S-P-E-C-T and honor, treating all others with dignity. Slamming the physical characteristics of others just proves that you have no self-control and discipline. If the only way that you can make yourself look good is by critisizing others, you and Ted are missing the point.
By Krash
Apr 11, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Straight up Ted. You tell it as you feel it. You covered sooo many topics in that 1 article, I feel your pain. Bottom line is R-E-S-P-E-C-T, both for yourself and for those around you. That and some self control and discipline. Just because you can is not always a good reason to do something.
By Jer
Apr 11, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Yes, James L Taylor, please read your bible, 1 Timothy 4:4-5 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer.
By James L Taylor
Apr 10, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this
I think Phill needs to reread his Bible. You my freind missed the mark alot. The Bible talks on all of these things. Before you make a commit get your facts right. Way to go Ted.
By joedirt
Apr 10, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
There will NEVER be peace in the Middle East. When clashing religious fanatics are the sole force for countries in close proximity there is no end to war (unless you wipe out all of one side). No matter when we pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan those countries will continue to be in turmoil. There is no attainable peace through negotioations when all that one side wants is your death! The bleeding hearts concern over collatoral damage has severly hampered our military.
By Philip
Apr 10, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this
I thought for a moment there that Ted might actually go to church and have a little religion. Butư Sacredness does not have anything to do with physical appearance, physical or mental health, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnic origin, citizenship status, or any other distinction or classification. But, nice attempt Ted to build walls between people, you are good at that. Humanity is sacred, not just the American people. Freedom is sacred, not just American freedom. The environment is sacred. Our water and air are sacred. All of creation, the entire cosmos, is sacred, not just America. Human rights and social justice are sacred. Feeding the poor, clothing the naked, reaching out to the outcasts in our society is sacred. Non-violence and peace are sacred. Non-violent action to obtain peace is sacred.
By Wes
Apr 10, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
I guess Ted is concerned about the military's policy against body art. It might effect Ted's war on terror if the military can't find recruits without tatoos!
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