When I first saw the headline "Unorthodox Jews" I admit that I thought they were addressing the issue of the Menorah at Seattle's international airport, but once I read that it was about rabbis attending a holocaust denial conference I thought hell was freezing over. Surely, the Messiah is coming again soon.
Apparently, these rabbis were not there to deny the holocaust, as they believe that it was a part of God's will. They were there because they feel that the current state of Isreal is not a part of God's will and should be dissolved so Jews and Palestinians can live peacefully again.
That is a noble cause. Living peacefully. Let's be honest, can anyone live peacefully in the Middle East? That part of the world has been a hot bed for violence since day one. If peace does happen anywhere in the Middle East, that will be God's will. In the meantime, if rabbis can work for peace, maybe imams can work for peace, too. And then, maybe the rest of the world will follow suit...
Peace in our day? Don't hold your breath. Who knows, though, it might just be on the horizon.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Pope's Turkey Visit is This Week!
Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey is this week! Apparently, the article I read from last week made it sound like it was to happen last week, which, of course, it didn't. I was just one week ahead of the times.
Or maybe the Vatican has decided to postpone the trip to this week, as many of the media spinners and satirical news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report had the week of Thanksgiving off to truly enjoy some turkey. Good thing, because all the talk this week will be about what to do with that leftover turkey.
Speaking of leftover turkey, the pope's visit to Turkey will likely not be a leftover affair. And hopefully, Pope Benedict XVI will not use leftover remarks during his speeches in Turkey, as he did several months ago during his German lecture that sparked the Muslim controversy with the pontiff. (Just because the pope quoted from an old byzantine saint that claimed Islam was a violent religion, doesn't mean that Muslim need to prove it, does it??)
After reading stories about this historic visit, I realize that this visit has more to do with the future of Turkey, than the remarks the pope will make. Sure, each word that the pope speaks in this Muslim country is going to be scrutinized to pieces, but this visit is bigger than that. It is going to deal with differences between what the pope represents and the Muslim people. Look at it this way, Turkey has more to lose than the pope if this visit goes down horribly.
So, it's going to be all about differences in ideals and religion, right? It's more than just those basic issues. It's about civilization. Western civilization vs. Eastern civilization, specifically. Right now, Turkey is vying to become a part of the European Union (EU). Turkey officials apparently feel that it would be advantageous for them to be a part of this economic union.
However, to connect with the EU, Turkey would be connecting with predominantly Christian countries. Not only are they Christian, but they are a part of Western civilization, a culture that most Muslims would consider repulsive. It is a clash of cultures.
Beyond the clash, it is about Turkey's past, present and future. Turkey is a historically pivotal country between Western and Eastern civilizations. Turkey is where Christianity saw its rise into prominence with mandated state and country religion, thanks to Emperor Constantine, and it is this role that changed Rome's stance from burning Christians to embracing them. It was at this point in history that Turkey (Byzantine Empire) affected both Eastern and Western civilizations.
Then, Turkey's Byzantine traditions were taken over by the Ottoman empire and changed from Christianity to Islam. Another pivotal moment for Turkey, as Constantinople changed to Istanbul and the Haghia Sophia, Church of Holy Wisdom, was converted to a mosque with minarets and all (and within the last century has been restored and is now a public museum).
Turkey is now facing another pivotal moment. On one side, there's the East with primarily Muslim belief, culture and government states. They offer Turkey their traditions and views of proper Muslim societies, along with isolated cells of muslim extremists. On the other side, is the West, with their free-thinkers, Christian fundamentalists, and (perspectively corrupt) capitalist (and some socialist) countries with their advanced technologies and crazy middle classes.
My personal hope is that the pope sees this visit like a good samaritan. I also hope that Muslims in Turkey will show and prove to the pope that their beliefs are not about violence. Non-violent, peaceful acts can go a long way to prove a point of non-violence. I also hope that Turkey's decision is what truly is best for its country considering their prospects with the EU and working with both Western and Eastern neighbors.
Last thoughts:
I do hope that the pope can enjoy Turkey this week. And I do hope that Turkey will enjoy the pope's visit.
Or maybe the Vatican has decided to postpone the trip to this week, as many of the media spinners and satirical news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report had the week of Thanksgiving off to truly enjoy some turkey. Good thing, because all the talk this week will be about what to do with that leftover turkey.
Speaking of leftover turkey, the pope's visit to Turkey will likely not be a leftover affair. And hopefully, Pope Benedict XVI will not use leftover remarks during his speeches in Turkey, as he did several months ago during his German lecture that sparked the Muslim controversy with the pontiff. (Just because the pope quoted from an old byzantine saint that claimed Islam was a violent religion, doesn't mean that Muslim need to prove it, does it??)
After reading stories about this historic visit, I realize that this visit has more to do with the future of Turkey, than the remarks the pope will make. Sure, each word that the pope speaks in this Muslim country is going to be scrutinized to pieces, but this visit is bigger than that. It is going to deal with differences between what the pope represents and the Muslim people. Look at it this way, Turkey has more to lose than the pope if this visit goes down horribly.
So, it's going to be all about differences in ideals and religion, right? It's more than just those basic issues. It's about civilization. Western civilization vs. Eastern civilization, specifically. Right now, Turkey is vying to become a part of the European Union (EU). Turkey officials apparently feel that it would be advantageous for them to be a part of this economic union.
However, to connect with the EU, Turkey would be connecting with predominantly Christian countries. Not only are they Christian, but they are a part of Western civilization, a culture that most Muslims would consider repulsive. It is a clash of cultures.
Beyond the clash, it is about Turkey's past, present and future. Turkey is a historically pivotal country between Western and Eastern civilizations. Turkey is where Christianity saw its rise into prominence with mandated state and country religion, thanks to Emperor Constantine, and it is this role that changed Rome's stance from burning Christians to embracing them. It was at this point in history that Turkey (Byzantine Empire) affected both Eastern and Western civilizations.
Then, Turkey's Byzantine traditions were taken over by the Ottoman empire and changed from Christianity to Islam. Another pivotal moment for Turkey, as Constantinople changed to Istanbul and the Haghia Sophia, Church of Holy Wisdom, was converted to a mosque with minarets and all (and within the last century has been restored and is now a public museum).
Turkey is now facing another pivotal moment. On one side, there's the East with primarily Muslim belief, culture and government states. They offer Turkey their traditions and views of proper Muslim societies, along with isolated cells of muslim extremists. On the other side, is the West, with their free-thinkers, Christian fundamentalists, and (perspectively corrupt) capitalist (and some socialist) countries with their advanced technologies and crazy middle classes.
My personal hope is that the pope sees this visit like a good samaritan. I also hope that Muslims in Turkey will show and prove to the pope that their beliefs are not about violence. Non-violent, peaceful acts can go a long way to prove a point of non-violence. I also hope that Turkey's decision is what truly is best for its country considering their prospects with the EU and working with both Western and Eastern neighbors.
Last thoughts:
I do hope that the pope can enjoy Turkey this week. And I do hope that Turkey will enjoy the pope's visit.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Poetry is not dead, yet...
Sometimes it is an engaging glance
happened just perchance;
Or an alluring smile
elevating spiritual ectasy for a while.
More than magic that transcends
it is love that our spirit's tether rends.
Weightless adulation releases the soul
and we are aloft, soaring above it all.
Awe...
For just a moment, until the moment is gone
I will enjoy the love of my beloved's song.
happened just perchance;
Or an alluring smile
elevating spiritual ectasy for a while.
More than magic that transcends
it is love that our spirit's tether rends.
Weightless adulation releases the soul
and we are aloft, soaring above it all.
Awe...
For just a moment, until the moment is gone
I will enjoy the love of my beloved's song.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Pope to Enjoy Turkey This Week?
Pope Benedict XVI hopefully has packed his courage, along with the extra baggage of almost two centuries of crusades and his recent remarks regarding Islam's apparent tradition with wars and violence.
I'd like to back the Pope on this, really I would, but I'd be running scared with my tail between my legs. The Catholic Church does not have a pristine record on peace. We are just as guilty of instigating war and violence in our Maker's name. Sigh.
Pope Benedict certainly is showing that he has more balls than I would have imagined. The question does linger in my mind regarding his trip to Turkey: Will he take Istanbul by the horns and command them like a true matador? Indeed, this meeting will be a clash of religions. It will also possibly be the moment of truth when each side will show the world the true tenets of their religion.
It seems ironic that this meeting falls during the week Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on the story when the newly settled pilgrims "shared" a feast of the harvest with their new neighbors, the "Indians". Maybe this Thanksgiving will be a sharing of peace between Christians and Muslims around the world to embrace the peaceful love of our Maker.
I'd like to back the Pope on this, really I would, but I'd be running scared with my tail between my legs. The Catholic Church does not have a pristine record on peace. We are just as guilty of instigating war and violence in our Maker's name. Sigh.
Pope Benedict certainly is showing that he has more balls than I would have imagined. The question does linger in my mind regarding his trip to Turkey: Will he take Istanbul by the horns and command them like a true matador? Indeed, this meeting will be a clash of religions. It will also possibly be the moment of truth when each side will show the world the true tenets of their religion.
It seems ironic that this meeting falls during the week Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on the story when the newly settled pilgrims "shared" a feast of the harvest with their new neighbors, the "Indians". Maybe this Thanksgiving will be a sharing of peace between Christians and Muslims around the world to embrace the peaceful love of our Maker.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
President Pelosi??
If the democrats have enough balls, we may be saying "President Pelosi" before 2008. As the democrats have taken charge of the US House and now the Senate, as well, there's nothing stopping them from making some yummy impeachment pie for Bush and Cheney. I'm sure they will enjoy it. Yum. Yum.
Okay, okay. It really is time for every elected official to hold fast to their oath of office and to preserve (and restore), protect and defend the Constitution of the United States... from enemies both foreign and domestic.
Okay, okay. It really is time for every elected official to hold fast to their oath of office and to preserve (and restore), protect and defend the Constitution of the United States... from enemies both foreign and domestic.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Living Dead: Time to Vote Zombie! Or--Daylight Saving Republicans??
Newsflash: Halloween has been extended through Tuesday, November 7th.
"We have lived as if in a trance. We have lived as people in fear," commented Keith Olbermann on October19th.
Keith, Halloween was just around the corner. TV campaign ads are just following custom--vote zombie! With the midterm elections right after the scaring ritual, it just seems fitting to continue scaring the living daylights out of people. Daylight saving was not immune to the scaring as it abandoned us at 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th this year, leaving us to wake in total darkness.
Although we walk in darkness... to work and back home again in pitch black... there is a light at the end of our scary darkness. The midterm elections? No. Still darkness.
The light, or rather daylight, which our great and fearless president has recently modified, will return early in 2007 on Sunday, March 11th. Is this a ploy to ruin St. Patrick's Day celebrations, as festive partiers will have to adjust to an earlier time to get to mass the next day?? Or is there a more sinister and diabolical plot?
I can't deny that the daylight saving-standard time changes in the spring and fall changes the way we act and live our day lives--it does. Standard time sucks. How do I hate standard time so? Let me count the ways...
So, how do these seasonal changes affect our perceptions on things like politics and other scary things? I'm sure it does alter our perceptions to wake in darkness and come home in darkness. Everything seems dark. It is a bleak time. Obviously.
And, although we must rise earlier for daylight saving, we wake in the spring of sunshine. It is a glow of hope, and a glimmer of summer that we rise to celebrate daylight saving in the spring. And in the spring there is no taunt of political mudslinging, no robo-calls of candidates barking their message before the elections.
Get this: The changes on daylight saving and standard time extends the length we get to "enjoy" daylight time. That's right. Yea! I love daylight time.
As far as I can remember, we have always changed the clocks the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October. Now, according to King George, beginning in 2007 we will change clocks the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in NOVEMBER! That's three more weeks of daylight! WoooHoo!
Wait... The first Sunday in November? (...sounds of gears clicking and whizzing in my head...) Now, don't we have general elections in November? That means I get one less week to adjust to the time change before the elections. So, I get to enjoy waking to the sun one more week before the elections... Hmmmm... Does this mean I get one more week of optomism before the dreaded darkness sets in?
In 2008, the general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4. Do you know what this means? In 2008, we will endure only two days waking into complete darkness before the next presidential election. I think we need to change it from "daylight saving" to "republican saving" time.
"We have lived as if in a trance. We have lived as people in fear," commented Keith Olbermann on October19th.
Keith, Halloween was just around the corner. TV campaign ads are just following custom--vote zombie! With the midterm elections right after the scaring ritual, it just seems fitting to continue scaring the living daylights out of people. Daylight saving was not immune to the scaring as it abandoned us at 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th this year, leaving us to wake in total darkness.
Although we walk in darkness... to work and back home again in pitch black... there is a light at the end of our scary darkness. The midterm elections? No. Still darkness.
The light, or rather daylight, which our great and fearless president has recently modified, will return early in 2007 on Sunday, March 11th. Is this a ploy to ruin St. Patrick's Day celebrations, as festive partiers will have to adjust to an earlier time to get to mass the next day?? Or is there a more sinister and diabolical plot?
I can't deny that the daylight saving-standard time changes in the spring and fall changes the way we act and live our day lives--it does. Standard time sucks. How do I hate standard time so? Let me count the ways...
So, how do these seasonal changes affect our perceptions on things like politics and other scary things? I'm sure it does alter our perceptions to wake in darkness and come home in darkness. Everything seems dark. It is a bleak time. Obviously.
And, although we must rise earlier for daylight saving, we wake in the spring of sunshine. It is a glow of hope, and a glimmer of summer that we rise to celebrate daylight saving in the spring. And in the spring there is no taunt of political mudslinging, no robo-calls of candidates barking their message before the elections.
Get this: The changes on daylight saving and standard time extends the length we get to "enjoy" daylight time. That's right. Yea! I love daylight time.
As far as I can remember, we have always changed the clocks the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October. Now, according to King George, beginning in 2007 we will change clocks the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in NOVEMBER! That's three more weeks of daylight! WoooHoo!
Wait... The first Sunday in November? (...sounds of gears clicking and whizzing in my head...) Now, don't we have general elections in November? That means I get one less week to adjust to the time change before the elections. So, I get to enjoy waking to the sun one more week before the elections... Hmmmm... Does this mean I get one more week of optomism before the dreaded darkness sets in?
In 2008, the general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4. Do you know what this means? In 2008, we will endure only two days waking into complete darkness before the next presidential election. I think we need to change it from "daylight saving" to "republican saving" time.
Sa__ __ a__ H__sse__n: Hangman
There's nothing like playing an exciting game of hangman in Iraq, is there?! Exciting, indeed. And depending on which side of the fence you claim, it could excite (or incite) joy or anger. Shiites were indeed happy. Sunnis were upset. Both sides continue to disagree.
This isn't just a little cat fight between Muslim factions, this is about a clash of ideologies. Not just within Iraq, but with "us" "occupiers", as well.
Iraq will not become an instantly peaceful, tyrant-free country once Saddam Hussein is hanged. The Iraqi people have too many reasons to be excited. Ideology is a difficult thing to modify, especially in a people of tradition.
Peace and tranquility cannot be achieved with a verdict. It cannot be achieved by war and occupation.
It is acheived when all sides can value all human life, and humanely live together with their differences. It is about consideration for our neighbors. It is observing, protecting and defending those inalienable rights that all humans on this great planet have been endowed with by our creator. Sounds a lot like the documents that started a country several centuries ago, founded on those same principles.
Whatever happened to those principles?
Oh, right. Hanging chads... (Florida 2000 game of hangman: __ __ __ __ w__n!)
This isn't just a little cat fight between Muslim factions, this is about a clash of ideologies. Not just within Iraq, but with "us" "occupiers", as well.
Iraq will not become an instantly peaceful, tyrant-free country once Saddam Hussein is hanged. The Iraqi people have too many reasons to be excited. Ideology is a difficult thing to modify, especially in a people of tradition.
Peace and tranquility cannot be achieved with a verdict. It cannot be achieved by war and occupation.
It is acheived when all sides can value all human life, and humanely live together with their differences. It is about consideration for our neighbors. It is observing, protecting and defending those inalienable rights that all humans on this great planet have been endowed with by our creator. Sounds a lot like the documents that started a country several centuries ago, founded on those same principles.
