Pastor John Hagee lives in San Antonio, Texas and is Pastor of Cornerstone Church.
He is founder and leader of "Christians United For Israel", which is an 18,000 incendary
lobby of hate toward Iran, Arabs, and Moslems. Hagee wants an end-time confrontation
in the Middle East. He preaches and leads the lobby effort to prevent a two-state
solution for the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and calls on Congress to
support a pre-emptive military attack on Iran. (His influence can be seen recently in the
lop-sided Senate Resolution vote which many see as a blank check for Bush-Cheney go-ahead
to attack Iran). When he comes to Washington to deliver speeches one-third of the House and
one-half of the Senate attend. As we recently saw on television, Sen. Obama even visited
his church. Moreover, he meets regularly with the top leaders of the GOP(God's Only Party)
and contenders of the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination. The President of the Unitd
States sends letters of endorsement to his speaking engagements. His motivation is to hasten armageddon and preaches that the return of Jesus depends on the protection of Israel and that a peaceful two-state coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians is contrary to biblical prophecy of the rapture. He and the CUFI and his fellow-travelers work against any prospect of ending the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He preaches that there will be no
peace until Jesus returns in the flesh. His sole purpose is to hasten that time by igniting
passions against Washington, the UN, and any person(recently Jimmy Carter has been in
his cross-hairs) who speaks in favor of coexistence between Israel and the Arabs, especially
the Palestinians. He considers any one speaking against Isreal as "the real enemy." He says
the UN is a "pathetic and hopeless organization" because it stands in the way of the
fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Hagee says, "God deals with nations, churches, and people
as they deal with Israel and the Jewish people. It is clear that Israel is in the greatest days
she has faced since six armies tried to strangle the Jewish state in the birth canal in 1948.
The head of the beast of radical Islam in the Middle East is Iran. Iran is Germany.
Ahmadinejad is Hitler, and he is talking about killing the Jews. The only way to prevent a
nuclear war is to make certain it never starts. It's time for America to adopt Sen. Lieberman's
words and consider a military pre-emptive strike against Iran."
Hagee is straight on message and very good at whipping the passions of his faithful to a frenzy.
Shortly after Falwell's death, he spoke at Liberty University. It is being re-broadcast on the
TBN network, and one can catch his effectiveness. He does not mince words and the crowd is
jumping to their feet calling and shouting for Jesus. Hagee is crazed with his grand plan for a
biblical prohisied end-time confrontation, armagheddon, which will lead to the rapture, the
tribulation, and the second coming of Christ. "The end of the world as we know it is rapidly
approaching, rejoice and be exceedingly glad, the best is yet to be." What Hagee does is to
"cherry-pick" his biblical passages and verses. He never mentions that according to the bible,
the Arabs descended from Abraham as well.
As might be expected, Hagee is a very close friend of AIPAC, the American Israeli Political
Action Committee. They love him because he brings many votes with him. Yet, there is
a quid pro quid, he extracts. He gives AIPAC his support, but AIPAC has to remain silent
on the religious right political agenda. He gets Jewish silence on his desire to establish a
theocracy in the US. Another reason AIPAC remains silent is that his followers are often
visitors to Israel and it encourages all Christians to come to Israel, which is crucial to
Israel's tourist industry. Hagee is a clear and present danger, therefore, in three ways. He
agitates against US foreign policy in the Middle East as with the Israelis and the Palestinians,
he leads the way for pre-emptive war with Iran, and domestically his desire is to destroy
the Constitution of the United States. His analogy of Ahmadinejad being Hitler doesn't hold
up, but he doesn't care; it is eggareration for effect. Ahmadenejad has not killed six million
Jews. Hagee is the christo-fascist; he is the Hitler. Hagee is well aware that the Jews have
to be killed off for biblical prophecy to be literal. His congregation and fellow travelers are the
storm troops, first the SA and then the SS. Like Hitler, he is a war monger. He travels all over
the US and visits all the mega-churches. He calls these pastors, "the spiritual generals of
America." For Ohioans, his major supporter is Rod Parsley. To ignore Pastor John Hagee
is peril.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Toledo Bishop Uses Pious Fraud Argument
Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo penned an instructive letter to 'the faithful' attempting to help explain the recent statement of Pope Benedict XVI which declared the Roman Catholic Church to be the one, true church. Naturally, it is a daunting task, but that did not stop the bishop from rattling off lots of ecclesiastical verbiage in its defense. One almost needs a translator to read his letter.
What is clear, however, is that Bishop Blair begins by a grand and false assumption about the Catholic Church. It comes in this sentence: "Mutual respect and understanding are essential first steps, but we are also obliged to dialogue about divisive theological issues in a common search for the truth as to what Christ willed for His church."
Did you catch it? If not, here is your second chance: "What Vatican II taught, and the recent document repeats, is that the church, as Jesus willed it, “subsists” in its fullness in the Roman Catholic Church."
Here is the third and last chance: "However, these churches and ecclesial communities do not always accept all the elements that we believe Christ meant the church to have. "
In using the spurious debate tactic, aptly named Pious Fraud, Bishop Blair has used it three times [like Peter's denial] in the first 10 paragraphs of the letter.
Pious Fraud, also known as a lie, occurs when an emotionally committed speaker makes an assertion that is shaded, distorted or even fabricated. I think that the bishop need not seek confession because he 'knows not what he has said,' to quote some famous person.
