Posts with the tag religion

The defining of RC Syndrome as a condition of clergy abuse. When Syndrome becomes Culture

JohnB — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:22:30 EDT

RC Syndrome

Religious Compartmentalization Syndrome

"When Syndrome becomes Culture"

A THEORY PROPOSED BY SURVIVORS & RESEARCHERS
OF THE
GLOBAL CLERGY ABUSE CRISIS (GCAC)

OCTOBER, 2009

A call for supporting research, documentation, anecdotal, statistical or other evidence; contributing and collaborative authors.

[INITIAL DRAFT STAGE]

The notion is simple. We as human beings are able under a wide range of circumstances to compartmentalise aspects of our current or past experiences. This compartmentalisation process is carried out at any time the sufferer encounters a need or has become so conditioned that the syndrome is automated (ref: Pavlov) as they are simply at a point in an endless loop or cycle of the syndrome.

When a child is raised in an environment such as (USA, ref: Clergy abuse disclosures, legal precedents, depositions, findings & deterrents, Native American Indian populations experiencing large scale fraud and deception through to murder and theft of lands. Ireland. ref: Clergy abuse widespread through the population. Italy ref: Clergy abuse potential in the vast majority of the population. Canada ref: Genocide. School systems. Alaska ref: Innuit and Native American Indian populations.Breakdown of social order and structures creating widespread social disorder, drug and alcohol problems, breakdown of family and traditional support structures. Common to almost all Indigenous populations affected.) there is an innate requirement to survive.

Children who enter such schools or systems are most likely to come from a religious home where the process would have already been well set in place (the child is entirely compliant and will often have developed the ability to compartmentalise as their environment dictates [reason why a number of individuals in a class where a number of children have been identified as victims of a wide range of abuses - this segment often has no recall of these events or no recall of others experiencing abuse. On the contrary many see this period of their lives as 'blissful' and wonderful and they extol the virtues of those found to have committed abuses. This segment holds the greatest number of sufferers of the RC Syndrome.). This briefly describes the environment and initial development of what we encounter in a full blown stage of the syndrome where we find compartmentalisation to an extent beyond the bounds of rational thought processes which at times can place the individual in a mental situation where they are unable to process their own memories and recollections correctly.

Well documented examples of this are abundant and can be readily found in the depositions of bishops, priests, nuns, rabbis, Imams as well as in educationalists, administrators and office holders both within and without the organisational or management structure of institutions which has been comprehensively affected by the syndrome.

An understanding of the above and a review of the spread and the extent of the influence throughout society that this syndrome can reach immediately begins to answer and resolve an immense proportion of the difficulties reporting abuse victims encounter in their interactions with survivor groups, authorities, health and other support mechanisms.

The results and outcomes can be seen in all areas of life. ....

Statistics
When attempting to measure the degree of the syndrome we encounter a well developed set of regulations and systems which simply do not permit us to see the real figures. While we are entirely reliant on the Catholic church (a body identified as being in a full blown, cyclic state of RC syndrome) for figures as the gathering and processing of this type of data has been stifled and obfuscated throughout legal and governmental structures over many generations and subsequently little is really know of the relationship to crime of the various sectors classified under a heading such as that found in a census form under the title "Religion".

Profiling and identifying potential criminal activity in a RC syndrome sufferer
Profiling of community, policing, military, management and political candidates cannot be undertaken by the general population due to the lack of factual data and the inclusion into te equation of the educational experience of those experiencing the syndrome. Other aspect requiring inclusion are found when a child have without knowledge or consent been introduced into such an environment by parents who are usually at a mature stage of the syndrome in that they have achieved full cycle status.

The cycle is clearly described in the following text. The steps are broadly defined as:

Problem identification
Resolution to act
Identify outcome goal
Required actions
Actions taken
Outcome achieved
Celebration

Applied to circumstance of reference text
Problem identification       Sexually abusive priests
Resolution to act              Bring into play the full force of available resources to counter the problem
Identify outcome goal      Someone must suffer for these crimes
Required actions             Approved activities
Actions taken                  Co-ordination of actions, spread of activity to others affected
Outcome achieved         Suffering achieved
Celebration                     Cup of tea and a meal, other religious celebrations
Re-shock and re-compartmentalisation when situation is re-encountered due to the syndromes effect which caused the sufferer to conclude that the problem had been solved - return to step one for repeat of the cycle.

When applied in the general population in daily experiences this process answers the questions as to why victims self describe as being 'the crack in society which we repeatedly fall through' as well as the much lamented 'Why must we be filtered through every religious mind in the process and only after each has given their full approval will our case or documentation move further up the line only to encounter the same process once again at the next step on its fruitless and futile journey towards inevitable failure.'. Victims consistently report this encounter throughout the full extent of their healing journey and identify this as the main stumbling block in the progress of their claims, encounters with authorities, health and community providers through to victim and survivor networks (although they are quick to point out that there are those among this segment who have countered many of these issues through the benefit of their level of experience).

Areas victims highlight where they are most likely to encounter the syndrome is in policing and health areas (unfortunately these are the major areas governments provide support for victims through). Some available figures show that these areas have a recidivism rate as high as 60% in policing with an almost 95% in specialist areas of health. Psychiatry practitioners are identified by victims as having a figure above the 95% generally ascribed to health professionals. Better research in this area is urgently needed to identify the true extent of the problem identified here. Victims indicate that the number encountered in the political arena is less than the 95% although it is strongly confined to camps, factions or individuals within in party and is most often found in women; particularly those who have been marginalised, silenced or bullied.

Reported experiences strongly indicate that when a victim encounters multiple sufferers of the syndrome in one or more of the above then a 98-99% failure rate is expected. This is when syndrome becomes culture.

One of the most difficult to overcome aspects is the difficulty survivors encounter when describing their abuse as their basic instinctive response is to kill their adversary or to see them suffer an equivalent degree of harm and pain as that experienced by the victim of a sufferer of the Syndrome. Maintaining a socially acceptable behavior is extremely difficult as basic primitive instinctive notions of justice (ref: research Chimpanzee and other primates re justice and reward) are breached. The victim has little recourse but to express their anger and frustration at not being able to get at their attacker or abuser to mete out their instinctive response. This hurdle can be overcome via a variety of means including suitable psychology, (possibly brain plasticity as a result of recent research in psychiatry), low dosage medications in combination with psychology when required. Medications should be aimed at stabilising adrenalin (ref: primitive instinctive notions of justice) runaway when victims encounter self triggering as well as external triggering events. Often an understanding of these circumstance and how they affect each individual personally is sufficient for them to understand their perceived need to escalate when they perceive that someone or something is standing between them and those they identify as the perpetrator of their experience or those who impede their progress to overcome the results of the lifelong deceptions they have overcome previously and have an expectation that they are encountering or about to encounter obfuscation, delaying tactics, compartmentalisation by affected individuals of RC Syndrome.

Those well advanced through their journey or process describe the need to re-introduce basic parental instincts which have been repressed through the experience of both victim and sufferer of RCS as well as what we currently refer to as basic human rights. Once the focus of the victim is on their genetic heritage as found through their biological connection to their off-spring and they find others working towards a common goal of implementing a solution the need to take up an individual battle can be resolved and better directed towards the implementation of a social solution which is the next evolutionary step in the recovery process.

The example text

Source: http://www.thebostonpilot.com/articleprint.asp?id=10937

Laypeople invited to fast for priests Oct. 24

By Jim Lockwood
Posted: 10/9/2009

ATTLEBORO -- Anna Rae-Kelly saw the Catholic priesthood becoming embattled as a result of the clergy abuse scandal that rocked the Church beginning in 2001.

Suffering from a decline in prestige and reputation among the general public, the priesthood frequently became the butt of jokes and the center of calls for change in longstanding traditions and practices including celibacy and an unmarried clergy.

That is why Rae-Kelly felt a call to action.

“If they are under attack, we don’t receive the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation,” Rae-Kelly said. “After the abuse scandal, they were weakened and we were weakened as a result.”

She organized what has since come to be an international phenomenon called the Lay Fast for Priests.

“For some time, I had felt called to pray for the priests in America and all over the world,” Rae-Kelly said.

This year, the Lay Fast for Priests will be held on Oct. 24. The fast is to be observed until 3 p.m. that day, the hour when Christ died on the cross. Participants refrain not only from food but from anything else that is “significant” to them. For example, Rae-Kelly has known of people fasting from talking, television, or other aspects of everyday life.

At 3 p.m., the fast is broken with prayer. Past fasters have prayed in their own homes or held services in their parishes.

Some people who have expressed interest in fasting have told her they will pray a Divine Mercy Office in honor of priests. At the National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette in Attleboro, there will be a 3 p.m. closing service that will include the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, an international rosary in five languages representing the different continents in the world, and benediction.

“Then we go home and have something to eat,” she said.

International unity, for Rae-Kelly, illustrates the fast’s impact.

“All the people of God -- the Body of Christ -- are all fasting at the same time and praying for the same intention,” Rae-Kelly said. “That’s what gives it such power.”

When Rae-Kelly introduced this concept four years ago, she encountered her share of cynics who said it would not work; nonetheless the idea gained credence.

After obtaining permission from Bishop George Coleman, bishop of her home diocese of Fall River, she announced the fast at the La Salette shrine.

“I did a two-minute talk,” she recalled. “201 people signed up.”

At the closing service that year, she remembers a man arriving in his bare feet. The man had walked the nearly 8-mile trek from Pawtucket, R.I. as a sacrifice for priests.

“It was just moving and inspiring,” Rae-Kelly said.

Since that time, people have taken Rae-Kelly’s idea and brought it to their own parishes. It has won the blessing and approval of many, including Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley.

It has also gone global.

Last year, Rae-Kelly said, a lady arrived at the shrine dressed in traditional Korean clothing and is now organizing a fast in her native land. Last week, Rae-Kelly received an email from a woman in South Africa who translated the sign-up sheets into Zulu to bring the fast to her village.

Over the coming weeks, laity will be speaking at their parishes to promote the fast and enroll the parishioners. However, Rae-Kelly said, Catholics should not expect to hear about this from their parish priests.

“It shouldn’t be a priest who promotes the fast,” Rae-Kelly said. “This is our gift to them. If they promote the fast it’s like me asking a friend to take me out to dinner.”

For more information on the Lay Fast for Priests, visit Rae-Kelly’s website, www.annaprae.com

Godlessness is Good

Christina Marlowe — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:09:19 EDT

Godlessness is Good

I am an atheist. I do no claim to have answers and, conversely, I do not believe that anyone else does either. And, if there truly IS a god, I am thoroughly off the hook for not believing in it/him/her--the only god that I would ever believe in would be a kind and loving and understanding god, and that god would really like the fact that I question such god's existence. I believe that actions are everything in life. We all control each and every moment that we live, totally and completely vis-a-vis our own actions, inactions, words, thought, etc. I do not put the onus on some other thing out there; I take full responsibility for everything that involves my own self. Furthermore I do not believe in repentance for sins or forgiveness for repeating mistakes. Instead, I choose knowingly and intentionally to always do the right thing with respect to living my life. I always do my very best each and every moment of each and every day. I have no hang ups; I am free. Free, that is, from the many and varying twisted and pathological idees fixe that almost every religion seems to impose on it's followers. I always do the right thing, having complete control of myself. I don't make mistakes, except maybe in math. I like to rant, I like to rave, I like to tell people what to do, but I really don't care if they listen...I AM the Jehovah of my own universe. I don't need to wear hair shirts to repent and I don't need to confess to anyone for sins because I don't "sin" in the first place. I am kind, loving, generous, understanding and intelligent. There is nothing in this world that I need or want for myself. I am perfect, PERFECT FLAWS AND ALL.

The question of just which of the many religion has it "right" and has the answers is asinine and useless. My contention is that I and I alone have it all right...get my point?
I kind of like the simplicity of what the 14th Dalai Lama has said. He said: "My religion is simple. My religion is kindness." End of story.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2009

Instead...

Instead of basic human kindness, the world is filled with unspeakable atrocities, mind boggling hypocrisy and countless criminal injustices. Many of these wretched and abhorrent behaviors are personified in organized religions and in the name of "god." So-called Christians are among the worst of offenders. I am a lifelong agnostic, bordering on atheist and, by my witnessing the absolutely reprehensible behavior and deranged beliefs by and of the most dogmatic right-wing fundamentalist religious types, I come to believe more than ever that religion is the root of all evil. I sincerely believe that religion, particularly the various and horrible forms of Christianity, is far more damaging than helpful. I do not believe that one can do one horrible deed after another and then simply repent and ask forgiveness; rather, you, um, to quote the bible "reap what you sow." In Buddhism it's called "Karma." And I am certain that every religion and belief system around the world has a word or phrase for it. What ever it is that you give out, you shall get it all back in spades; I don't believe in repentance or forgiveness; live your life with the best of intentions ALWAYS, and always do your best. That's really all there is to it. Be kind, generous and open-handed. Do not bean asshole or greedy, stingy tight-fisted and judgmental. It's all so very simple, why do so many religious people get it all so, well, so wrong?!?! If more so-called "good Christians" would actually follow the words and teachings of their hero Jesus Christ ( a great prophet, in my estimation) then they wouldn't be the hypocritical, right-wing, bigoted, judgmental cretins that so many of them are in reality. There is absolutely no excuse for such behavior from anyone in this world of ours. Look at yourselves, as you ruin the world!!!! And in the name of god, to boot!!!!! The current rise of Christian crusades, preaching creationism and strict fundamentalism, are more than just ignorant, stupid and vile; they are dangerous. These incomprehensible busybodies want the rest of the world to see things just as they do. Why can't these people just keep their mouths shut and be content in their own lives without trying to force their asinine and evil notions on others?

CHRIST(INA) MARLOWE

It is my contention that each religion has a basic and good foundation, and each has a measure of good words and good teachings. That being said, I think that once human beings, particularly those who don't practice looking closely at themselves and their own behaviors, that instead latch onto a certain book and then these people go on to ruin their own lives in such puzzling and crazy ways. Particularly if you're saddled with the belief that the almighty god is a jealous, nasty, ill-tempered and hateful god, um, that that bastard in the Old Testament. And if you spend your time believing in that, you're, well, you're just fucked.

Cheers,

Christ Marlowe

The blasphemy of Politics in Religion--

(Don't these morons know that the Constitution is purposely an utterly GODLESS document??)

As I cringe again and again at the fact that every single politician, Democrat and Republican alike, tries to pander to the organized religious institutions in our country, I become more resentful that religion of any kind should be an issue at all in the political arena. The presidential contenders in both parties are playing a game of one-upmanship as to whom has more faith in god whilst the word "god" should never, ever, enter the political arena at all. The most omnipresent danger in politics is religion--and time after time, particularly with the fanatical right-wing conservatives, it, religion, seems to be at the forefront; and this is indeed dangerous.

The so-called and much-more-often-than-not-so-good 'Christian' soldiers have been, still are and will continue to be devils incarnate: President Bush, Dick Cheney, Condaleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Carl Rove ( just to name a few ) have participated in the most impeachable offenses from the very beginning of their dictatorship; in fact, they are war criminals and repeatedly override the Constitution--there are no checks and balances left and they are ruling the world into irreparable oblivion and a quagmire so deep and dense that it's utterly mind boggling. Yet it's fascinating to watch, you must admit.

First Post -- Science and Religion (from White House Live chat)

Oscar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:01:22 EDT

This is where I will be organizing my ideas. One idea regarding science/technology versus religion:

Religion is not "in" science. The former is a beautiful feeling of faith and trust. The latter is a beautiful feeling of predicatable outcomes and peer-reviewed logic. Faith and logic are not the same thing, nor should they be. Each has a purpose.

Considering a fact's importance implies judgement. And you cannot judge a fact if you are 100% ignorant of the outcome that judgement produces. It comes down to inductive versus deductive logic. Because religion is a means and not an outcome, facts cannot be judged when applied to it. It all becomes opinion and faith.

In the end, Faith is inductive (what happens after we die?). Science, in it's truest form, is inductive as well.

Oscar Mathews

9 Aug 2009

"Screaming Into the Darkness"

James — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:56:09 EDT

When I toured Europe, some years back, I was kind of surprised by the size of the old churches, relative to the size of everything of age which surrounded them. I went inside many. Huge resounding open areas are common to all of them. And every one of them has, as an integrated part of its construct, a great high and elaborate podium. I realized something. For a long time there was only the spoken word for the passing of information. There was writing, but Guttenberg took some time to really get print off the ground. And people had to learn to read. So, where did people go to get the news of the day? Or of the week? To the church, where they sat or stood down below an 'announcer,' or News Anchor...although he was officially titled a minister or a priest. No wonder the power of religion is so strong, even extending to and through this very time. The 'anchor' of those times could reach hundreds of people, potentially thousands, at one setting. Nobody else could come close to that.

Here we are today. We have the same problems with reaching the people, although everything has dramatically changed in scale. Who has that podium, microphone, or television transmitter controls what is transmitted as the news. And messages beyond the news? Those are delivered in papers, books, the television and the internet, although they cross all over one another in content and kind of delivery.

So how do you get a message out to 'the people' if you do not already have possession of one of those 'podiums?' You beg. You cajole. You appeal. You attempt to cast yourself as an interesting enough voice to be of value to whoever and whatever it is that controls ascension to the podium. And it is unbelievably hard to do any of that. The myth is that only the best work gets to the top. The truth is that only those who have some sort of access, or can angle some sort of access, get their message heard at all. In fact, it is so very very hard that only a very tiny percentage of people ever get 'read' at all. To be 'read' is to be considered for publication or airing, not to be given the podium.

The internet is marginally changing things. You can get read by writing blogs. You can Twitter. You can comment on Facebook. You can get viewed by making a video for Youtube. Those things are advances which are new and most unusual. But those advances do not get you in front of 'the people.' You might get twenty or thirty 'hits' a day on your blog if you develop a following. You might get a few hundred views of your Youtube video. To really reach any of the public at all, you have to be 'touched by God.' I once talked to Jacqueline Mitchard, just after she had written Deep End of the Ocean. I told her that I believed that her book would become a bestseller. She responded with something completely prophetic: "...from your mouth to God's ears..." God touched her through Oprah. Oprah picked her novel to be her first book club selection. And that was it. Mitchard is the top speaker at the Hawaii conference I will be speaking at in September (I am a lowly entity compared to her, although I really like her so I don't mind). Somehow, I do not think Jackie is going to recognize or remember that guy who stopped to comment so long ago at Barnes and Noble in Madison. Fame is not especially complimentary to long term memory.

