I wonder how often the Bishop of Toledo has been in the news in the past 10 years? Predominantly, his newsworthiness has been associated with the priest sexual abuse issue or the Fr. Gerald Robinson murder case. Now the bishop is back again in the news.
It seems that he and the pastor of St. Rose Parish in Perrysburg have a personality clash going on and the negative fallout from it bolsters the negative opinion of the Catholic hierarchy once again.
Fr. Tom Leyland wants to stay on as pastor, bit the very conservative bishop has other ideas. The Blade has a story about this. Leyland is one of those liberal priests left in the Toledo Diocese who has been openly critical of the church in the past. His views are unwelcome by the new bishop who, of course, has the power.
It's not right vs wrong; its a power play and Fr. Leyland strikes out. But the 'loss' is racked up against the Church.
update June 27
How's this for the ultimate power play by the church: The bishop WILL meet with the parishioners of St. Rose Parish on MONDAY. Conveniently, that is the day AFTER Fr. Leyland will retire.
Are these the Middle Ages?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Lee Iacocca: Where have all of the Leaders Gone? Part 3
He writes: Why don't we bring democracy to our friends the Saudis? Iacocca asks why George W. didn't first attempt to 'bring democracy' to the Saudis, the Bush Family friends. After all, he notes, wouldn't it be much easier to try 'spreading democracy' to a friendly nation before one tries it on an unfriendly one?
Of course, this is all tongue-in-cheek because he and I and many well-read Americans know thwo things about this democracy thing: 1. it was a ruse, a shift in purpose after the initial reason for war [WMD's] fell through; 2. the Bush family is way too tight with the house of Saud to demand that they change their brutal monarchy.
Fifteen of the sixteen 9-11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Does that ring a bell? Of course, Bush family friend James Baker defended Saudi Arabia in a law suit brought by the 9-11 families; he won.
Iacocca notes that in Saudi Arabia: there is no constitution, no legislature, no due process of law; no demonstrations against the government; one legal religion [Islam]; corporal punishment; publicv executions; women cannot vote; a woman must have written permission from the husband to work, study, or travel; religious police monitor women's clothing; there is no alcohol permitted.
Iacocca notes the poverty in the nation except for the royal family. There are hundreds of gold-encased palaces, hundreds of wives, millions blown on vacations, gambling, and high living . He says: these guys make Saddam Hussein look downright middle-class.
Here's a final note: to top it off, every schoolchild in Saudi Arabia is taught that their sole duty in life is to destroy everything America stands for.
He concludes: Why do we tolerate this? It's the oil. We have sold our souls for oil.
Of course, this is all tongue-in-cheek because he and I and many well-read Americans know thwo things about this democracy thing: 1. it was a ruse, a shift in purpose after the initial reason for war [WMD's] fell through; 2. the Bush family is way too tight with the house of Saud to demand that they change their brutal monarchy.
Fifteen of the sixteen 9-11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Does that ring a bell? Of course, Bush family friend James Baker defended Saudi Arabia in a law suit brought by the 9-11 families; he won.
Iacocca notes that in Saudi Arabia: there is no constitution, no legislature, no due process of law; no demonstrations against the government; one legal religion [Islam]; corporal punishment; publicv executions; women cannot vote; a woman must have written permission from the husband to work, study, or travel; religious police monitor women's clothing; there is no alcohol permitted.
Iacocca notes the poverty in the nation except for the royal family. There are hundreds of gold-encased palaces, hundreds of wives, millions blown on vacations, gambling, and high living . He says: these guys make Saddam Hussein look downright middle-class.
Here's a final note: to top it off, every schoolchild in Saudi Arabia is taught that their sole duty in life is to destroy everything America stands for.
He concludes: Why do we tolerate this? It's the oil. We have sold our souls for oil.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Lee Iacocca: Where have all of the Leaders Gone? Part 2
That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to action for people who, like me, believe in America. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the horseshit and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had enough.
Shake off the horseshit? But, Mr. Iacocca, it has been layered onto us thickly for more than 6 years already. We've been accustomed to it and, besides, it takes work, time, and frankly, some rocking of the boat; most Americans don't like to rock the boat. Of course, many don't understand that the boat s already sinking.
Let's tell 'em all we've had enough. OK, lets do that, but who are 'them?' Surely you don't mean that we should address our Congressmen and women? After all, they are major players in the problem scenario. They voted for the war and continue to fund it. They are the ones who will not consider universal health care. They are the ones who will not act to limit outsourcing of jobs as well as imports from China. They are the ones who vote for tax cuts for the wealthy. They are the ones who only meet for 98 days a year, yet fritter away their valuable time on silly things like gay marriage and flag burning.