Here it is: "the truth as to what Christ willed for His church." For HIS church? No, bishop, Christ did not will anything for his church because, as a devout Jew, he was interested in helping purify the Synagogue from the Sadducees who had corrupted it.
Nowhere, except in that specious 'Peter and the rock' verse, does Jesus want to throw away his Jewish faith. Never does he condemn his faith and suggest that he wants to start a new one. Not one word. Reform is his cry, not destroy.
Odd how the 'church' became so disconnected with Jesus' faith, the Jewish faith. Rather, deliberate, not odd. After all, one could not have 'the Jews' responsible for killing Jesus the Jew. Note that all of the icons of Jesus in the early churches show a European Jesus. Not only was his purpose in preaching snatched away, so was his Jewish heritage.
Sorry, Bishop Blair, Jesus didn't spend his life working to build your church, your hierarchy, your set of assumptions. He came to bring love and honesty to the synagogues of Judea.
What is clear, however, is that Bishop Blair begins by a grand and false assumption about the Catholic Church. It comes in this sentence: "Mutual respect and understanding are essential first steps, but we are also obliged to dialogue about divisive theological issues in a common search for the truth as to what Christ willed for His church."
Did you catch it? If not, here is your second chance: "What Vatican II taught, and the recent document repeats, is that the church, as Jesus willed it, “subsists” in its fullness in the Roman Catholic Church."
Here is the third and last chance: "However, these churches and ecclesial communities do not always accept all the elements that we believe Christ meant the church to have. "
In using the spurious debate tactic, aptly named Pious Fraud, Bishop Blair has used it three times [like Peter's denial] in the first 10 paragraphs of the letter.
Pious Fraud, also known as a lie, occurs when an emotionally committed speaker makes an assertion that is shaded, distorted or even fabricated. I think that the bishop need not seek confession because he 'knows not what he has said,' to quote some famous person.
Here it is: "the truth as to what Christ willed for His church." For HIS church? No, bishop, Christ did not will anything for his church because, as a devout Jew, he was interested in helping purify the Synagogue from the Sadducees who had corrupted it.
Nowhere, except in that specious 'Peter and the rock' verse, does Jesus want to throw away his Jewish faith. Never does he condemn his faith and suggest that he wants to start a new one. Not one word. Reform is his cry, not destroy.
Odd how the 'church' became so disconnected with Jesus' faith, the Jewish faith. Rather, deliberate, not odd. After all, one could not have 'the Jews' responsible for killing Jesus the Jew. Note that all of the icons of Jesus in the early churches show a European Jesus. Not only was his purpose in preaching snatched away, so was his Jewish heritage.
Sorry, Bishop Blair, Jesus didn't spend his life working to build your church, your hierarchy, your set of assumptions. He came to bring love and honesty to the synagogues of Judea.
Bush and Cronies Look'n for Another War
The third. The first two didn't go according to plan; actually, there wasn't any. Maybe they kissed their lucky rabbit's foot, hoping that the new war, Iran, will go better.
'Do you hear what I hear?' Line from a Christmas song or the latest talk against Iran. Today Petraeus fingered Iran as a large problem in Iraq. Oh, really, general, is that so? As the top Bush sycophant, he's trying to help Bush pin the blame for the war on somebody, anybody but the president and the military leaders. He said, "You cannot lose focus on al Qaeda, but there is "no question" that Iranian arms are ending up in the hands of Iraqi militias."
Five years into this mess, the Bush folks are still looking for the guilty party' obviously they don't count. Didn't I read recently that Iraq is buying a boatload of guns from China? Baghdad apparently passed by made-in-America Colt M16A3 rifles and paid $100 million for Chinese AK-47 knockoffs.
Then there were those 190,000 missing guns sent from America to Baghdad that, well, seem to be MIA. We also recall that hapless L. Paul Bremer, the former top U.S. administrator in Iraq, who issued an order in 2003 that essentially upheld Iraqi law: Every man and woman 25 and older with a "good reputation and character" was entitled to own one firearm, including a fully automatic AK-47 assault rifle. No doubt, Bremer is a card-carrying member of the NRA.
This piece of news from Radio Praha: "Coalition forces in Iraq have come across insurgents wearing Czech-made bullet-proof vests. American authorities suspected that illegal shipments of military equipment from the Czech Republic to Iraq could have occurred, and have asked the Czech police for assistance in investigating the matter." Odd that I haven't heard the general talk about Czech arms in Iraq.
From the UK Guardian: "The government was facing awkward questions last night over an arms deal involving a British company licensed by the Department of Trade and Industry to import weapons but which was also selling Bosnian machine guns to an Iraqi official later implicated in an alleged $1.1bn (£545m) corruption scandal." General?
Iranian guns in Iraq? Welcome to the gun show, general.
'Do you hear what I hear?' Line from a Christmas song or the latest talk against Iran. Today Petraeus fingered Iran as a large problem in Iraq. Oh, really, general, is that so? As the top Bush sycophant, he's trying to help Bush pin the blame for the war on somebody, anybody but the president and the military leaders. He said, "You cannot lose focus on al Qaeda, but there is "no question" that Iranian arms are ending up in the hands of Iraqi militias."
Five years into this mess, the Bush folks are still looking for the guilty party' obviously they don't count. Didn't I read recently that Iraq is buying a boatload of guns from China? Baghdad apparently passed by made-in-America Colt M16A3 rifles and paid $100 million for Chinese AK-47 knockoffs.