Whatever happened to those principles?
Oh, right. Hanging chads... (Florida 2000 game of hangman: __ __ __ __ w__n!)
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Political Camouflage?
What do you do when you are a red republican in a very true blue state, like Maryland? If you're Michael Steele, you wear political camouflage.
In a recorded appearance today on CNN's Situation Room, it was clear that Michael Steele's favorite color is rrrrrrr-royal blue! What? Not red?? That's right, red republican Michael Steele's bid for Maryland senator was all blue. From the blue signs that supporters shook behind him, to the blue jacket he wore, and even to the blue striped button-down shirt and blue tie that peeked through his jacket.
Apparently, this is not a case of the blues for Steele. Even his website is predominately blue. The color red is completely absent on his website, with the possible exception of a photo with a supporter wearing red.
So, is this just another sign that Steele is one of many campaigning republicans that are supposedly turning their backs to the president? According to Steele's interview with Wolff Blitzer, the answer is no.
So, what's wrong with red, Mr. Steele?
In a recorded appearance today on CNN's Situation Room, it was clear that Michael Steele's favorite color is rrrrrrr-royal blue! What? Not red?? That's right, red republican Michael Steele's bid for Maryland senator was all blue. From the blue signs that supporters shook behind him, to the blue jacket he wore, and even to the blue striped button-down shirt and blue tie that peeked through his jacket.
Apparently, this is not a case of the blues for Steele. Even his website is predominately blue. The color red is completely absent on his website, with the possible exception of a photo with a supporter wearing red.
So, is this just another sign that Steele is one of many campaigning republicans that are supposedly turning their backs to the president? According to Steele's interview with Wolff Blitzer, the answer is no.
So, what's wrong with red, Mr. Steele?
Friday, October 13, 2006
Democrats Whimper
Whimper is the sound an injured animal makes. The Democrats seem to be whimpering a lot lately. You'd think that with all the Republican scandals, the Democrats would have licked their wounds and become prepared to attack. Wrong.
Harkin made a comment that practically burst the bubble for many democrats in the room for last Sunday's Democrat Rally. He said that if the Democrats gain the majority in the House and Senate that they will not impeach. Some in the crowd made some noises, most of them sounded like whimpers. I whimpered inside, as well.
Harkin tried to redeem himself by saying that if they didn't want to impeach (the president), because they didn't want Cheney as president. Apparently, that appeased much of the crowd as they clapped and cheered at the comment.
It did not appease me. C'mon, if President Bush is found to be impeachable, who's to say that Cheney also has impeachable advances? I was hoping that it would be the Democrats, but apparently I am wrong there.
Harkin went on to say that the Democrats want to hold them accountable, and they want to investigate. I whimpered. I thought, what's accountable anymore? Hold them accountable is like telling the school yard bully to stop name-calling.
Well, that's all fine and dandy if Harkin wants to take the low road, but why vote Democrat on Nov. 7 if the democrats aren't willing to impeach and punish those who've mangled the Constitution, and to right the wrongs that were made against the Constitution and freedoms of the American people?
Accountability is one thing. Responsibility is taking the bull by the horns and doing what needs to be done to make the Constitution a valid, living, breathing document vital to our country. I hope the Democrats will change their tune, but I won't hold my breath.
Is there anyone out there willing to defend, protect, and resuscitate the Constitution out there? Defending the Constitution should be the platform the Democrats should take, but no, they just sit in the corner and whimper.
Harkin made a comment that practically burst the bubble for many democrats in the room for last Sunday's Democrat Rally. He said that if the Democrats gain the majority in the House and Senate that they will not impeach. Some in the crowd made some noises, most of them sounded like whimpers. I whimpered inside, as well.
Harkin tried to redeem himself by saying that if they didn't want to impeach (the president), because they didn't want Cheney as president. Apparently, that appeased much of the crowd as they clapped and cheered at the comment.
It did not appease me. C'mon, if President Bush is found to be impeachable, who's to say that Cheney also has impeachable advances? I was hoping that it would be the Democrats, but apparently I am wrong there.
Harkin went on to say that the Democrats want to hold them accountable, and they want to investigate. I whimpered. I thought, what's accountable anymore? Hold them accountable is like telling the school yard bully to stop name-calling.
Well, that's all fine and dandy if Harkin wants to take the low road, but why vote Democrat on Nov. 7 if the democrats aren't willing to impeach and punish those who've mangled the Constitution, and to right the wrongs that were made against the Constitution and freedoms of the American people?
Accountability is one thing. Responsibility is taking the bull by the horns and doing what needs to be done to make the Constitution a valid, living, breathing document vital to our country. I hope the Democrats will change their tune, but I won't hold my breath.
Is there anyone out there willing to defend, protect, and resuscitate the Constitution out there? Defending the Constitution should be the platform the Democrats should take, but no, they just sit in the corner and whimper.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Corpus Habeas Corpus?
RIP Habeas Corpus
Once again, the Constitution lies under siege in this new millennium. Thanks to Keith Olbermann for reporting on this grave issue affecting all American citizens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUzUljH8EHU
Olbermann delivers the bad news with such panache that no words I write could affect the same consideration. Have I given Keith Olbermann a Golden Ruler, yet? Well, he deserves one.
For acts of bravery and courage to stand up and protect our Constitution with all its rights and privileges afforded unto us, I hereby grant Keith Olbermann with the Golden Ruler. Mr. Olbermann, please use this Golden Ruler to continue measuring and correcting our leaders to the standards of truth and justice as carried out in the Constitution of the United States, and continue to defend our freedoms and rights, both here and abroad.
Once again, the Constitution lies under siege in this new millennium. Thanks to Keith Olbermann for reporting on this grave issue affecting all American citizens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUzUljH8EHU
Olbermann delivers the bad news with such panache that no words I write could affect the same consideration. Have I given Keith Olbermann a Golden Ruler, yet? Well, he deserves one.
For acts of bravery and courage to stand up and protect our Constitution with all its rights and privileges afforded unto us, I hereby grant Keith Olbermann with the Golden Ruler. Mr. Olbermann, please use this Golden Ruler to continue measuring and correcting our leaders to the standards of truth and justice as carried out in the Constitution of the United States, and continue to defend our freedoms and rights, both here and abroad.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Elections Like Drivers Ed
US Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, spoke at the Democrat Rally on Sunday, October 8, 2006. He had an interesting way of discussing the election with others:
Harkin: "As you go out and talk to all your friends and neighbors about this coming election, after church, in your social clubs, down to the local cafe, wherever it might--here at the casino--wherever it might be, when you talk to your friends about the election, keep it simple.
Keep it real simple. Don't get involved in all this, just tell them:
All you ever needed to know about this election, you learned in Drivers Education.
I mean think about it.
If you want to go backward, you put it in "R".
Ok, stick with me here.
If you want to go forward, you put it in "D"! "
I thought that was too cute. Very nice, Mr. Harkin. I'll have to remember that the next time I get in my car. Ok... "R"=Reverse/Republican... "D"=Drive/Democrat... Republicans are elephants. Democrats are donkeys. Either way, I guess it's a slow go.
Harkin: "As you go out and talk to all your friends and neighbors about this coming election, after church, in your social clubs, down to the local cafe, wherever it might--here at the casino--wherever it might be, when you talk to your friends about the election, keep it simple.
Keep it real simple. Don't get involved in all this, just tell them:
All you ever needed to know about this election, you learned in Drivers Education.
I mean think about it.
If you want to go backward, you put it in "R".
Ok, stick with me here.
If you want to go forward, you put it in "D"! "
I thought that was too cute. Very nice, Mr. Harkin. I'll have to remember that the next time I get in my car. Ok... "R"=Reverse/Republican... "D"=Drive/Democrat... Republicans are elephants. Democrats are donkeys. Either way, I guess it's a slow go.
Doublethinking the Democrat Rally
There's nothing like getting a bunch of local Democrats together, and last night's rally at Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg reaffirmed my belief that Democrats are wild for their country.
Sure, it was like a high school pep rally, with all the rah-rah cheers and coaching staff hyping everyone to think that we can make a difference. Yes, we can make a difference, I thought. Yes, my vote just might make a change in our country's direction.
As an "unbiased" member of the media, I extinguished those thoughts for the rest of the rally.
Note: Although I serve a very, very small base of listeners, I am apparently exempt from the first amendment, lest others think I am partial and drawn to one side simply out of loyalty. Which, to me, is complete hogwash, as I am about as impartial as they come (with the exception of the truth, which I support over any bias I might hold) and I want to expose various perspectives and views that surround an issue.
Iowa Senator Jack Kibbie emceed the rally, in Jack Kibbie style, of course. Local and state Democratic officials and candidates were on hand to voice their views and concerns about the state of affairs. Chet Culver, candidate for Iowa Governor, was there promoting his ideals to lead Iowa. Dr. Seldon Spencer, candidate for US Congress in Iowa's 4th District, spoke how he wants to motivate change in congress.
Same old, same old talk. Go, team, go! Rah! Rah. Rah... Don't get me wrong, rallies are a good way to motivate your base. It's just that they don't usually motivate the people that need motivating. Democrats talk of values and morals, just like the Republicans have done in 2000, 2002, and 2004. Neither side is innocent.
"We are in perilous times...," headliner John Kerry told the standing room only crowd. This Kerry fellar has some "idears", some big "idears" for these perilous times
Kerry's first "idear": Tell the Truth. Ok, Ok... This is a big one, because we all know how difficult it is for any politician to do this, Republicans and Democrats alike. And even those other political parties are not immune. Politicians will do whatever it takes for their constituents, whether they be in Iowa, California, Texas, Exxon, Diebolt or Halliburton. That's just the fact of the political process in the good ole US of A. Kerry went on, saying how he wants to "hold people accountable" and "fire incompetence."
Kerry's second "idear": Export Products, Not Jobs. But how would Wal-mart be able to keep their prices low with a smiley face? We all know that it is better to keep prices low over jobs, because if we gave the lower classes jobs, then that would mean that there is hope, and the only hope there is, is located in Arkansas, and we all know that's where Bill Clinton is from. And that is why Republicans don't want to create any more Hope, because that may create more Bill Clintons.
Kerry's third "idear": Energy independence. Sure, maybe one week of the Iraq war could pay to put an alternative fuel pump in every gas station in the US, but do we really need it? Isn't so much nicer to share, like with the Saudis? They apparently make great bed pals, just ask our president. Moving on...
Kerry's fourth "idear": One of the biggest challenges facing us: Global Climate Change. Kerry says we have ten precious years to change our environment. This is a non-issue for Republicans, because it doesn't exist in the Republican world. 'Nuff said.
Kerry's fifth "idear": A Tax Code that Values Work, Not Wealth. I'm sure Kerry's wife cringes when he starts off on this. What Kerry and others on Capitol Hill fail to realize is that our capitalist society rewards wealth and power. And it is that wealth and power that makes the rules. Which is why the tax code will always value work and tax the working class to the limit, just because it can. Every policy this country has put into place in the last five years, from No Child Left Behind to the Iraq War, is all about winners and losers. None of these policies define an "everyone wins" situation, only because it does not exist in a capitalist country. If we want everyone to win, we'd be called a "socialist" or "communist" country, now, wouldn't we?...
Kerry's sixth "idear": Set a Date for Iraqis to Stand Up for Iraq and Set Up a Democracy for Themselves as much as We Want it for Them. Then, bring our heros home. Kerry explains that having deadlines is how teachers and bosses work. Hasn't Kerry heard the song "You Can't Hurry Love..."??
A wonderful pep rally, really. I just kind of wonder if we aren't playing the wrong game??...
Well, there's my doublethink on the local Democrat Rally. Doublethink. Devil's advocate, if you will. There's always two sides to a story, and then there's the truth. At least, that's how I see it.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Expand Your Vocab: Cerebral Ballsy
Cerebral Ballsy:
n. A form of extreme confidence believed to be caused by a highly motivated brain or by acute brain focus during times of conflict or turmoil, most marked in courageous fortitude and characterized by acheiving control of sensory chaos.
Often accompanied by qualities, such as competence, skill, or knowledge, that are necessary for successful confidence.
related to uber confidence —cerebral ballsied adjective
Cerebral Ballsied:
adj. A confident individual called on their twisted reality or innuendo of the truth by a person inflicted with cerebral ballsy. Getting nailed.
n. A form of extreme confidence believed to be caused by a highly motivated brain or by acute brain focus during times of conflict or turmoil, most marked in courageous fortitude and characterized by acheiving control of sensory chaos.
Often accompanied by qualities, such as competence, skill, or knowledge, that are necessary for successful confidence.
related to uber confidence —cerebral ballsied adjective
Cerebral Ballsied:
adj. A confident individual called on their twisted reality or innuendo of the truth by a person inflicted with cerebral ballsy. Getting nailed.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
“The Silence of Politics, Under a State of Persecution”
“I wish that my memory and name may animate those who survive me…”—Robert Emmet’s Speech from the Dock.
On this, the 203rd year of his death and martyrdom, we honor Robert Emmet.
Robert Emmet was a freedom fighter, just as those who formed what we know as the United States of America had done less than a quarter of a century before Emmet's involvement in Ireland's quest for freedom from Britain.
His famous Speech from the Dock continues to evoke similarities in his struggle and current situations around the world, including the United States:
“I look down with complacency on the destruction of that perfidious government which upholds its domination by blasphemy of the Most High-which displays its power over man as over the beasts of the forest-which sets man upon his brother, and lifts his hand in the name of God against the throat of his fellow who believes or doubts a little more or a little less than the government standard--a government which is steeled to barbarity by the cries of the orphans and the tears of the widows which it has made.”
Towards the end of his statement to the courts, Emmet continues his reasoning: “My lords, you are impatient for the sacrifice-the blood which you seek is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim; it circulates warmly and unruffled, through the channels which God created for noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy, for purposes so grievous that they cry to heaven.”
Is there an echo here?
In a declaration for Ireland, it is written: "And we call first on that part of Ireland which was once paralysed by the want of intelligence, to shew that to that cause only was its inaction to be attributed; on that part of Ireland which was once foremost, by its fortitude in suffering; on that part of Ireland which once offered to take the salvation of the country on itself; on that part of Ireland where the flame of liberty first glowed; we call upon the NORTH to stand up and shake off their Slumber and their oppression."
"...Once paralysed by the want of intelligence..."--doesn't that seem familiar?!
As Emmet and his freedom fighters called upon their countrymen (and women) to rise up, shake off their slumber and their oppression, so we too need to awaken and stand for our freedoms.
I offer Robert Emmet the distinguished Golden Ruler, in hopes that his legend will encourage us all to stand up for what is truly right and defend democratic freedom.
“I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world--it is the charity of its silence! Let no man write my epitaph: for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them. Let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times, and other men, can do justice to my character; when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.”
On this, the 203rd year of his death and martyrdom, we honor Robert Emmet.
Robert Emmet was a freedom fighter, just as those who formed what we know as the United States of America had done less than a quarter of a century before Emmet's involvement in Ireland's quest for freedom from Britain.
His famous Speech from the Dock continues to evoke similarities in his struggle and current situations around the world, including the United States:
“I look down with complacency on the destruction of that perfidious government which upholds its domination by blasphemy of the Most High-which displays its power over man as over the beasts of the forest-which sets man upon his brother, and lifts his hand in the name of God against the throat of his fellow who believes or doubts a little more or a little less than the government standard--a government which is steeled to barbarity by the cries of the orphans and the tears of the widows which it has made.”
Towards the end of his statement to the courts, Emmet continues his reasoning: “My lords, you are impatient for the sacrifice-the blood which you seek is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim; it circulates warmly and unruffled, through the channels which God created for noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy, for purposes so grievous that they cry to heaven.”
Is there an echo here?
In a declaration for Ireland, it is written: "And we call first on that part of Ireland which was once paralysed by the want of intelligence, to shew that to that cause only was its inaction to be attributed; on that part of Ireland which was once foremost, by its fortitude in suffering; on that part of Ireland which once offered to take the salvation of the country on itself; on that part of Ireland where the flame of liberty first glowed; we call upon the NORTH to stand up and shake off their Slumber and their oppression."