We've tried 'them.' They are an exclusive club whose main interest is winning the next election. There aren't enough good ones to dilute the corruption and it will take too many years to replace the bad ones. By then, our ship will be sunk completely.
What's wrong with another American Revolution? After all, it has been over 230 years since we've had one. I'm in favor of another one, hopefully bloodless. We surround the Capitol and the White house and demand that they leave. We'd give them 24 hours to pack up and wildly cheer as they got into their limos and drove away.
Could it hurt? Iacocca had the idea that we suspend Congress for one year and have all 535 of them gather for a conference to discuss and defend all of the legislation it had passed the previous year. He argues that this has 2 advantages: 1. they will look at what they have done to us and 2. they will not be able to pass any legislation during this time.
Great idea, but that will not stop 'them.' They will make a mockery of all of this and will quickly return to their old ways when they get back to their 'job.'
We've given them enough chances; they have let us down time and again. No more 2nd or 3rd chances. Bush, Cheney and Rice, too. They have to go: ALL of them.
Shake off the horseshit? But, Mr. Iacocca, it has been layered onto us thickly for more than 6 years already. We've been accustomed to it and, besides, it takes work, time, and frankly, some rocking of the boat; most Americans don't like to rock the boat. Of course, many don't understand that the boat s already sinking.
Let's tell 'em all we've had enough. OK, lets do that, but who are 'them?' Surely you don't mean that we should address our Congressmen and women? After all, they are major players in the problem scenario. They voted for the war and continue to fund it. They are the ones who will not consider universal health care. They are the ones who will not act to limit outsourcing of jobs as well as imports from China. They are the ones who vote for tax cuts for the wealthy. They are the ones who only meet for 98 days a year, yet fritter away their valuable time on silly things like gay marriage and flag burning.
We've tried 'them.' They are an exclusive club whose main interest is winning the next election. There aren't enough good ones to dilute the corruption and it will take too many years to replace the bad ones. By then, our ship will be sunk completely.
What's wrong with another American Revolution? After all, it has been over 230 years since we've had one. I'm in favor of another one, hopefully bloodless. We surround the Capitol and the White house and demand that they leave. We'd give them 24 hours to pack up and wildly cheer as they got into their limos and drove away.
Could it hurt? Iacocca had the idea that we suspend Congress for one year and have all 535 of them gather for a conference to discuss and defend all of the legislation it had passed the previous year. He argues that this has 2 advantages: 1. they will look at what they have done to us and 2. they will not be able to pass any legislation during this time.
Great idea, but that will not stop 'them.' They will make a mockery of all of this and will quickly return to their old ways when they get back to their 'job.'
We've given them enough chances; they have let us down time and again. No more 2nd or 3rd chances. Bush, Cheney and Rice, too. They have to go: ALL of them.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
So much Hate...so little Time
I attended the funeral service of a grand and gracious woman this morning. Alvetta Moore was a charming 68-year-old who was struck down by a fast-growing brain tumor.
At the service, one of the readings was the Beatitudes, that short summation of righteous living. Blessed are the peacemakers...Blessed are the poor in spirit...Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake.
She was a black woman who grew up in Alabama. That says quite a lot in itself. Surely she was subjected to racial taunts and name-calling, discrimination, and bigotry. Yet, for the 16 years that I knew Alvetta, I never heard a single complaint fall from her lips. She was one of those positive people who sought the good in others.
The congregation was mostly black and elderly and I wondered as they were singing one of those powerful Negro Spirituals: what had they seen and experienced in their years as a black American? What injustices had they suffered? What humiliation had they endured?
Bless you, Alvetta. Rest in peace.
At the service, one of the readings was the Beatitudes, that short summation of righteous living. Blessed are the peacemakers...Blessed are the poor in spirit...Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake.
She was a black woman who grew up in Alabama. That says quite a lot in itself. Surely she was subjected to racial taunts and name-calling, discrimination, and bigotry. Yet, for the 16 years that I knew Alvetta, I never heard a single complaint fall from her lips. She was one of those positive people who sought the good in others.
The congregation was mostly black and elderly and I wondered as they were singing one of those powerful Negro Spirituals: what had they seen and experienced in their years as a black American? What injustices had they suffered? What humiliation had they endured?
Bless you, Alvetta. Rest in peace.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
How odd....more of the same in Iraq
We shutter. The Mosque of the Golden Dome is once again bombed. The Shia and Sunni are at each other's throats, once again.
American soldiers are sitting ducks in the Civil War.
Who knew??