Then there were those 190,000 missing guns sent from America to Baghdad that, well, seem to be MIA. We also recall that hapless L. Paul Bremer, the former top U.S. administrator in Iraq, who issued an order in 2003 that essentially upheld Iraqi law: Every man and woman 25 and older with a "good reputation and character" was entitled to own one firearm, including a fully automatic AK-47 assault rifle. No doubt, Bremer is a card-carrying member of the NRA.
This piece of news from Radio Praha: "Coalition forces in Iraq have come across insurgents wearing Czech-made bullet-proof vests. American authorities suspected that illegal shipments of military equipment from the Czech Republic to Iraq could have occurred, and have asked the Czech police for assistance in investigating the matter." Odd that I haven't heard the general talk about Czech arms in Iraq.
From the UK Guardian: "The government was facing awkward questions last night over an arms deal involving a British company licensed by the Department of Trade and Industry to import weapons but which was also selling Bosnian machine guns to an Iraqi official later implicated in an alleged $1.1bn (£545m) corruption scandal." General?
Iranian guns in Iraq? Welcome to the gun show, general.
Evangelicals Heading Off Cliff: Let's Hope So!
I hope that my brief cyber trip to Townhall.com does not result in any psychological virus, but I was curious to read an article on one of my favorite political topics: those funny evangelical Christians. Kathleen Parker, whose more moderate conservative views barely qualify her for residency at Townhall, said in a recent article, Christians for Self-Defeat, "Evangelical Christians never had it so good, but they seem not to know it. Instead of supporting the candidate who most shares their values -- Mitt Romney -- they seem hell-bent for the proverbial cliff."
Let's hope so!
They would rather start a 3rd party than support one of 'those' Christians. You know, the "M" word. Apparently the "M's" are not the 'right' kind of Christian. Obviously, there must be some sort of secret gospel in their possession that says just that. I do enjoy reading secret gospels, the ones that managed to survive that early-Christian book burning fervor that purified early Christian thought. Perhaps someone could give me a hint where I, too, can find the real true story of Jesus and his plan.
A minister from the Southern Baptist Convention was one of the guests this morning on C-Span. He, too, has a litmus test for president; Giuliani comes up too blue. The female body, again. One caller challenged him, not unlike many of my posts, about the 9-month right to life or the life-time right-to-life, especially nailing the Bush veto of children's health care. He managed to spin nicely around that, using all of the White House talking points.
Then there are those Zionist Christians of which I recently wrote who wish Bush to nuke Iran. Apparently they found another secret gospel that orders that directive.
I often play in my youngest grandson's sandbox with him. Sometimes we filter the sand with the various sieves he has. We throw the chaff out, keeping in only the finest sand. I think this might be the perfect metaphor for those oh-so righteous fundamentalist Christians.
The most ironic part of this entire filtering scenario is the fact that story after story in the Gospels is Jesus reaching out to the women, the outcast, the leper, the blind, the sinner, the foreigner. Oddly his 'sieve' only filtered out the hypocrite.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Sand Castle at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The trouble with a sandcastle, as every child sadly learns, is their impermanence. What's that line from the Bible warning about building a house upon sand?Some folks, this author included, knew right off that the naive governor of Texas, the ne'erdowell son of the president, was mostly made of sand-stuff rather than star-stuff. We could see the grains under his fingernails.
They crumble: sandcastles. Many children learn that their 2nd one ought to be further away from the waterline; some apparently never get it. They'd rather be right than competent. The stuff of children, but thankfully, most grow up and become more wise. Some even become wise adults who learn from their adolescent failures.
I recall reading a line in one of my many books on George W. Bush, some metaphor of The Emperor's New Clothes, in which the author says that it will happen, ever-so slowly, here in America, and that it will first be just a giggle, then laughter, and finally, full blown hilarity as more and more Americans see Mr. Bush as that Andersen character. At the time I read it, few snickered; many Americans were still horns-waggled by the fear and lies. I said to my wife,"that will be a long way off."
His incompetence is transparent, like the clothes, but it brings tears rather than laughter. This emperor has blood on his hands. Seven out of ten Americans have come to realize it; the other three are chronically gulliable.
He is not finished playing with guns yet: he sees another Muslim nation in the crosshairs and has his trigger finger ready to blast. And why not? What has he to lose? Clearly not his reputation; that, like the sandcastle, has eroded long ago. He hears voices, too. Some are surreal, like the Father, others are real, like the fundamental Christian zealots shouting at him to pull the trigger. His wife stands beside him, smile plastered on her non-empathetic face, like a Greek statue.
Garrison Keillor penned a short essay nearly two years ago for Salon.com titled, "The little Man." His closing paragraph is heartbreakingly accurate:
"So why does he still seem so small, our president? In his presidential library, he'll be portrayed as Abraham Lincoln after Chancellorsville and FDR after Corregidor, but to most of us, the crisis in Washington today stems from a man intellectually and temperamentally unequipped to rise to the challenge. Most of us sense that when, decades from now, the story of this administration comes out, it will be one of ordinary incompetence, of rigid and incurious people overwhelmed by events in a world they don't dare look around and see."
Friday, October 5, 2007
Christians United for Israel: Dangerous Military Zealots
Bill Moyer's Journal this evening on PBS focused on a group of evangelical Christians, Christians United for Israel, whose leader, John Hagee, is encouraging President Bush to pre-emptively strike Iran 'before they get nuclear weapons.' This fanatical leader says he had 50,000 pastors and their congregations behind this military move 'to save Israel.'
