This afternoon we attended a military style funeral sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution. The veteran being so honored was Anthony Foster, one of my Great, Great, Great Grandfathers. It was moderately interesting seeing men marching around in period costumes, beating drums and going through their various ceremonial procedures. For me the event was somewhat marred by the closing prayer. It went on for 7 or 8 minutes and at least 20% of the prayer was spent mourning innocents needlessly killed and lamenting all the great things that won’t happen because they’re not here. The preacher never used the word unborn or abortion, but it was pretty clear the innocents he spoke of were neither Native Americans killed or chased off when Europeans settled KY or slaves toiling themselves to early graves with zero compensation for the landed families who yet today own most farmland here in Logan County. He proceeded to imply in his prayer that there would eventually be divine retribution for the destruction of all these innocent lives. I got the feeling that he would feel deep satisfaction at the most horrible sort of natural or manmade disasters that might befall the nation because after all, we are such wicked people. I bet he talks the same such bullshit every time he stands before a pulpit. His prayer accomplished one thing. it reminded me how grateful I am that I dropped out of church 40 years ago.