You can have a voice out here, true, but it is more like being a town crier on a soap box, compared to having the podium. People stop briefly, look at you funny, and then pass on by. Your only message, probably, is that you are a weird person standing atop a box as people pass you by. You have a message, and it might be the single most important message anyone could have, but it matters not at all if nobody hears or sees it.

Competition is extremely stiff. Everyone is shouting into that darkness. And you will note that the greatest stuff is not like the cream rising to the top. Note that every word that Sarah Palin says is duly reported, over and over again. It does not matter what she says. The same is true for Joe the Plumber. No matter how stupid, vapid or idiotic their strung together words are, they have the podium. How do you persevere through all this? How do you get a shot at the podium? I am not sure. I am still down here with you, the few, thinking about it and wondering myself. I reach many more than most who try, but my numbers are really small too. The message on House is influenced by a large writing staff and a bevy of producers, not to mention the director. It is not really mine, even if some people think it is. And I am constantly asking myself another valid question: "why is that I think my message is important enough to be considered by 'the people' anyway?" That is, indeed, a good and valid question of merit. I ponder that, day after day. I believe I do have a message. A message of compassion, concern, intellect, tribalism, work, thought, relationship, love, honor, integrity, and losing causes. I have traveled far. God did touch me with His finger when it came to that. But is it enough to get atop that podium and tell it all to you? As i said, I sit here, with my coffee and my laptop, and I ponder.

http://www.jamesstraussauthor.com

http://www.themastodons.com

http://www.from-the-chateau-dif.blogspot.com

THE ONGOING SUFFER OF WOMEN IN THE WORLD... ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN IRAN

Alp Icoz, M.A. @ JOURNALTA — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:53:37 EDT

"In religiously conservative countries, the situation of women is really bad. In fact, most of the women are in similar conditions and suffer from the torturing life style that the men enforce in their countries. It is really sad to see how the men-created regimes based on religion affect the lives of women, children and youth... Why do women as the creatures of a secondary gender (!) need rights and equality that men have? There are millions of dangerously narrow minded men and ignorantly victimized women who still ask this question and cannot understand the concept of 'female' who has mutual rights of co-existing genders that were divinely created. What a double standard of an egoist mentality!!! The problems of women in the conservatively governed and male-centered countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey (partially), and more ---no matter what religion their demagogy, narrow mindedness and poor judgment is serving ... The suffer of women and children all around the world is still the bleeding wound of mankind in the 21st century..."

Alp Icoz, M.A.

Violence Is A Dead End

Khaidji — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:40:42 EDT

What ever we do, if we are to be on the path to world peace, equal rights or more civic unity then the answer is not violence. Wars were fought years ago to settle any differences or misunderstandings between groups of people with conflicting beliefs and loyalties. We have in history a war fought because of something as trivial as an ear. President Barack Obama in his speech at Cairo today demonstrated the many similarities in people who think themselves so different. Why then are we fighting? And if we are destined for progress why choose violence? Violence is a Dead End.

Violence Is A Dead End

Very many listened from many countries too

I watched as again he sculpted history in his Cairo debut

Obama is never surprising but my admiration grows

Learning each time the wisdom of what he knows

Experience is a great teacher but faith is best

No doctrine has every superseded its test

Countries in their pursuit of freedom and rights

Exterminate other countries in brutal fights

Islam and Christianity have similar belief

So why do these religions sustain so much grief

As a young boy in Indonesia where people were predominately Muslim

Didn’t prohibit the Christian few from their worship, didn’t stop him

Even though he was but a boy he fully understood

A people shouldn’t be stopped when their values are good

Do on to others as you would have that they do onto you

Explains the paths of these religions and there are others too

No future lies ahead when religions are identified by cruel trend

Defined by bloodshed, not when Violence Is A Dead End!

Get an easy Download or a Hardcopy of
” Path To The White House”
Acrostic Poetry on Barack Obama
By Khaidji
The Bajan Poetry Society

The Issues we have with the Arab-Muslim world

Unknown user — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:48:45 EDT

The Issues we have with the Arab-Muslim world - What Pres. Obama should mention

- Teaching that non-Muslims are non humans, such as Christians are "pigs" and Jews are "apes".

- Sharia law (implementation) horrors, including oppression of women.

- Honor killings epidemic.

- Playing "victim" while being the aggressor, such as the Arab "Palestinians", Taliban, etc.

- The Genocide campaign by radical Islam (Hezbollah, Hamas, Ahmadinejad, etc.) on Israel / Jews.

- Bigoted Islamism: Persecution, oppression of and apartheid against all non Muslims in the Islamic world (including in S. Arabia, Palestinian Hamas, etc.).

- Racist Arabism: Persecution, oppression of and apartheid against all non-Arabs in the Arab world, especially of native Egyptians (Nubians), Kurds, Copts, Assyrians, Berbers (native N. Africans), Jews (not just inside Israel), Africans (Africans living in Arab countries and the racist slavery in Sudan, Mauritania... genocide in Darfur). The wide justification of Islamic violence all over the world.

- Squeezing the world economy by power of oil prices (OPEC).

- From the 22 Arab countries so far, they all range from totalitarianism to corruption, not even one has managed to be real free, equal and democratic.

- The global Islamic radical campaign to dominate the world - untamed by "moderate" Muslims.

Hosting my first Organizing For America event

Kimkesia from Tallahassee, FL — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:16:52 EDT

I am a mother and health care professional. I want to see change in america, concerning health care policy. I am hosting this event to make sure my family, friends and neighbors are involved in seeing real change in america.

A Simple Question: Would God Condone Torture?

Eric from Covina, CA — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:05:14 EDT

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

A Simple Question: Would God Condone Torture?

Maybe I'm missing something but I find it uniquely ironic that some the same people who clamor for prayer in school, claim that same-sex marriage is an abomination under God,who insist that America is a Christian nation, and fight for the Biblical version of creationism over science, are also the very same people who demand the right to be armed to the teeth with some of the most destructive private weapons on Earth, the right to slaughter and bring the most excruciating kinds of death upon God's other creatures for nothing more than their own entertainment, and now, condone the torture of other human beings as a legitimate tool of government. Is it just me, or does anyone else see this as the very height of hypocrisy?

Adolf Hitler / Nazis hated Arabs "inferior race," yet used them as disposable tools against Jews

Unknown user — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:04:10 EDT

Adolf Hitler / Nazis hated Arabs as an inferior “race”, yet praised Islam in its ‘war like’ TOTALITARIAN ideology He saw them as a great disposable tool to be used against the Jews, the mufti fell for it.

SPLCenter.org: The Swastika and the Crescent, Although he loathed Arabs (he once described them as “lacquered half-apes who ought to be whipped“), Hitler understood that he and the Mufti shared the same rivals, British and the Jews… http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=242

ESSAY - May 2002 By Martin A. Lee …Ahmed Huber: Neo-Nazi, Islamic convert… The roots of the Muslim Brotherhood and, in many ways, the Nazi-Muslim axis go back to the organisation’s formation in Egypt in 1928. Marking the start of modern political “Islamic fundamentalism,” the Brotherhood from the outset envisioned a time when an Islamic state would prevail in Egypt and other Arab countries.

The growth of the Muslim Brotherhood coincided with the rise of fascist movements in Europe - a parallel noted by Muhammad Sa’id al-’Ashmawy, former chief justice of Egypt’s High Criminal Court, who decried “the perversion of Islam” and “the fascistic ideology” that infuses the world view of the Brothers. Youssef Nada, current board chairman of Al Taqwa, had joined the armed branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a young man in Egypt during World War II. Nada and several of his cohorts in the Sunni Muslim fraternity were recruited by German military intelligence. Hassan al-Banna, the Egyptian schoolteacher who founded the Muslim Brotherhood, also collaborated with spies of the Third Reich. Advocating a pan-Islamic insurgency in British-controlled Palestine, the Brotherhood proclaimed their support for the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Al-Husseini, in the late 1930s.

The Grand Mufti, the preeminent religious figure among Palestinian Muslims, was the most notable Arab leader to seek an alliance with Nazi Germany. Although he loathed Arabs (he once described them as “lacquered half-apes who ought to be whipped”), Hitler understood that he and the Mufti shared the same rivals - the British, the Jews and the Communists. They met in Berlin, where the Mufti lived in exile during the war. The Mufti agreed to help organise a special Muslim division of the Waffen SS. Powerful radio transmitters were put at the Mufti’s disposal so that his pro-Axis propaganda could be heard throughout the Arab world. http://www.aijac.org.au/review/2002/275/essay275.html

War aims in the second world war: the war aims of the major belligerents …‎ - by Victor Rothwell - History - 2005 - 244 pages (Page 41) However, the Nazis were clear in their minds that the Arabs were racially inferior, and there would, therefore, be no pleasure to be had from helping them in anything except for the extermination of Jews in their region. http://books.google.com/books?id=XfgLbSc94MEC&pg=PA41

Islam, Nazism, and Totalitarianism

During an interview conducted in the late 1930s (published in 1939), Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychiatry, was asked “…had he any views on what was likely to be the next step in religious development?” Jung replied, in reference to the Nazi fervor that had gripped Germany We do not know whether Hitler is going to found a new Islam. He is already on the way; he is like Muhammad. The emotion in Germany is Islamic; warlike and Islamic. They are all drunk with wild god. That can be the historic future. Albert Speer, who was Hitler’s Minister of Armaments and War Production, wrote a contrite memoir of his World War II experiences while serving a 20-year prison sentence imposed by the Nuremberg tribunal.

Speer’s narrative includes this discussion, which captures Hitler’s racist views of Arabs on the one hand, and his effusive praise for Islam on the other:

Hitler had been much impressed by a scrap of history he had learned from a delegation of distinguished Arabs. When the Mohammedans attempted to penetrate beyond France into Central Europe during the eighth century, his visitors had told him, they had been driven back at the Battle of Tours. Had the Arabs won this battle, the world would be Mohammedan today. For theirs was a religion that believed in spreading the faith by the sword and subjugating all nations to that faith. Such a creed was perfectly suited to the Germanic temperament. Hitler said that the conquering Arabs, because of their racial inferiority, would in the long run have been unable to contend with the harsher climate and conditions of the country. They could not have kept down the more vigorous natives, so that ultimately not Arabs but Islamized Germans could have stood at the head of this Mohammedan Empire. Hitler usually concluded this historical speculation by remarking, “You see, it’s been our misfortune to have the wrong religion. Why didn’t we have the religion of the Japanese, who regard sacrifice for the Fatherland as the highest good? The Mohammedan religion too would have been much more compatible to us than Christianity. Why did it have to be Christianity with its meekness and flabbiness?” http://www.andrewbostom.org/content/view/61/55/

The roots of Arab Anti-Semitism - By David Greenberg - Slate Magazine Oct 31, 2001 … As he notes, anti-Semitism in Arab countries (and non-Arab Islamic states such as Iran) …. East—they were eager to make common cause with Hitler, despite Nazi belief that they, like the Jews, were inferior to Aryans. … http://www.slate.com/id/2057949/

The third Reich & the Palestine question - Francis R. Nicosia - 2000 - History - 319 pages (Page 85) Most Arabs never realized that the Nazis would consider them racially inferior as well and that Germany had no intention of undermining British authority in … http://books.google.com/books?id=xh4m-OMrhJUC&pg=PA85

The Nazi Connection to Islamic Terrorism: Adolf Hitler and Haj … Chuck Morse - 2003 - History - 188 pages (page 53) … as Hitler was known to have described the Arabs as “lacquered half-apes who ought to be whipped,” to a lower race … http://books.google.com/books?id=HGkthBwbNg8C&pg=PA53

Despite Hitler’s personal antipathy towards Arabs, who he once described as lacquered half apes who ought to be whipped, he nevertheless was prepared to … http://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/An%20unholy%20alliance%201801%20original.doc

The Beast Reawakens: Fascism’s Resurgence from Hitler’s Spymasters …Martin A. Lee - 1999 - Political Science - 560 pages (page 122) Even though he loathed Arabs (he once described them as “lacquered half-apes who ought to be whipped”), Hitler was nonetheless the idol of the paramilitary … http://books.google.com/books?id=SX4B7pNG3W8C&pg=PA122

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN’S PERSECUTION OPPRESSION OF MINORITIES - ISLAMIC APARTHEID

Unknown user — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:37:34 EDT

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN’S PERSECUTION OPPRESSION OF MINORITIES - ISLAMIC APARTHEID

In General, Christians, Baha’i, Kurds, Jews, Azeris, Baluchis, Ahwazi Arabs

Again, religious persecution in Iran
February 20, 2009
Ethel C. Fenig
As Thomas Lifson noted yesterday Iranian authorities destroyed a Sufi holy site, continuing their practice of pressuring and discriminating against religions that do not strictly follow the Shi’ite form of Islam. But the Sufis are not the only religious minority suffering discrimination in Iran.

The 2500 year old Jewish community, which numbered over 80,000 thirty years ago at the time of the Khoemeni Revolution which overthrew the Shah, has dwindled to about 20,000. Those remaining Jews live restricted personal and religious lives, always under suspicion of being traitors for pro “Zionist” activities.
Despite the official distinction between “Jews,” “Zionists,” and “Israel,” the most common accusation the Jews encounter is that of maintaining contacts with Zionists. The Jewish community does enjoy a measure of religious freedom but is faced with constant suspicion of cooperating with the Zionist state and with “imperialistic America” — both such activities are punishable by death. Jews who apply for a passport to travel abroad must do so in a special bureau and are immediately put under surveillance. The government does not generally allow all members of a family to travel abroad at the same time to prevent Jewish emigration. Again, the Jews live under the status of dhimmi, with the restrictions im posed on religious minorities. Jewish leaders fear government reprisals if they draw attention to official mistreatment of their community.

Iran’s official government-controlled media often issues anti-Semitic propaganda. A prime example is the government’s publishing of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a notorious Czarist forgery, in 1994 and 1999.2 Jews also suffer varying degrees of officially sanctioned discrimination, particularly in the areas of employment, education, and public accommodations.The Islamization of the country has brought about strict control over Jewish educational institutions. Before the revolution, there were some 20 Jewish schools functioning throughout the country. In recent years, most of these have been closed down. In the remaining schools, Jewish principals have been replaced by Muslims. In Teheran there are still three schools in which Jewish pupils constitute a majority. The curriculum is Islamic, and Persian is forbidden as the language of instruction for Jewish studies. Special Hebrew lessons are conducted on Fridays by the Orthodox Otzar ha-Torah organization, which is responsible for Jewish religious education. Saturday is no longer officially recognized as the Jewish sabbath, and Jewish pupils are compelled to attend school on that day. There are three synagogues in Teheran, but since 1994, there has been no rabbi in Iran, and the bet din does not function.At least 13 Jews have been executed in Iran since the Islamic revolution 30 years ago, most of them for either religious reasons or their connection to Israel. For example, in May 1998, Jewish businessman Ruhollah Kakhodah-Zadeh was hanged in prison without a public charge or legal proceeding, apparently for assisting Jews to emigrate.Other religious groups are persecuted too. This week Iran admitted that seven Bahai leaders arrested and detained more than eight months ago would be charged with spying for Israel. The Bahai faith, which began in the 19th century in what is now Iran, claims their founder, Baha’a'llah, is the last Moslem prophet, not Mohammed. Bahai’s international headquarters are located in Haifa, Israel where Bahais, along with Moslems and Christians of various backgrounds, plus other religions in addition to Jews can practice freely.This is not true in Iran.Bahais claim 300,000 followers in Iran, but there are no independent statistics on the denomination’s size in the country. The Islamic republic allows Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, who are regarded as members of monotheistic religions, to hold religious gatherings. Bahais are forbidden to hold such meetings, and those who make their faith public are banned from studying at universities serving in the army and working in government offices. The Iranian prosecutors claim“All evidence points to the fact that the Bahai organization is in direct contact with the foreign enemies of Iran,” Dorri-Najafabadi wrote in the letter, (snip) “The ghastly Bahai organization is illegal on all levels, their dependence on Israel has been documented, their antagonism with Islam and the Islamic System is obvious, their danger for national security is proven and any replacement organization must also be dealt with according to the law,”This charge is part of the latest prosecution against Iranian Bahais. The Bahai International Community, which represents members of the faith worldwide, says hundreds of followers have been jailed and some executed in the years since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/again_religious_persecution_in.html

Religious minorities in Iran: Information from Answers.com http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521770734

Iran Minority News
http://iranminoritynews.org/

Middle East Minorities Unite! by Joseph … Iran ’s Islamic republic has created serious problems for the large communities of non-Persian minorities, including the Azeri’s and the Baluchis and is … http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=24209

Q&A: Iran’s Waning Human Rights - New York Times, Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affords legal rights to minorities and minors. Persecution of religious minorities …http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/world/slot1_081006.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Islamists threaten terror attacks in Germany (For betraying 'Granddad Hitler' / Islamo-nazism)

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:40:35 EDT

Islamists threaten terror attacks in Germany (For betraying 'Granddad Hitler' / Islamo-nazism)
adnkronos ^ | 04,22,09

Terrorism: Islamists threaten terror attacks in Germany

Berlin, 22 April (AKI) - The Al-Qaeda linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan on Wednesday released a video threatening the "criminal" German government and citizens of the Jewish faith, according to German media.

In the video, the third released this year, shows a man identified as "Commander Mohammad", who criticises the presence of German troops in Afghanistan.

The man accuses "the sons of Germany of being in the service of the Jews" unlike "Granddad Hitler".

Investigators believe the video's release may be linked to a major Islamist terrorism trial which opened on Wednesday at a high-security court in the northwestern German city of Duesseldorf .

In the trial, three Germans and one Turkish national are accused of planning a series of simultaneous bomb attacks against discos and pubs and the United States airbase in Ramstein and against Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office.

Two of the German suspects are converts to Islam while the third is a German citizen of Turkish descent. They face charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation, plotting murder, and conspiracy to conduct a bomb attack.