The end-timers in his organization, dream of Armageddon occurring soon, in their life time, right there in Israel, where Jesus will come and take them directly to heaven. Christians United for Israel are lobbying Congress and are finding many members sympathetic to their cause. Senators Mc Cain and Lieberman fully support such a military move.
What a scary group of people these folks are to our democracy! They want to use the power of the United States military to begin the end-times so that they can get to heaven now.
I have not heard such skewed thinking like this in all of my 6 decades as a US citizen. But, they take advantage of two things which might lead to success for their harebrained idea. First is a lackadaisical citizenry who is unplugged and disinterested in politics. Second, they see in George Bush a man with nothing to lose by initiating such a military strike. After all, he talks with God and he has been sent by God.
Frightening? Totally! Spread the word about these un-American fundamentalists who seek to ruin our way of life here in America.
Bill Moyer's Journal
The end-timers in his organization, dream of Armageddon occurring soon, in their life time, right there in Israel, where Jesus will come and take them directly to heaven. Christians United for Israel are lobbying Congress and are finding many members sympathetic to their cause. Senators Mc Cain and Lieberman fully support such a military move.
What a scary group of people these folks are to our democracy! They want to use the power of the United States military to begin the end-times so that they can get to heaven now.
I have not heard such skewed thinking like this in all of my 6 decades as a US citizen. But, they take advantage of two things which might lead to success for their harebrained idea. First is a lackadaisical citizenry who is unplugged and disinterested in politics. Second, they see in George Bush a man with nothing to lose by initiating such a military strike. After all, he talks with God and he has been sent by God.
Frightening? Totally! Spread the word about these un-American fundamentalists who seek to ruin our way of life here in America.
Bill Moyer's Journal
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Rick Santorum is Coming to Town: Praise Jesus!
When my mother became unable to handle her mail, it was sent to my house; she died six years ago, but I receive quite a lot of her junk mail. Today she was invited to attend a Foundation for Life benefit at The Pinnacle on November 14. She will not be able to attend.
The keynote speaker for the event will be recently-defeated Senator Rick Santorum. Says the flier, "In the Senate this prolife champion spearheaded the passage of key legislation to ban partial-birth abortion, the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act."
My mother could check one of several boxes for her donation: Advocate for life @ $250 or Leader for life @ $500. But wait, there is Champion for Life @ $1,000 and Defender of Life @ $2,500. Still better @ $5,000 she could become Guardian of Life.
Thus, depending on the donation, one could rise from a mere 'advocate' through 'champion' all the way to the top as 'guardian.' Reminds me of the Bush/Cheney 'pioneers' and 'rangers.'
So Rick Santorum is 'a prolife champion.' Pro-life is an interesting phrase as I noted in previous posts. This morning, before my mail delivery, I wondered if pro-lifers ended their 'concern' for life after the 9th month in the womb. Let's see how concerned Senator Santorum is with 'life.' I searched [Google] santorum senate record and found these results:
• Santorum voted for unfair trade deals like CAFTA that send our jobs overseas.
• He tried to eliminate the 40-hour work week and cut our overtime pay, and opposed creating new jobs protected by prevailing wages.
• Santorum supported $14 billion in cuts to Medicaid and voted against the Family and Medical Leave Act as well as the Patients’ Bill of Rights.
• Santorum co-sponsored a bill to create private accounts and voted against protecting Social Security benefits.
• Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives.
• Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
• Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes.
• Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women.
• Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds.
• Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore.
• Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy.
• Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals.
• Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment.
• Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education.
• Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction.
• Voted YES on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer.
• Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy.
• Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%).
• Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months.
• Voted NO on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations.
• Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China.
• Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China.
• Voted NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity.
• Voted NO on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance.
• Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
• Voted NO on background checks at gun shows.
• Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks.
• Voted NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics.
• Voted NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug.
• Voted NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare.
• Voted NO on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages.
• Voted NO on increasing tobacco restrictions.
• Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border.
• Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work.
• Voted NO on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship.
• Voted NO on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25.
• Voted YES on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress.
• Voted NO on increasing tax deductions for college tuition.
• Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007.
• Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007.
• Voted YES on welfare overhaul.
Seems to me that Senator Santorum's definition of 'pro-life' is quite narrow and, in fact, seems limited to those 9 months in the womb. After that, too bad kid!
Quigley for Toledo Mayor
Chad Quigley is contemplating a run for mayor of Toledo. He has the chutzpah to pull it off. He has begun a new blog for the purpose of introducing himself and his ideas to his fellow Toledoans.
He lives in the inner city and has spent a great deal of time bringing new life back to home on Putnam Street. The result can be seen in this photo. Chad has been very active in neighborhood improvement and safety. Unfortunately and not unusual, he has run into red tape when trying to deal with city bureaucracy.
He lives in the inner city and has spent a great deal of time bringing new life back to home on Putnam Street. The result can be seen in this photo. Chad has been very active in neighborhood improvement and safety. Unfortunately and not unusual, he has run into red tape when trying to deal with city bureaucracy.
Nonetheless, he does not give up the good fight to bring his neighborhood back to its once good standing in the city. In fact, I had an uncle who lived on Putnam all of his life and that street was once a grand display of many fine, well-kept homes. You can read more of his efforts on neighborhood improvements as well as his own personal struggle with safety in his area on this blog.
Good luck, Chad, and drop by to tell us the latest in your quest.