"...Once paralysed by the want of intelligence..."--doesn't that seem familiar?!
As Emmet and his freedom fighters called upon their countrymen (and women) to rise up, shake off their slumber and their oppression, so we too need to awaken and stand for our freedoms.
I offer Robert Emmet the distinguished Golden Ruler, in hopes that his legend will encourage us all to stand up for what is truly right and defend democratic freedom.
“I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world--it is the charity of its silence! Let no man write my epitaph: for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them. Let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times, and other men, can do justice to my character; when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.”
Friday, September 08, 2006
Women's Last Obstacle--Or, Is the Writing on the Ladies Room Stall?
Women today have conquered many obstacles in the working world. However, one major obstacle literally stands in the way of women becoming equal with men in the workforce and at home. That critical obstacle: Peeing while standing.
As a mom to two toddler boys, it has been difficult to teach them to go potty like daddy does. I've gone to numerous websites touting various ways to train your child to go potty. Then, upon accident, really, I found a website that announce a challenge to all women who have seemingly conquered all other male induced obstacles.
Women no more have to be subjected to setting their delicate and precious nether-regions to filthy, bacteria-infested public toilets. In my bar-hoppin' days, I recall many a-time squatting over overty disgusting things that had little resemblance to toilets in a ladies restroom stall, and on more than one occasion needing to use one of those undermaintained dark and stinky port-o-lets at the light rail stop because I just couldn't hold it any longer. It's difficult to keep your balance squatting in one of those plastic poop coccoons, especially after an evening of one too many martinis.
So, it was out of truly great relief, literally, when I read that women can learn to pee standing up, too! Woohoo! Rack one more up for women's lib!!
In this society today, there are no more glass ceilings, and now--look out boys--it's a free for all at the urinal!
As a mom to two toddler boys, it has been difficult to teach them to go potty like daddy does. I've gone to numerous websites touting various ways to train your child to go potty. Then, upon accident, really, I found a website that announce a challenge to all women who have seemingly conquered all other male induced obstacles.
Women no more have to be subjected to setting their delicate and precious nether-regions to filthy, bacteria-infested public toilets. In my bar-hoppin' days, I recall many a-time squatting over overty disgusting things that had little resemblance to toilets in a ladies restroom stall, and on more than one occasion needing to use one of those undermaintained dark and stinky port-o-lets at the light rail stop because I just couldn't hold it any longer. It's difficult to keep your balance squatting in one of those plastic poop coccoons, especially after an evening of one too many martinis.
So, it was out of truly great relief, literally, when I read that women can learn to pee standing up, too! Woohoo! Rack one more up for women's lib!!
In this society today, there are no more glass ceilings, and now--look out boys--it's a free for all at the urinal!
More Lies?
Don't you think we've heard enough lies and half-truths, if you will, about any and all links to 9/11?? Now, the ABC mini-series docu-drama "Path to 9/11" that will air this Sunday and Monday is reported to stray from 9/11 commission report and fictionalizes key scenes.
Sounds a lot to me like what the DaVinci Code did to Christianity...
Oh, and it gets deeper... Apparently, there's a darker mission in ABC's "Path to 9/11": Pinning the blame on former President Bill Clinton. The documentary's creators are aledging that the Clinton administration let Osama bin Laden get away in the 90s, as they think that at that time the CIA had several chances to nab him. Osama bin Laden? Wasn't he the CIA's best friend in Afganistan? Oh, right. That was the 80s. I just keep getting stuck in the 80s! Love that music.
Whoa... Letting Osama bin Laden get away? I thought I heard some strange report that in the height of the war on terror in Afganistan, George W. Bush let Osama bin Laden get away? Maybe the creators of "Path to 9/11" are getting their wires crossed and are confused about the timeline of events?
At the time of the Clinton presidency, bin Laden had been a minor terrorist to American interests. There were few that got super-enraged about the strikes bin Laden's posse made on Americans in foreign lands. Few media sources really trumped what bin Laden was doing in 90s as a major evil terroristic force. Remember, we were still reeling from Khaddafi.
Even before the 9/11 attacks, the Bush Administration on September 10th put together a strategy to deal with the Taliban. If the bin Laden and al-Qaeda were such a "menace", if you will, to the US, then both the Clinton and Bush Administrations both really dropped the ball on this one.
Oh, wait. Osama bin Laden is wanted by the FBI for..."murder of U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Conspiracy to murder U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Attack on a federal facility resulting in death." It mentions the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, but no mention of September 11, 2001. What?
So, Osama is still free out there to plot and reign as terror king. Why?
Ok, if there are no other truths out there lurking, let's just say that the ball was dropped by both administrations on this whole Osama (Usama) bin Laden thing. I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
It's not just the Clinton Administration's fault, especially when the Republican Party was in process to impeach Clinton for enjoying some hanky-panky in the White House.
And when the filmmakers sent copies to important people, including Republican pundit Rush Limbaugh, but sent no copies to Democratic interests and especially not to the Clinton Administration depicted in the film...I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
Sounds a lot to me like what the DaVinci Code did to Christianity...
Oh, and it gets deeper... Apparently, there's a darker mission in ABC's "Path to 9/11": Pinning the blame on former President Bill Clinton. The documentary's creators are aledging that the Clinton administration let Osama bin Laden get away in the 90s, as they think that at that time the CIA had several chances to nab him. Osama bin Laden? Wasn't he the CIA's best friend in Afganistan? Oh, right. That was the 80s. I just keep getting stuck in the 80s! Love that music.
Whoa... Letting Osama bin Laden get away? I thought I heard some strange report that in the height of the war on terror in Afganistan, George W. Bush let Osama bin Laden get away? Maybe the creators of "Path to 9/11" are getting their wires crossed and are confused about the timeline of events?
At the time of the Clinton presidency, bin Laden had been a minor terrorist to American interests. There were few that got super-enraged about the strikes bin Laden's posse made on Americans in foreign lands. Few media sources really trumped what bin Laden was doing in 90s as a major evil terroristic force. Remember, we were still reeling from Khaddafi.
Even before the 9/11 attacks, the Bush Administration on September 10th put together a strategy to deal with the Taliban. If the bin Laden and al-Qaeda were such a "menace", if you will, to the US, then both the Clinton and Bush Administrations both really dropped the ball on this one.
Oh, wait. Osama bin Laden is wanted by the FBI for..."murder of U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Conspiracy to murder U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Attack on a federal facility resulting in death." It mentions the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, but no mention of September 11, 2001. What?
So, Osama is still free out there to plot and reign as terror king. Why?
Ok, if there are no other truths out there lurking, let's just say that the ball was dropped by both administrations on this whole Osama (Usama) bin Laden thing. I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
It's not just the Clinton Administration's fault, especially when the Republican Party was in process to impeach Clinton for enjoying some hanky-panky in the White House.
And when the filmmakers sent copies to important people, including Republican pundit Rush Limbaugh, but sent no copies to Democratic interests and especially not to the Clinton Administration depicted in the film...I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Ah... Gravitas!
Seriously... We need to get serious. And finally Keith Olbermann is giving true gravitas to the grave concerns of the state of the union.
As I read about the references to the traditions of network television news after Katie Couric's premiere performance, the accomplishments of those early pioneers in television news are indeed amazing. They were cowboys of their era, riding into a new frontier of journalism, with the ability to truly make a genuine difference to better this world because of their honest reporting.
Where have all the cowboys gone? Up until now, I thought they had gone to Comedy Central, because it seems in our culture today, the only way to say there's a major SNAFU here, is to pepper it with laughter. It takes balls to call out someone's bluff, or to point at authority and say they've done wrong, or to do some serious investigative reporting and publicize the real truth behind the smoke screens.
It was such reporting by CBS News that changed the tide for Nixon and quite possibly ended the Vietnam War. We, as the collective people, do not fully understand the impact television news has when they offer us their reporting perspectives on today's stories. And we should be concerned when the rhetoric of governmental offices are echoed in the evening news without the least bit of questioning, probing, or indepth independent investigation. We do not understand the full impact of the reprimand CBS News received after the whole investigation into the president's alleged time in the national guard. This was grave.
Maybe that is why people are turning to the lighter side for their news. We all need a laugh ever so often, and sometimes we like to know what's going on around us, too. Thank goodness for Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, where gravitas is spoken with a sprinkling of jest.
A new cowboy is riding on the horizon. Keith Olbermann. I've watched his show a couple of times, as I get a chance, since he is one of a few television newsmen that tries to tell it like it is, beyond the propaganda from biased agencies. Thanks to another cowboy, I've been able to see the continued rise of prominent people to speak up about the concerning state of our country. A couple of days ago Olbermann spoke up about his concerns on the direction of our country, lead by President G.W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
At the end of Olbermann's perspective look, he quoted Edward Murrow: "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty." Olbermann continues with a strikingly mellow and sobering countenance, in the fashion of those old cowboys, like Cronkite and Murrow: "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear - one, of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of un-reason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men; Not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were - for the moment - unpopular."
If you look up Murrow's quote, some sources take that first sentence and end it with, "When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." Murrow is not talking about terrorist opposition, but loyal opposition--a big difference. Loyal opposition, in my humble view, are among "we the people" who honestly question, research, and investigate actions and intentions that stray from our Constitutional foundations. Loyal opposition defends our Constitution.
Keith Olbermann is bringing television news back to the journalistic integrity of days gone by. (And for those naysayers who think the past is irrelevant to day, just look to our Constitution if you want relevence to your own freedoms.)
Keith Olbermann delivers gravitas! (And he does carry out, too! Check out his blog!)
As I read about the references to the traditions of network television news after Katie Couric's premiere performance, the accomplishments of those early pioneers in television news are indeed amazing. They were cowboys of their era, riding into a new frontier of journalism, with the ability to truly make a genuine difference to better this world because of their honest reporting.
Where have all the cowboys gone? Up until now, I thought they had gone to Comedy Central, because it seems in our culture today, the only way to say there's a major SNAFU here, is to pepper it with laughter. It takes balls to call out someone's bluff, or to point at authority and say they've done wrong, or to do some serious investigative reporting and publicize the real truth behind the smoke screens.
It was such reporting by CBS News that changed the tide for Nixon and quite possibly ended the Vietnam War. We, as the collective people, do not fully understand the impact television news has when they offer us their reporting perspectives on today's stories. And we should be concerned when the rhetoric of governmental offices are echoed in the evening news without the least bit of questioning, probing, or indepth independent investigation. We do not understand the full impact of the reprimand CBS News received after the whole investigation into the president's alleged time in the national guard. This was grave.
Maybe that is why people are turning to the lighter side for their news. We all need a laugh ever so often, and sometimes we like to know what's going on around us, too. Thank goodness for Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, where gravitas is spoken with a sprinkling of jest.
A new cowboy is riding on the horizon. Keith Olbermann. I've watched his show a couple of times, as I get a chance, since he is one of a few television newsmen that tries to tell it like it is, beyond the propaganda from biased agencies. Thanks to another cowboy, I've been able to see the continued rise of prominent people to speak up about the concerning state of our country. A couple of days ago Olbermann spoke up about his concerns on the direction of our country, lead by President G.W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
At the end of Olbermann's perspective look, he quoted Edward Murrow: "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty." Olbermann continues with a strikingly mellow and sobering countenance, in the fashion of those old cowboys, like Cronkite and Murrow: "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear - one, of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of un-reason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men; Not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were - for the moment - unpopular."
If you look up Murrow's quote, some sources take that first sentence and end it with, "When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." Murrow is not talking about terrorist opposition, but loyal opposition--a big difference. Loyal opposition, in my humble view, are among "we the people" who honestly question, research, and investigate actions and intentions that stray from our Constitutional foundations. Loyal opposition defends our Constitution.
Keith Olbermann is bringing television news back to the journalistic integrity of days gone by. (And for those naysayers who think the past is irrelevant to day, just look to our Constitution if you want relevence to your own freedoms.)
Keith Olbermann delivers gravitas! (And he does carry out, too! Check out his blog!)
Greatness in Television News?
“This is 'The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric.'” It was Cronkite himself, her most distinguished predecessor.
I really didn't get a chance to watch the evening news much, and I sadly missed this debut to the evening news, just as I missed Brian Williams' debut. From the many reviews, it seems I didn't miss much. Thank goodness.
Wow. Walter Cronkite voices the intro for Ms. Katie Couric. A legend in his own right. Cronkite. The same man, who showed the world that anchors have heart-felt emotions, when he dramatically and professionally took off his glasses to relay to the television world that President Kennedy had died. Walter Cronkite, what true gravitas.
Gravitas. Katie Couric. I am not sure if I can put those two words together in one sentence. Call me a bit old fashioned, or maybe this is how her other network portrayed her, but she seems to be better suited to hosting a cooking show over an evening news program. Weren't there other female candidates that would have echoed the same traditional journalistic gravitas as Walter Cronkite?
Unless Katie can shed that old gal next door persona, that's what she'll continue to deliver. No gravitas there.
I really didn't get a chance to watch the evening news much, and I sadly missed this debut to the evening news, just as I missed Brian Williams' debut. From the many reviews, it seems I didn't miss much. Thank goodness.
Wow. Walter Cronkite voices the intro for Ms. Katie Couric. A legend in his own right. Cronkite. The same man, who showed the world that anchors have heart-felt emotions, when he dramatically and professionally took off his glasses to relay to the television world that President Kennedy had died. Walter Cronkite, what true gravitas.
Gravitas. Katie Couric. I am not sure if I can put those two words together in one sentence. Call me a bit old fashioned, or maybe this is how her other network portrayed her, but she seems to be better suited to hosting a cooking show over an evening news program. Weren't there other female candidates that would have echoed the same traditional journalistic gravitas as Walter Cronkite?
Unless Katie can shed that old gal next door persona, that's what she'll continue to deliver. No gravitas there.
Be Not Afraid!
Over this past Labor Day weekend, our church celebrated 150 years of Catholic faith in our community. They spoke of brave and courageous pioneers that came to America for a brighter future.
These ancestors endured many hardships that today we can hardly imagine. They traveled with their few belongings, with horse and oxen on roadless paths to get to this point they called "home." As settlers in this foreign place, they battled the harshness of the northern plains, the bitterly cold winters and the sporatically hot summers. They helped each other to build their communities to what they are today out of their own sweat and toil. And they built their communities here, in America, for the promise of freedom and prosperity that they did not find in their homeland. They truly lived by the phrase "be not afraid."
In reflection of our ancestors' brave conquest of a new world, my own courage drastically pales in such comparison. I look at our country, and even our world today, and it seems we have lost that brave courage that spurred our forefathers to sacrifice all to live in this great country.
It is those who devalue our courage and our bravery, who say you are less of a person for standing up for what is truly right, that strike such fear against our courage. It is those who subvert the American way by demoting the values of the Constitution that create our "fear factor" today.
The "fear factor" is what brought our ancestors here many, many years ago. The fear of economic disaster. The fear of living in a corrupt country. The fear of tyranny. Our ancestors came here, to the United States, because of a document that held more power than any person could ever legally obtain in this country. It is this document that safeguards our freedom. The United States is the envy of the world, not due to our previous industrial economic success, but because of this document, the Constitution.
I am sure many of you have amazing stories of your own ancestry coming to the United States seeking the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Such an elegant statement could ever be made was written in another document that started our country on the path to democracy. Those words "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happinesss"--unalienable rights to the people, as the Declaration of Independence most eloquently declared. That is why people sacrificed all, for the promise of a better tomorrow.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The preamble of the Constitution succinctly echoes those words from the Declaration of Independence, and places the undeniable importance of the people in this new country at the very beginning with "We the people..."
Be not afraid... Yes, be not afraid... As long as the Constitution of the United States continues to be defended and stands as a living document for we, the people... Be not afraid.
These ancestors endured many hardships that today we can hardly imagine. They traveled with their few belongings, with horse and oxen on roadless paths to get to this point they called "home." As settlers in this foreign place, they battled the harshness of the northern plains, the bitterly cold winters and the sporatically hot summers. They helped each other to build their communities to what they are today out of their own sweat and toil. And they built their communities here, in America, for the promise of freedom and prosperity that they did not find in their homeland. They truly lived by the phrase "be not afraid."