The trial is expected to last one to two years. If the defendants are found guilty, they could face prison terms of up to 15 years.

Prosecutors claimed the men were planning to use about 10 times as much explosives as were used in the deadly July 2005 attacks on London transport that killed 56 people and injured thousands.

The plot was at an advanced stage and the attacks could have killed over 50 people, according to police.

Around 300 German federal agents were involved in monitoring the cell for several months, before police swooped in on the group in what was one of Germany's biggest anti-terror operations to date.

Three of the defendants were arrested in the Germany's western Sauerland region and the fourth was arrested in Turkey and extradited to Germany in November last year.

Prosecutors say the four men belong to a little-known group called the Islamic Jihad Union with roots in Uzbekistan and ties to Al-Qaeda.

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.3239023359

COMING OF AGE

caring_independent — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:08:38 EDT

you are coming of age my little girl
born to occupy a place in this world
a boom of youth in world population
while who seeks control sees exploitation

in the realms of life that deal with power
those who steer the platform and the altar
do know within you lies passionate drive
with desires to be seen and heard, alive

often twisting your fate with rebellion
of these youths, you are one in a billion
that swiftly lash out at Authority
having not yet reached full maturity

as it is, don't be found pawns in their game
conquer impulse if your world you'd reclaim
from who would distort their word to defeat
if you but see that life lies at your feet

with reason listen to words and caution
parents have no gain by your subjection
that slow burns away flights of love inside
union your spirit seeks while you divide

little girl, see the world as it changes
with a heart like yours, it ebbs and surges
trying to find its place to a shared peace
it grows in pains and sorrows for release

it will happen with or without you here
whether open to the truth you hold dear
or spent hidden to pursue shallow prides
the now or better good, its you decides

though we're cast within a similar frame
my time belongs to a past filled wth blame
as your own, but still tied to circumstance
choices will give you the dreams you romance

be free to leave go of shame little girl
break open the shell and shine up your pearl
bring others to come alongside to ride
grow powerful spirit and sense of pride

a billion, you are one or a portion
be insipred to find your true volition
choices not made or those made unwisely
will dim your light and darken your journey

deep inside your heart is a love that's pure
honest and sure and sweet for its liquer
i do mean for you to follow your dreams
a blessed union, peace, the stars and moonbeams

Written 4/16/2009 copyright MEWilson

A few points about the racist UN - Durban "anti-racism" conference

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:38:40 EDT

A few points about the racist UN - Durban "anti-racism" conference

1) When will Arab racists & Islamic bigots let go of the UN and stop hijacking it with it's lobbies (silencing Arab racist genocide in Darfur, yet daming innocent Israelis who merely try to survive)?

2) Why is Arab terror singling out Jews not racist?

3) Why is the essence of the entire "conflict'" in the M.E. not a form of bigotry by Arab Muslims who can't "accept" the non Arab non Muslim pluralistic democratic Israel?

4) Are Jews living, or even allowed to live in racist "Palestinian" controlled territories (Judenrein - ethnic cleaning)?

5) When will lefty radicals (Meretz/B'Tzelem) talk about preferential treatments to Arabs OVER Jews inside Israel, like in Hebron and in other cases?

6) Why are (Arab Palestinian or Hezbollah) the ones using its own kids as cannon fodders considered "innocent victims"?

7) Is Israel battling just terrorism or an ARAB MUSLIM CAMPAIGN OF GENOCIDE since the 1920's?

8) Since Muslim nations (OIC & Iran) push to criminalize criticism of Islamists' bigotry, doesn't it mean that anything being said in that conference is the opposite of tolerance and of truth?

9) How can the UN avoid the largest practitioner of racism, which is Arabism (against: Kurds, Berbers, Africans, Jews, Assyrians, Asians, etc.), but focuses on the so called "anti-Arab racism"?
[ http://geocities.com/panarabism - Arabism is racism! ]

10) How more racist can the Durban-conference get, If the two oppressive regimes: Libya & Iran are the "stars"?
Libya - whose Muamar Qaddafi (besides his own persecution of non-Arabs, especially blacks in his country) the one of the champions in today's racist Arabization, and Arabist racism against Africa (whose "vision" has been compared to Hitler's "lebensraum"), in: Chad, Nigeria, etc., ultimately his crimes in the Sudan region helped in leading the current Al-Bashir's genocide on Millions of Africans (financed mainly by Libya and S. Arabia).
Iran, the regime of Islamic bigotry's oppression on its own population with an added special persecution on all on-Muslims: Christians, Baha'i, Jews, etc. or on non-"pure-Persians" like: Ahwazi - Arabs, Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis, etc. now under the leadership of: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [EichmannJihad - the Islamic Hitler] who plays as if he "denies" the holocaust only in order to prepare for (his wishful) the second, "wiping off Israel".
Thus, the shame of the UN, kidnapped by the epitome of intolerance today, the infamous twin fascism: Arab racism, as in Gadhafi, and Islamic bigotry as in Amadinejad, are going to be "preaching" (and determine) to the world on tolerance.

The race card by Arab Muslim bigots at the UN (Durban II)

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:26:34 EDT

The race card by Arab Muslim bigots at the UN (Durban II)

Even though it’s really Islamism that is the epitome of bigotry and it’s Arabism that Equals Racism against all non-Arabs, including: Kurds, Berbers, Jews (not only inside Israel), Persians, Africans (not only the millions of victims in Sudan), etc. and as an Arab admitted the true Nature of the Twin Fascisms of Islamism and Pan-Arabism’ that dominates the Arab Muslim world , yet the UN, in its Durban proclaiming to be an anti-racism forum, bows to the Arab Muslim lobby control to ignore the above but concentrate rather on anti-Arabism and Islamophobia, both terms which have been used as tools by Islamists to gage any criticism of intolerance in the Arab-Muslim world (and radicals have been politicizing genuine feelings, to call true fear of terror as “racism” ).

______________

Kicking Israel Around [Anne Bayefsky] April 07, 2009 What’s behind all this? The OIC countries are locked in a struggle with EU states over the ability to stifle free speech (such as “defaming” Islam) in the name of protecting religion. The Russian move helps the OIC nations by letting them use the anti-semitism clause as a bargaining chip, to be played in exchange for the EU’s allowing free-speech restrictions. In a related issue, the Danish are unhappy with the mention of something the U.N. invented called “anti-Arabism.” That phrase has been inserted in the paragraph about discrimination in the form of Islamophobia, Christianophobia and anti-semitism. But the rest of the EU has told the Danes to get lost, on the grounds that if the EU proposes deleting anti-Arabism, the OIC will insist on deleting anti-semitism. As EU officials explain to observers, “We want to show restraint.”

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Mzk3YjI3NDQxNDMzYzE1ZTQ4NzY4ZjU4Y2VkNTE4ZTI=

Human Rights of Non-believers, Apostates and Free-thinkers “The terms belief and religion are to be broadly construed”. General Comment 22 on Article 18, United Nations Human Rights Committee, 1993. We find paragraph 10 of the draft outcome document to be deeply flawed in that it singles out only Christians, Jews and Muslims as named victims of “phobias”. Furthermore, while the term “Islamophobia”, for example, is undefined, it is used to falsely equate disdain for or opposition to Islam with intolerance of, or violence and hatred towards the believer. Secondly, no mention is made in paragraph 10 of discrimination, intolerance and violence towards non-believers, Polytheists, apostates, and free-thinkers. Yet the human rights of non-believers, free-thinkers and those of other faiths are systematically denied in many parts of the world, and many face discrimination, abuse and even death. We urge delegations to recognise that all are entitled to protection from discrimination, whatever their belief or lack of belief. We therefore respectfully suggest either that the list of specific types of discrimination be deleted from paragraph 10, or the list be expanded to include non-believers, polytheists, apostates and free-thinkers. We are equally concerned that anti-Arabism is included in the list, while no mention is made of the anti-Westernism endemic in many parts of the world. Again, we would respectfully suggest that either the reference to anti-Arabism be deleted or that the list should be extended to include anti-Westernism. Our preferred text, which we respectfully offer to delegations, then becomes: 10. Recognizes with deep concern the negative stereotyping of religions, beliefs and non-beliefs, and the global rise in the number of incidents of racial or religious intolerance and violence. With, as an alternative: 10. Recognizes with deep concern the negative stereotyping of religion, beliefs, and non-beliefs, and the global rise in the number of incidents of racial or religious intolerance and violence, including Judeophobia, Christianophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Arabism, anti-Westernism and intolerance and violence towards non-believers, polytheists, apostates and free-thinkers.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/025617.php

Islamic Agenda: “Defamation of Religion” The Islamic Group (Pakistan) stated, “Defamation is not about freedom of expression, but the abuse of this freedom.” Iran was very active throughout the week, taking the floor more than any other country on this issue. It consistently advocated “elaborating” legislation to fight racism, proposing further, “Model legislation on the necessity of upholding respect for…reputation, public morals as well as incitement to racial and religious hatred [code for defamation].” As the debate on defamation was getting underway, the chair asked two journalists to leave the room, explaining that members of two regional groups had requested that the cameras be removed from the room in that they have had adequate time for filming. The journalists were from the French-German cultural channel ARTE and were making a documentary about the human rights debate at the UN. Pakistan, South Africa, and Egypt expressed their concerns that these journalists would engage in “selective interpretation” of the discussion. Counter-terrorism, Islamophobia Pakistan wanted to include even more language to equate counter-terrorism with racism. Pakistan, Algeria, and Iran also wanted the words, “Islamophobia” and “anti-Arabism” to remain in the document.

http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1316871&ct=6645721&printmode=1

Ienajya

Unknown user — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:31:57 EDT

Obraj cansja

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To President Barak and Michelle Obama.

JohnB — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:04:45 EDT

To President Barak and Michelle Obama.

50+ years of coverup of the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy across the globe. 7 years since the global acknowledgement of a coverup in a number of countries. In those 7 years the problem has been found to extend to every country on the planet where the church exists. The numbers of abused is estimated to be in the millions.

What happens to a country and a world which has been deceived for more than 50 years by those who supposedly lead the way. The country suffers from the problems which come from and continue to come from the activities undertaken during those past 50 years by the church in its covering up of the abuses.

The response of our government appears to have been to increase its involvements and workings with this socially dysfunctional church and appears to wish to continue in that way without seeking from the church a definitive point in time for the church to respond in an appropriate manner or to give the people of Australia their democratic right to sayif they wish to continue to trade with a broken Catholic church.

Without proper intervention each American becomes disadvantaged as there is no policy set down as to how our country should deal with the fact that the Church is unable to provide a policy itself while we all understand that is the most basic of things we need from this church so that every American child will not have to find a path through the hypocritical life we provide to them whilst this matter remains unaddressed in our society.

When both Church and State fail us on this scale it is the children who suffer first and suffer the most.

The Church and the Government must take positive and appropriate action. Itis both inappropriate and dysfunctional for Governments right across the world to continue to trade with this church until we have a clear understanding of how both your Government and the Catholic Church make it clear to us all just how they are going to resolve the matter of the sexual abuse of our children by so many priests of the worlds' leading Christian Church.

We obviously see both Church and State repeatedly fail to act in the light of this understanding and in the knowledge of the harm this causes our world and the lives of each of us living it.

Set aside September 1st 2009 as the last day we get to hear any leader inthe world utter the words "This is a matter for the Church" when he speaks of the children sexually abused by clergy.

Set aside September 1st 2009 as the day your Government and the Catholic Church provide us all with a clear and appropriate set of policies making it clear to us how we can live our lives without these aberrant behaviours from both Church and Government.

Barak, as the President of The United States we simply take your support for granted.

rgds

John Brown

NIHILISM, WILL WORDS ALWAYS BRING YOU TO

caring_independent — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:17:06 EDT

does fear of flying or death take us there
to know life older than any witness
and now past, may have eyes forseen our dare
to greedily seek for our uniqueness
once tearing free from our primitive root
more fragile than the tree, to think and will
could humanity take us from dispute
or will violence feed us our fatal pill?

concern not for another's attendance
who keeps to assuage intellectual pride
as captains map amoral contrivance
of right, but confess a just course abide
they'll speak with no doubt of true direction
while more, appeasing perceived mutinies
than terms imbibed in common religion
could we know truth from man's hypotheses?

coroners will define life from its death
and vision life's divination by line
like rings of trees never reveal its breath
will Horus' eye remain bounded in trine
fingers and symbols just point back at you
like breath is not caught in your reflection
Nihilism, will words always bring you to
why, do we accept nothing over One?

Written 3/17/2009, Copyright ME Wilson

Islamic Pirates & Jihad - Terror Connection

Maria from New York, NY — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:49:13 EDT

Islamic Pirates & Jihad - Terror ConnectionSomalia Standoff Generates US Policy Debate
Voice of America - ‎Apr 10, 2009‎
US officials said the group, which controls parts of Somalia, poses a dilemma. They point to its rapid expansion, ties between its leaders and the al-Qaida ...
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-11-voa12.cfmThe Pirates Challenge Obama's Pre-9/11 Mentality
Wall Street Journal - ‎Apr 10, 2009‎
As the eminent military historian Sir Michael Howard argued shortly after 9/11, the status of al Qaeda terrorists is to be found in a distinction first made ...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123940383654409651.htmlSomali Pirates Tied to Jihad
Intellectual Conservative - ‎Apr 8, 2009‎
Since 2003, Somalia has witnessed the growth of a brutal network of Jihad with strong ties to Al-Qaeda. In fact, when the US forces faced a bloody battle in ...
http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2009/04/08/somali-pirates-tied-to-jihad/---Commentary: Take fight to the pirates
CNN - ‎Apr 9, 2009‎
It is time to change strategy and take the fight to the pirates, as our military predecessors did with great success more than 200 years ago.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/09/wilkerson.pirates/Harper's Magazine - ‎Apr 9, 2009‎
Unconventional warfare, against an unconventional enemy. What a novel idea. We handled things better 200 years ago!
http://harpers.org/archive/2009/04/hbc-90004751Lessons From the Barbary Pirate Wars
New York Times - ‎April 10, 2009‎
We’re talking about the Barbary Wars, about 200 years ago, when pirates from the Barbary Coast (today’s Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya) hijacked ...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/weekinreview/12gettleman.html?ref=africaSomalia: Direct connections about Somali pirates and Islamic extremists
Djibouti (HAN) April 10th, 2009 - Unied states regional based military officials and the Somalia Minister for Fisheries Professor Abdulrahman Ibbi, have found no direct ties between the Somalia Coast pirates and the International Islamic terrorist groups, such as Al-qa'ida or Al-Shabab, but continue to search for signs of links between the two factions in the wake of the Indian Ocean hostage incident; that is close of the Somali city of Kismayo, run by Al-Shabab and Al-Itihad groups. It was not clear whether officials were specifically scrutinizing the Somali pirates who boarded the Maersk Alabama on Tuesday and fled in a lifeboat after taking hostage the cargo ship's captain.
http://www.geeskaafrika.com/somalia_10apr09.htmSOMALIA: Why The Pirates Are Immune From Attack
Strategy Page - ‎Apr 9, 2009‎
There are over a thousand gunmen attached to pirate gangs in the north, although the group operating off the east coast pay "taxes" to al Shabaab for the ...
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/somalia/articles/20090409.aspx---October 02, 2008
al Qaida + Pirates = Jihad on the High Seas
Al Qaida has claimed responsibility for the increased pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia this year. So far this year there have been around 60 attacks against cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden, in 2007 there was 13. The islamic pirates are currently holding up to 300 crewmen hostage and 14 cargo ships for ransom.
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/194284.phpSomali pirates: Islamist insurgents demand weapons from hijacked ...Oct 6, 2008 ... The Islamist gunmen from the al Shabaab group opposing Somalia's weak ... British tourists narrowly avoid being captured by Somali pirates ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/3140884/Somali-pirates-Islamist-insurgents-demand-weapons-from-hijacked-ship.html

Obama's Christian Nation Comment

Homeboy — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:30:20 EDT

I don't think this site lets me add youtube videos, so here's the link to the video I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIVd7YT0oWA

I'm wondering what other christian bloggers opinions are about Obama's recent comment in Turkey about the USA not being a christian nation? I think he's right in some ways that it's not defined by religion like some countries are, but christianity still permeates(sp?) the country very deeply. It may not officially be anything and that's fine, but it's an interesting idea to bring up. I know of many people who WOULD say the US is a Christian nation. I wrote another blog post about this and Obama's Christian t-shirts on my main website, but I'd like to know here what people's opinions are about this. It's something that' affects us all more than some of us might want to believe.

Embarrassment for Whom - Notre Dame, The President or America

Tom Awtry — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:37:07 EDT

I’m not a Catholic, although I studied the religion, and believe I would have become a Catholic if I didn’t have stronger feelings towards the Christen religion I did choose.

However, I strongly disagree with Notre Dame’s decision to invite the President to speak at their commencement exercise and then follow the invitation up with highly publicized disagreements in the media, regarding the president’s pending appearance – could this be a cruel and very unbecoming way to deliver a political message?

Is it because President Obama is not a Catholic? No, since Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush all spoke at Notre Dame graduation ceremonies and the school has an established tradition of having the current president speak at its commencement, extending the invitation to Obama, who is pro-choice and recently overturned the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, has caused a fierce backlash among some Catholic groups.

I strongly believe our president is not going to use this occasion to campaign for his decision and beliefs on pro-choice and stem cell research to those gathered at the commencement.

Furthermore, I believe the Catholic parishioners are both smart enough and loyal to their beliefs to understand the issues of controversy over the aforementioned to listen and absorb opposing view points.

The following is a video I produced and released on YouTube during the Primaries last year, where John F. Kennedy is speaking about his Catholic religion and his personal feelings regarding his roll as President. Please give it a listen and see what this former Catholic had to say.

Senator Obama – Faith

Over the past several months, on the Internet, there had been numerous videos and e-Mails circulated, regarding Senator Obama’s religion, which is currently an unpopular religion in some countries and perhaps here in America. This uncalled for “smear” campaign is totally nonproductive to the issues concerning our country at this time, furthermore, an individual’s beliefs should not affect our important selection for the highest office in our country.