The Right to Life...but not health care
Those folks who plaster their bumpers with Right to Life stickers right next to their, now fading, W 04 sticker are a hoot. They are a determined lot, to be sure, and quite the narrowly focused one too. They will demonstrate, yell, write letters to the editor, and participate in all sorts of activities to save the fetus, but, once delivered, they pack up and go home to rant about welfare cheats and those damned tax and spend Democrats.
Apparently the 'right to life' ends at the 9th month. Once the baby is born, it's on its own: good luck kid!
Most Right to Lifers are, interestingly, members of the Republican Party, as were my parents . They, too, railed against abortion and, in the next breath, condemned most of the social welfare programs. They grumbled about public school taxes and thought that Franklin Roosevelt was Mao himself. They didn't like their tax dollars spent on 'those' people. You know who 'they' are.
Very odd, isn't it? Guard the fetus with all of their might, but to hell with the kid after that.
No doubt many 'lifers' thought that George Bush's veto of the Children's Health Plan was exactly the right thing to do: taxes, you know. Don't want my money spent on those kids.
No doubt many 'lifers' cheered Bush's preemptive invasion of Iraq; after all, he killed his own people. Do they grieve for the 3,800 US military deaths? Do they grieve for the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who are dead, injured, homeless?
I wonder if it is OK to spend a trillion tax dollars on war? What if that trillion was spent on children- health, education, housing? I wonder how different our nation would have been in 10 years if those trillion dollars were spent right here on our families, our children?
I bet that if some 'damned liberal' Democrat wanted to spend a trillion on American children the outcries from 'the right,' the 'lifers' would have echoed from Maine to California.
Tax and spend Democrats! Communists! They want to turn America into a socialist country!
If it weren't so serious, it would be humorous. War is never humorous, neither is lack of care for our children.
“I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance.” (Jn 10,10)
Apparently the 'right to life' ends at the 9th month. Once the baby is born, it's on its own: good luck kid!
Most Right to Lifers are, interestingly, members of the Republican Party, as were my parents . They, too, railed against abortion and, in the next breath, condemned most of the social welfare programs. They grumbled about public school taxes and thought that Franklin Roosevelt was Mao himself. They didn't like their tax dollars spent on 'those' people. You know who 'they' are.
Very odd, isn't it? Guard the fetus with all of their might, but to hell with the kid after that.
No doubt many 'lifers' thought that George Bush's veto of the Children's Health Plan was exactly the right thing to do: taxes, you know. Don't want my money spent on those kids.
No doubt many 'lifers' cheered Bush's preemptive invasion of Iraq; after all, he killed his own people. Do they grieve for the 3,800 US military deaths? Do they grieve for the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who are dead, injured, homeless?
I wonder if it is OK to spend a trillion tax dollars on war? What if that trillion was spent on children- health, education, housing? I wonder how different our nation would have been in 10 years if those trillion dollars were spent right here on our families, our children?
I bet that if some 'damned liberal' Democrat wanted to spend a trillion on American children the outcries from 'the right,' the 'lifers' would have echoed from Maine to California.
Tax and spend Democrats! Communists! They want to turn America into a socialist country!
If it weren't so serious, it would be humorous. War is never humorous, neither is lack of care for our children.
“I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance.” (Jn 10,10)
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Our Bonhoeffer Moment: Civil Disobedience or Endless War
The article in Common Dreams by Jeff Leys has the title, "Our Bonhoeffer Moment," and speaks to us Americans the words and actions of that brave Lutheran minister who worked against the Nazis in his own beloved Germany. He wrote:
“We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds; we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivocation and pretence; experience has made us suspicious of others and kept us from being truthful and open; intolerable conflicts have worn us down and even made us cynical. Are we still of any use? What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straightforward men. Will our inward power of resistance be strong enough, and our honesty with ourselves remorseless enough, for us to find our way back to simplicity and straightforwardness?”
Some of us have not been 'silent witnesses' but the majority of Americans have. oh, sure, lots of people grumble about 'the war' but don't lift a finger to do anything about it. And I don't buy that sorry-ass slogan, 'What can I do about it?' Luckily Bonhoeffer never said that.
Get active! On October 27 there will be massive demonstrations in 11 large cities throughout America against the insipid Bush War. And we ought to call it the Bush War because clearly, it is HIS war, his choice, his responsibility. But it becomes our responsibility to stop him, to stop the madness. Our silence is his encouragement. Your inaction is 'yes' to war.
“We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds; we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivocation and pretence; experience has made us suspicious of others and kept us from being truthful and open; intolerable conflicts have worn us down and even made us cynical. Are we still of any use? What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straightforward men. Will our inward power of resistance be strong enough, and our honesty with ourselves remorseless enough, for us to find our way back to simplicity and straightforwardness?”
Some of us have not been 'silent witnesses' but the majority of Americans have. oh, sure, lots of people grumble about 'the war' but don't lift a finger to do anything about it. And I don't buy that sorry-ass slogan, 'What can I do about it?' Luckily Bonhoeffer never said that.
Get active! On October 27 there will be massive demonstrations in 11 large cities throughout America against the insipid Bush War. And we ought to call it the Bush War because clearly, it is HIS war, his choice, his responsibility. But it becomes our responsibility to stop him, to stop the madness. Our silence is his encouragement. Your inaction is 'yes' to war.
Is Our Children Healthy: Sequel to The C+ President
What do you get when you mix war and health care in the same budget? Of course. But the further question is this: Why were so many American citizens so ignorant when they elected him back in 2000? Wait. I've a better question: Should those folks who voted to re-elect him in 2004 have their voting license suspended for the rest of their natural lives?