In reflection of our ancestors' brave conquest of a new world, my own courage drastically pales in such comparison. I look at our country, and even our world today, and it seems we have lost that brave courage that spurred our forefathers to sacrifice all to live in this great country.
It is those who devalue our courage and our bravery, who say you are less of a person for standing up for what is truly right, that strike such fear against our courage. It is those who subvert the American way by demoting the values of the Constitution that create our "fear factor" today.
The "fear factor" is what brought our ancestors here many, many years ago. The fear of economic disaster. The fear of living in a corrupt country. The fear of tyranny. Our ancestors came here, to the United States, because of a document that held more power than any person could ever legally obtain in this country. It is this document that safeguards our freedom. The United States is the envy of the world, not due to our previous industrial economic success, but because of this document, the Constitution.
I am sure many of you have amazing stories of your own ancestry coming to the United States seeking the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Such an elegant statement could ever be made was written in another document that started our country on the path to democracy. Those words "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happinesss"--unalienable rights to the people, as the Declaration of Independence most eloquently declared. That is why people sacrificed all, for the promise of a better tomorrow.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The preamble of the Constitution succinctly echoes those words from the Declaration of Independence, and places the undeniable importance of the people in this new country at the very beginning with "We the people..."
Be not afraid... Yes, be not afraid... As long as the Constitution of the United States continues to be defended and stands as a living document for we, the people... Be not afraid.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Headlines: DemoIndeRepub... Who Wins? And More!
Ah, HEADLINES for the midweek crisis...
DemoIndeRepub--Where's the Party for Joe Lieberman? Who Wins?
Well, Iraq war loving Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman lost his bid for the democratic ticket to ... who is Ned Lamont? The Republican Party would love it if Lieberman had won or lost, because now they are just reviving the lost Democratic Party propaganda machine. And what a great diversion to this whole Israeli-Lebannon issue! Kill two birds with one stone on this one!! I don't know who wins, but the American people yearning for truth will ultimately lose. Sorry, truth, we are too busy attacking and/or defending the weakness of the Democratic Party.
Cease-Fire? I Thought You Said Seize Fire!
Isrealis push forward to more bombings and a ground war in Lebannon, as contemplations of a cease-fire seem to be ignored. Cease fire--seize fire?? I guess it's either cease fire and seize the day or seize fire and cease the day. Israelis continue to show the world that their policy is about "loving thy neighbor"--to death. Who wins? God only knows.
Fed Up?
The Feds decided on a holding pattern yesterday, but who knows what the future holds. Talks of recession (downers) and inflation (uppers)... Who wins? The ones with the most money. Sigh.
DemoIndeRepub--Where's the Party for Joe Lieberman? Who Wins?
Well, Iraq war loving Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman lost his bid for the democratic ticket to ... who is Ned Lamont? The Republican Party would love it if Lieberman had won or lost, because now they are just reviving the lost Democratic Party propaganda machine. And what a great diversion to this whole Israeli-Lebannon issue! Kill two birds with one stone on this one!! I don't know who wins, but the American people yearning for truth will ultimately lose. Sorry, truth, we are too busy attacking and/or defending the weakness of the Democratic Party.
Cease-Fire? I Thought You Said Seize Fire!
Isrealis push forward to more bombings and a ground war in Lebannon, as contemplations of a cease-fire seem to be ignored. Cease fire--seize fire?? I guess it's either cease fire and seize the day or seize fire and cease the day. Israelis continue to show the world that their policy is about "loving thy neighbor"--to death. Who wins? God only knows.
Fed Up?
The Feds decided on a holding pattern yesterday, but who knows what the future holds. Talks of recession (downers) and inflation (uppers)... Who wins? The ones with the most money. Sigh.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Egads! Headlines...
Egads! Has it really been two months since the last time I blogged? So much going on... so little time.
Let's cut to the chase and debrief the headlines:
Lebanon and the Bombshell
There's nothing like making more terrorists in the Middle East. Al Quada is a has been as Hezbollah is the new catch phrase in terrorism. And there's nothing like a diversion from the Iraq civil war to get US thinking about other interests. Like the never-ending feud between Israel and any country that lies too close to its borders. Has anyone figured out why Israel just can't get along with its neighbors? Is it because Israel drives its boom car around late at night when the Palestinians are trying to get some sleep? Or could it be that Lebanon just has prime real estate that Israel envies so? You can blame the other countries only for so long before you are forced to look at the root of the problem.
Castro Comeback--Again
Fidel Castro, perpetual arch enemy of the United States, continues to survive after surgery on his intestine. You know what else continues to survive? Our embargo on anything from our neighbor to the southeast. How long do we need to continue this to prove--what point are we trying to prove, again?
More Moral Incompetence on the Iraqi Battlefield
And its not from the crazy terrorists. Again our US soldiers continue to embarrass the honor of our country, but you really can't blame them. Really, when you send soldiers off to fight a war with no goals, no mission and no focus, they aren't fighting for a specific cause. They have to psych themselves out. Faced with the reality, they put their game face on as they listen to violent gangsta rap and sexual provocative music. What do you expect?
Sexual Explicit Music Leads to Sex
Of course, all things considered, people are influenced by messages they hear over and over. And what better way to get a message across than the repetitive nature of music?! If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. That is the message here. It is not just about sex, it is about marketing. Those who stand for something are not easily swayed, so forget about them. Go for those suckers who fall for anything, and that's what commercials do and, really, let's get to the root, that's what music does.
Let's cut to the chase and debrief the headlines:
Lebanon and the Bombshell
There's nothing like making more terrorists in the Middle East. Al Quada is a has been as Hezbollah is the new catch phrase in terrorism. And there's nothing like a diversion from the Iraq civil war to get US thinking about other interests. Like the never-ending feud between Israel and any country that lies too close to its borders. Has anyone figured out why Israel just can't get along with its neighbors? Is it because Israel drives its boom car around late at night when the Palestinians are trying to get some sleep? Or could it be that Lebanon just has prime real estate that Israel envies so? You can blame the other countries only for so long before you are forced to look at the root of the problem.
Castro Comeback--Again
Fidel Castro, perpetual arch enemy of the United States, continues to survive after surgery on his intestine. You know what else continues to survive? Our embargo on anything from our neighbor to the southeast. How long do we need to continue this to prove--what point are we trying to prove, again?
More Moral Incompetence on the Iraqi Battlefield
And its not from the crazy terrorists. Again our US soldiers continue to embarrass the honor of our country, but you really can't blame them. Really, when you send soldiers off to fight a war with no goals, no mission and no focus, they aren't fighting for a specific cause. They have to psych themselves out. Faced with the reality, they put their game face on as they listen to violent gangsta rap and sexual provocative music. What do you expect?
Sexual Explicit Music Leads to Sex
Of course, all things considered, people are influenced by messages they hear over and over. And what better way to get a message across than the repetitive nature of music?! If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. That is the message here. It is not just about sex, it is about marketing. Those who stand for something are not easily swayed, so forget about them. Go for those suckers who fall for anything, and that's what commercials do and, really, let's get to the root, that's what music does.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Expand Your Vocab: From Spring to Summer or is it Fall?
In just about a week and a half, we will see the official first day of Summer 2006. However, in northwest Iowa, it seems summer has been in full swing for a while. The spring showers did not hold up long enough, and, for the first time in my memory we are experiencing water restrictions in our little community.
The lawns that were once green are now yellow as hay. Plants and flowers that are not hardy enough are wilting from the lack of water. Some trees are losing leaves. And it's only June! If anything like this happened before, it was usually in August when nature is starting to transition to autumn.
Today's vocab is about seasonal expressions.
Aestival: Of or belonging to the summer.
Vernal:
Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring.
Characteristic of or resembling spring.
Fresh and young; youthful.
August (emphasis on the last syllable):
Inspiring awe or admiration; majestic: the august presence of the monarch.
Venerable for reasons of age or high rank.
The lawns that were once green are now yellow as hay. Plants and flowers that are not hardy enough are wilting from the lack of water. Some trees are losing leaves. And it's only June! If anything like this happened before, it was usually in August when nature is starting to transition to autumn.
Today's vocab is about seasonal expressions.
Aestival: Of or belonging to the summer.
Vernal:
Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring.
Characteristic of or resembling spring.
Fresh and young; youthful.
August (emphasis on the last syllable):
Inspiring awe or admiration; majestic: the august presence of the monarch.
Venerable for reasons of age or high rank.
Breaking Seals
Last week (ironically, on Tuesday, June 6, 2006), I was tucking my four-year-old son into bed and after we had read a story and sang a couple of songs, I noticed that he looked a bit scared when I began crawling out of his bunk.
I sat back next to him and asked if he was scared. He nodded his head and said, "uh-um," which means yes. I asked why, and he wouldn't say. Since he had been watching a lot of the old Scooby Doo shows and the movie, Monsters, Inc., I asked him if he had a monster. He nodded, "uh-um." I then asked him about his monster:
"What color is your monster?"
"Blue." He said in his quiet, tired boy voice.
"Is he smooth and hard, or soft and furry?"
"Soft."
"Does he like to sing?"
"Uh-aeh." (No.)
"Is he a mean monster or is he nice?"
"Nice."
Then, he went on to talk more about his monster:
"He loves to give kisses."
"What else does he like to do?"
"Seals."
"Seals?"
"Yeah, he likes to break 'em."
"He likes to break seals?"
"Yeah. P-chchchah." He said as he mimicked how the monster breaks seals.
"Really? He breaks seals?"
"Yup. P-chchchah."
My son, who was previously so tired that all I got were one word or grunt answers, was now describing what his monster likes to do, in such a matter of fact way, even though he was tired. It wasn't like he was really thinking hard to make the story up about the seals, but rather telling me what he had seen. The sound effect of breaking the seals is what really got me, because even though he was tired, he was so quietly animated about it.
I laid beside my son quietly for a while, trying to understand his "monster." Then, out of the blue, I asked him if he wanted to say a prayer, and he said, "uh-um." I don't normally pray with my kids as they fall asleep, but felt the need to do so that night. I don't remember the prayer I said, but he listened as he lay there, probably watching his monster. I then kissed him on the forehead, and said "I love you." He replied, "I love you, too." I pulled the covers up for him, and proceeded down the bunk ladder. He then quietly fell asleep.
That got me wondering. Where did he get the idea about seals, besides seals that swim in the sea? And breaking seals, of all things? We don't read Revelations stories to our kids, and the Bible stories they do hear are the watered down kid versions from hardboard books.
Then, I thought, who is his monster? It had been a while since I had read Revelations, so I was a bit concerned about the character of his monster. After reading Revelations, chapter five, I am relieved.
Revelations 5:1-10
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[or the sevenfold Spirit] of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."
I sat back next to him and asked if he was scared. He nodded his head and said, "uh-um," which means yes. I asked why, and he wouldn't say. Since he had been watching a lot of the old Scooby Doo shows and the movie, Monsters, Inc., I asked him if he had a monster. He nodded, "uh-um." I then asked him about his monster:
"What color is your monster?"
"Blue." He said in his quiet, tired boy voice.
"Is he smooth and hard, or soft and furry?"
"Soft."
"Does he like to sing?"
"Uh-aeh." (No.)
"Is he a mean monster or is he nice?"
"Nice."
Then, he went on to talk more about his monster:
"He loves to give kisses."
"What else does he like to do?"
"Seals."
"Seals?"
"Yeah, he likes to break 'em."
"He likes to break seals?"
"Yeah. P-chchchah." He said as he mimicked how the monster breaks seals.
"Really? He breaks seals?"
"Yup. P-chchchah."
My son, who was previously so tired that all I got were one word or grunt answers, was now describing what his monster likes to do, in such a matter of fact way, even though he was tired. It wasn't like he was really thinking hard to make the story up about the seals, but rather telling me what he had seen. The sound effect of breaking the seals is what really got me, because even though he was tired, he was so quietly animated about it.
I laid beside my son quietly for a while, trying to understand his "monster." Then, out of the blue, I asked him if he wanted to say a prayer, and he said, "uh-um." I don't normally pray with my kids as they fall asleep, but felt the need to do so that night. I don't remember the prayer I said, but he listened as he lay there, probably watching his monster. I then kissed him on the forehead, and said "I love you." He replied, "I love you, too." I pulled the covers up for him, and proceeded down the bunk ladder. He then quietly fell asleep.
That got me wondering. Where did he get the idea about seals, besides seals that swim in the sea? And breaking seals, of all things? We don't read Revelations stories to our kids, and the Bible stories they do hear are the watered down kid versions from hardboard books.
Then, I thought, who is his monster? It had been a while since I had read Revelations, so I was a bit concerned about the character of his monster. After reading Revelations, chapter five, I am relieved.
Revelations 5:1-10
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[or the sevenfold Spirit] of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Zurg-Zarq Is Dead!?
Well, President Bush has announced that our archenemy Al-Zarqawi is dead. This link (just right click and open in new window) shows a large, framed photo of Zarq, presumably posthumous, after a bomb attack. Ok, first of all, he's looking pretty good for dying from a bomb attack. Maybe this was a photo taken post humus, when the humus was just not agreeing with him that day.
Zarq. Zurg. Zurg... Sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance. Archenemy of Buzz Lightyear. Hmmm... Maybe Zarq is recharging his battery. Again.
Zarq. Zurg. Zurg... Sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance. Archenemy of Buzz Lightyear. Hmmm... Maybe Zarq is recharging his battery. Again.
Chiaroscuro: Jews, Christians & Muslims
Chiaroscuro is an Italian word and an art term that basically means clearly obscure. It is the use of dark and light elements in a pictorial work of art that creates drama and mystery into the piece. It is the comparing of similar elements with the contrast of paradoxical elements.
Let me paint a picture for you with Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions today. They are all different and have some conflicting beliefs and rituals. Muslims pray to Allah. Christians worship God. Jews revere G-d. Muslims are led by the works of the Prophet Muhammad, who is scarcely acknowledged as a legitimate prophet by Christians and Jews. Christians are led by the works of the Son of God and Savior, Jesus, who is seen as just another prophet by the Muslims, and denied by the Jews as the messiah.
Jews are led by the Patriarch Abraham and the Prophet Moses, which actually are similar elements found in both the Christian and Muslim faiths. Thus, all three religions share a similar foundation. All three faiths hold firm to the concepts of peace, love, charity, and true justice.
As you can see, there is a sense of a beautiful chiaroscuro painting here with these three faiths. However, the dark, contrasting element in this painting is also a connection shared with the morally faithful within these three religions. It is the dark side of the faithful: those who claim to follow their religious beliefs, but their walk doesn't follow their talk. I'm not referring to the sins of the individuals in the faith, as individual sins can be repented and reconciled in the true faith.
The dark side of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths have shepherds that lead the faithful away from the morals and intentions of their faith. They talk of peace, but their idea of peace is not the true peace of God. Their idea of love is not the true love of God. Their idea of charity and justice are not the true charity and justice of God.
Those unfortunate to fall under such leadership are led astray and coerced into doing acts that strike against the goodness of their faith and perverse their beliefs, all in the supposed name of God (Allah, G-d).
Muslims must deal with hirabahists.
Those that believe in the Third Jihad (hirabahists) claim they have a right to reclaim ALL formerly Muslim-ruled lands, even where Muslims now are a mi-nority. They claim a right to establish the sharia-governed Caliphate over all Muslims. They want Islamist rule to replace secular rule in the Middle East, across North and East Africa, Asia Minor, the Balkans, Southwest Asia, Central Asia, and Indonesia. But the believers of the Third Jihad also want a global Caliphate. That means they want to be the only ones that can proselytize where Muslims are a minority. It is impossible to compromise with the hirabahists be-cause they have unlimited goals. To us their goals might seem unreasonable and unlikely to succeed. Yet they, like Hitler, can do grave harm before their movement's ultimate defeat.
Jews have to contend with Zionists.
One might suppose that this is simply an Israeli tribute to piety--far from it. The subsidies and exemptions enjoyed by orthodox Jews are part of a compromise that reconciles them to cooperation with the Zionists, a movement they generally abhor: support for their religious life and exemption from defending Israel are the price the orthodox exact for limited cooperation with an enterprize they reject.