The video reflects that of another time in our history where religion was also considered an issue in choosing a President, although the audio quality is poor and portions of the audio reluctantly had to be edited, to conform with YouTube’s requirements for uploading, the message given is absolutely “clear” as to its meaning.

Additional postings regarding this topic and others may be found here:

The Liberal Bogeyman

Adam Z — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:52:05 EDT

If it's not apparent to you, you're not paying attention. The republican agenda, and philosophy of most modern American conservatives, is based entirely in response to new deal democrats. Oooh they hate us sooo much. How dare we force hard working executives to give back to those free-loaders down on the line. That's why they pick the Sarah Palins when a women loses, and Michael Steele when a black man wins. And this response has created a party that is disgustingly disillusioned, and dangerous to a progressive future.

Modern conservative thought flies in the face of all established belief amongst the greatest thinkers in history, including the lord of the religion they claim to follow. Jesus, Buddha, Mohamed, and Confucius; all agree that the way to an enlightened society is to strive for something bigger than ourselves.

To believe their mindless babble a conservative must go to great lengths to justify their greed and heartlessness. Lindsay Graham hates earmarks but uses them frequently. Rush Limbaugh has been divorced twice but rails in defense of marriage's sanctity. Gay bashers are gay. And worthless bank executives foreclose on thousands of homes but coming running when the hammer's coming down on them.

They don't stand for personal responsibility. They just don't want to be responsible for YOU. They don't stand up for smaller government. They don't want government helping the poor. They think poor is by choice and they are certainly not giving up their hard-earned money to help out those bums on main street. And for all their professed patriotism, they sure do seem close to secession... again.

I fear your revolution, patriot. You revolt against the brotherhood of man. Your is a reformation against knowledge. Your cause is self-interest, and your enemy is the universal right to the pursuit of happiness.

To the conservative it is a sin for companies to sacrifice a little short term profit to provide a quality product at a decent price. That's disloyal to the shareholders. Teachers are only in it to put forth a liberal agenda. Artists create works for the money. And unions should shut up and take pay cuts when the companies going bad, but executives need us to stand up for their contracts when they run it into the ground. Oh, wait, most house republicans ended up voting to tax the contracts anyway.

The neocon transformers want us liberals to be their bogeyman. They want to scare you with stories of socialism. But we will not apologize for a literate society, a 70 year life span, a car in every garage, and highways from New York, to San Francisco, and even to Freedom, Ohio. We take pride in Universal Suffrage, and we relish in the scientific revolution. Liberal spending put a man on the moon and it will one day mine asteroids and explore deep space. And we will not back down from that.

Relgious interests need to stay out of politics

Thinkingman.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:32:10 EST

Everyone should see this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnHyy8gkNEE&fmt=18

The constitution of the United States clearly separates politics from religion. Therefore, all religions need to stay out of Hawaii—and national—politics. I would never think to enforce the lifestyle I lead engendered by my beliefs on you or your family. Therefore, I find it offensive when any church—and these days, although many of my friends are Mormons, I’m specifically talking about the Mormons—tries to tell me how I have to live.

More after the jump…

At least one case of "Moderate" Arab Muslims' bigotry - defeated [Arabism's racism]

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:53:39 EST

At least one case of "Moderate" Arab Muslims' bigotry - defeated [Arabism's racism]

Bret Stephens on http://www.foxnews.com/journal/"hits & misses", The Fining of UAE over denial of visa to Israeli tennis player is a "defeat for bigotry"

WTA fines Dubai Open organisers after Israeli Shahar Peer denied visa - Feb 20, 2009 The Women's Tennis Association has fined the Dubai Open organisers $US300,000 ($A465,000) after the United Arab Emirates refused to grant a visa to Israeli ...

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25086276-23209,00.html

Under-fire UAE likely to give Israel's Andy Ram a visa
Israeli doubles specialist Andy Ram is likely to be granted a visa by the United Arab Emirates to play in the Dubai Championships next week, which could prevent a major crisis for tennis...
"To discriminate as the UAE did against one player in this way smacks of bigotry and racism," the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations said in a statement. "This must be declared unacceptable by the WTA and all international sporting associations. As we learned in the past, failure to condemn such actions and take corrective measures, proves destructive to international sporting competition."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/atptour/4692024/Under-fire-UAE-likely-to-give-Israels-Andy-Ram-a-visa.html

Sponsors pull out of Dubai Open after UAE deny visa to Israeli
RACISM ROW: The Wall Street Journal Europe and the Tennis Channel have revoked their sponsorship of the WTA Dubai Open because the UAE denied a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25072951-5005401,00.html

Tennis: Racism Rears Its Ugly Head Shahar Peer is an Israeli tennis player. The United Arab Emirates barred her from participating in the Barclays Dubai tournament

http://ballhype.com/story/tennis_racism_rears_its_ugly_head/

United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has no diplomatic links with Israel, denied her an entry visa into the country. "To discriminate as the UAE did against one player in this way smacks of bigotry and racism,"

http://www.javno.com/en-sports/jewish-leaders-call-on-wta-to-sanction-dubai-event_235390

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

LLJ — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:04:00 EST

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed and adopted by the UN General Assembly sixty years ago. Regardless of race, religion, or nationality, all men and women, everywhere in the world, are entitled to the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in it's thirty articles. Since it's adoption in 1948 the declaration has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Build community by promoting the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...to promote cultural diversity as well as the desire for global cooperation and dialogue between different cultures; Unity and Diversity.

http://www.unesco-club-vienna.org/ ...The UNESCO Clubs movement has developed hand-in-hand with UNESCO since the establishment of the first club in Sendai, Japan, on 19 July 1947.

U.S. Senate Chaplain on Church & State Talk Radio

Nina Calahan-James, Freelance Writer — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:14:13 EST

Church & State Talk Radio WLQV 1500AM Detroit Host: Kwame Hardy, Joseph Humphrey & Nina Calahan-James

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Church & State Talk Radio

February 6, 2009 248-202-5340

U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black

United States Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black will be a guest on

Church and State Talk Radio, Detroit

Saturday February 7, 2009

at 1:00pm EST on 1500AM Detroit, MI

Listen on line at: www.AM1500WLQV.com

U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black is the first person of color in the nation’s history to serve the spiritual needs of our lawmakers. Throughout the years, the United States Senate has honored the historic separation of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State The Office of the Chaplain is nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and nonsectarian

On June 27, 2003, Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Ret.) was elected the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He began working in the Senate on July 7, 2003. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Chaplain Black served in the U.S. Navy for over twenty-seven years, ending his distinguished career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains.

Chaplain Black has been selected for many outstanding achievements. Of particular note, he was chosen from 127 nominees for the 1995 NAACP Renowned Service Award for his contribution to equal opportunity and civil rights. He also received the 2002 Benjamin Elijah Mays Distinguished Leadership Award from The Morehouse School of Religion.

Church & State Talk Radio was created as a bipartisan empowering, informative and motivating radio production. The hosts are a young and innovative team, paired with seasoned experts inspired by President Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change. Church & State Talk Radio aim to educate listeners every Saturday with a better understanding of government, politics and the religious community.

Church & State Talk Radio was privileged with seated tickets at the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. They are the first radio program of its kind in Detroit, Michigan to explore the religion of politics and the politics of religion.

To listen on line please visit www.am1500wlqv.com Saturdays at 1:00pm Eastern Standard Time. To submit your comments, questions or learn more about the show email: detroitradiopolitics@barackobama4change.us or visit the show's website www.churchandstateunited.com

###

When we equally pay our taxes we expect equal help when needed

ObamaMama32 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:06:58 EST

It's a frustrating circumstance when you are fired for following the rules, Barack. Some of us actually are brave enough to report harassment and discrimination when we experience it, and anyone who has been harassed knows that the experience is no laughing matter. When we are fired for following correct procedures to report violations of our EEO rights and then not only penalized for it by our employer, but then left out in the cold by the very government we are all busy filling out paperwork for to figure what we owe you or what we get back as a refund. There are apparently too many reports to handle in the COLD COLD state of Utah...and believe me, we have some cold and disrespectful people in our gloriously snowy state.

I give you another recent example of someone...a mentor, just trying to go to work every day and make her dollar. She wasn't trying to get rich the way her offender was talking about it.

http://cityweekly.net/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=FA61588F-14D1-1357-9C47D0934F95C710

Dear Barack, I Don't Think You're Hitler.

Andrew Bairnsfather — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:52:02 EST

There is an email being forwarded by the itchy fingers of people wishing you harm. If you check out my NewOldSalt.com web site you can find some of my short essays I've written about them, like how it's really a blessing to be persecuted wrongly.

But I just replied to this specific letter that attempts to cast you as a new Adolf Hitler, at least I guess that's the point of it, you are not mentioned by name.

I thought you, and others, might find it interesting. Others are welcome to grab chunks of what I wrote and use it in their emails if they are sent this letter.

In case there are people ready to jump to the wrong conclusion, I should probably add here, that I love Jesus and the person who sent this too me claims to as well. However, it seems there is a disconnect in some people's minds about Jesus, and they put him on a pedestal, far from their hearts and minds where they could actually get to know him.

The letter's subject is Surely Not...

It begins...

> I was born in one country, raised in another. My father was born in another country. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with numerous women.

PEACE IN JERUSALEM

WEBMASTER — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:53:22 EST

Jewish and Arab Neighbors Hold Hands for Peace

Last Saturday 300 Jews and Arabs from the Wadi Ara region of Israel demonstrated against the harming of innocent civilians in Gaza and the surrounding Israeli region. The rally was organized by NIF grantee Awareness for You, which runs empowerment courses for Arab women in the village of Kfar Kara.

"I only expected about 90 people to attend the rally," explained Amna Ka'anana, "so I was surprised when we had 300 people all dressed in white and holding olive branches, about half and half Jews and Arabs. Many of the drivers who passed by, both Jews and Arabs, called out their support."

In addition to being a forum to voice concern over the conflict in Gaza, the rally was also an opportunity for the Jews and Arabs of Wadi Ara to come together. Among the many banners, one carried by an Arab read "Neighbors call for peace," while another carried by a Jew said "Jews and Arabs hand in hand."

Amna Ka'anana hosts Jewish neighbors in her home in Kfar Kara.

Ka'anana said: "We sent a message of peace and coexistence to all of Wadi Ara, to all of Israel and to the entire world."

Ka'anana, who is an Orthodox Muslim, received NIF's London-Yaari Scholarship in 2007 for her work in women's empowerment. Last year she received the Knesset Speaker's Prize for Quality of Life.

When the fighting erupted in Gaza last month, she feared that the tensions could spill over into violent conflicts between Jews and Arabs in Wadi Ara. She invited several dozen Jewish and Arab activists to her home to discuss the situation, and they hit upon the idea of the Shabbat rally.

"I have always wanted to initiate social activities that bring Jews and Arabs together," explained Ka'anana, "so that we can understand one another's culture. Now the war has taken matters in a different direction. At the end of last week's rally many people started crying and that started me crying."

The rally ended with Jewish and Muslim prayers. Awareness for You plans similar peaceful rallies, with increased expected turnout, every Shabbat while the fighting continues.

barackobama.com sources:

1. http://arabamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3
2. http://jewishamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3
3. http://faith.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3

Also see Spirit of Reconciliation

Op ' cast Lead' Israel/Gaza: Triple Islamic Crime: 1) Firing upon Israeli civilians, 2) using its own populations' women and children to make sure they die, so they can bash Israel even more, 3) Calling for genocide on Israelis or on all Jews.

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:41:37 EST

December, 2008 - January 2009

Triple Islamic Crime: 1) Firing upon Israeli civilians, 2) using its own populations' women and children to make sure they die, so they can bash Israel even more, 3) Calling for genocide on Israelis or on all Jews.

Operation 'Cast Lead' - Israel decided it had (1) - enough of: Years of Islamic 'Palestinian' Hamas' barrage of rocket attacks aimed intentionally on Israeli civilians, preferably children (at the times they go to schools and kindergartens), around a Millions Israelis are under this threatening range.
(2) - The Islamic terror Hamas fights the Israeli humane anti-terror defensive forces via most inhumane tactics - using its own civilians, women and children as human shields in order to cause Arab kids' deaths and then parade with them on global TV cameras.

(3) - An expolsion of Islamofascism's hatred and call for genocide on (all) Jews in wordlwide demonstrations under the flag of "free Palestine".

On Dec. 27, Israel began defensive operations to dismantle Iran-backed Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and stop the terrorist group from its 8-years-long campaign of attacking Israeli civilians with 10,000 rockets, missiles and mortars.

Despite Hamas’s unrelenting rocket attacks, Israel continues to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, warning the civilian population to stay clear of terrorist sites. Said Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, "Israel has made it clear that we are fighting against terrorism, not the Gazan residents, and the extremists are the ones who are taking advantage of the concern of the humanitarian organizations and the international community as a means of pressuring Israel."
http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=689705&ct=6479 919

Harris noted that Israel has always gone to great lengths in an attempt to avoid civilian casualties, but that, tragically, Hamas uses civilians "as human shields," making Israel's efforts still more challenging. (Dec 27, 2008)

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-27-2008/00049 47081&EDATE=

Hamas Prepares 15,000 Soldiers, Civilian Human Shields For Full Confrontation With Israel (Dec 27, 2008)

http://www.mererhetoric.com/archives/11275253.html

Hamas took no heed of the plight of their own brethren, "and just as they have used human shields in their terror operations, they are now taking the whole ...

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1229868820574&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Israel's Challenge Family Security Matters, NJ - Dec 26, 2008 Why is criticism never leveled at Hamas or Hezbollah who regularly use children as human shields to protect their leaders and their weapons? ...

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.2115/pub_detail.asp

Israel retaliation in Gaza, Hamas hit hard Canada Free Press, Canada Any suspected hideouts of Hamas leadership must be taken out. Israel had opportunities in earlier decades to do this and refused because of the human shield

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/7171

Hamas Explains Use of Civilians as Human Shields
By Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook
"We desire death as you desire life."
The UN announcement that 51 civilians have died in the conflict in Gaza must be understood in the context of Hamas's declared ideology to use civilians as human shields for Hamas fighters. Indeed, Hamas continues to emphasize and promote the religious ideology that death for Allah is an ideal to be actively pursued.
The goal is to convince Palestinians, including women and children, not to fear death but even to face it at the front to protect Hamas fighters. Hamas's placement of its military installations and fighters among civilians reflects this ideology, and has led to these 51 deaths.
A Hamas representative in the PA legislative council this year expressed pride in the fact that women and children are used as human shields in fighting Israel. He described it as part of a "death industry" at which Palestinians excel, and explained that the Palestinians "desire death" with the same intensity that Israelis "desire life."
The following is the full text of the comments by Hamas representative Fathi Hamad: "For the Palestinian people death became an industry, at which women excel and so do all people on this land: the elderly excel, the Jihad fighters excel, and the children excel. Accordingly [Palestinians] created a human shield of women, children, the elderly and the Jihad fighters against the Zionist bombing machine, as if they were saying to the Zionist enemy: We desire death as you desire life."

http://newsblaze.com/story/20081229092838zzzz.nb/topstory.html

Injured Palestinian girl: Hamas is the cause of all wars
A haunting clip from an outfit that specializes in them: Portrait of a human shield, her four-year-old sister one of 60 civilians killed...

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/12/30/injured-palestinian-girl-hamas-is-the-cause-of-all-wars/

The suffering that Hamas causes (Dec 2008) ...
But it isn't only Israelis whose fundamental human rights Hamas is violating. It is those of the Palestinian population about whose welfare Hamas professes to care.
In direct contravention of international law, Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, utilizing homes, schools and community centers as launching pads, content in the knowledge that if innocent Palestinian civilians are caught in the cross-fire, it will be Israel that is criticized. This amounts to a sort of Daily Double of human rights violations: the use of innocent Palestinians as human shields for the infliction of violence upon innocent Israelis.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/12/30/the_suffering_that_hama s_causes/

The Father of the Human Shield Dead
DigitalJournal.com - 2 Jan 2009
Nizar al-Rayyan invented the Human Shields method. IsraelPolitik reports that Hamas has released an official statement “declaring that Dr. Nizar al-Rayyan, ...

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/264390

Ground push / Mission: Break Hamas Ha'aretz - Jan 3, 2009
Hamas may also use children as "human shields" for weapons caches inside mosques.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052336.html

IDF launches Gaza ground operation
Ha'aretz - Jan 3, 2009
Those who use civilians, the elderly, women and children as "human shields" are responsible for any and all injuries to the civilian population.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052341.html

They Asked For It! Hamas goads Israeli military to invade Gaza Strip
Gather.com - Jan 3, 2009
They're showing no regard for the high, civilian casualties due to the upcoming, street fighting. They're using their countrymen as human shields.

http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/35544

NETANYAHU: This humanitarian crisis is the direct result of the Hamas tactic of firing at our civilians and hiding behind their civilians, and it’s something that we cannot tolerate. No nation would tolerate 6,000 rockets fired on its cities, and Israel finally decided to take action.

We have to make sure that we don’t just have a cease-fire, but that this criminal rocketing of our cities is not resumed a few months from now. Because that’s exactly what happened a few months ago. They were firing rockets at us, the Hamas. We had a cease-fire. They used the cease-fire to get further range — longer-range rockets, which they have now fired at Beersheba and Ashdod and into the southern suburbs of Tel Aviv. So obviously, we have to remove the threat, not just stop the firing. And that’s what Israel is engaged in right now.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003002618

Crush Hamas and brave the backlash | The Australian - But as was pointed out - Israel attempts to target military and political sites. hamas attacks civilians. there is no such thing as disproportionate attacks …

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24853482-7583,00.html

Rocket alert sends New York’s Bloomberg running for cover in Sderot…
the onus of the civilian deaths was on Hamas for using them as human shields.
“They have been the main victimizers of the innocent Palestinian people by inviting these kinds of attacks,” he said.