I wonder how the GOP spinmeisters will handle the veto of the Children's Health Bill? Perhaps one of our local Bush apologists will offer an answer. They show up here on a regular basis.
I would have to advise, however, that in their spin, they dare not use the word money or the phrase 'too expensive' or 'budget-buster.'
A bit of preemption here: one cannot both support a veto in health care for our children citizens and at the same time cheer spending 5 times that amount on a war. After all, "We the People" ought to come before some idiotic and frivolous war.
Mr. Bush: the teachers were generous with your grades.
I wonder how the GOP spinmeisters will handle the veto of the Children's Health Bill? Perhaps one of our local Bush apologists will offer an answer. They show up here on a regular basis.
I would have to advise, however, that in their spin, they dare not use the word money or the phrase 'too expensive' or 'budget-buster.'
A bit of preemption here: one cannot both support a veto in health care for our children citizens and at the same time cheer spending 5 times that amount on a war. After all, "We the People" ought to come before some idiotic and frivolous war.
Mr. Bush: the teachers were generous with your grades.
Longing for the Truth: And its Consequences
My vertigo keeps me away from roller coasters and cleaning the gutters. On rare occasions my head spins for no apparent reason. Antivert® to the rescue! I wonder if I'm so inundated by the daily barrage of spin from 'inconvenient truth' that my sensibilities have become inactive.
Just yesterday there was a story of the Chinese toy conundrum: to buy or not to buy- that is the parents' question. Not to worry, said a representative for the Chinese toy industry, 'let the children decide.' Yes, that's what he said. My wife and I shock our heads and reached for the off button. More money for the Mattel Corporation.
CNN reported that there aren't enough meat inspectors to safely assure the public that the product they are about to consume is safe. Yet, buried in the recently passed Farm Bill is a provision to do away with federal inspection of meat; the states ought to do it. The Congressmen forgot to read the bill before voting, 'Aye.' Don't worry though, the state inspectors will do a good job. Who doubts that meat producers will flock to the states with the most lax inspection standards? More money for the businessman.
Blackwater CEO Erik Prince assured lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday that the men in his private security force are all professionals and only shoot in defending their clients. They have sucked a billion tax dollars from the Treasury. A job at Blackwater is a dream world for the 20-something angry white male: all the gun power to keep the dark-skinned people at your mercy. It's the best violent video game with 'real life' action. Another CEO sitting atop a pile of money.
Wisconsin Democrat Obey wanted to introduce a bill yesterday for a war tax. Rather than adding a trillion dollars to the National debt, he said, let's pay for the war as we go along. Outrage! shouted the White House and the Republicans. There goes those tax and spend Democrats! was the cry heard all across the land. Speaker Pelosi, deer-in-the-headlights look, couldn't imagine such legislation. Oh no, not us! We're not tax and spend Democrats, we're borrow and spenders, just like the Republicans. Whitened sepulcher politicians.
I had intended to give some more examples but the spin, the bobbing and weaving forces me to lie down.
Just yesterday there was a story of the Chinese toy conundrum: to buy or not to buy- that is the parents' question. Not to worry, said a representative for the Chinese toy industry, 'let the children decide.' Yes, that's what he said. My wife and I shock our heads and reached for the off button. More money for the Mattel Corporation.
CNN reported that there aren't enough meat inspectors to safely assure the public that the product they are about to consume is safe. Yet, buried in the recently passed Farm Bill is a provision to do away with federal inspection of meat; the states ought to do it. The Congressmen forgot to read the bill before voting, 'Aye.' Don't worry though, the state inspectors will do a good job. Who doubts that meat producers will flock to the states with the most lax inspection standards? More money for the businessman.
Blackwater CEO Erik Prince assured lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday that the men in his private security force are all professionals and only shoot in defending their clients. They have sucked a billion tax dollars from the Treasury. A job at Blackwater is a dream world for the 20-something angry white male: all the gun power to keep the dark-skinned people at your mercy. It's the best violent video game with 'real life' action. Another CEO sitting atop a pile of money.
Wisconsin Democrat Obey wanted to introduce a bill yesterday for a war tax. Rather than adding a trillion dollars to the National debt, he said, let's pay for the war as we go along. Outrage! shouted the White House and the Republicans. There goes those tax and spend Democrats! was the cry heard all across the land. Speaker Pelosi, deer-in-the-headlights look, couldn't imagine such legislation. Oh no, not us! We're not tax and spend Democrats, we're borrow and spenders, just like the Republicans. Whitened sepulcher politicians.
I had intended to give some more examples but the spin, the bobbing and weaving forces me to lie down.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Fascinating Story of IED's in Iraq : Unlearned Lessons of History
MSNBC has posted a 5-page story on the IED problem in Iraq and how impotent the United States seems to be to counter this deadly insurgent weapon. "New type of bomb is unexpectedly lethal in Iraq," is the title of the piece and this opening paragraph frames the story:
"On Aug. 3, 2005, the deadliest roadside bomb ever encountered by U.S. troops in Iraq detonated beneath a 26-ton armored personnel carrier, killing 14 Marines and revealing yet another American vulnerability in the struggle against improvised explosive devices."
By the way, those 14 Marines were reservists were from Ohio. I mention Ohio for two reasons. First, I am from Ohio and mourn the loss of any soldier, but one from my area tugs especially hard at my heart. Secondly, I think back to the early history of Ohio when the white settlers began to pour into this 'wilderness' and staked claims to this pristine area. Of course, they didn't ask the Native Americans living here whether they minded the intrusion. White folks seldom have asked brown-skinned natives for such permission.