And true Christians have to cross swords with fundamentalist evangelicals.
"Pastor Ted,...talks to President George W. Bush or his advisers every Monday..." "...the battle boils down to evangelicals versus Islam. “My fear,” he says, “is that my children will grow up in an Islamic state.” And that is why he believes spiritual war requires a virile, worldly counterpart. “I teach a strong ideology of the use of power,” he says, “of military might, as a public service.” He is for preemptive war, because he believes the Bible’s exhortations against sin set for us a preemptive paradigm, and he is for ferocious war, because “the Bible’s bloody. There’s a lot about blood.”
"These Christian fundametalists are actively and intentionally taking advantage of the colonial usurpation of power by the American and Coalition forces to culturally and religiously invade the Iraqi society. ... It is taking advantage of their deprivations and using that physical and psychological dependence on Christian goodwill to advance the more important agenda: the conversion of Muslims to Christianity. It's not about learning and collaborating with the Iraqis on these social matters, it's about "teaching" and "civilizing" them with Christianity."
These are groups that seem to deny the basic truths of their own religious beliefs, and in its place they take matters into their own hands, as if God cannot accomplish His kingdom without His people breaking their own faith's morals and values. This is clearly obscure.
Sure, there's a contrast there, but we can't underestimate nor undermine the power of God, even in these circumstances. However you determine to name the creator and master of our universe and beyond, He is the painter and the artist. He can take the canvas we've provided and paint a beautiful, moving and spiritual picture out of our chaos. In any painting, the element that always stands out is the light, the light out of the darkness, and that light in God's painting is the true essence of our faith.
Let me paint a picture for you with Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions today. They are all different and have some conflicting beliefs and rituals. Muslims pray to Allah. Christians worship God. Jews revere G-d. Muslims are led by the works of the Prophet Muhammad, who is scarcely acknowledged as a legitimate prophet by Christians and Jews. Christians are led by the works of the Son of God and Savior, Jesus, who is seen as just another prophet by the Muslims, and denied by the Jews as the messiah.
Jews are led by the Patriarch Abraham and the Prophet Moses, which actually are similar elements found in both the Christian and Muslim faiths. Thus, all three religions share a similar foundation. All three faiths hold firm to the concepts of peace, love, charity, and true justice.
As you can see, there is a sense of a beautiful chiaroscuro painting here with these three faiths. However, the dark, contrasting element in this painting is also a connection shared with the morally faithful within these three religions. It is the dark side of the faithful: those who claim to follow their religious beliefs, but their walk doesn't follow their talk. I'm not referring to the sins of the individuals in the faith, as individual sins can be repented and reconciled in the true faith.
The dark side of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths have shepherds that lead the faithful away from the morals and intentions of their faith. They talk of peace, but their idea of peace is not the true peace of God. Their idea of love is not the true love of God. Their idea of charity and justice are not the true charity and justice of God.
Those unfortunate to fall under such leadership are led astray and coerced into doing acts that strike against the goodness of their faith and perverse their beliefs, all in the supposed name of God (Allah, G-d).
Muslims must deal with hirabahists.
Those that believe in the Third Jihad (hirabahists) claim they have a right to reclaim ALL formerly Muslim-ruled lands, even where Muslims now are a mi-nority. They claim a right to establish the sharia-governed Caliphate over all Muslims. They want Islamist rule to replace secular rule in the Middle East, across North and East Africa, Asia Minor, the Balkans, Southwest Asia, Central Asia, and Indonesia. But the believers of the Third Jihad also want a global Caliphate. That means they want to be the only ones that can proselytize where Muslims are a minority. It is impossible to compromise with the hirabahists be-cause they have unlimited goals. To us their goals might seem unreasonable and unlikely to succeed. Yet they, like Hitler, can do grave harm before their movement's ultimate defeat.
Jews have to contend with Zionists.
One might suppose that this is simply an Israeli tribute to piety--far from it. The subsidies and exemptions enjoyed by orthodox Jews are part of a compromise that reconciles them to cooperation with the Zionists, a movement they generally abhor: support for their religious life and exemption from defending Israel are the price the orthodox exact for limited cooperation with an enterprize they reject.
And true Christians have to cross swords with fundamentalist evangelicals.
"Pastor Ted,...talks to President George W. Bush or his advisers every Monday..." "...the battle boils down to evangelicals versus Islam. “My fear,” he says, “is that my children will grow up in an Islamic state.” And that is why he believes spiritual war requires a virile, worldly counterpart. “I teach a strong ideology of the use of power,” he says, “of military might, as a public service.” He is for preemptive war, because he believes the Bible’s exhortations against sin set for us a preemptive paradigm, and he is for ferocious war, because “the Bible’s bloody. There’s a lot about blood.”
"These Christian fundametalists are actively and intentionally taking advantage of the colonial usurpation of power by the American and Coalition forces to culturally and religiously invade the Iraqi society. ... It is taking advantage of their deprivations and using that physical and psychological dependence on Christian goodwill to advance the more important agenda: the conversion of Muslims to Christianity. It's not about learning and collaborating with the Iraqis on these social matters, it's about "teaching" and "civilizing" them with Christianity."
These are groups that seem to deny the basic truths of their own religious beliefs, and in its place they take matters into their own hands, as if God cannot accomplish His kingdom without His people breaking their own faith's morals and values. This is clearly obscure.
Sure, there's a contrast there, but we can't underestimate nor undermine the power of God, even in these circumstances. However you determine to name the creator and master of our universe and beyond, He is the painter and the artist. He can take the canvas we've provided and paint a beautiful, moving and spiritual picture out of our chaos. In any painting, the element that always stands out is the light, the light out of the darkness, and that light in God's painting is the true essence of our faith.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Expand Your Vocab: 6/6/06
I am beginning some theme days here at Indigo Lake, with the first being "Expand Your Vocab." My hope is that we will find new words and word combinations to use in our daily discussions, that will not only clarify our thoughts, but make us sound like we know more than we really do.
Today’s words are intrinsically linked by a common similitude: 6/6/6
We’ll start at the beginning of becoming someone marked, with a word you may have heard and used many times:
Ignoramus: An ignorant person.
A nice adjective for an ignoramus is:
Feckless:
Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.
Careless and irresponsible.
I had a neighbor who loved to use this word to describe careless youth to their faces, and they thought they were cool to be called “feckless.” What feckless ignoramuses. Feckless ignoramus. Flows nicely from the tongue, doesn’t it?!
Moving up the scale from an ignoramus, we find this word:
Miscreant:
An evildoer; a villain.
An infidel; a heretic.
What’s a good adjective for a miscreant? Oh, how about this:
Opprobrious:
Expressing contemptuous reproach; scornful or abusive: opprobrious epithets.
Bringing disgrace; shameful or infamous: opprobrious conduct.
An opprobrious miscreant. A nice way to tell someone they are the devil incarnate, isn’t it?!
So, put them all together and what do we get? A feckless ignoramus that matures into an opprobrious miscreant.
And if you happen to be chatting about politics and governments and can’t find a nice word for a leader with the mark of the beast, here’s a word to use:
Quisling: A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her country.
Today’s words are intrinsically linked by a common similitude: 6/6/6
We’ll start at the beginning of becoming someone marked, with a word you may have heard and used many times:
Ignoramus: An ignorant person.
A nice adjective for an ignoramus is:
Feckless:
Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.
Careless and irresponsible.
I had a neighbor who loved to use this word to describe careless youth to their faces, and they thought they were cool to be called “feckless.” What feckless ignoramuses. Feckless ignoramus. Flows nicely from the tongue, doesn’t it?!
Moving up the scale from an ignoramus, we find this word:
Miscreant:
An evildoer; a villain.
An infidel; a heretic.
What’s a good adjective for a miscreant? Oh, how about this:
Opprobrious:
Expressing contemptuous reproach; scornful or abusive: opprobrious epithets.
Bringing disgrace; shameful or infamous: opprobrious conduct.
An opprobrious miscreant. A nice way to tell someone they are the devil incarnate, isn’t it?!
So, put them all together and what do we get? A feckless ignoramus that matures into an opprobrious miscreant.
And if you happen to be chatting about politics and governments and can’t find a nice word for a leader with the mark of the beast, here’s a word to use:
Quisling: A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her country.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Laughter: The Best Medicine
Here's some humor to get over the fact that it's Monday. The title link goes to a site with some very humorous doctored pictures (and some not doctored). Laugh and enjoy life!
Under God: Are You Covered?
Just as Christian women have recently come out from being under the head covering of men, it seems that Christian men are also coming out from being under the head covering of God. If you read the New Testament, you'll see that the apostle Paul was a big advocate of head covering. You can read that in one of two ways: headcovering = limiting, or headcovering = protecting and reflecting glory.
Now, I am sure that many people see the headcovering with its potential to be submissive, limiting and even oppressive. And for men who feel it is their duty to command the world, having to deal with a headcovering to God goes against their own ability to do whatever the heck they want. Thus, ditch the headcovering and ditch God--but not entirely. Use the headcovering of God as a cloak to hide indiscretions and secret plans. You see how that can really hide all the bad stuff and make people think that everything is being done in the light of God.
George W. Bush is experienced in this type of clandestine action to take one thing that is good and is limiting and use it to hide and in a way shield him from his diverging activities. As president, the laws enacted by our democracy's representatives are his headcovering. They are there not just to limit him, but to protect his head and when the law is upheld due to his efforts, he is rightly glorified. However, when the headcovering is not used on the head --are you following the analogy here?--Ok... When the law is circumvented and instead of placed as a protective covering over the right foundation of our government (the Constitution), it is used as a shield to deflect and contort the law, what is there to protect the head (the US Constitution and the proper use of government)? Nothing.
The struggle to keep "under God" in the pledge of allegiance may be nothing more than symantics to some. To others it signifies that headcovering, the law, not just of God, but the laws of our country. And still to others it is the push to keep the public thinking that God is protecting us, when in actuality it is distorted and is only protecting the personal interests of those leaders.
Did I mention that when men and women keep the headcovering over their heads, it protects and reflects glory to them? Ok, so what's so great about being limited and submissive? We don't harm ourselves or harm others (our protection--it is in this protection that even if others harm us, we forgive and heal), it keeps us focused on the mission designated by our Creator, and allows our Creator to mold us into the creation that we have been designed to become (the reflection of glory is from the Creator in becoming what we are meant to be). That same headcovering is there not just to help yourself, but others, too. When we become what God made us to be, then we learn that the head covering not only protects our head and heart, but puts our hands into service to serve God and those who God places into our care. (You can see how restrictive it would be if that headcovering were used as a cloak or shield--the ability to serve God and others is severly restricted or nonexistent.)
There are people out there that wear that headcovering to physically represent their faith. You'll see devout Jewish men wearing their yarmulke, nuns in their habits, traditional Catholic women wearing prayer veils, and Islamic women wearing burkhas. It reminds them of their faith, and stands for the protection, guidance and reflects the glory given by their Creator. It shows respect for their Creator, and in return, honor.
Now, I am sure that many people see the headcovering with its potential to be submissive, limiting and even oppressive. And for men who feel it is their duty to command the world, having to deal with a headcovering to God goes against their own ability to do whatever the heck they want. Thus, ditch the headcovering and ditch God--but not entirely. Use the headcovering of God as a cloak to hide indiscretions and secret plans. You see how that can really hide all the bad stuff and make people think that everything is being done in the light of God.
George W. Bush is experienced in this type of clandestine action to take one thing that is good and is limiting and use it to hide and in a way shield him from his diverging activities. As president, the laws enacted by our democracy's representatives are his headcovering. They are there not just to limit him, but to protect his head and when the law is upheld due to his efforts, he is rightly glorified. However, when the headcovering is not used on the head --are you following the analogy here?--Ok... When the law is circumvented and instead of placed as a protective covering over the right foundation of our government (the Constitution), it is used as a shield to deflect and contort the law, what is there to protect the head (the US Constitution and the proper use of government)? Nothing.
The struggle to keep "under God" in the pledge of allegiance may be nothing more than symantics to some. To others it signifies that headcovering, the law, not just of God, but the laws of our country. And still to others it is the push to keep the public thinking that God is protecting us, when in actuality it is distorted and is only protecting the personal interests of those leaders.
Did I mention that when men and women keep the headcovering over their heads, it protects and reflects glory to them? Ok, so what's so great about being limited and submissive? We don't harm ourselves or harm others (our protection--it is in this protection that even if others harm us, we forgive and heal), it keeps us focused on the mission designated by our Creator, and allows our Creator to mold us into the creation that we have been designed to become (the reflection of glory is from the Creator in becoming what we are meant to be). That same headcovering is there not just to help yourself, but others, too. When we become what God made us to be, then we learn that the head covering not only protects our head and heart, but puts our hands into service to serve God and those who God places into our care. (You can see how restrictive it would be if that headcovering were used as a cloak or shield--the ability to serve God and others is severly restricted or nonexistent.)
There are people out there that wear that headcovering to physically represent their faith. You'll see devout Jewish men wearing their yarmulke, nuns in their habits, traditional Catholic women wearing prayer veils, and Islamic women wearing burkhas. It reminds them of their faith, and stands for the protection, guidance and reflects the glory given by their Creator. It shows respect for their Creator, and in return, honor.
George W. Bush: Under God or Playing God?
Some say that the US president, George W. Bush, is a born-again Christian, others say he was ordained by God to lead our country, and some say he is the anti-Christ. But, how could they possibly say that someone is the anti-Christ, or even some powerful Dragon of the Revelations dreamed Beast?
The title link (please right click and open in a new window) has an interesting article that poses George W. Bush against his own religious beliefs, and patches some holes in the way American Christians might be viewing the US president.
The title link (please right click and open in a new window) has an interesting article that poses George W. Bush against his own religious beliefs, and patches some holes in the way American Christians might be viewing the US president.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Public Relations in the Spin Cycle
What is public relations? Is it product placement or people placement? Ah, no... I think that's called marketing and promotional gimmicks. Is it that bikini clad women that displayed her message in front of world leaders? Ah, no... That would be picketing and improper exposure. Is it spinning the news? Well... sort of.
Public relations is disseminating the truth in a positive light. Edward Bernays, the father of public relations (and the nephew of Sigmund Freud, go figure) was concerned that he would display "properganda" and not "improperganda." If only more public relations practitioners would be as message conscious as Bernays. Right... Let's get real here.
Bernays, being related to Freud, almost naturally concentrated on the psychology of public relations, almost to a fault. In fact, due to his efforts, Bernays worked to create social acceptance of women smoking in public. During the 1920s, the health consequences to smoking were not as known, so I'll give Bernays the benefit of the doubt.
According to Bernays "The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. . . . In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons . . . who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind." If you want to know more about Bernays and his life devoted to making himself known as the father of public relations, read the Father of Spin by Larry Tye (here's a great book review).
In reality, a public relations practitioner can only be as honest as their clients' honesty is reflected to them. And even then, sometimes money can influence honesty and conveying the truth. It is amazing how flashing a couple of greenbacks can put a normally honest and open person into a deceptive trance. Sure, we'll give our public the truth in a positive fashion, but with a twist, er a spin. We won't out and out lie, but we'll convince the public that they are hearing the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We'll even convince journalists that all we are feeding them is the wholesome and natural truth, so there will be no need to question our message. Can I get an Amen?? Thank you, choir! (You know I'm preaching to the choir.)
So, the progression of public relations is a lot like washing machine. Load the machine with some dirty laundry (you know, all those marketing blunders that got mud on that questionable client's clothes), throw in some detergent (or detour agent, i.e. public relations practitioner--to clean up the mess), let it soak, then put it in the spin cycle, rinse and spin to dry. Viola! Your laundry is clean!
Public relations is disseminating the truth in a positive light. Edward Bernays, the father of public relations (and the nephew of Sigmund Freud, go figure) was concerned that he would display "properganda" and not "improperganda." If only more public relations practitioners would be as message conscious as Bernays. Right... Let's get real here.