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052557.html

IDF coordination chief: There is no humanitarian crisis

Hamas terrorists are using civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip - including hospitals, mosques and areas next to offices of international aid groups - to conduct terrorist activity and fire rockets at Israel, Col. Moshe Levi, commander of the IDF’s Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA), said Thursday.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230733138893

Hamas Exploitation of Civilians as Human Shields
Right Side News
This study examines how Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip make extensive use of Palestinian civilians as human shields. ...

http://rightsidenews.com/200901063218/global-terrorism/hamas-exploitation-of-civilians-as-human-shie lds.html

'Hamas is guilty of war crime'
BBC News
... artillery attack near a UN school in the Gaza Strip. On Radio 4's The World Tonight he claimed that Hamas were guilty of using civilians as "human shields".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7814762.stm

Yes, free Gaza — from terrorist tyranny
By REDA MANSOUR
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Some of the Arab and Muslim demonstrators who recently came to our offices were holding signs that said “Free Gaza.” Many Israelis would raise that same sign, me included, but for different reasons. People tend to forget that as of August 2005, Israel has not been in Gaza, and that the Gazans have been under Hamas control since June 2007. Indeed, Gaza needs to be freed from many different extremist forces.
Gaza should be freed from Hamas, a terrorist organization that seized the strip by force. Since the takeover, Hamas has run Gaza’s economy into the ground and now nearly half of the work force is unemployed. Hamas has built a Taliban-style state in Gaza and introduced many of the Islamic Shari’a laws, institutionalizing the persecution of women and minorities.
Hamas has transformed Gaza from a free territory to a large bunker, a place where rockets are stored under families, schools and places of prayer. Unfortunately, Gazans not only live among this militarization, but are now a tool in Hamas’ aggression. The terrorist organization has developed a strategy of using innocent civilians as human shields. When Israel warns that the houses of Hamas operatives and commanders will be targeted, the terrorists bring in innocent citizens, often by force, in an effort to increase the likelihood of civilian casualties. Hamas’ leaders rely on the strict Israeli moral code, hoping to avoid being attacked or that a strike will allow them to score points in the media by sacrificing their own people, creating what looks like acts of Israeli military aggression.
Gaza should be freed from the intervention of Iran, a state that openly admits to financing Hamas. Iran is also helping Palestinian terror organizations with training, intelligence and equipment. Some of this “aid” is channeled through Hezbollah in Lebanon — yet another Iranian proxy organization. Hezbollah and Iran use the Gazans to maintain regional political relevance in their empty agenda against Israel.
Gaza should be freed from some of the Arab satellite channels like Al-Jazeera. These television stations engage in the direct incitement of the Arab and Muslim world. Everything is acceptable in their eyes to raise their ratings: including long shots of bodies and injuries. Some of these channels do not dismiss any editing trick and consider propaganda as a normal part of their news reporting.
As far as Israel is concerned, Gaza is free and it is the decision of its inhabitants what the area’s destiny will be. They can continue to buy into the self-defeating promises of terrorist organizations and extremist ideologies. Even worse, they can continue to let these organizations use them as human shields and demolish their hopes and futures.
Gazans can only truly be free by declaring Gaza a terror-free zone. The people of Gaza have many resources in their hands to achieve success. Gaza could use its beautiful Mediterranean coast to attract Israeli and Egyptian tourists. It can renew the flower and fruit exports to Europe that Israel left behind. The airport that was built there can be reopened. The seaport that is planned and even the natural gas fields in its waters could be built.
The people of this region need to make the decision that Gaza will become a model of peace and stability and hopefully, the beginning of the two-state solution: Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2009/01/07/mansoured_0107.html

Hamas uses people as shields
Updated: 01/06/2009 06:53:52 AM EST
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has heated up again. A cease-fire agreement has collapsed and Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization, immediately renewed its rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli civilian areas.
Hamas does not attack military targets. They openly declare their intent to kill civilians, including women and children.
These rocket attacks have gone on for years and have steadily increased in intensity. The range of these weapons has increased as well, bringing more civilian areas in Israel under attack, with an increase in danger to civilians.
There is no warning for these attacks, no air-raid sirens, just the sudden explosion of a rocket missile in your neighborhood with the possibility of death and destruction.
During the several years that these rocket attacks have continued, never has anyone raised a voice condemning these attacks, which are knowingly directed against civilians.
Hamas deliberately sets its rocket launchers and mortars in densely populated areas using their own people as human shields against retaliation.
Now that Israel is striking back, the Israelis are being condemned for causing civilian casualties. Where were these voices during the years that Hamas was deliberately and admittedly killing Israeli civilians? Where were these voices when Hamas implemented its policy of using its own people as human shields against retaliation?
Two facts become obvious:
Israel values the lives of its citizens and is now doing and will continue doing what is necessary to protect its citizens.
Hamas views its own people as expendable pawns and willingly and knowingly places them in danger in order to gain a propaganda victory against Israel.

http://www.newstimes.com/ci_11376001

Hamas at fault, not Israelis
Sir:It amazes me that every time Israel makes a move to protect its citizens and sovereignty, bleeding hearts at the CBC continue to pester Israel over its alleged unbalanced response.
Even when the ceasefire was signed, Hamas militants fire rockets haphazardly into Israel.
Hit a military compound, that's nice. Hit a school or hospital, equally nice.
This is terrorism on a daily basis.
To feel sorry for the Palestinian people is a stretch considering they voted for Hamas, knowing the blow-back they would receive not only from their immediate neighbours but from most western powers as well.
As a matter of fact, Palestinians should be thankful that Israel still considers its targets as carefully as it does and not use the laissez faire targeting of Hamas.
The reason why there are civilian casualties at all is again due to the cowardice of the militants using civilians as human shields.
I would certainly hope that those at the liberal CBC that think Israel should open its borders to incoming Palestinian workers when such a threat exists for suicide bombers never end up with the job of minister for public safety in this country.
Hard hats and bomb shelters for all!

http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1374059

The Volokh Conspiracy - Human Shields in Gaza:
But it takes a special kind of depravity to use your own civilians as human ... If the Hamas civilians *know* they are acting as human shields for the ...

http://volokh.com/posts/1230756039.shtml

Children of Hamas
Hamas has been firing these rockets from within densely populated areas using the Palestinian people as human shields. Mosques, hospitals, kindergartens

http://anadafreepress.com/index.php/article/7366

Peres: Europe must 'open eyes' on Gaza
United Press International
Peres blamed Hamas for the deaths of innocent civilians in the siege, saying the militants use them as human shields...

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/06/Peres_Europe_must_open_eyes_on_Gaza/UPI-94771231247258/

Hamas exploits public opinion
Newstimes Updated: 01/06/2009 07:23:35 PM EST
It is time to support Israel in her time of need. After living in a war zone with relentless rockets firing on innocent citizens even in a "cease-fire" agreement with Hamas, Israel has no choice but to destroy the terrorists who have one goal and that is to destroy Israel.
If the press would comment on Hamas' tactics of using women and children as human shields, of firing rockets from residential neighborhoods, of dressing Hamas officials in medical uniforms in hospitals, the tragic deaths of innocent Palestinians may be understood.
Israel has no choice but to destroy the point of rocket fire. If it comes from a mosque, a hospital, a home, a school, it is designed that way by the terrorists to hurt Israel.
They have no regard for their citizens and use them as propaganda tools to affect world opinion.
It would be helpful if the press would mention the tactics at the same time as they mention the tragic deaths of innocent bystanders. It is all calculated by Hamas and unfortunately not everyone is aware of their depth of cruelty.
Our tradition teaches us, "He who saves a single life, it is as if he saved an entire world." Israel reveres life and the terrorists revere death. It is unfortunate and tragic.
When the terrorists will show the same passion for peace as they do for death and hatred, there will be peace.

http://www.newstimes.com/ci_11387960

We have counseled our ally Israel to be very cautious about protecting innocents, and I do think that the Israelis take great care to do so. I saw the reports about the school. I don't have any information about that. I think that we should not jump to conclusions, and we should wait to find out what the evidence says. What we do know is that Hamas often hides amongst innocents, and uses innocent people, including children, as human shields.

http://www.enewspf.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5435:press-briefing-by-p ress-secretary-dana-perino-&catid=88888933&Itemid=88889535

Evidence of Hamas Use of Human Shields

http://yaakov.newsvine.com/_news/2009/01/06/2278116-evidence-of-hamas-use-of-human-shields

Global Islamo fascism's Genocidal Anti - Jewish demonstrations using the Gaza anti terror operation ' cast lead' as a cover (Dec 2008 - Jan 2009)
(Jan 2009) Jihad Watch reports that in the Netherlands, anti-Israel demonstrators have once again been chanting
Hamas Hamas, Jews to the gas
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024231.php
Atlas has pictures of the Muslims that have taken over Europe chanting “Jews to the gas.”
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/01/video-anne-fran.html
Demonstrators cry 'nuke Israel,' carry Hezbollah flags at U.S. ... 6 Jan 2009 ... ... Florida last week featured demonstrators carrying signs reading ...
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052901.html
Florida demonstrator: Jews - you need a big oven' - 6 Jan 2009 ... Florida demonstrator: Jews - you need a big oven' ... Nuke, nuke Israel," followed by "Go to hell; go to hell; go to hell!" ...Another woman, wearing a (Muslim) headscarf, shouted: "Go steal other lands. Go! Murderers! Go back to the oven! You need a big oven."
Other signs accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing." "Israel is the terrorist," read a second, while a third wondered whether Israel had taken "notes during the Holocaust?"
An imam led the crowd in prayer. "Allahu Akhbar," they chanted before prostrating themselves on their prayer mats.
"We want to educate the people about what Islam really is so that they can appreciate the beauty of it," the imam told a reporter. "Once people understand the real beauty of Islam they will have no choice but to accept it because they will realize that it's part of their nature."
Following their (Islamic) prayers, the crowd crossed the road and confronted the pro-Israel group
http://www.jnewswire.com/article/2606
Genocidal hatred from pro-Hamas demonstrators -- "Nuke, nuke Israel." Chilling video from Tom Trento of WatchObsession.org. .... Florida A Tampa highway was lined with anti-Gaza War demonstrators on ...The stone, which is thrown at the Jews, hates these Jews, these Zionists, because Allah .... Muslims in American mosques praying for destruction of Israel ...
http://www.israelmilitary.net/showthread.php?p=36183
Protesting Against Israel or Hating Jews? - 6 Jan 2009 ... 'Muslim American Society'... The anti-Israel demonstration of some 200 to 300 people outside the ... for instance, carried signs saying "Nuke Israel,"...Now the notion of using of a nuclear device to eliminate Israel and thereby attempting to kill its roughly 5 million Jews is not a unique one, since words to that effect are regularly uttered, among others, by Iran's raving president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who dreams of such apocalyptic final solutions. What is unique is the morally-defective logic that would enable someone to justify a second Holocaust, the mass murder of Jews, on the basis of Israel having defended itself from years of rocket attacks and having killed several hundred murderous terrorists in the process. Making the Middle East free of Jews, Judenfrein, is exactly what Hamas, the group of murderous thugs being cheered on by the demonstrators here, ardently longs for; Hamas' charter, in fact, expresses as one of its core tenets that Israel should be eliminated, that "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/01/protesting_against_israel_or_h.html
December 31, 2008
"Death to all juice": Calling for genocide with plausible deniability?
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024163.php
January 4, 2009 chill and evil wind is blowing over the world. Genocidal Eurabia Alert
Denmark (Islamic banner reads): "Kill Jewish people evry where in ther world"
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024235.php
The banner reads, "Jews go to hell." Attached Images ...
http://www.goldtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=226463
Indonesian Muslim protesters hold a banner during a rally against . ... The banner reads, 'Jews go to hell.' REUTERS/Beawiharta. (INDONESIA) ...
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Israel--Indonesian-Muslim-protesters-hold-banner-during-rally-again st-Israeli-attacks-Gaza-Strip-Jakarta-January-2-2009-banner-reads-Jews-go/ss/events/wl/20070128_isra el/im:/02012009/6/photo/photos-n-news-indonesian-muslim-protesters-hold-banner-during-rally-against- israeli.html/
That Old Lovable “Jews Are Apes And Pigs” Canard
http://outoftheblu.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/that-old-lovable-jews-are-apes-and-pigs-canard/

Rochester Youth Means Change

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:24:00 EST

Lets get started.

Frank Rich Overreaches Again

mathpol — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:54:53 EST

“You’re Likable Enough, Gay People” is the title of a column by Frank Rich in today’s New York Times. After several weeks of fairly serious columns, he has reverted to his usual hyperbolic style. The main focus is on Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. Here are some excerpts:

Barack Obama has little in common with George W. Bush, thank God, his obsessive workouts and message control notwithstanding.As we saw during primary season, our president-elect is not free of his own brand of hubris and arrogance, and sometimes it comes before a fall: “You’re likable enough, Hillary” was

the prelude to his defeat in New Hampshire. He has hit this same note again by assigning the invocation at his inauguration to the Rev. Rick Warren, the Orange County, Calif., megachurch preacher who has likened committed gay relationships to incest, polygamy and “an older guy marrying a child.”

You can’t blame V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop and an early Obama booster, for feeling as if he’d been slapped in the face. “I’m all for Rick Warren being at the table,” he told The Times, but “we’re talking about putting someone up front and center at what will be the most-watched inauguration in history, and asking his blessing on the nation. And the God that he’s praying to is not the God that I know.” Unlike Bush, Obama has been the vocal advocate of gay civil rights he claims to be. It is over the top to assert,

as a gay writer at Time did, that the president-elect is “a very tolerant, very rational-sounding sort of bigot.” Much more to the point is the astute criticism leveled by the gay Democratic congressman Barney Frank, who, in dissenting from the Warren choice, said of Obama, “I think he overestimates his ability to get people to put aside fundamental differences.” That’s a polite way of describing the Obama cockiness. It will take more than the force of the new president’s personality and eloquence to turn our nation into the United States of America he and we all want it to be.

(end of excerpts)

Here is the comment I posted.*

Obama tends to see the good side only, when it comes to ministers. Didn't his relationship with the Reverend Wright teach us this? To me this shows naiveté rather than cockiness. I hope this “one-sided vision” doesn’t apply to heads of state. I’m glad he’ll have Hillary as a buffer.

As for “you’re likable enough Hillary”, that has been way overblown. Watch the tape again. He was caught by surprise and had to say something. Maybe a bit sardonic, but not arrogant.

And “obsessive workouts”? Daily exercise is important, especially when one wants to relieve stress and stay in shape. With George W. Bush, on the contrary, it was clear that being a “physical trainer” was a more important role to him than being president.

As for Bishop Gene Robinson’s comment that “the God that [Rick Warren] is praying to is not the God that I know.” That statement is off the mark. I guess he meant "interpreting" rather than "praying to"

As for Warren’s role at the inaugural, it bothers me too. I would have preferred a ”Billy Graham” type, one who doesn’t state that Jews don’t go to Heaven, as Warren did when asked about it at an Aspen Ideas Festival. **

Barack Obama is only human, not divine. So let’s all stay in the big tent and wait to see how he actually governs as president. We’re really not sure, but most of the early signs are positive.

(end of comment)

** To be precise, Warren answered “yes” when a woman proclaimed her Judaism and asked him if she was going to burn in Hell. Graham, on the other hand, once advised George W. Bush to "never play God" by ruling on who gets into heaven.

*This comment actually appeared. Number 938.

And the opiate of the people is...

March4health4All — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:28:03 EST

There is a big difference between rival opinions and bigotry. Sharing a stage with those with opposing views is tolerance, sharing it with bigots is complicity.

I am not gay, but according to Rick Warren, as a secular Jew, I am going to hell anyway. According to Warren so would Obama’s own mother. The tone is gentel, the words are pure hate mongering.One quarter of Evangelicals voted for Obama, Jews, atheist, agnostics, gays and other liberal heretic voted for him in the 90% range. We are all insulted. We already had a president for the Christian Nation, Obama was supposed to be the president of the whole nation; Warren’s voice is insulting, embarrassing, his gentle manner belies the white cloak of his beliefs.

On an even more basic and fundamental point, lets start with the irony of swearing on a bible to protect and defend the Constitution, separation of State and church excepted. Religion, not spirituality, but fundamentalist organize religion playing a staring roll in the inauguration is an abominable distortion of the fundamental principles of the constitution and democracy itself.

Rick Warren

Tim Schram — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:31:58 EST

Rick Warren giving the invocation is as appropriate as Louis Farrakhan or David Duke. All three are bigots and hate mongors. I understand that some people need to feel that there is some reason for their existence, happiness, and suffering other than that they are. But, do we need to elevate a closed, narrow minded manipulator to such national attention? Couldn't we find someone that stands for acceptance of humans because they are human? Someone that tries to lift the spirits of all? Warren tries to lift the spirits of his followers by attacking others. He openly fights to oppress members of groups that he doesn't personally agree with. He is another example of an individual that holds to his beliefs and F@!TH inspite of reality and facts. Didn't we have enough of that kind of stupidity with 8 years of Bush/Cheney?

I for one would like to see this invitation withdrawn and a clear message sent that we will not promote this type of devisive bigotry. The actual delivery of the invocation means nothing to me personally. I don't know if there is a god or not and I don't care. But, since it is important to many I have no problem with the inclusion of this ritual. My only wish is that it would be done by a true spiritual and moral leader that doesn't preach, but promotes open dialog about common morals and ethics. We don't need to hear from someone that PREACHES intolerance and bigotry. Just my opinion.

BBC has got a Muslim trying to rewrite historic Jewish Jesus from Judea (attempting — to no avail — to “Arabize” & confuse JUDEA with Arabia…)

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:29:21 EST

BBC has got a Muslim trying to rewrite historic Jewish Jesus from Judea (attempting — to no avail — to “Arabize” & confuse JUDEA with Arabia…).

Accompanied with a typical Islamic-bigotry’s bombarding propaganda of the “bad” Israelis that dare to try fight (with security checkpoints) the Arab Muslim (invaders) that terrorize the Jews.

Just another typical biased BBC’s blend of radical Islamism & Arabism re-”view” of true facts, in Islamic culture there’s a word for it: Taqiyya (http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/018169.php#c451487) - an intentional planned lying to and deceit of the infidel, it’s encouraged, as long as the infidel “buys” it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7784227.stm - BBC’s Aleem Maqbool: The road to Bethlehem

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Racist Arabism & Violence: Dictatorship, Oppression, War, Terrorism

Unknown user — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:53:09 EST

Arabism - Violence

Racist Arabism & Violence: Dictatorship, Oppression, War, Terrorism

The front runners of Pan-Arabism, brutal tyrants and waged large scale wars, such as Egypt's Nasser [168], Saddam Hussein [169], Syria's Assad (on Lebanon [170] [171] [172] and on it's own people [173] [174] including the Hama massacre [175] [176] and the dictator in Sudan Al Bashir [177] [178].