The hunters and trappers who came to Ohio were little threat to the Ottawa, the Wyandot, the Shawnee and the Miami who called Ohio their home. But the farmer was the one whose presence and whose land-destruction policies riled the natives. Fences and the axe disrespected both Mother Nature and the native way of life.
The newly formed American government cared little about Native rights and began campaigns to suppress the natives who were trying to defend their lands. Two incompetent generals were sent to the Ohio territory by President Washington to do just that. However, both generals, St. Clair and Harmar, were badly defeated because the Native American tribes used 'insurgent' tactics on the hapless American forces.
"On Aug. 3, 2005, the deadliest roadside bomb ever encountered by U.S. troops in Iraq detonated beneath a 26-ton armored personnel carrier, killing 14 Marines and revealing yet another American vulnerability in the struggle against improvised explosive devices."
By the way, those 14 Marines were reservists were from Ohio. I mention Ohio for two reasons. First, I am from Ohio and mourn the loss of any soldier, but one from my area tugs especially hard at my heart. Secondly, I think back to the early history of Ohio when the white settlers began to pour into this 'wilderness' and staked claims to this pristine area. Of course, they didn't ask the Native Americans living here whether they minded the intrusion. White folks seldom have asked brown-skinned natives for such permission.
The hunters and trappers who came to Ohio were little threat to the Ottawa, the Wyandot, the Shawnee and the Miami who called Ohio their home. But the farmer was the one whose presence and whose land-destruction policies riled the natives. Fences and the axe disrespected both Mother Nature and the native way of life.
The newly formed American government cared little about Native rights and began campaigns to suppress the natives who were trying to defend their lands. Two incompetent generals were sent to the Ohio territory by President Washington to do just that. However, both generals, St. Clair and Harmar, were badly defeated because the Native American tribes used 'insurgent' tactics on the hapless American forces.
I recall a list of military battle advantages and disadvantages that need to be assessed prior to engagement of troops. Romans, millenia ago, knew them. Some I recall include: leadership- purpose- tactics and formations - group cohesion - effects of terrain and environment - influence of equipment on tactics - deployment of battle lines - command and communication - morale - weather- discipline of troops and so forth. However, the sports term 'home court advantage' is one of the most important factors to consider.
The so-called insurgents in Iraq clearly have that home court advantage just as the Native Americans did in the late 1700's here in Ohio. Hopefully, our current set of military experts advising Mr. Bush have laid out this advantage before him; I could have done the same. Folks fighting for their own homeland are tenacious; that is a simple fact of history which Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld failed to grasp before their preemptive invasion.
IED's seemingly provide the ultimate advantage to the 'insurgents' which may, in fact, trump all of power of the mighty American military machine. One needs only recall our colonial fight with the mighty British military some 230 years ago to help understand home court advantage. Sadly, those ideologues who planned the Iraq War should have been better students of history.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Toledo Area Priest Named a 'Priest of Integrity' Bishop Disagrees
The medieval hierarchy of the Catholic Church is again in the spotlight here in Toledo. The very conservative bishop of Toledo, Leonard Blair, has been battling priests in his diocese who speak out on injustice issues. After all, the only 'justice' that the Catholic hierarchy recognizes is the muzzling of vocal critics of the institution. Seems that the Catholic Church has been doing that ever since they muzzled Galileo for suggesting that the earth revolves around the sun. He recanted that wild idea.
According to The Blade, "Rev. Stephen Stanbery has railed against sexual abuse, parish closings, and an alleged murder cover-up involving the Catholic Church." The article goes on: "In its announcement of the award winners, Voice of the Faithful said Father Stanbery has "been on a continuing crusade for integrity and transparency in his diocese since the sex scandals became apparent in 2002. He has worked tirelessly to root out the evil in the [alleged] coverup of a murder probe of a slain Catholic nun, clergy sexual abuse cases, closed parishes, and financial impropriety. He participated in the Oscar-nominated documentary Twist of Faith."
Catholic priests ought to know better than to open the large wooden doors of the Church and expose the secrets hiding inside; that is strictly forbidden by the oh-so righteous hierarchy who are masters of the Good Old Boys' Club.
The truths that Stanbery exposed, says Claudia Vercellotti, co-coordinator of the local chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are secrets that the church does not want the faithful to know. According to Vercellotti, "Bishop Blair sent Father Stanbery a letter last month that "declares that Father Stanbery will not publicly challenge the bishop."He's been formally admonished and censured," Ms. Vercellotti said. "The reason he's being honored nationally as a model priest is the exact same reason the hammer has come down so hard on him in Toledo."
It is interesting to note that only two priests attended the one-time showing of Twist of Faith* the story of priest sexual abuse in the Toledo Diocese. One was Fr. Stanbery and the other was recently ousted pastor Fr. Tom Leyland. Leyland spoke out against the bishop several months ago about the slicing up of St. Rose Parish for the newly formed suburban parish. As a result of this insolence, Leyland was transferred to a small parish on the outskirts of the diocese. Leyland retired rather than being punished by the bishop. Bishop Blair was embarrassed when the replacement for Leyland confessed to having had a sexual relationship, thus breaking the vow of celibacy.
I would imagine that the Catholic hierarchy will continue to have incidents like these because they will not change, will not tolerate any fresh air to get into the closed chambers in which they live. As a result, more and more 'faithful' will leave because of that hypocrisy, taking their donations elsewhere. This loss of revenue has already hit the diocese and has forced them to downsize many of their departments.