Bernays, being related to Freud, almost naturally concentrated on the psychology of public relations, almost to a fault. In fact, due to his efforts, Bernays worked to create social acceptance of women smoking in public. During the 1920s, the health consequences to smoking were not as known, so I'll give Bernays the benefit of the doubt.
According to Bernays "The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. . . . In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons . . . who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind." If you want to know more about Bernays and his life devoted to making himself known as the father of public relations, read the Father of Spin by Larry Tye (here's a great book review).
In reality, a public relations practitioner can only be as honest as their clients' honesty is reflected to them. And even then, sometimes money can influence honesty and conveying the truth. It is amazing how flashing a couple of greenbacks can put a normally honest and open person into a deceptive trance. Sure, we'll give our public the truth in a positive fashion, but with a twist, er a spin. We won't out and out lie, but we'll convince the public that they are hearing the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We'll even convince journalists that all we are feeding them is the wholesome and natural truth, so there will be no need to question our message. Can I get an Amen?? Thank you, choir! (You know I'm preaching to the choir.)
So, the progression of public relations is a lot like washing machine. Load the machine with some dirty laundry (you know, all those marketing blunders that got mud on that questionable client's clothes), throw in some detergent (or detour agent, i.e. public relations practitioner--to clean up the mess), let it soak, then put it in the spin cycle, rinse and spin to dry. Viola! Your laundry is clean!
Protecting the US Borders
So, why didn't we have this talk about immigration before 9/11/2001, or even just after that fateful day? How better to protect the US from foreign invaders like terrorists than to protect our borders?!
Where's the funding for our coast guard and border patrol, who truly protect our nation's borders? Where's the national guard, who really ought to be helping to protect our homeland at home? Oh, right, Afganistan and Iraq...
Well, I read on the DHS website (that's the Department of Homeland Security) that they have beent thinking about protecting the US borders since 9/11, and apparently into the distant future, as well... DHS Announces Long-Term Border and Immigration Strategy, November 2, 2205
Yes, you read that right--November 2, 2205! Now that's forward thinking! So, if you think our DHS isn't working toward the future, well, you're wrong.
Where's the funding for our coast guard and border patrol, who truly protect our nation's borders? Where's the national guard, who really ought to be helping to protect our homeland at home? Oh, right, Afganistan and Iraq...
Well, I read on the DHS website (that's the Department of Homeland Security) that they have beent thinking about protecting the US borders since 9/11, and apparently into the distant future, as well... DHS Announces Long-Term Border and Immigration Strategy, November 2, 2205
Yes, you read that right--November 2, 2205! Now that's forward thinking! So, if you think our DHS isn't working toward the future, well, you're wrong.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Pirating ways: Pillaging, Raping & Plundering
After being too busy this past week to allow Microsoft to download one of their many upgrades, I log into my laptop this morning, and get notification that I am a victim of pirating!
Now, pirates are known to pillage, rape and plunder. I don't recall Gateway raping me when this computer was purchased over a year ago. Pillaging and plundering, well, I don't know. Sometimes products can be so overpriced, that could be considered pillaging and plundering. This computer, in my opinion, wasn't overpriced, although I did not receive a boot disk or any install disks for the software that was pre-loaded on it. So, I guess I was robbed of those products that I paid for. It would have been nice to have the backup install disks that would be helpful for the many times I've had to reinstall everything because the hardware crashed or died.
However, I do not feel like a victim of pirating from Gateway. I believe that they sold me legitimate software licenses from Microsoft.
I do feel like a victim of Microsoft's zealous inconsideration and insecurity. I feel raped. Microsoft has raped my computer. And with their wierd blue star in the lower right hand corner of my computer, and the notifications that pop up frequently, I am constantly reminded of this fact.
So, after clicking to remind me later to make my Windows geniune, and trying in vain to search online to figure out how to prove my and Gateway's innocence, I finally decided to see what Microsoft has waiting for me if I did click on it. Well, there was no way to prove you did have a genuine Windows license at this link. There was no way to contact Microsoft to tell them they have a glitch in their authentication/genuineness process. Microsoft just wants victims to pay them, too.
Figures. Innocent until proven guilty, nah. Guilty til proven otherwise (regardless of innocence), because that is the way it is today. Sigh.
Now, I guess I'll need to contact Gateway and figure out how to get this straightened out. Sigh.
There's nothing like getting pillaged, raped and plundered by a purchase made over one year ago.
**Update: I contacted Microsoft tech support, and spoke with a nice lady that I couldn't understand half of what she said. I gave her info on my Windows and she said that it was indeed a genuine Windows XP license. Yes, thank you, I knew that. But how do I get MS Validation to recognize that? Oh, there's a website to go to for validating that:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/
So, I go there, and it diagnoses and validates everything but that WGA . . . So, I email Microsoft support, since hopefully whomever answers that types in English without any dialect issues. I also go to the forum they refer to and check that out. (Here's that link if you want to check it out: http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=442&SiteID=25)
Well, after looking at the forum conversations, I am fearful that I will have to reinstall everything on my computer. And I didn't get an installation disk from Gateway in the first place! The moderator states that Microsoft is working on a way to correct the validation error without reinstalling. Well, I'm not holding my breath.
Thank you, Microsoft, for screwing up my computer! Can I declare computer rape?
Now, pirates are known to pillage, rape and plunder. I don't recall Gateway raping me when this computer was purchased over a year ago. Pillaging and plundering, well, I don't know. Sometimes products can be so overpriced, that could be considered pillaging and plundering. This computer, in my opinion, wasn't overpriced, although I did not receive a boot disk or any install disks for the software that was pre-loaded on it. So, I guess I was robbed of those products that I paid for. It would have been nice to have the backup install disks that would be helpful for the many times I've had to reinstall everything because the hardware crashed or died.
However, I do not feel like a victim of pirating from Gateway. I believe that they sold me legitimate software licenses from Microsoft.
I do feel like a victim of Microsoft's zealous inconsideration and insecurity. I feel raped. Microsoft has raped my computer. And with their wierd blue star in the lower right hand corner of my computer, and the notifications that pop up frequently, I am constantly reminded of this fact.
So, after clicking to remind me later to make my Windows geniune, and trying in vain to search online to figure out how to prove my and Gateway's innocence, I finally decided to see what Microsoft has waiting for me if I did click on it. Well, there was no way to prove you did have a genuine Windows license at this link. There was no way to contact Microsoft to tell them they have a glitch in their authentication/genuineness process. Microsoft just wants victims to pay them, too.
Figures. Innocent until proven guilty, nah. Guilty til proven otherwise (regardless of innocence), because that is the way it is today. Sigh.
Now, I guess I'll need to contact Gateway and figure out how to get this straightened out. Sigh.
There's nothing like getting pillaged, raped and plundered by a purchase made over one year ago.
**Update: I contacted Microsoft tech support, and spoke with a nice lady that I couldn't understand half of what she said. I gave her info on my Windows and she said that it was indeed a genuine Windows XP license. Yes, thank you, I knew that. But how do I get MS Validation to recognize that? Oh, there's a website to go to for validating that:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/
So, I go there, and it diagnoses and validates everything but that WGA . . . So, I email Microsoft support, since hopefully whomever answers that types in English without any dialect issues. I also go to the forum they refer to and check that out. (Here's that link if you want to check it out: http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=442&SiteID=25)
Well, after looking at the forum conversations, I am fearful that I will have to reinstall everything on my computer. And I didn't get an installation disk from Gateway in the first place! The moderator states that Microsoft is working on a way to correct the validation error without reinstalling. Well, I'm not holding my breath.
Thank you, Microsoft, for screwing up my computer! Can I declare computer rape?
Friday, May 05, 2006
Life is too short to take too seriously...
Have you ever worked with a rancid person? Someone who spoils everything? Someone who takes everything personally? I mean EVERYTHING... PERSONALLY. And then they bitch and moan about how people are mean and treat them so bad. Usually with this kind of person, they take everything negatively. Try to get them to think on the positive side, and they will see it as a personal attack. There is never a bright side to anything, unless they can demean some's character. Oh, that is negative, too.
For the rancid person, the sun must shine in black, and the sky is gray, even when it's blue. The sweet scent of the lilacs in bloom must smell pungent to their noses. The smooth touch of a new baby's skin must feel like coarse sand paper for them. And the sounds of songbirds singing in the surrounding trees must sound like chainsaws in their ears.
What a sad world for such negative thinkers. The rancid people. 'Tis a pity.
Life is too short to take too seriously. That's why God invented laughter, silver linings to gray clouds, and rainbows. All so we could smile, to take hope for a better future, knowing that the good in everything is in how we perceive it.
However, when you have to work with a rancid person (RP for short), you're stuck with them, unless the boss gets (literally) sick of them, or you get sick of them and leave, or the RP leaves thinking that the grass at the next job will be greener (regardless of the fact that it's only the RP's eyes that see the gray grass). Lucky for me, the rancid co-worker is thinking the grass will be greener somewhere else. Thankfully, the rancid co-worker's last day is TODAY!
I again can confidently smile, knowing that things can only get better (right, Howard Jones?), and that the toxic effects of the negative rancid co-worker will now be at someone else's desk (I pray God's positive impact will allow those poor souls to overcome the rancid worker excrement).
Hurray for silver linings, rainbows, and especially laughter--because life really is too short to take too seriously.
For the rancid person, the sun must shine in black, and the sky is gray, even when it's blue. The sweet scent of the lilacs in bloom must smell pungent to their noses. The smooth touch of a new baby's skin must feel like coarse sand paper for them. And the sounds of songbirds singing in the surrounding trees must sound like chainsaws in their ears.
What a sad world for such negative thinkers. The rancid people. 'Tis a pity.
Life is too short to take too seriously. That's why God invented laughter, silver linings to gray clouds, and rainbows. All so we could smile, to take hope for a better future, knowing that the good in everything is in how we perceive it.
However, when you have to work with a rancid person (RP for short), you're stuck with them, unless the boss gets (literally) sick of them, or you get sick of them and leave, or the RP leaves thinking that the grass at the next job will be greener (regardless of the fact that it's only the RP's eyes that see the gray grass). Lucky for me, the rancid co-worker is thinking the grass will be greener somewhere else. Thankfully, the rancid co-worker's last day is TODAY!
I again can confidently smile, knowing that things can only get better (right, Howard Jones?), and that the toxic effects of the negative rancid co-worker will now be at someone else's desk (I pray God's positive impact will allow those poor souls to overcome the rancid worker excrement).
Hurray for silver linings, rainbows, and especially laughter--because life really is too short to take too seriously.
New Stamps, Again??
It seems like I just went out and bought new stamps with the new rate, along with those weird looking 2 cent stamps with the alligator teeth on them, and now the US Post Office wants to raise the rate of stamps again!
They claim its because of the rising costs of gas. Hey, I see my postal delivery guy walking to deliver my mail everyday, they don't use gas.
Besides, no one is giving me more money to compensate the rising gas prices. Oh, wait. I guess congress was looking into doing just that this week with a $100, or even a $500 tax rebate. Hmmm... Wait a minute, if I pay taxes, and they want to give me money from the taxes to pay for gas so the gas companies will lessen their high price assault, but the gas companies are too greedy to lower gas prices, and our country is running a large deficit right now... Hey, I'm going to pay for it anyway. Ok, that's a bad idea. Relegate that one to the circular file.
USPS is also claiming the rise in the stamp rate is to pay for their employees' rise in health insurance. Pssst--businesses don't care about that silly rise in their employees' health insurance, they're just letting their workers foot that bill.
And, get this, they want to raise it to 42 cents! That means all those extra 2 cents stamps I have laying around wouldn't work--I'd have to get one cent stamps, too! Good grief!
Oh, they want to have a Forever Stamp?? Buy that stamp and I would never have to worry about adding stamps for rate increases?? Why didn't they come out with this idea sooner?
They claim its because of the rising costs of gas. Hey, I see my postal delivery guy walking to deliver my mail everyday, they don't use gas.
Besides, no one is giving me more money to compensate the rising gas prices. Oh, wait. I guess congress was looking into doing just that this week with a $100, or even a $500 tax rebate. Hmmm... Wait a minute, if I pay taxes, and they want to give me money from the taxes to pay for gas so the gas companies will lessen their high price assault, but the gas companies are too greedy to lower gas prices, and our country is running a large deficit right now... Hey, I'm going to pay for it anyway. Ok, that's a bad idea. Relegate that one to the circular file.
USPS is also claiming the rise in the stamp rate is to pay for their employees' rise in health insurance. Pssst--businesses don't care about that silly rise in their employees' health insurance, they're just letting their workers foot that bill.
And, get this, they want to raise it to 42 cents! That means all those extra 2 cents stamps I have laying around wouldn't work--I'd have to get one cent stamps, too! Good grief!
Oh, they want to have a Forever Stamp?? Buy that stamp and I would never have to worry about adding stamps for rate increases?? Why didn't they come out with this idea sooner?
Colbert, That's French, Isn't It?! That's OK, Mr. Colbert, Here's a Golden Ruler!
Although not characteristic of Stephen Colbert's "professional newsiness", a nudge-nudge and a wink-wink might sums up his monologue at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner last Saturday night.
Mr. Colbert decisively marked the evening with way more inside humor and jabs than the large gathering of media, government leaders, and stars could possibly digest, especially the guest of honor, our president.
Playing as if he's in on the good-ole-boys club and up on their antics in the media, Colbert subtly and many times not so subtly discloses his perception of the media's coverage on important events, while maintaining his composed "newsiness" during the speech.
Maybe the reason why some didn't like his speech could be the same reason they now refer to freedom fries and freedom toast. There's just too much French in that guy's name. Toward the end of his speech, President Bush looked like he was about ready to export him back to France. Colbert better be carrying his passport next time he's close to the president, or might get a special trip out of the country. You know how the president feels about those darned immigrants!
On his truthiness, Colbert knows better than most real news outlets how to give his audience the truth, and he delivered in his usual fashion. Why are some people upset about this? Did you not know his style? Did you not watch his show?
Regardless of his neo-con leanings, Colbert stuck it to the man. Thank goodness he got some practice on Bill Kristol a couple days prior to his WHCD gig. He was ready to tackle the news that the media forgot to tackle. And tackle, he did.
By the way, what was with the lame Double-W skit? And last year's skit where the president was running around the room looking for WMDs while our troops in Iraq were dying? And those skits don't offend people? But Stephen Colbert's truthiness does offend? Why can't those people handle the truth?
Mr. Stephen Colbert, in recognition of your courage to fight for the truth, I bestow unto you the Golden Ruler Award. Just as those golden nuns from parochial school used rulers to maintain order and keep their students in line, this Golden Ruler exemplifies your accomplishments to keep truth in line. Use this Golden Ruler to continue to keep truth and justice in line, and to give a gentle tap on the hand to those who deviate from the truth.
Mr. Colbert decisively marked the evening with way more inside humor and jabs than the large gathering of media, government leaders, and stars could possibly digest, especially the guest of honor, our president.
Playing as if he's in on the good-ole-boys club and up on their antics in the media, Colbert subtly and many times not so subtly discloses his perception of the media's coverage on important events, while maintaining his composed "newsiness" during the speech.
Maybe the reason why some didn't like his speech could be the same reason they now refer to freedom fries and freedom toast. There's just too much French in that guy's name. Toward the end of his speech, President Bush looked like he was about ready to export him back to France. Colbert better be carrying his passport next time he's close to the president, or might get a special trip out of the country. You know how the president feels about those darned immigrants!
On his truthiness, Colbert knows better than most real news outlets how to give his audience the truth, and he delivered in his usual fashion. Why are some people upset about this? Did you not know his style? Did you not watch his show?
Regardless of his neo-con leanings, Colbert stuck it to the man. Thank goodness he got some practice on Bill Kristol a couple days prior to his WHCD gig. He was ready to tackle the news that the media forgot to tackle. And tackle, he did.
By the way, what was with the lame Double-W skit? And last year's skit where the president was running around the room looking for WMDs while our troops in Iraq were dying? And those skits don't offend people? But Stephen Colbert's truthiness does offend? Why can't those people handle the truth?