The linkage to terror

Protecting terrorism, Pan-Arabism: the inhuman progenitor of Islamic Terrorism [179]. "Terror was used by the Arabs against the Jews in the Land of Israel since the dawn of Zionism." [180].

An Arabist group called Jamiat-e Dawa el al Qurani Wasouna. The J.D.Q., as it is known by American intelligence, is suspected of having links to both the Saudi and Kuwaiti governments [181]

Osama bin Laden is in fact the latest and quintessential product of pan-Arabism [182]

Palestinian Fatah Leader, School Books Supports Terrorism Against US in Iraq, quote: "We [however,] take pride in this [Arab nationalist] language because we are the authentic Arabs who believe in our Arabism, our faith, our cause" [183]

Dear President Bush

Jeff the Teacher — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:19:41 EST

Dear President Bush,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. For example, when someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination...end of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them:

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my son into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for him?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev.15: 19-24). The problem is how do I tell? Should I just ask my wife first before I touch her?

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev.1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there “degrees” of abomination?

7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?

11. One of the Ten Commandments is pretty clear about killing. Is that for people who do the actual killing, or for people who command others to kill, or both? I think you should personally look into this one, being that you’re the Commander Guy.

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your faithful servant,Jeff Berland

Marriage

Tim Schram — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:50:46 EST

Marriage is am institution entered into between two consenting adults. That's it. Start adding anything else into it and it becomes too complicated to manage. I hear the arguements of the right. Lets examine them.

1) Can't change it becouse it is tradition. Okay, so lets go back to slavery, witch burning, husbands owning their wives. Fathers owning their children, indentured servitude, fuedalism, torture of heretics and the depressed. Lets go back to blood letting to cure illness. How about drilling holes in the heads of the insane to let the demons out? Not much of an arguement to me.

2) Marriage is to promote procreation. Is this why we get married, really? Okay Gramma now that Grandpa is dead and your past menopause you can't marry your new boyfriend. I'm sorry you are sterile, oh by the way that disqualifies you from getting married because you are defective. Do we really want to get into that kind of distinction. That is what we are saying to homosexuals. You are defective and therefore don't deserve the same rights. What is next, your IQ isn't high enough, your born with abirth defect so we can't allow you to marry? Besides, we have enough trouble caring for, feeding, and cleaning up after the population we have. This one fail, too.

3) A man and a woman make better parents. I am sorry Ms. Dunham, but you can not raise your child since you are a single mother. You just won't be able to do a good enough job. Ms. Yates you may marry because you and your husband will know how to raise your children. If heterosexual couples are so good at parenting, why do we have so much child abuse? Isn't it more important to have happy well adjusted parents or parent with a decent support system? A loving home doesn't know the difference between sexes or single and couple. They lose this argument just by looking at the newspapers.

4) Slippery slope to marrying pets. Like I said originally "two consenting adults". A petcan not be consenting, end of argument. Same goes for children. They are not adults and by law can not be consenting. Get serious.

5) Homosexuality is an abomination and banned according to the Bible. Everything in Leviticus was an abomination including eating shellfish. Should we ban the consumption of shellfish and pork? Catfish is a bottom feeder so no more catfish, if you are a TRUE Believer in the Bible. You can not support a war if you are christian, Christ taught turning the other cheek and love your enemy. So which is it, are you christian or a hypocrite. Beside the fact that your religion is not the religion of the US. The constitution DOES NOT specify freedom of CHRISTIAN religion. If you don't like the fact that the laws of this land are not controled by the belief in Jesus, start your own Christian Theocracy somewhere else. You can't have this one. Deal with it.

6) Devalues my heterosexual marriage. How????? How could two people swearing an oath of love and fidelity to each other possibley affect YOUR MARRIAGE unless you are married to one of them. How could it weaken yours in any stretch of the imagination? No one is telling you you have to marry someone of the same sex. You don't have to change ANYTHING you curreently do, except leave them alone, mind your own business, and butt out. Your argument is based on imposing your personal standards and tastes on others that are not doing anything to you. You lose on Constitutional grounds. You don't have that right as an individual oras the state.

If I missed any of their arguments, let me know. In the meantime let's stop treating our fellow Americans like second class citizens or carriers of a deadly disease. You CAN NOT catch gay!!!!! Every homosexual I know was raised by straight parents. Some straights I know were raised by homosexuals. No evidence to back this one up and we don't pass laws in this country based on F@!TH. (yes it is purposefully written as a curse, get yours out of my life.)

Obama and the end of the colonial era

Vinit from Lexington, MA — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:38:24 EST

Like most Americans I have been awestruck by Barack Obama's capture of the White House. I have also been pondering the significance of this historic event. Of course the first African-American as President is historic, especially in light of America's history of slavery. The outpouring of congratulations and celebration from around the world has been equally astonishing. Why are so many people inspired by Americans' choice of President-elect Obama? This is the question that perplexes me.

My grandfather came to the US in 1947, accompanied by my father who was 17. Invited by the US government, my grandfather, a soil physicist, came to the midwest to Kansas State University. My father began to study engineering at UC Berkley but soon ran out of money and continued his studies at Kansas State while sharing accomodations with my grandfather. He recounted an incident where my grandfather and he were told to sit at the back of the bus in the colored section. India had just got its independence from British rule and 300 million Indians were now free of colonial rule. To now suffer discrimination on the basis of skin color (my grandfather was a professor and the bus driver was likely at best high school educated) was unacceptable to him and he eventually got off the bus rather than comply.

During the 450 year colonial period western European countries, namely Britain, Spain, Netherlands and France in order of scope, colonized and greatly enriched themselves, mostly at the expense of native people. They ruled with a sense of Darwinian superiority of the white races and its dominant religion: Christianity. The ascendancy of European countries was driven by technological innovation, including the understanding and codifying of free market economics. Whether it was Adam Smith or Karl Marx, these ideas came from the West.

Though the second world war accelerated the demise of colonialism, my contention is the colonial era has truly come to its conclusion with the election of Obama. It has taken America, a post colonial power, to bring about its end, with the free election of the first non-white leader of the West. This is what is resonating around the world, especially in many emerging countries who were colonised: India, Brazil, and African countries.

Hypocrites

Tim Schram — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:02:37 EST

Hypocrites

This is to all those people that voted for Barack, fought for civil rights, fought discrimination based on sex, age, race, or religion, but voted against gay marriage. YOU ARE HYPOCRITES!!!!!!! How in the world can you justify denying another group of human beings the same rights you have. Isn’t that what we did with slavery, poll tax, bans on interracial marriage? Oh yeah, I am old enough to remember the uproar from the idiots, morons, and bigot scum on the religious right and social conservatives (KKK) about how interracial marriage would destroy the fabric of society and destroy the world. WRONG again. The world is not flat, the universe does not revolve around you or your precious earth. Get over yourselves!!!! None of us are that special, we are people and that is special enough.

Someone please tell me how two people swearing to love and honor each other in front of friends and family is a threat. You can’t use religion, because I don’t believe in your perverse idea of religion. Give me real world reasons, not what your invisible friend is whispering in your ear. If you don’t like the idea of marrying another man or woman, then DON”T. No one is making you.

And just for the record though it really is none of your business, I am as straight as they come. I am just a human being that believes in the motto “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.

DOesn't anyone think a church spending 40 million to Ban rights is WRONG

Ed from Fort Lauderdale, FL — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:47:40 EST

Why isn't anyone questioning the spending of 40 million dollars by the MORMON church to ban gay marriage. The IRS has established laws against this and here they are: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-07-41.pdf Second: Why is a church spending 40 million dollars to ban gay marriage when the money could have been used to feed the poor, help the homeless, pay mortgages for members losing there homes, pay or help in someones medical bills and the countless other ways to help people. Why is not a member of this congregation even questioning the use of 40 million dollars in this manner. As a Catholic, if my church spent 40 million dollars to ban gay marriage they would never see a dime from me FOREVER yet these people who give their church money are happy with the way it is being spent. IS this what following the bible is all about and YOU PEOPLE THINK it is ok for a church to be using its donations for this purpose? This is proof that these people are stupid ignorant brainwashed people who cannot think for themselves and this church's motives are political and NOT charitable and thus should lose their non-profit status immediately. LETS hit where it hurts in the pocketbook since the morons who belong to this church seem to be incapable of thinking rationally for themselves. WHERE ARE THE LAWYERS AND PROSECUTORS on this..THEY BROKE THE LAW

INSPIRED BY OBAMA

MEDISEN — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:20:11 EST

FROM ASTROLOGY EVOLVED ASTRONOMY

FROM ALCHEMY EVOLVED CHEMISTRY

FROM RELIGION EVOLVED PHILOSOPHY

FROM POLITICS EVOLVED MIRACLE

Perhaps the world would not have witnessed the woes of social illness and sickness of poverty.

Eear of unacceptance is the greatest fear.

Barack Obama spells hope not only to AMERICA but for the multitude of millions of human beings allover the world who believe in themselves , trust others and hope for betterment of world.

I AM INSPRIED BY YOU MR OBAMA.

AND I AM PROUD TO BE YOUR CONTEMPORARY INHABITING THIS PLANET IN YOUR TIME.

DO NOT GIVE UP , BE VALUE BASED, CHERISH, HUMANITY, GOVERN WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

THE IMMINENT THREAT OF THIE ECONOMIC CRISIS MIGHT LOOM LARGE BUT YOU CAN

YES YOU CAN

for now it is not JUST AMERICA BUT THE WHOLE WORLD THAT YOU HAVE WON OVER WITH GOOD WILL AND CHARM

YOU CAN

YOU WILL

YOU MUST

STRIVE NOT TO BE THE THE BEST BUT BE JUST

WITH LOVE AND GOODWILL ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN A BILLION INDIANS

DR SENTHIL KUMAR SANRAN

To everyone who thinks America is not biggoted

Ed from Fort Lauderdale, FL — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:20:27 EST

The first amendment"all men are created equal"

So to all those who think bigotry is over let me remind you, that if you voted in CA,FL or AZ and voted against gay rights YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR CONSCIOUS....

Especially after watching the people crying on TV saying I cant believe this finally happened about Barack being elected...HOW DID YOU VOTE IN CA OR FL... I guess gay people are not considered people to you.....

Religion is not part of the constitution and after 200 years of waiting for a black president its mind boggling how so many of you had no problem discriminating against another minority..

We are NOT one......yet .... as Barack has hoped .... it is truly staggering to me how one minority can discriminate against another as the vote showed in CA and FL..... when the black vote was 70-30 to take away gay rights on the props....

yep .... how soon people forget what they are voting for ..i guess they cant even remember after they voted for the president, in the election booth....

For all of you who feel gays are not people according to the first amendment....remember how you feel when you are discriminated against and the thoughts that ran through your own minds on why you weren't considered as good as anyone else....

Im white... alot of my friends are white and we all voted for Barack and never even considered race..... but after the election it really became evident amidst all the hoopla on TV that these same people I watched crying in happiness had no problem taking away the rights of another minority....

Its truly amazing....listening to all the people on TV so happy when there is another minority who was thrown under the bus without a second thought...

Marriage is unconstitutional

Ramona from Sacramento, CA — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:46:18 EST

Marriage itself is unconstitutional. The only type of arrangement between people legally from the State is a civil union - period. The State is outside of 'separation between church and state' by regulating the institution of marriage which is clearly a religious act or endeavor. Religions created marriage and it is defined differently by each religion.

Personally, I never understood why I had to go to the county clerks office for a marriage certificate - it seemed so empty. I would rather discuss my marriage idea with a trusted religious leader, go through counseling, get the peer pressure to maintain it appropriately, and have it aligned with my basic beliefs.

The court / State can keep record of civil unions and let the church keep track of marriages. In fact, a person should be able to be married by church law and never get a civil union. A little de-regulation here may be best. A binding contract could be created through the church legally that only the church can dissolve. The State makes it way to easy to get a divorce anyway.

Now, if you are not religious, you really don't care about the church rules. You can just get your civil union and your civil divorce willy nilly as we do with marriages now.

On being a "Mutt" and other musings..

A Goner — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:27:32 EST

Most of us who are bi-racial, tri-racial and heaven knows what else are grateful to be seen as individuals on the basis of character.

The victory of Sen. Obama as our new President-Elect has set a new milestone in that direction.

As a Christian from a spiritual perspective, I think that the Bible gives us wise counsel about "digging pits for others that we may eventually fall into ourselves." The definition of who is "white" is so narrowly defined in this country that the White people who came up with this stuff have unwittingly defined themselves into the minority of the future and it was a pit they dug for themselves. Their own children with slaves were categorically treated as slaves and segregated for economic gain and not allowed to learn or live with their own parent in a loving manner except for very few. After all miscegenation was against the law but it went on anyway although on an illegimate basis. In order to be considered "white" you had to be eighth generation white washed or 1/16 "black". Now what if that definition had been just the opposite. We would not have a race problem in this country. We all would be "white" just like Arabs are white, Hispanics are now white.. by the capricious definition of a government. Well what does the Creator think? Probably that we have a lot of grandiose, vain imaginations about our own superiority and inferiority.

If we all had a DNA test to truly see what percentage of each race on the planet we have inherited from it would truly be amazing. A lot of people who appear "white" might not be even 50% white, and a lot of people who appear "black" might might actually be 60-70% white. So other than one gene of skin color determining the future potentiality of a human's contribution to mankind and neglecting to appreciate their genius and character, we as Americans have truly shortchanged ourselves of so much progress and advancement because of this retarded attitude of racism. And now we outsource jobs to people of other nations with less DNA in common than each of us, who never lived in this nation and never fought a war side by side with us regardless of race, who never lived here period and yet we expect them to have our best interests at heart because they sell us oil and keep our Dollar stores full of goods.

Universal health care and many other so-called "socialistic" programs are much easier to adopt in nations where racism is very minimal because you are caring for your extended family.. your nation. You respect that when they get sick that's your problem, that the fence is as strong as the weakest link and your nation's identity is measured by the weakest individuals in terms of its overall status economically, culturally and ultimately spiritually. If we have a nation where only 2% live well and the other 98% are just struggling to get by with a middle class that is shrinking than what does that say about America? I believe Sen. Obama sees the big picture and gets it. I believe he will do a lot to restore America's standing-- not as a shallow veneer of prosperity showcased by a few--, but a real prosperity that strengthens all Americans and is solid and more lasting. If you don't have a stake in this nation, why would you sacrifice your life for it? Is it any surprise that African-American participation in the Armed Forces has dropped from 25% to less than 10% in spite of the difficult economic times.

If college students at campuses as prestigious as Purdue University want to write racist graffiti on November 5, 2008, about President-Elect Obama and about niggers and lynching, well why would any person of color want to put their life on the line for these type of people except for the love of God that you love your enemies. What FOX news and others neglect to report about Rev. Wright is that although he exposes the hypocrisies, the immoral behavior of government which Rev. Graham and others have done as well, he also encourages his flock to love, forgive, pray, repent and reconcile and not return evil with evil, but to return evil with good, to develop the fruits of the spirit in one's character in having to be subjected to the persecuting ways of the world. If we weren't filtering his sermons through race-baited fear, we might be able to hear what the "Spirit of the Lord" is saying to exhort us to become better people. All the prophetic teachers in the Bible never sugar coated anything and they got stoned, drowned, locked in dungeons, heads cut off because they spoke the "truth". God sees everything. Nathan spoke to David about his adultery.. he didn't get the insight from the 6:00 pm news. We nowadays rely more on the media and our circle of friends to inform us, however, some of us dig a little deeper and through prayer see clearer. God does not need the CIA, NSA, FBI to show us reality or to inform us. People do and can manipulate and cherry pick the data they receive from these entities and turn it into what they want... misinformation, disinformation, manipulation... short of lying. What God sees and what we know is vastly different... God's ways are not our ways and therefore God's sermons through His servants may offend us, but that is par for the course. What use is "salt" if it has lost its saltiness and no longer disinfects and preserves the meat? That goes for Pastor Hagee, Pastor Tarpley who McCain eventually distanced himself from and the many others who faithfully teach every Sunday ... and for that matter the Pope as well who admonished us against the War in Iraq and all people of faith and non-faith who seek honesty, integrity, fairness and justice for all.

Thank goodness something bigger than us is pushing us to evolve past this. That something bigger lives inside each of us regardless of race, religion and socio-economic status and other superficial differences. This election victory is a victory for those higher angels guiding us all.

NEW YEARS PRAYER AND CELEBRATION

WEBMASTER — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:22:45 EST

"Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today."
PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA

RSVP MIDNIGHT PRAYER AND CELEBRATION - 31 DEC 2008

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS OUR NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

We invite everyone breathing, or not, the opportunity to show global unity and dedicate three [ 3 ] minutes of time on News Years Eve to thank God for President Obama and ask the Creator of All Things for a GLOBAL BLESSING for ALL NATIONS, PEOPLES, AND TONGUES.

May we agree that 2009 can be a year of healing for the nation and the world as we celebrate this historic election. All faiths are encouraged to join the festivities. LET US GO DOWN TO THE RIVER AND PRAY.

Text translations of the readings supplied by GOOGLE TRANSLATE through GLOBAL BIBLE STUDY.

YES WE CAN - Final thoughts on the election and the days ahead

Farzin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:19:02 EST

Most elections are about immediate issues. Sometimes you get a confluence of factors that presents us with immediate issues and generational issues that can transform the nation. This is one of those elections. We have serious immediate issues (e.g., energy independence, a failing economy, and the Iraq war). We also have some serious generational issues (basic philosophy of what the government's role should be, and dealing with serious religious and racial/political divides). Those issues require a different kind of leader. In essence, they require a transcendent and transformation figure who can reach across those divides to accomplish change. That's what I saw in Obama; in a lot of ways, he was the culmination of a lot of the great battles for which our father's generation fought so bitterly - including most prominently civil rights. Moreover, he - by his basic philosophy and his biography - was able to bridge and transcend those divides; and most importantly, he preached that message and walked the walk.

