It seems however that American patriots really missed not having any slow-moving big bad beasts to ride or moth-eaten mammoths in rec-room to show off to inquisitive neighbors. In fact, so adoring were they of absent gargantuan, grumpy, four-footed mammal that they decided to give it a prominent political position in their country, as symbol of US Republican Party.

Speaking of elephants**, Abraham Lincoln certainly recognized virtue of having long, flexible-snouted folks as friends and allies, even if other side didn't. More importantly, he knew how to manage a herd of elephants in a democratic society. Never stand in front, behind or under them, and according to Abe, "When you have got an elephant by hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run."

Of course, letting elephants run affairs of state had unintended consequence of fewer job opportunities for bonified politicians, pundits and policy analysts. That's why equal opportunity folks in America encouraged adoption of 'donkeys' as symbol of Democratic Party.

The best laid plans of pragmatists did not however appear to be working all that well. To top it all off, growing number of “white elephants” and "jackasses" everywhere began to cause a commotion. Something had to happen and fast!

The answer came in form of several delightful diversions. An ingenius circus promoter named P.T. Barnum found a way to make people laugh and make pots of moolah from likes of a great gallumping galoot named “Jumbo”. The tradition continued with a magical movie mogul named Walt Disney. He was man behind a fictional, flying elephant named “Dumbo”, a "Daffy Duck" and a mouse named "Mickey", not to mention profitable outdoor theme parks built to house all critters and mollify munchkin families.

While it's true that British author A.A. Milne created an elusive, honey-eating, flat-footed fictional character named “Heffalump” to keep Piglet and friends happy, thanks to invention of television and American edu-tainment industry, millions of tiny tots around globe will never forget “Sesame Street” and an unusual wooly mammoth named, “Aloysius Snuffleupgas”. Nor will they forget Dr. Seuss tale about "Horton", an endearing elephant, and incidentally only being on Earth who's aware of an entire civilization of wee folk living on a single dandelion.

So, if you think that elephants are an endangered species…you might want to think again. They seem to be alive and doing rather well in game preserves, zoos, theme parks, museums, books and television shows. And if you haven't had your fill of elephants, why not enjoy their starring role in a new Disney film, entitled "Pooh's Heffalump Movie", to be released on February 11, 2005.

(Note: Heffalump Hunters Beware – bagged beasts are simply not in cards for you next year, so stop whining and take up tiddlywinks or croquet! And for those who are valiantly trying to tell their family and friends about proverbial 'elephant in living room' -- they can't hear you -- they're too worried about a bull in china shop or what to wear for Halloween!)

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**The importance of elephants should not be underestimated as revealed in famous last words of a U.S. Civil War general (one John Segwick), who learned his lesson hard way. In answer to his troops' urgings to take cover, he replied in a short-sighted if not stupefying manner, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist-."

It is not so much that politicians lie, they just doctor up facts to point that truth would not recognize it. A veteran politician can take a simple sentence like, "The black cat crossed road," and spin it for personal advantage.

"I have a plan for that black cat, so he will not have to cross road. I voted for building a new road before I voted against it. In my plan, no cat in America will be left behind.

"My plan will give every cat and their families free veterinary care for rest of their life. I will look every cat in eye and promise him or her that I will never raise his or her taxes.

"To pay for my plans I will only tax dogs. Everyone knows dogs in America get all breaks and have much more than cats. I understand every cat's pain and I have a plan.

"Under my opponent's plan, every cat in America has gone from nine lives down to three. In my plan I will assure every cat in America at least 12 lives."

I'm sorry my grandfather is no longer with us. He certainly would enjoy all hullabaloo associated with this present election.

In reflecting on my grandfather, I was reminded of some verses from Bible, which may or may not apply in our present condition. I was amazed at how harsh Bible is on people who lie and perpetuate a lie.

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to tree of life, and may enter in through gates into city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Revelation 22:14-15 KJV).

"But fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is second death." (Revelation 21:7-8 KJV.)

Perhaps someone should enact a law forbidding people to lie and bear false witness against a neighbor. Wait a minute. If I'm not mistaken, there is one.

In Ten Commandments, ninth commandment says, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." (Exodus 20:16 KJV.)

This just may be reason some people are against Ten Commandments. To practice politics apart from religion is chaos - as our present condition proves.