America, we need to go back to the basics -- doing good deeds

When I was a kid in school, we read with disgust about the decedent decline of the Roman Empire. No morals. Life was cheap. "Roman orgies". Absolute power. Death on the cross.

You know where I'm going with this one. Like the ancient Romans, Americans have also been tempted by decadence and have also started moving all the wrong items to the head of the list. (Me too. You shoulda seen the junk food I put away last night.)

America, it's time to get back to the basics. Either you are a good person or you're not. Either you help little old ladies across the street and give up water-boarding or you don't.

Either you help your neighbor, volunteer in soup kitchens, refrain from abusing children and do good deeds -- or you lose your way.

"Oh, but we have to protect ourselves," you complain. Do we? At the cost of our immortal souls? Jesus knew better than that.

It's time to get back to the basics. What makes us human? Trying to boff Congressional pages? Napalming babies abroad? Starving FEMA until it drowns in the bathtub -- and takes New Orleans with it?

What makes us different from animals "red in tooth and claw"? Our ability to do good deeds. Do you think Jesus was lying when He said, "The meek shall inherit the earth"?

To hell with the Roman Empire! Go out and smile at a child (but please don't send him e-mails....)