Mr. Stephen Colbert, in recognition of your courage to fight for the truth, I bestow unto you the Golden Ruler Award. Just as those golden nuns from parochial school used rulers to maintain order and keep their students in line, this Golden Ruler exemplifies your accomplishments to keep truth in line. Use this Golden Ruler to continue to keep truth and justice in line, and to give a gentle tap on the hand to those who deviate from the truth.
Omega Glory
With all the discuss of corruption (especially on Len Hart's blog: existentialistcowboy.blogspot.com) on Capitol Hill, and even in the White House, along with many practices by our government that seem to really subvert the Constitution of the United States, I started to think back to an old (I mean original) Star Trek episode: Omega Glory episode (#54, first aired 3/1/68). Although I am not a true Trekkie, I remember seeing this show when I was young, and the overtones of our US civilization stuck with me.
Wikipedia has a nice overview of this episode. Their summary of the Omega Glory: Captain Kirk must battle a deadly virus and prevent a meaningless war.
Sound familiar? In 1968, the good and bad guys were different than today, but it can easily be changed to today's political climate within the US. Ok, the feared deadly virus today: Avian Bird Flu (I'm sure our president will talk your ear off with coherent discuss about this, since he is way more knowledgeable about this virus than about his current war in Iraq). And today, we are in a pretty much meaningless war in Iraq (Sorry, no WMDs and really, if Saddam was really as dicky of a dictator as they say, then why is the US just as dicky or even more so. Yes, Saddam tortured and used chemical weapons on his people. Pssst--The US has done this, too, on Iraqis--have you forgotten Abu Graib and white phosphorus? Doesn't sound very nice to me.)
Can you see the word "freedom" turn into a "worship word"? I can.
Close to the end of the show, Capt. Kirk finds what looks like a tattered copy of the US Constitution and says "Look at these three words written larger than all the rest, and with special pride never written before or since -- tall words, proudly saying "We the people" .. these words and the words that follow ... must apply to everyone or they mean nothing."
Is the Omega Glory predicting our present and future?
Wikipedia has a nice overview of this episode. Their summary of the Omega Glory: Captain Kirk must battle a deadly virus and prevent a meaningless war.
Sound familiar? In 1968, the good and bad guys were different than today, but it can easily be changed to today's political climate within the US. Ok, the feared deadly virus today: Avian Bird Flu (I'm sure our president will talk your ear off with coherent discuss about this, since he is way more knowledgeable about this virus than about his current war in Iraq). And today, we are in a pretty much meaningless war in Iraq (Sorry, no WMDs and really, if Saddam was really as dicky of a dictator as they say, then why is the US just as dicky or even more so. Yes, Saddam tortured and used chemical weapons on his people. Pssst--The US has done this, too, on Iraqis--have you forgotten Abu Graib and white phosphorus? Doesn't sound very nice to me.)
Can you see the word "freedom" turn into a "worship word"? I can.
Close to the end of the show, Capt. Kirk finds what looks like a tattered copy of the US Constitution and says "Look at these three words written larger than all the rest, and with special pride never written before or since -- tall words, proudly saying "We the people" .. these words and the words that follow ... must apply to everyone or they mean nothing."
Is the Omega Glory predicting our present and future?
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Living Free
I hope you can get to this journal entry that is linked here, written by oxbow on democraticunderground.com. I read it today and it just hit home with me, on many levels of my life, not just about the political climate.
After reading the story and thinking of the background of our political issues and my own situations recently, the last paragraph was so refreshing:
We enjoy the little things that bring us joy. The warm sun on our bare skin, the taste of a really good meal, the pleasure of good company, all of these are things we can enjoy even in the darkest hours. The universe could have been made so that such things didn’t bring us pleasure. There is no reason why a flower HAS to be beautiful, or sex MUST feel as good as it does. Miraculously though, it is and it does! Try and remember that when things are rough, and you’ll do just fine. And when you catch yourself enjoying life, say a quick thank you. Thank the universe for being the way it is, and yourself for being the way you are, which is good enough on both accounts.
Thank you, oxbow! Nonattachment: The essence of living free.
After reading the story and thinking of the background of our political issues and my own situations recently, the last paragraph was so refreshing:
We enjoy the little things that bring us joy. The warm sun on our bare skin, the taste of a really good meal, the pleasure of good company, all of these are things we can enjoy even in the darkest hours. The universe could have been made so that such things didn’t bring us pleasure. There is no reason why a flower HAS to be beautiful, or sex MUST feel as good as it does. Miraculously though, it is and it does! Try and remember that when things are rough, and you’ll do just fine. And when you catch yourself enjoying life, say a quick thank you. Thank the universe for being the way it is, and yourself for being the way you are, which is good enough on both accounts.
Thank you, oxbow! Nonattachment: The essence of living free.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Iowa Stops Funeral Picketing
Can you believe that someone would want to have a protest at a funeral? Get this: A Kansas City church wants to protest at an Iowa National Guardsman funeral. Why? Because this church believes that our soldiers are dying because they are fighting for a country (the US) that allows homosexuality. This article went so far to say that God is killing our soldiers! What kind of weed is this church smoking??
Jesus did not protest at any funerals. In fact, when one of his diciples wanted to bury his father, Jesus said, "let the dead bury the dead." What did Jesus mean? Are funerals a folly? A waste of time? Thus, would this mean that protest at a funeral would be doubly foolish?
Maybe this Kansas City church doesn't follow Jesus, because Jesus would not lead them down the road to protest at a funeral. "Let the dead bury the dead."
Jesus did not protest at any funerals. In fact, when one of his diciples wanted to bury his father, Jesus said, "let the dead bury the dead." What did Jesus mean? Are funerals a folly? A waste of time? Thus, would this mean that protest at a funeral would be doubly foolish?
Maybe this Kansas City church doesn't follow Jesus, because Jesus would not lead them down the road to protest at a funeral. "Let the dead bury the dead."
Monday, April 24, 2006
Changes on the Blog Front
Ok, today I am going to get a lot less political and a lot more personal. Maybe this whole blog is going to change. There's a whole heck of a lot of blogs out there that are doing way more research into the progressive, purple movement than me. Sure, I might bring some things up ever so often that catch me a bit funny politically that I may blog, but really, I am being redundant here.
If you want to read some good progressive blogging, go to http://existentialistcowboy.blogspot.com/
Len Hart does quite a job of finding and connecting the political dots, and some of the pictures he creates are rather interesting. That blog will get you thinking. At least it does for me. Bravo, Len!
Anyway, Indigo Lake is going to transform a bit into more of a leisurely place to sit back, chat about what's on your mind kind of blog. Please feel free to join in the chat on any discussion that might come up. In my opinion, it's all about perspective, and yours is likely different than mine. So, let's compare sketches and enjoy the company!
If you want to read some good progressive blogging, go to http://existentialistcowboy.blogspot.com/
Len Hart does quite a job of finding and connecting the political dots, and some of the pictures he creates are rather interesting. That blog will get you thinking. At least it does for me. Bravo, Len!
Anyway, Indigo Lake is going to transform a bit into more of a leisurely place to sit back, chat about what's on your mind kind of blog. Please feel free to join in the chat on any discussion that might come up. In my opinion, it's all about perspective, and yours is likely different than mine. So, let's compare sketches and enjoy the company!
Monday, April 17, 2006
The Scarlet Letter
Whenever you put some physical stigma on someone who's done something wrong, something like this is bound to happen. Now, the question is what's worse? Murder or sexual offenses?
Well, that has always been my question, after this law to mark all sexual offenders with the state's scarlet letter. However, murderers are not marked. There is a long list of offenses that an offender/criminal does not have to deal with being marked. Except for sexual offenses.
Are sexual offenses that bad, worse than murder, that everyone needs to be made clearly aware of the offender's presence anywhere? What is the purpose of the sex offender list? How does such a list help to keep our neighborhoods safe?
The sex offender list is a prime example of making people paranoid, creating legal gossip about the offender, and stigmatizing that person for the rest of their life. Might as well just force them to wear the scarlet letter on their apparel.
Now that the scarlet letter has cause two people to needlessly die, will states that have enacted these sex offender lists rethink their law? I hope so.
Well, that has always been my question, after this law to mark all sexual offenders with the state's scarlet letter. However, murderers are not marked. There is a long list of offenses that an offender/criminal does not have to deal with being marked. Except for sexual offenses.
Are sexual offenses that bad, worse than murder, that everyone needs to be made clearly aware of the offender's presence anywhere? What is the purpose of the sex offender list? How does such a list help to keep our neighborhoods safe?
The sex offender list is a prime example of making people paranoid, creating legal gossip about the offender, and stigmatizing that person for the rest of their life. Might as well just force them to wear the scarlet letter on their apparel.
Now that the scarlet letter has cause two people to needlessly die, will states that have enacted these sex offender lists rethink their law? I hope so.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
George W. Bush: RICO Suave'??
RICO Suave'? George W. Bush?? What do they have in common???
George W. Bush finally admits to being the leaker in the Plame Game... now the blamer is blamed. Well, if the courts ever get to try anything against George W. Bush and his gang, they may use the RICO Act. If that ever happens, die-hard Bush fans will hope that Bush and his attorneys are RICO Suave' enough not to get indicted on such charges because penalties are super stiff with the RICO Act.
Anyone care for some hot, latin salsa dancing?
George W. Bush finally admits to being the leaker in the Plame Game... now the blamer is blamed. Well, if the courts ever get to try anything against George W. Bush and his gang, they may use the RICO Act. If that ever happens, die-hard Bush fans will hope that Bush and his attorneys are RICO Suave' enough not to get indicted on such charges because penalties are super stiff with the RICO Act.
Anyone care for some hot, latin salsa dancing?
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
61 Taser Deaths: The Gun Alternative
Last year 61 people died from a taser gun shot by police in the United States. This was to be the death-free alternative to guns for police. Hmmmm... Guess not. So, the lesson is if you have heart issues, or are taking recreational drugs or drinking alcohol, or have mental illness, don't get tased--it may be your life at risk.
So, tasers aren't harmless? Well, one cop was apparently permanently injured from a quick jolt from a taser in training. Ok, so if you want to be able to walk and move without pain for the rest of your life, then make sure you don't get tased.
And, one researcher in the UK claims that tasers have been used in the US and Canada as ways to get compliance from people already in their custody (a 2004 Denver Post survey found that one-third of all taser use in the Denver police force was used on handcuffed individuals). This researcher also claims that the taser can easily be used as a means of torture.
If you read these articles, then you know that a taser sends two barbed receptors to the victim and injects 50,000 volts for a period of up to 5 seconds. Each trigger press sends more and more volts to the victim. Sounds like a modified electrocution, doesn't it? I thought they decided that death by electrocution is cruel and unusual. So, wouldn't that mean that individuals under the custody of police that receive taser jolts are receiving cruel and unusual punishment??
Wait, I'm bringing up that Constitutional thing again. Cruel and unusual=taser=torture? Oh. Hmmmm...
So, tasers aren't harmless? Well, one cop was apparently permanently injured from a quick jolt from a taser in training. Ok, so if you want to be able to walk and move without pain for the rest of your life, then make sure you don't get tased.
And, one researcher in the UK claims that tasers have been used in the US and Canada as ways to get compliance from people already in their custody (a 2004 Denver Post survey found that one-third of all taser use in the Denver police force was used on handcuffed individuals). This researcher also claims that the taser can easily be used as a means of torture.
If you read these articles, then you know that a taser sends two barbed receptors to the victim and injects 50,000 volts for a period of up to 5 seconds. Each trigger press sends more and more volts to the victim. Sounds like a modified electrocution, doesn't it? I thought they decided that death by electrocution is cruel and unusual. So, wouldn't that mean that individuals under the custody of police that receive taser jolts are receiving cruel and unusual punishment??
Wait, I'm bringing up that Constitutional thing again. Cruel and unusual=taser=torture? Oh. Hmmmm...
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
You Gotta Know When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em
I don't know if Kenny Rogers wrote that song especially for this ocassion, but it seems a bit fitting, doesn't it?
If you didn't right click and read the title link in a new window, well Card has folded. Andrew Card, who's been sitting at the same poker table at the George W. Bush White House Casino for almost six years, has decided to collect his poker chips and go home. Kind of makes you wonder what the House is holding in their hand, doesn't it? Hmmmm...
If you didn't right click and read the title link in a new window, well Card has folded. Andrew Card, who's been sitting at the same poker table at the George W. Bush White House Casino for almost six years, has decided to collect his poker chips and go home. Kind of makes you wonder what the House is holding in their hand, doesn't it? Hmmmm...
Ooops--Dup'ed Post
Oops.... Duplicated Post -- is removed for your viewing pleasure.
Have a great day!
Have a great day!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
EEeeeck! Dr. Evil Is Likely Working Hard In His Laboratory
The Avian "Bird" Flu doesn't scare me as much as what some creepy mad scientist will do with it. Oh, you're not following me? Didn't you read my last post about the bird flu? Well, scroll down and read it.
One of my diligent blog readers forwarded the Title Link (right click on the title and select open in new window), which expands the knowledge that our mad scientists have to make such a pandemic a reality.
Here's the statements from that article that are likely making Dr. Evil laugh with evil delight:
First and foremost, it (avian flu virus) would need mutations in the spike, the haemagglutinin molecule, to enable the virus to bind to cells in the upper respiratory tract.
This would enable the virus to spread via coughs and sneezes and nasal mucus, which are caused by irritation to the upper airways.
To boost its pandemic potential, the virus also needs changes in its PB2 gene, which controls an enzyme essential for efficient reproduction.
I can hear it now: "Muwaaaah ahhhh ahhhh. My scheme to take over the world, it's all coming into place now. Muwaaaah aaaaah aaaah."
One of my diligent blog readers forwarded the Title Link (right click on the title and select open in new window), which expands the knowledge that our mad scientists have to make such a pandemic a reality.
Here's the statements from that article that are likely making Dr. Evil laugh with evil delight:
First and foremost, it (avian flu virus) would need mutations in the spike, the haemagglutinin molecule, to enable the virus to bind to cells in the upper respiratory tract.
This would enable the virus to spread via coughs and sneezes and nasal mucus, which are caused by irritation to the upper airways.
To boost its pandemic potential, the virus also needs changes in its PB2 gene, which controls an enzyme essential for efficient reproduction.
I can hear it now: "Muwaaaah ahhhh ahhhh. My scheme to take over the world, it's all coming into place now. Muwaaaah aaaaah aaaah."
Freedom of Religion?
"We obviously wouldn't want to see anybody face execution just for exercising their freedom of religion," he said.
I'm going to assume that it was President George W. Bush that said this, although the article is not clear who this quote should be attributed.
Can someone tell our president that in Afganistan there is NO FREEDOM OF RELIGION!
Sometimes when I read the headlines on Google News, I can't stop shaking my head. What kind of president would say that? I guess one who has no idea what Muslim laws under an Islamic government are all about.
Maybe that's one of those reasons why Iraq isn't going as well as we were led to believe. What were we thinking? That nations in the Middle East are very tolerant?? Yes, they are so tolerant that their women walk around enshrouded in black. That's Middle East tolerance for you and that should have clued us in a little bit, don't you think?
Where's that big ACME anvil when we need it??
I'm going to assume that it was President George W. Bush that said this, although the article is not clear who this quote should be attributed.
Can someone tell our president that in Afganistan there is NO FREEDOM OF RELIGION!
Sometimes when I read the headlines on Google News, I can't stop shaking my head. What kind of president would say that? I guess one who has no idea what Muslim laws under an Islamic government are all about.
Maybe that's one of those reasons why Iraq isn't going as well as we were led to believe. What were we thinking? That nations in the Middle East are very tolerant?? Yes, they are so tolerant that their women walk around enshrouded in black. That's Middle East tolerance for you and that should have clued us in a little bit, don't you think?
Where's that big ACME anvil when we need it??
Bye, Bye Birdie?
Imagine a conversation with a top "investor" in pharmaceuticals and/or issues pertaining to legislation to combat the avian flu and a researcher in the study that found the current form of the avian flu virus is difficult to transmit from human to human.
Hmmm... So, your research has shown that the bird flu is hard to pass from human to human. What can you do about that, you know, to make that virus do that? You said something about the virus mutating, can you do that? Make it mutate? You know, like teenage mutant ninja avian flu viruses? Give 'em some throwing stars or something that will really be a big hit with people everywhere.