Yet, there will be no change: they will batten down the hatches and hope to ride it out until all of the moderate and liberal Catholics have left the church. The conservative 'faithful' will remain and then, at last, the hierarchy will be free to operate in their medieval majesty once again.
* because of enormous pressure applied to theater owners in the Toledo area by the Catholic Church, Twist of Faith was never again shown in Toledo theaters.
According to The Blade, "Rev. Stephen Stanbery has railed against sexual abuse, parish closings, and an alleged murder cover-up involving the Catholic Church." The article goes on: "In its announcement of the award winners, Voice of the Faithful said Father Stanbery has "been on a continuing crusade for integrity and transparency in his diocese since the sex scandals became apparent in 2002. He has worked tirelessly to root out the evil in the [alleged] coverup of a murder probe of a slain Catholic nun, clergy sexual abuse cases, closed parishes, and financial impropriety. He participated in the Oscar-nominated documentary Twist of Faith."
Catholic priests ought to know better than to open the large wooden doors of the Church and expose the secrets hiding inside; that is strictly forbidden by the oh-so righteous hierarchy who are masters of the Good Old Boys' Club.
The truths that Stanbery exposed, says Claudia Vercellotti, co-coordinator of the local chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are secrets that the church does not want the faithful to know. According to Vercellotti, "Bishop Blair sent Father Stanbery a letter last month that "declares that Father Stanbery will not publicly challenge the bishop."He's been formally admonished and censured," Ms. Vercellotti said. "The reason he's being honored nationally as a model priest is the exact same reason the hammer has come down so hard on him in Toledo."
It is interesting to note that only two priests attended the one-time showing of Twist of Faith* the story of priest sexual abuse in the Toledo Diocese. One was Fr. Stanbery and the other was recently ousted pastor Fr. Tom Leyland. Leyland spoke out against the bishop several months ago about the slicing up of St. Rose Parish for the newly formed suburban parish. As a result of this insolence, Leyland was transferred to a small parish on the outskirts of the diocese. Leyland retired rather than being punished by the bishop. Bishop Blair was embarrassed when the replacement for Leyland confessed to having had a sexual relationship, thus breaking the vow of celibacy.
I would imagine that the Catholic hierarchy will continue to have incidents like these because they will not change, will not tolerate any fresh air to get into the closed chambers in which they live. As a result, more and more 'faithful' will leave because of that hypocrisy, taking their donations elsewhere. This loss of revenue has already hit the diocese and has forced them to downsize many of their departments.
Yet, there will be no change: they will batten down the hatches and hope to ride it out until all of the moderate and liberal Catholics have left the church. The conservative 'faithful' will remain and then, at last, the hierarchy will be free to operate in their medieval majesty once again.
* because of enormous pressure applied to theater owners in the Toledo area by the Catholic Church, Twist of Faith was never again shown in Toledo theaters.
Religious Right Blackmails 08 GOP on Abortion
"Giuliani is beyond the pale." It's just not going to happen. There's no way that conservative leaders are going to support a pro-abortion candidate. It was unanimous."
The words of one of those oh-so righteous Christian fundamentalists who gathered in Salt Lake for a special cleansing ritual to purge the GOP of ungodly people in the party. Reminds me of the Pharisees who challenged Jesus throughout his ministry.
The Giuliani quote is from Richard Viguerie, a direct mail pioneer, author of "Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Republican Base."
Hijacked! Did this Christian fundamentalist say, 'hijacked?' 'Hijacked the Republican Base.' Apparently hijackers don't recognize their own kind. Two other Christian hijackers at the meeting were Rev. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Tony Perkins of the slickly named Family Research Council. The only 'research' that this group is into is to ferret out Republicans who do not toe the pharisaical mandate laid down by the Christian fundamentalists.
The three zealots, reports ABC News, spoke of their willingness to consider supporting a third-party presidential bid if a pro-choice candidate won the GOP nomination. They were speaking for the so-called 'values voters.'
One wonders if war is a value to these voters. One wonders if universal health care for children is a value to these voters. One wonders if job security is a value to these voters. One wonders if a safe work environment or a pristine environment is a value to these voters.
Or is it only about limiting a woman's choice about what she is allowed to do with her own body?
The words of one of those oh-so righteous Christian fundamentalists who gathered in Salt Lake for a special cleansing ritual to purge the GOP of ungodly people in the party. Reminds me of the Pharisees who challenged Jesus throughout his ministry.
The Giuliani quote is from Richard Viguerie, a direct mail pioneer, author of "Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Republican Base."
Hijacked! Did this Christian fundamentalist say, 'hijacked?' 'Hijacked the Republican Base.' Apparently hijackers don't recognize their own kind. Two other Christian hijackers at the meeting were Rev. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Tony Perkins of the slickly named Family Research Council. The only 'research' that this group is into is to ferret out Republicans who do not toe the pharisaical mandate laid down by the Christian fundamentalists.
The three zealots, reports ABC News, spoke of their willingness to consider supporting a third-party presidential bid if a pro-choice candidate won the GOP nomination. They were speaking for the so-called 'values voters.'
One wonders if war is a value to these voters. One wonders if universal health care for children is a value to these voters. One wonders if job security is a value to these voters. One wonders if a safe work environment or a pristine environment is a value to these voters.
Or is it only about limiting a woman's choice about what she is allowed to do with her own body?
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