I believe one of the most amazing things about this country is its ability to continuously strive for a more perfect union and fix mistakes and heal divides. We owe our fathers and forefathers a great debt of gratitude for what they accomplished and fought for and we have a huge obligation to protect it, better it, and pass it forward. I think the generational churn (for lack of a better word) is amazing to witness. Thanks to them, we now live in a world where the next generation was no longer consumed by the 60's or the civil rights fights and was able to elect a man simply as the better choice; And that's what happened in this election; with this generational churn, we validated what our parents and grandparents fought for. Now our kids will grow up in a world where that is hopefully no longer a relevant question.

I can only imagine what will be ours to fight for and protect. I personally think it may be in our great struggle between defeating terrorism and religious extremism on all sides - whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian or other - and avoiding World War III and preaching tolerance for all those who are moderate practitioners of the same. In that regard, I am hopeful because although I know Americans may disagree on policies, I think the country elected a man who will be able to approach this issue with the depth and nuance and intelligence it requires.

And more than that, I'm hopeful because I know that most Americans - while on opposite ends of the political spectrum - will both be united in the fight to strike out against evil and extremism while instilling in our kids tolerance of all peace-loving good-hearted people, regardless of basic creed or ideology.

BELIEVE THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON

WEBMASTER — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:45:52 EST

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, OF BARACK, of Samson, of Jephthah; and David also, Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had test of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of chains and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were cut in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered around in goatskins and sheepskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise:
God having provided something better for us, that without us they would not be made perfect.

Text is available in 35 GLOBAL LANGUAGES

UPDATE: 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and THE GOVERNMENT OF CHANGE

The Case for Same-Sex Marriage...the Bible is no argument.

Aric — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:52:39 EST

Homosexuality and the Bible
What does the Bible really say about homosexuality? Among religious people who wish to take the Bible seriously there is no more vexed topic today than that of homosexuality. Theologians and biblical scholars have generated an enormous literature on the subject of the Bible and homosexuality, but the topic is so electric, and so much seems to be at stake, that few are willing to concede to the experts their personal convictions. Thus, perhaps more than any other social or theological issue of our day, this one engages us at our most fundamental level of existence and raises disturbing questions about our own sense of identity, of morality, and of the nature of settled truth.

Our subject, however, is not homosexuality in general, but homosexuality and the Bible and the religious basis for the prejudice against homosexuality so often expressed by people of religious conviction. Nearly every person who acknowledges an aversion to homosexuality does so on the basis of what he or she believes the Bible to say. The argument goes something like this: Homosexuality is an abomination, and the homosexual a sinner. Given the appeal to the Bible in the case against homosexuality, one would assume that the Bible has much to say on the subject. It has not. The subject of homosexuality is not mentioned in the Ten Commandments, nor in the Summary of the Law. No prophet discloses on the subject. Jesus himself makes no mention of it, and homosexuality does not appear to be of much concern to those early churches with which Saint Paul and his successors were involved. One has to look rather hard, and with a user-friendly concordance, to find any mention of homosexuality at all. This should come as no surprise, because the word "homosexuality" itself is an invention of the late nineteenth century and does not occur in any of the original manuscripts from which the English Bible is descended.

The traditional sets of text from the Old Testament and New Testament to which people appeal in seeking the Bible's teaching on homosexuality are these:

1. Genesis 1-2: The Creation Story
2. Genesis 19:1-9: Sodom and Gomorrah
3. Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13: The Holiness Code
4. Romans 1:26-27: Regarded as the most significant of Saint Paul's views
5. I Corinthians 6:9 & I Timothy 1-10: Pauline lists of vices

Let us address each of these 5 sets of text as were actually written in context in the Bible.

What is Sara Palin mixed up in ?

RK — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:10:58 EDT

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/1/135451/173/882/648975

Bali Jihad bomber to finally get his SEX in Islamic XXX Rated Paradise

Unknown user — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:25:14 EDT

Bali Jihad bomber to finally get his SEX in Islamic XXX Rated Paradise

Shoot the bombers, and soon By Mike O'Connor October 05, 2008 11:00pm WHILE large numbers of Australians are mourning the diminution of their superannuation savings, next Sunday some of their number will feel the pain of a much greater loss. On that day, six years will have passed since the Sari Club in Bali's Kuta Beach was turned into a killing ground by militant Islamic bombers who murdered 202 people, 88 of whom were Australians. with Ramadan now over, the bombers have launched another line of appeal, once more showing a reluctance to pass into Paradise, where, according to their beliefs, legions of nubile virgins await to indulge their every desire...

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24449299-27197,00.html

Indonesia says to execute Bali bombers Reuters JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia will execute the Bali bombers on death row in early November, the spokesman of the Indonesian attorney general’s office said on Friday.

http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnTRE49N1IY.html

Bali bombers to be shot dead after losing court appeal to be …21 Oct 2008 … Militants to build shrine to Bali bombers … Hope they attain their goal of: wine, 72 virgins and a bunch of pretty boys in “paradise”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4986137.ece

The Liberal Libertarian point of view. A message to Obama, McCain, and everyone else.

Link48010 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:15:56 EDT

Yep. I'm a liberal libertarian. Let's break it down a little bit to let people know how exactly someone can be both of those at once, but first a little bit of history about myself. I've lived in rural Colorado for many years now, previous to that I lived in the fairly large city of Denver Colorado. I have both large city and small town values instilled in myself. Second, my parents where foster parents for as long as I can remember (I am their real son), I've seen more kids than I can remember flow in and out of my home, all of which expanding my knowledge and open mind to so many different point of views and ways of life. I've seen people from every corner of the country, richer kids from corperate America, struggling people on the verge of bankrupcy, and as hard as it was, the worst side of society, abusive parents or families, physical, sexual, menally, all of the above. I know how bad it can get, and yet I know how good it can get as well. My parents raised me to be open to other way of living, to other points of views, to accept people for who they are, and finally, to respect everyone I come into contact with. It is that which makes us different that makes us great was the philosophy that I was raised around, and I've lived my life by it.

Enough about myself now. Back to my original point, Liberal libertarian follows two normally different views, but I've found the way people. Liberal, the dreaded L word and one that's normally associated with Democrats and the left wing. I've very liberal an social and human issues. Torture, any form of it should be banned. Gay Marriage, I think it should be allowed but my views on that are completely personal (more on that later). Discrimination, why are we still living in the past?

this one I'm going to rant on a little more. Libertarian now, a term previously given to republicans(although I don't think the current generation really can use this term anymore) and the conservative right wing. It's pretty obvious, I support the smallest government possible. A government that doesn't get into anyones lives at all or as little as possible. The Patriot act, what ever happened to the Right to Privacy and the Constitution? The recent Bailout or Rescure, whatever. Obama keeps saying that it's an important first step and that we need to look back on how we got into this situation to begin with, I humbly disagree, but I don't agree with McCain either (as he voted for it then showed a stance against it later saying, "We need to get the government out of the business of bailing out banks"). What we need to do is bring the budget under control and have no use for 700 billion dollars, the government shouldn't have that much in it's yearly budget to begin with. Cutting spending by reforming or eliminating projects is the way. Ron Paul, look him up, ridding us of the IRS, cutting earmarks to almost nothing, a non-interventualism policy saving billions in the military, starting fair trade to encourage economic growth, eliminating the income tax, all fo these are brilliant ideas and can easily be acomplished with a reduction in beurocricy and over bloated and inefficient government policies. There is a reason the IRS is slow in calculating taxes, and obviously we can do better in a way that spends less money. I am tired of paying someone to take my money and then to mismanage it later. This libertarian view is also the reason I can't say "legal" or "illegal" about Gay marriage, now if I had to chose either, yes I support gay marriage 100%. )One of my foster brothers came from lesbian parents and was one of the best kids to ever cross my threshold, bankrupcy and the loss of their house was the reason he was placed in foster care.) Now sit down and think about it, where in the Constitution does it say that the supreme court can say *anything* about marriage or who can marry? It's simple, it doesn't. First of all, nothing government related should have anything to do with gay marriage, it should be a church issue since marriage is from a religious foundation. Second, why is it that being married effects your standing with the government, example the income tax? It shouldn't, and never should have. Being married in a religious ceremony should have nothing to do with the government. I want to go the other direction with the government and say that, "anyone can be married as long as the church is willing to accept it, but in order to effect standing in any way, shape, or form, you must apply for a domestic partnership." What this would basically do is to reduce the title Marriage to just that, a title. If your married but don't have a domestic partnership, your treated like two individual people, if you have a domestic partnership but not married, then you get the same benefits as a current married couple does. This sets everyone on equal terms as people cannot be turned away from a domestic partnership, and the religious sect can not be upset because it doesn't give the government the power to say that gay marriage is legal or not. It keeps the LGBT community happy because they have the same equal rights as everyone else, and gives the religious side nothing to complain about. Now that's one of my most extreme possitions on things. This stance puts me at some opposition to both the religious side as I'm reducing the idea of Marriage, and many LGBT people want to be able to marry people, I understand this, but like abortion, I can see no simple "yes" or "no" that will please anyone, logically this is the best solution I can find myself.

Now the reason I'm supporting Obama is because my social and humanity issues take priority on how the government is run. As long as the government is sensitive to our rights, it can be as big as it wants for the time being if that's what it takes to mend the economic crisis.

Religous Voting

Mike the Skiing DBA — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:02:26 EDT

Copy of a letter sent to the editors of the Denver Post. It can also be found at http://tamethemonkeymind.blogspot.com/2008/10/bodhisattva-voting.html

I have been watching the anger that emanates from the McCain campaign and some conservatives. In turn, I am feeling angry, myself, over the turn the election has taken. The epitaphs that have issued from Palin and McCain supporters are very disturbing. There have been ugly racial words used. Someone shouted “Kill Him!” at a Palin rally while Senator Obama – a sitting United States Senator – has been labeled a “terrorist” and a “traitor” at these rallies.

In an online discussion of the escalating poverty in Douglas County, Colorado, where I live, there were some posts that both blamed the victims of the economy, and advocated that we simply not help them. As a society, these folks argued, we should simply allow these people to become homeless and starve.

In the meantime, the global financial system continues to spin out of control and the United States is ensnared in two wars. The killing will continue, though I expect one candidate will bring it to a close faster then the other. The economic pain will continue, and the resulting layoffs and unemployment will be with us well into the next administration.

This is a spiritual blog, so I want to approach the election from just that perspective. Every religion has a core value of compassion. In Christianity it is the value of caritas that is one of the three great theological virtues. In Islam, Zakat is obligatory for all believers. The Talmud commands that all Jews are to be “rachmanim b’nei rachmanim” (compassionate children of compassionate ancestors). In Buddhism, the ideal of generosity or of loving kindness is one of the virtues practiced by any aspiring bodhisattva. So, if we are to be true to our faith, we must approach our votes with the universal values of compassion, wisdom and equanimity; values shared by all faiths.

Our votes, therefore, should be an exercise in compassion and generosity, not exercises in fear, pettiness or covetousness. We should not be voting based on “everyone’s favorite radio station WII FM” or “What’s In It For Me” as a salesperson I once knew would say. I may get a slightly lower tax bill under one candidate or another, but that should not be my primary consideration.

For my vote, I consider first how my vote will exercise compassion and ease suffering in the world. Which candidate do I expect to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan faster? Which candidate espouses policies that will reduce the suffering of the poor and the sick? Which candidate, in short, will lead us to a more compassionate society?

By that standard, beyond question, the candidates who will get my votes are Barack Obama for president and Mark Udall for United States Senate. While space here is too short for a complete analysis, some points do stand out.

First, the health care proposals of Mr. Obama will certainly provide for superior coverage for the poor and the sick. This will allow people to seek care before they are seriously ill or forced to go to an emergency room, easing their pain. Care will be less expensive for us all, easing some of our economic anxiety, another form of suffering.

The proposals for care for the environment from both Mr. Udall and Mr. Obama will ease pollution and global warming, while opening new, ecologically friendly industries such as solar and wind power and the manufacturing plants needed to support that infrastructure. This will ease global warming as well as preserve space we need to ease our minds and be a peace – places like the Rockies and the seashore.

Most important, the plans proposed by Mr. Obama for ending the Iraq war have already been received favorably. We must end that suffering.

I encourage you all to contemplate carefully your vote and use it as a way to help all beings find peace.

We must remember that these men have a ruthless plan for the world in the form of a theocratic Islamic caliphate

Unknown user — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:57:54 EDT

Aid Worker's Death Brutal Reminder of Jihadi Extremism
"We must remember that these men have a ruthless plan for the world in the form of a theocratic Islamic caliphate. In Taliban-ruled Afghanistan we saw a glimpse of their utopia: women degraded, freedom denied and followers of other brands of Islam exterminated." -- Faith J.H. McDonnell, Director of IRD's Religious Liberty Programs
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/597668352.html

Getting Personal - Religion and Race

Kaiser Farooque — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:42:06 EDT

NOTE: This post is both on my Xanga site and the smaller blog I've started up on my Kizyr for Obama page.

I'm sure you've heard the good news by now, about Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama (BBC link). I mean, this is incredible as-is, for the number of reasons he cited. But, there's something that Powell said in particular that really struck a personal note, and that I really, really appreciated hearing:

"I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the [Republican] Party say... such things as 'Well, you know that Mr Obama is a Muslim'.
"Well the correct answer is, 'He's not a Muslim, he's a Christian, he's always been a Christian'. But the really right answer is, "What if he is?' Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is 'No', that's not America."
~ Colin Powell

Powell touched upon something that has been bothering me since the election season began. There's no easy, or calm way to say it, except... when the —— did my religion become an insult?

This idea that somehow being Muslim is bad, that choosing another religion besides (evangelical) Christianity makes you an bad person... It really infuriates me--to the extent that I really don't know where to begin. Now, I did grow up with a little bit of this; I'm no stranger to being made fun of because of my religion, or my race, and I've been called some very unkind names in the past. So, it doesn't surprise me that there are many people who buy into this. What does surprise me, however, is how this has persisted all the way through the election.

Do they not believe in the freedom of religion?
Do they believe in the freedom of religion, but think that mine is an illegitimate one?
Are they afraid of anything, or anyone, that believes something different?

There's a natural human tendency to fear what we don't understand. And, there're plenty of people who have been fed this idea that all 1 billion Muslims in the world are out to get them, or we're all part of some vast, global conspiracy. When I run into that level of ignorance, well, I just avoid it and get on my way. But, I don't have to worry about people voting for me--in fact, that's specifically the reason I'll never go into politics.

Barack Obama, Marilyn Monroe, The United States Of America & The American Dream

Mark from Los Angeles, CA — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:39:01 EDT

Barack Obama & Marilyn Monroe, The United States Of America & The American Dream By Mark from Los Angeles, CA - Sep 5th, 2008 at 9:17 pm EDT

To view this blog post with music and Barack Obama messages taped on his podcast in the past access this link

                                                            By Mark Bellinghaus


We at 'Our Marilyn' Blogcast & MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC, WE SUPPORT Barack Obama, the truly gifted speaker and the most charismatic politician, since John F. Kennedy.

We encourage you to please consider to also cast your vote for Mr. Barack Obama.

Ladies & Gentlemen, the next, the 44th President of The United States:

Barack Hussein Obama II

Barack Obama Speech - 2008 DNC Denver: 8-28-08 Part 1

google.y={first:[]};window.setTimeout(function(){var xjs=document.createElement('script');xjs.src='/extern_js/f/CgJlbhICdXMrMAc4AiwrMBg4Aiw/tOvl6yWhIRk.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(xjs)},0)Barack Obama Speech - 2008 DNC Denver: 8-28-08 Part 2



Marilyn Monroe & Barack Obama ©2008 by Mark Bellinghaus

Because you know, that Marilyn Monroe would vote for Barack Obama if she was still alive.
Marilyn Monroe was fighting racism, and she was supporting the Democratic Party, she was fighting for women's rights, and she opened her own company. Since Mary Pickford, she was the first actress who would take her faith into her own hands.
She was considering to adopt a baby, in 1962, shortly before her untimely death and decades before it became almost 'fashionable' for Hollywood actresses to adopt kids.
Marilyn Monroe was her time ahead, always.

The close friendship between black & white in 1950's racist America!


Ella Fitzgerald & Marilyn Monroe, in 1955 (above) and in 1962, (below), the year Marilyn Monroe passed away. In 1955, when racism was still a big issue in the United States of America, Ella Fitzgerald became the first African-American to perform at the Mocambo, after Marilyn Monroe had lobbied the owner for the booking. The booking was instrumental in Fitzgerald's career. Marilyn would promise the owner that she would appear every night (and be on time), and this way also fill the house--and she did, she was there every night, and she filled the house and: she was always on time! Their close friendship lasted for many years and Ella would sing Marilyn Monroe's famous 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy'in honor of her wonderful friend Marilyn Monroe, who died almost 34 years before she passed on in 1996, at age 79.

       Marilyn & Ella
Please vote for Barack Obama!

Show the world that racism in the United States Of America is now a defeated chapter from the dark past of this country, where an organization such as the KKK is still existing.

Show the world that change is possible, that the future is here.
The future is now, and the future is in your own hands.

Vote for the right candidate and make your voice heard and be counted.

On November 4, 2008, please give your vote to the only person who can turn this sinking ship that is covered by greed and stupidity, by a President who is still denying GLOBAL WARMING, while the Asthma cases for children in the USA are on the sharp rise...this person has arrived. And he was making a sensational entrance four years ago, when he spoke at the Democratic Convention, where hopes were high for John Kerry. Barack Obama stands for the American dream, more than any politician, more than anyone who has been running for President.

PLEASE VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA, the President of Change, Hope, Progress and Charisma.


h1 = document.getElementById("title").getElementsByTagName("h1")[0];h1.innerHTML = widont(h1.innerHTML); Funny Quotes from Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

By Daniel Kurtzman, About.com

"They say I need to be seasoned; they say I need to be stewed. They say, 'We need to boil all the hope out of him -- like us -- and then he'll be ready.'" (Watch video

********************************

"I have nothing to hide, I enjoy being myself. I'm not going to change who I am just because it's Halloween." –appearing as himself on Saturday Night Live as part of a skit that featured Hillary Clinton dressed as a witch at a Halloween party

                         *********************************

"It's like I was shot out of a cannon. I'm so overexposed that I make Paris Hilton look like a recluse."