Had a more wise and learned man been our leader, the headline would have had little impact on us.
But no. American citizens were hoodwinked into believing that they had a wise and learned man as their leader.
Ignorance is rampant.
American soldiers are sitting ducks in the Civil War.
Who knew??
Had a more wise and learned man been our leader, the headline would have had little impact on us.
But no. American citizens were hoodwinked into believing that they had a wise and learned man as their leader.
Ignorance is rampant.
Monday, June 11, 2007
History is Gone and Forgotten
NPR's Day to Day, June 11, 2007 posted the interesting story of Gen. Vang Pao, a leader of the Hmong immigrant community in America. He will appear in a Sacramento courtroom Monday. Vang Pao is charged with trying to overthrow the government of Laos. The general's defense attorney Thomas Heffelfinger, says Vang Pao will plead not guilty.
He talks with Madeleine Brand.
Apparently, the lack of knowledge of recent history is amazing. No, not amazing; rather, criminally pathetic.
He talks with Madeleine Brand.
Apparently, the lack of knowledge of recent history is amazing. No, not amazing; rather, criminally pathetic.
"We Died for You"
During our 2 week visit to Germany, my wife and I visited Berlin and the various WWll sites that we had read about in our school books. One of the most chilling was the bombed-out Kaiser Wilhelm Church. The people of Berlin decided to leave what was left of this magnificent church as a reminder of the horrors of war. "Never again."
Naturally there were also many other reminders of the consequences, as Emerson wrote, of "a whole nation roaring Patriotism at the top of its voice." The Holocaust Memorial built atop Hitler's bunker is yet another visual warning to those who would easily forget the past. The recently completed Jewish Museum led the visitor on a visual tour of the horrors of genocide.
Our nation is now entrenched in its own aggressive, preemptive war, a war begun on false statements and innuendos. Yet this administration would not have succeeded in promoting the war had the majority of American citizens not demanded it. Why were so many of our citizens 'roaring Patriotism' just before the invasion of Iraq in 2003? In many Berlin museums were yellowing posters of rallies led by Joseph Goebbels, the NAZI Propaganda Minister. What was said to the German people during those fiery speeches? What caused their citizens to demand a preemptive war?
The Last days in Germany were spent in the Black Forest village of my grandfather. One of my relatives presented me with some letters written in 1947 by my great aunt who lived in Heilbronn, northwest of Stuttgart. She described the horror of the 4th of December, 1944, the day that her city was bombed with phosphorous explosives. After 7 hours of bombing, she and her family crawled out of their cellar and witnessed, as she said, 'Sodom and Gomorrah.'
I returned to Toledo the day after Memorial Day with this letter in my suitcase. No doubt there were many parades here in America on that day. Interestingly, I was told that parades are not held in Germany any more. Apparently the German people had their fill of patriotic-fever parades during the NAZI years. I snapped a final photograph in a cemetery of a small village before leaving for Toledo. There was a memorial on a back wall to dead soldiers. The inscription above the names read, "We Died for You."
Naturally there were also many other reminders of the consequences, as Emerson wrote, of "a whole nation roaring Patriotism at the top of its voice." The Holocaust Memorial built atop Hitler's bunker is yet another visual warning to those who would easily forget the past. The recently completed Jewish Museum led the visitor on a visual tour of the horrors of genocide.
Our nation is now entrenched in its own aggressive, preemptive war, a war begun on false statements and innuendos. Yet this administration would not have succeeded in promoting the war had the majority of American citizens not demanded it. Why were so many of our citizens 'roaring Patriotism' just before the invasion of Iraq in 2003? In many Berlin museums were yellowing posters of rallies led by Joseph Goebbels, the NAZI Propaganda Minister. What was said to the German people during those fiery speeches? What caused their citizens to demand a preemptive war?
The Last days in Germany were spent in the Black Forest village of my grandfather. One of my relatives presented me with some letters written in 1947 by my great aunt who lived in Heilbronn, northwest of Stuttgart. She described the horror of the 4th of December, 1944, the day that her city was bombed with phosphorous explosives. After 7 hours of bombing, she and her family crawled out of their cellar and witnessed, as she said, 'Sodom and Gomorrah.'
I returned to Toledo the day after Memorial Day with this letter in my suitcase. No doubt there were many parades here in America on that day. Interestingly, I was told that parades are not held in Germany any more. Apparently the German people had their fill of patriotic-fever parades during the NAZI years. I snapped a final photograph in a cemetery of a small village before leaving for Toledo. There was a memorial on a back wall to dead soldiers. The inscription above the names read, "We Died for You."
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