Hmmm... So, your research has shown that the bird flu is hard to pass from human to human. What can you do about that, you know, to make that virus do that? You said something about the virus mutating, can you do that? Make it mutate? You know, like teenage mutant ninja avian flu viruses? Give 'em some throwing stars or something that will really be a big hit with people everywhere.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Tale of Two Cities: New Orleans & Baghdad
There's a sense of similarity when it comes to redeveloping the destruction of these two cities: New Orleans & Baghdad.
As we look at the Iraq War over the past three years, the redevelopment that we were expecting after capturing Saddam Hussein just isn't happening. As we continue to spend billions upon billions to get Iraq to become civil, now we have a civil war knocking on the Iraqi door. Most of the billions we spend in Iraq is not for rebuilding, but for what? I don't see the promised rebuilding there. The Iraqi people don't look better off than three years ago.
On the other side of the coin is New Orleans. Devastated last fall by an epic hurricane, and subsequent flooding. Will they ever be able to redevelop their neighborhoods to their previous grandeur? Will normal life in New Orleans ever happen for displaced citizens of New Orleans? Will our government spend millions of dollars, just so the rich can rebuild in New Orleans?
It seems that both locales have plans that are going wrong for their average citizens. Normalcy in either location seems a distant and obscure prospect. We can't in all real expectations think that either city can rebuild from such devastations in one or two years. But, you'd hope that they would have a plan and a timeframe to get the job done. A feasible plan that in both cases is not there.
As we look at the Iraq War over the past three years, the redevelopment that we were expecting after capturing Saddam Hussein just isn't happening. As we continue to spend billions upon billions to get Iraq to become civil, now we have a civil war knocking on the Iraqi door. Most of the billions we spend in Iraq is not for rebuilding, but for what? I don't see the promised rebuilding there. The Iraqi people don't look better off than three years ago.
On the other side of the coin is New Orleans. Devastated last fall by an epic hurricane, and subsequent flooding. Will they ever be able to redevelop their neighborhoods to their previous grandeur? Will normal life in New Orleans ever happen for displaced citizens of New Orleans? Will our government spend millions of dollars, just so the rich can rebuild in New Orleans?
It seems that both locales have plans that are going wrong for their average citizens. Normalcy in either location seems a distant and obscure prospect. We can't in all real expectations think that either city can rebuild from such devastations in one or two years. But, you'd hope that they would have a plan and a timeframe to get the job done. A feasible plan that in both cases is not there.
Why'd the Chicken Cross the Road?
To spread the Avian Flu virus, of course.
Here's another riddle for you: How can you quickly infect thousands upon thousands of birds with avian flu at one shot and spread it across a continent?
Answer: Infect the birds when they have migrated south for the winter, then in the spring, watch it spread like wildfire!
You're not laughing. Oh, you read the linked article. Well. I'll have to say that when the avian flu hit Turkey last fall, that the migratory birds would spread it to Europe in the spring. And look who's got it first? France. That's logical. The majority of birds haven't migrated, yet, and in an effort to get back at France's inability to support the Iraq war, well, you know how that goes.
Don't worry, scientists are working diligently to create the human to human form of the avian flu so their pharmaceutical backers can find vaccines and drugs to cure it. They are working hard to make sure that they can get the almight dollar. Don't worry too much, the USA will probably see the first case of the human to human form of the avian flu, which will likely kill about five hundred people before everyone goes crazy to get vaccinated.
Of course, the vaccination will be mandatory to all US citizens and travelers in the US within six months of introducing the human to human avian flu vaccine. So no worries. The vaccine will also have a GPS device inside so the government can really play big brother. They will claim the chip is a time release device for the vaccine, but really it isn't. Some wisecracking folks will have shirts for those innoculated saying "Intell inside." Then, Intel will sue those wisecrackers for millions.
By the time its all over, it'll just be one big joke for the organizers of this epic tragedy, as the remaining citizens of the US will be programmed like robots to do as they are told and they will know that big brother is watching. Sounds a lot like 1984, huh?
Here's another riddle for you: How can you quickly infect thousands upon thousands of birds with avian flu at one shot and spread it across a continent?
Answer: Infect the birds when they have migrated south for the winter, then in the spring, watch it spread like wildfire!
You're not laughing. Oh, you read the linked article. Well. I'll have to say that when the avian flu hit Turkey last fall, that the migratory birds would spread it to Europe in the spring. And look who's got it first? France. That's logical. The majority of birds haven't migrated, yet, and in an effort to get back at France's inability to support the Iraq war, well, you know how that goes.
Don't worry, scientists are working diligently to create the human to human form of the avian flu so their pharmaceutical backers can find vaccines and drugs to cure it. They are working hard to make sure that they can get the almight dollar. Don't worry too much, the USA will probably see the first case of the human to human form of the avian flu, which will likely kill about five hundred people before everyone goes crazy to get vaccinated.
Of course, the vaccination will be mandatory to all US citizens and travelers in the US within six months of introducing the human to human avian flu vaccine. So no worries. The vaccine will also have a GPS device inside so the government can really play big brother. They will claim the chip is a time release device for the vaccine, but really it isn't. Some wisecracking folks will have shirts for those innoculated saying "Intell inside." Then, Intel will sue those wisecrackers for millions.
By the time its all over, it'll just be one big joke for the organizers of this epic tragedy, as the remaining citizens of the US will be programmed like robots to do as they are told and they will know that big brother is watching. Sounds a lot like 1984, huh?
Monday, March 20, 2006
Generation Y Less Violent?
Current generation is less violent than previous generation? Really?? Hmmmm...
I read a similar article to the one I am linking to in the March 12th Des Moines Register. Who are they trying to fool? There's still violence.
This is like Tom Brokaw calling the World War II generation the greatest. Although that generation had some good people, Mr. Brokaw's opinion is not to be construed as fact. There were some very terrible things that World War II generation faced. There are terrible things that the current youth are facing. However, I wouldn't call Gen Y the second greatest generation. Maybe Tom Brokaw would.
So, all the violent video games, acceptable drug use/abuse for new fangled ailments like ADHD, the pervaillance of drugs in smaller communities, rave parties, loud boom cars, the total lack of respect for anyone but themselves, and complete disregard to authority makes them less violent?
How about this: Police are more willing to tolerate this generation's reckless (and feckless) behavior because they don't want to deal with them and their attitudes. This generation has gotten away with more crime than my terrible Gen X ever could. We see this Gen Y, or Millennials, as they apparently prefer to be named, talking back to police officers and other citizens on our small towns streets consistently. We speak to the police officers who would prefer not to bother them when they are fighting at the quicky mart down the street because they don't want to deal with them. The police ignore the drug trading that is going on right at the courthouse square and across from the middle school, as if the brown bag that is passed is just filled with peanut butter sandwiches and an apple. This is a generation that feels entitled, and desires to be spoon-fed, lest they have to ever think on their own. And if you force them to think on their own, well, then you're not being fair.
And this: The more we make children nice, obedient robots, the less apt to deal with rebelious issues. Right? Well, instead of finding a cause for a child's inability to focus when we want them to pay attention, let's just drug them. That's what we've done to the Millenials. Approximately 8.8 million children each year are prescribed with stimulant medication to treat ADHD. It's become the miracle pill, or has it? How safe is it? Does it really help the child, or is it just to keep the sanity of the teacher, or parent, who can't deal with certain children? What underlying conditions is such a drug like Ritalin covering, especially for those children misdiagnosed in their early years? How have we in effect doomed these young children for the rest of their lives with the label ADD/ADHD and forcing them to take a pill that in the 70s and 80s would be classified as an illegal drug for kids (remember speed, uppers)? Is the current thought of less violent kids a direct result of the legal drugging up of our children? Is this all a part of the dumbing down of America?
Is this why children in the US are more inclined now more than ever before, to be overweight? Are our children so complacent with ADHD drugs that they don't have the energy or ability to play on their own without some guidance (by teachers or drugs)?
Can ADD/ADHD and other distracting behaviors be overcome without the use of drugs? Yes. And Yes. But that would take some effort on the part of teachers, school administrators and parents. They'd have to take an active interest in our children and truly help them. Work with the environment kids are in to avoid distracting objects, and becoming an example of behavior that is expected of them. That takes brain power and human relations power, that apparently schools don't want to be forced to use.
I read a similar article to the one I am linking to in the March 12th Des Moines Register. Who are they trying to fool? There's still violence.
This is like Tom Brokaw calling the World War II generation the greatest. Although that generation had some good people, Mr. Brokaw's opinion is not to be construed as fact. There were some very terrible things that World War II generation faced. There are terrible things that the current youth are facing. However, I wouldn't call Gen Y the second greatest generation. Maybe Tom Brokaw would.
So, all the violent video games, acceptable drug use/abuse for new fangled ailments like ADHD, the pervaillance of drugs in smaller communities, rave parties, loud boom cars, the total lack of respect for anyone but themselves, and complete disregard to authority makes them less violent?
How about this: Police are more willing to tolerate this generation's reckless (and feckless) behavior because they don't want to deal with them and their attitudes. This generation has gotten away with more crime than my terrible Gen X ever could. We see this Gen Y, or Millennials, as they apparently prefer to be named, talking back to police officers and other citizens on our small towns streets consistently. We speak to the police officers who would prefer not to bother them when they are fighting at the quicky mart down the street because they don't want to deal with them. The police ignore the drug trading that is going on right at the courthouse square and across from the middle school, as if the brown bag that is passed is just filled with peanut butter sandwiches and an apple. This is a generation that feels entitled, and desires to be spoon-fed, lest they have to ever think on their own. And if you force them to think on their own, well, then you're not being fair.
And this: The more we make children nice, obedient robots, the less apt to deal with rebelious issues. Right? Well, instead of finding a cause for a child's inability to focus when we want them to pay attention, let's just drug them. That's what we've done to the Millenials. Approximately 8.8 million children each year are prescribed with stimulant medication to treat ADHD. It's become the miracle pill, or has it? How safe is it? Does it really help the child, or is it just to keep the sanity of the teacher, or parent, who can't deal with certain children? What underlying conditions is such a drug like Ritalin covering, especially for those children misdiagnosed in their early years? How have we in effect doomed these young children for the rest of their lives with the label ADD/ADHD and forcing them to take a pill that in the 70s and 80s would be classified as an illegal drug for kids (remember speed, uppers)? Is the current thought of less violent kids a direct result of the legal drugging up of our children? Is this all a part of the dumbing down of America?
Is this why children in the US are more inclined now more than ever before, to be overweight? Are our children so complacent with ADHD drugs that they don't have the energy or ability to play on their own without some guidance (by teachers or drugs)?
Can ADD/ADHD and other distracting behaviors be overcome without the use of drugs? Yes. And Yes. But that would take some effort on the part of teachers, school administrators and parents. They'd have to take an active interest in our children and truly help them. Work with the environment kids are in to avoid distracting objects, and becoming an example of behavior that is expected of them. That takes brain power and human relations power, that apparently schools don't want to be forced to use.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Does That Make Censure?
"The president has broken the law," says Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin). Sen. Feingold views Bush's public surveillence without a warrant as an offense against the constitution and grounds for censure in the US Senate. Feingold's five-page resolution will be presented to the US Senate today.
Republicans that support Bush, however, have rebutted the notions of censure and possible impeachment in the House, not by proving Bush did not offend the constitution, but by linking the Democrats actions with hindering the war on terror and degrading the US international reputation.
Senate majority leader Bill Frist claims that this action will "weaken the United States in a time of war."
Ah, reality check, Mr. Frist. Ok, we started a war based on weak intell in Iraq, when we still had not finished one in Afganistan and have yet to capture Osama bin Laden, the kingpin of 9/11. We have ignored our own constitution by detaining US and US-based foreigners without any due process, allowed a president to spy on our citizens without a warrant that would nullify any evidence received this way in a court of law, and weakened constitutional rights under the guise (disguise) of the unwinnable war on terror. As insurgents and the workings of an Iraqi civil war surface, the US military situation is not looking very good there. And then there's Hurricane Katrina, proving that Homeland Security isn't so secure after 9/11 after all the money we've dumped into such an idea as homeland security. You think President Bush is making the US safer, Mr. Frist, really? C'mon. I think we've done a "helluva" job weakening US foreign and domestic impressions very well, already.
And you, Mr. Frist, want to claim that standing up for the constitution would weaken international impressions of the United States? On the contrary, defending the Constitution of the United States would be a symbol of a strengthening United States, showing the world that we are responsible for upholding our laws and willing to stand strong behind the one document, the foundation that sets the United States as a great nation.
Senator John Warner (R-Virginia) claims that Feingold's censure announcement is "political grandstanding... And it tends to weaken our president." Actually, the process of censure will either prove that President Bush is strong in upholding the Constitution, or as weak as his actions prove him to be.
If we don't defend the Constitution of the United States when it is tested, either by the president or any other action by the US government, then the checks and balances imparted by the Constitution have failed.
If we don't uphold the Constitution of the United States, then we are a weak nation.
Republicans that support Bush, however, have rebutted the notions of censure and possible impeachment in the House, not by proving Bush did not offend the constitution, but by linking the Democrats actions with hindering the war on terror and degrading the US international reputation.
Senate majority leader Bill Frist claims that this action will "weaken the United States in a time of war."
Ah, reality check, Mr. Frist. Ok, we started a war based on weak intell in Iraq, when we still had not finished one in Afganistan and have yet to capture Osama bin Laden, the kingpin of 9/11. We have ignored our own constitution by detaining US and US-based foreigners without any due process, allowed a president to spy on our citizens without a warrant that would nullify any evidence received this way in a court of law, and weakened constitutional rights under the guise (disguise) of the unwinnable war on terror. As insurgents and the workings of an Iraqi civil war surface, the US military situation is not looking very good there. And then there's Hurricane Katrina, proving that Homeland Security isn't so secure after 9/11 after all the money we've dumped into such an idea as homeland security. You think President Bush is making the US safer, Mr. Frist, really? C'mon. I think we've done a "helluva" job weakening US foreign and domestic impressions very well, already.
And you, Mr. Frist, want to claim that standing up for the constitution would weaken international impressions of the United States? On the contrary, defending the Constitution of the United States would be a symbol of a strengthening United States, showing the world that we are responsible for upholding our laws and willing to stand strong behind the one document, the foundation that sets the United States as a great nation.
Senator John Warner (R-Virginia) claims that Feingold's censure announcement is "political grandstanding... And it tends to weaken our president." Actually, the process of censure will either prove that President Bush is strong in upholding the Constitution, or as weak as his actions prove him to be.
If we don't defend the Constitution of the United States when it is tested, either by the president or any other action by the US government, then the checks and balances imparted by the Constitution have failed.
If we don't uphold the Constitution of the United States, then we are a weak nation.
Friday, March 10, 2006
MMmmmm-Impeaches are Ripening
A case of mmmm-impeaches, please. With House Resolution 635 that Rep. John Conyers (D., Michigan) presented to the House in December 2005, the first fruits of the impeach tree were noticed as budding from the spent blossoms of impropaganda. Now, in the March 2006 edition of Harpers Magazine features an article on this bold statement from Rep. Conyers.
It is amazing, especially recently, how so many incidents, negligence, and ignorance from the Bush Administration inadvertently proves those yummy impeaches are just about ready for harvesting. And you know what that means? Delicious Impeachment Pie! Check out my recipe for impeachment pie, and when those impeaches are perfectly ripe, make yourself a couple of impeachment pies--one for you and one for a friend (or if you are impatient, frozen impeaches work, as well). Hey, if impeachment pie is too long to say, you can call it "Imp Pie", too!
It is amazing, especially recently, how so many incidents, negligence, and ignorance from the Bush Administration inadvertently proves those yummy impeaches are just about ready for harvesting. And you know what that means? Delicious Impeachment Pie! Check out my recipe for impeachment pie, and when those impeaches are perfectly ripe, make yourself a couple of impeachment pies--one for you and one for a friend (or if you are impatient, frozen impeaches work, as well). Hey, if impeachment pie is too long to say, you can call it "Imp Pie", too!
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