                 ****************************

"Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon."

                  ****************************

On his Democratic Convention speech, in which he said that "we coach Little League in the blue states and we have some gay friends in the red states": "Well, here's an update. Since the election, that gay couple I knew in the red states? They've moved back to the blue states."

                *****************************

On excitement in his father's native Kenya that his election would mean the building of billions of dollars in new roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools in their country: "I've tried to explain how it works these days. First comes the invasion, and then billions in aid."

                    ***********************************

"It's been a great ride. But I know how quickly these fads can pass. You all remember the pet rock, the mood ring, Howard Dean."

                     ***********************************

"You notice that people who've been in Washington too long, they don't talk like ordinary folks,. We had this debate in Las Vegas, and somebody asked me, What are your weaknesses?' So I said, Well, you know, I don't keep track of paper that well, I'm always losing paper, my desk is a mess.' And then they asked the next two candidates. And one candidate says, Well, my biggest weakness is I'm just so passionate about helping poor people.' And then the other one says, I'm just so impatient to help the American people solve their problems.' So then I realize well, I wish I'd gone last and then I would have known.. I'm stupid that way, I thought that when they asked what your biggest weakness was, they asked what your biggest weakness was. And now I know that my biggest weakness is I like to help old ladies across the street."

                    ************************************

"That's what he talked about yesterday, 'I want to drill here. I want to drill now.' I don't know where he was standing. I think he was in a building somewhere." --on John McCain's energy plan

                    ************************************

It is finally time for the 'White House,' to turn black. With pride, unity, happiness and.....hope.

Please support, please vote for Barack Obama on November 4, 2008.

Thank you and blessings to all of you.

Mark Bellinghaus, Ernest W. Cunningham & Jennifer J. Dickinson

Los Angeles, CA, USA, August 31, 2008



                Marilyn would vote for Barack!

YES, WE CAN! - SI, SE PEUDE! JA, WIR KÖNNEN!

MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC, left to right:
Ernest W. Cunningham, author of The Ultimate Marilyn & plaintiff of the Queen Mary Marilyn Monroe fraud class action lawsuit 2006 / 2007--pointing out and ultimately stopping the biggest exhibition fraud / hoax in history which would have traveled the world for the following twelve years.
Jennifer J. Dickinson, journalist & mother of two who for the past two years has fought for justice and against corruption and criminals who fabricated fake Marilyn Monroe and other entertainment memorabilia.
Mark Bellinghaus, actor, activist, collector, debunker, entrepreneur & expert witness in the Queen Mary Marilyn Monroe fraud class action lawsuit 2006 / 2007 - the case against the biggest exhibition fraud in history: 'Marilyn Monroe: the exhibit,' which could have created a minimum of $100 million within the twelve years this exhibition was scheduled to travel around the globe.

We contested many different criminal frauds and deceptions which would have damaged the public--you, some way or another, we were able to expose and ultimately close down exhibitions, based on fraudulent memorabilia on display or for sale.
We contested hoaxes frauds and criminal pranks, which after our exposure were ultimately shut down, due to our proof based exposure.
We never wrongly accused anyone of being a criminal fraud, if the people were actually innocent.
We never failed - our accuracy is still at 100% for three years now.
WE SUPPORT BARACK OBAMA
Marilyn Monroe definitely would have voted for Barack Obama.
Please support Mr. Obama in his run for President.
Please support Barack to become the 44th President of The United States of America.

Credit for the 'YES WE CAN' Video:
Song & video, featuring a star cast, by will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. Inspired by Barack Obama's 'Yes We Can' speech.

----------------------------------------
08/28/08 Note: Congratulations to the the official Democratic Party nominee and the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!!

Official song site:
http://www.yeswecansong.com

Obama Campaign Site:
http://www.barackobama.com/

Yes we can what?:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

Is it true that he....?:
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/

Be a part of the video at:
http://www.hopeactchange.com

-Lyrics-

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.
Celebrities featured include: Jesse Dylan, Will.i.am, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriquez, Kelly Hu, Amber Valetta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger and Nick Cannon

Also check out this other great song and video inspired by Barack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJ72i...

Life is all about signs...seeing the signs....understanding the signs...acting upon the signs

--Mark Bellinghaus

About:
'OUR MARILYN' BLOGCAST
&
MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC The Mark Bellinghaus Marilyn Monroe CollectionAbout me
Mark Bellinghaus, CEO, MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLCLos Angeles, California, United StatesMark Bellinghaus owns the biggest, most comprehensive, and 100% authentic Marilyn Monroe memorabilia collection in existence. Part of his collection is an original copy of Marilyn Monroe’s last will and testament, including many important documents, which he shared in 2006 with the lawyers of three famous Marilyn Monroe photographers estates which were suing Anna Strasberg and CMG Worldwide (Mark Roesler) for several years. The documents that Mark Bellinghaus delivered served literally as the key to this groundbreaking success for the defense and the savior of the legacy of Marilyn Monroe. In 2006, Mark Bellinghaus closed down the biggest exhibition fraud in history: a $100 million project was exposed with his first blog on ‘blogcritics,’ and he also stopped a $15 million movie project, exposed Mary Jane Popp and June Alpino aka “DiMaggio’s” book as nonsense. He also exposed Dolores Hope Masi, Bebe Goddard, Robert Otto, Jeanne Carmen, etc. The list goes on and on.
In Oct. 2007, he successfully exposed, together with journalist Jennifer J. Dickinson another exhibit, this time in Great Britain (the ‘lost’ Marilyn Monroe William Travilla costume collection) as a complete hoax. Mark Bellinghaus owns a real & authentic Monroe worn Travilla costume.

Marilyn Monroe William Travilla Costume 'Prototypes' Hoax in ... May 26, 2008 ... MARILYN MONROE NEWS ENTERTAINMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marilyn Monroe William Travilla...
www.pr-inside.com/marilyn-monroe-william-travilla-costume-r607845.htm - 23k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this Costume 'Prototypes' Hoax in Bexleyheath,

Trademark ™ and Copyright © 2005 - 2008 by Mark Bellinghaus & MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC All rights reserved. Do not copy or redistribute in any form.

Barack Obama For President!

MARILYN MONROE NEWS ENTERTAINMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marilyn Monroe would have voted for Barack Obama

Marilyn Monroe and Senator Barack Obama Photo compilation ©2008 by Mark Bellinghaus 2008-10-07 00:00:19 - By Mark Bellinghaus, CEO, MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC

Opinion & Support

Because you know, that Marilyn Monroe would vote for Barack Obama if she was still alive.
Marilyn Monroe was fighting racism, and she was supporting the Democratic Party, she was fighting for women's rights, and she opened her own company. Since Mary Pickford, she was the first actress who would take her faith into her own hands.
She was considering to adopt a baby, in 1962, shortly before her untimely death and decades before it became almost 'fashionable' for Hollywood actresses to adopt kids.
Marilyn Monroe was her time ahead, always.

The close friendship between black & white (Ella Fitzgerald & Marilyn Monroe) in 1950's racist America!

Extract & Photo caption/description posted on OUR MARILYN BLOG - you can find the entire blog article here:
blog.ourmarilyn.com/2008/08/31/marilyn-monroe-would-have-voted-f ..
and also here:
my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/markbellinghaus/gG5W75
Ella Fitzgerald & Marilyn Monroe, in 1955 (above) and in 1962, (below), the year Marilyn Monroe passed away. In 1955, when racism was still a big issue in the United States of America, Ella Fitzgerald became the first African-American to perform at the Mocambo, after Marilyn Monroe had lobbied the owner for the booking. The booking was instrumental in Fitzgerald's career. Marilyn would promise the owner that she would appear every night (and be on time), and this way also fill the house--and she did, she was there every night, and she filled the house and: she was always on time! Their close friendship lasted for many years and Ella would sing Marilyn Monroe's famous 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy' in honor of her wonderful friend Marilyn Monroe, who died almost 34 years before she passed on in 1996, at age 79.

Barack Obama Quotes:

'They say I need to be seasoned; they say I need to be stewed. They say, 'We need to boil all the hope out of him -- like us -- and then he'll be ready.'

'I have nothing to hide, I enjoy being myself. I'm not going to change who I am just because it's Halloween." -appearing as himself on Saturday Night Live as part of a skit that featured Hillary Clinton dressed as a witch at a Halloween party

*

'It's like I was shot out of a cannon. I'm so overexposed that I make Paris Hilton look like a recluse.'

'Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon.'

Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy, who was a Democrat

Preying Prayers

Jedidiah Palosaari — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:14:46 EDT

I don't use this word lightly. This pastor really was stupid. But he's not someone to make fun of, because the hate-mongering he used to prep the crowd for McCain is terrifying indeed.

Earlier today, before McCain arrived at the rally, a pastor gave an opening prayer, astounding in it's mixture of religion and politics, lack of basic understanding of other faiths, lack of basic understanding of Christian theology, and level of hate.

The pastor, Arnold Conrad, "prayed":

There are millions of people around this world praying to their god — whether it’s Hindu, Buddha, Allah — that his [McCain’s] opponent wins, for a variety of reasons

Well, actually, Hindu is a person who follows Hinduism. It's not the name of a god. Buddha is not a god, except in folk Buddhism practices where he's elevated to that level. Allah is the Arabic word for "God". Arab Christians use this word when they pray. You know, something like our use of the word "god" which we took from the head of the Germanic pagan pantheon so we'd have a word in English.

Don't get me wrong. I believe there is a place for saying, "My god is different from your god." If I'm looking to nuances in theology, I can say at some point that my God as a Quaker is different from the God of a Baptist. He's still the same God, of course, but because we perceive him in different ways, in very nuanced different ways, he is different. While acknowledging this difference, I in no way question the salvation of the other, and I affirm that our two Gods are, in truth, the same entity. But a Christian who focuses more on the wrath of God will have a slightly different God than I do, for we all create God in our own image.

As to "they" praying that Obama wins- well, there are some good reasons they are praying that Obama wins. Part of that would be that they don't want to be bombed anymore. There's also good reasons that they are praying to different gods than the Muslim-Judeo-Christian God- namely, because they don't believe in that god, so it would be difficult for them to knowingly pray to him.

And what if the non-Christians do pray for "the other guy"? Since when did that mean God wouldn't listen to them? If they are more in line with the values of the Kingdom than the so-called followers of Jesus, why wouldn't Jesus listen to their prayers instead? Or do we have a God so foolish that he says, "I know you guys aren't praying for what I want to happen. But since you claim my name, I'm going to subvert my entire process and the future of the planet, just because you signed up on a dotted line."? God hears all prayers. He cares about the Kingdom, and not just the Church. And he offers the Grace to extend a listening ear and answering hand, even while we were yet sinners.

Then Pastor Congrad goes on to pray:

And Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation because they’re going to think that their god is bigger than you if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name in all that happens between now and Election Day.

Talk about your shock and awe. Now this pastor is trying to create a dichotomy between peoples. He's a divider, not a uniter. That's not the Spirit of Jesus Christ. He's preying on the fears of The Other that have risen in America since 9/11. If the rest of the world likes Obama, well, he must be bad, just as John McCain said. This will certainly not enhance America's reputation in the world.

I'm not a big fan of pretending to pray when you're actually preaching. Contrary to his written comments to CNN, this was in no way a heart-felt prayer. This was preaching (to the converted). This was pretending that you're having a conversation with the Almighty, when really you're trying to sway other humans in the room. It is an insult to God to do this, to pretend, to act in one way. It is hypocrisy. Which makes me wonder, where were the people listening to this prayer and willing to stand up and yell out, "Blasphemy!"? The Age of Martyrs it appears is long past. We no longer have Christians in the U.S. willing to stand up for Christ and speak Truth.

For what kind of God is it that needs us to defend his honor? Rest assured, his reputation will in no way be besmiched if Obama wins, or even if McCain wins. God's reputation will be intact. Pastor Conrad's God seems to be the one of Star Trek V: Search for God. It is arguably the worst Star Trek movie ever made, but it has it's moments. Principle among these is the end, wherein they find God, and he is happy, for he can use their starship to finally return to his children throughout the galaxy. In one of the most memorable lines ever uttered in Trek lore, Captain Kirk says, "Excuse me. Excuse me. I have a question. What does God need with a starship? Really. I want to know. What does God need with a starship?"

The answer, of course, is that God, if he truly is God, doesn't need a starship in the slightest. His plans will go forward, with or without us. The theologically correct answer is that he allows us to participate in his plans, for he knows we will experience greater delight by doing so, and that is what we were created for- to experience Joy in him.

Pastor Conrad, God's reputation won't be hurt by who wins the Presidency. Do you know what will hurt God's reputation? Prayers like this. And only because people will get confused, thinking that God and his followers happen to be on the same page. Pastor Conrad, I think you may be right. My God is not the same as your god.

Sarah Palin and The Danger Of Causing A Christian to Sin

Richard Owl Mirror — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:27:52 EDT

I wrote an article this morning regarding Sarah Palin blurred the line between church and state as Mayor and Governor ?

It discusses: WASILLA, Alaska -- The camera closes in on Sarah Palin speaking to young missionaries, vowing from the pulpit to do her part to implement God's will from the governor's office.

It continued with examples of her behavior while Mayor and Governor even her having Ousting her own mother-in-law, Faye Palin from the Valley Hospital's board because she wasn't as strong against abortion as she liked. Of course Federal Law mandated the Hospital allow LEGAL abortions yet, Sarah wouldn't have any of that stand in her way.

If you would like to read my full article, please click the link above.

One of the individuals who left a comment said:

Military units have chaplins. Jews and different sects of Christians do not seem to mind. Usually the chaplin tries to honor all religions.

When a president goes to church, secret service men go with him; he is taken to church in a motorcade. All of this is at taxpayer expense.

When Obama goes to the White house, Revenend Wright will go with him. Maybe Tony Rizzo and Bill Ayers will attend. It will look like a convention of scoundrels. Mary Ann S., Oct 11, 2008

So, naturally I had to respond and this is how I did so. I hope you will also use this response and the associated LINKS whenever and wherever you find yourself confronted by this same mentality.

Mary Ann S., You were making sense, until you had to spread lies like: When Obama goes to the White house, Revenend Wright will go with him. Maybe Tony Rizzo and Bill Ayers will attend. It will look like a convention of scoundrels.

People may become upset by the articles I post, even annon giving low ratings but, you can't say I've stooped to LYING.

The Sin of Lying

"The Sin of Lying'' is one of the most damnable and common sins of the human race. More people have been guilty of lying, in some form or other, than of any other sin which man has ever committed; and there is no doubt as to the final consequences of this sin if it is not repented of before one dies. The Bible plainly informs us that "ALL liars, SHALL HAVE their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone,'' (Rev. 21:8).

The Danger Of Causing A Christian to Sin
Introduction: If some one were to ask you, "What is the sin of all sins?" How would you answer? You may say, "The sin of unbelief is the sin of all sins," or you may say, "The sin of adultery is the sin of all sins." Some would say, "The sin of lying or pride" some might say, "No sin is greater than any other sin." But there is one sin greater than all the others and that is the sin of causing another person to sin. The reason it is the sin of all sin is because of its far-reaching effects. When you teach one person to sin, they teach another, who teaches another and soon you have set a train in motion with an unforeseeable end. In our passage today Jesus is warning us of "The Danger of Causing a Christian to Sin."

McCain Forced To Defend Obama After Rhetoric Backfires!

Notice the LIE which the woman perpetuated, (Obama is an Arab/Muslin) most likely having heard it repeatedly on Talk Radio and other supporters of McCain/Palin.
The Danger Of Causing A Christian to Sin
This is being perpetuated throughout America from the Republican Party.
Should these people be held accountable ?
(Religious Rights proponents)

Why I Want to Shake Hands With a Republican.

Melanie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:55:41 EDT

Longtime Michigan Gov. William Milliken (b. 1922), a Republican, held office for fourteen years while I was growing up in the state. He loomed large as a political figure who earned appreciation and support on both side of the partisan aisle. My parents, who were ardent, lifelong Democrats, always voiced their respect for Milliken—and it was a mighty rare occasion for them to speak well of a Republican leader, especially in the era of Nixon and Watergate.

I had not heard Milliken speak out in years, until this morning, when a Michigan friend sent me the article below. The former governor has clearly maintained his ability to think beyond political boundaries. Although he originally endorsed John McCain, he backed away from his endorsement this month after McCain's campaign began attacking Barack Obama.

Milliken told The Grand Rapids Press: "He is not the John McCain I endorsed."

It's interesting to note Milliken's closing sentence in the article: "Increasingly, the party is moving toward rigidity, and I don't like that. I think Gerald Ford would hold generally the same view I'm holding on the direction of the Republican Party."

More prominent Republicans elsewhere are voicing the feeling that their party has been hijacked—above all, when McCain/Palin rallies spout venom and hatred, calling Senator Obama a terrorist because his name is not "Smith”—and McCain himself fails to come forward to unequivocally challenge and reject these events.

A further example of this disconcertion within McCain’s own party occurred when Republican Sen. Paul Laxalt’s daughter, Fox political commentator Michelle Laxalt, spoke out with great passion on Larry King Live about her disgust with the McCain smear campaign.

On her left in this interview, incidentally, is fellow Republican, Kathleen Parker, who wrote the National Review article, calling on Palin to step down as VP nominee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQRBZGVagcQ&eurl=http://www.thoughttheater.com/2008/10/

As a Democrat, I reach out today to such Republicans, and thank them for their integrity, in rejecting the political thuggery of smears and innuendo heavy with jingoism and racism.

I encourage both Democrats and Republicans among my friends and relatives to join me in what must be a cross-partisan effort to honor the political process of this election, without inciting hatred.

As financial markets and institutions collapse around the world, our armed forces continue to die in Iraq, and unemployment and mortgage foreclosures rise—this country needs to mobilize across all boundaries of race, religion, and partisanship for our recovery.

Please reach beyond your comfort zone today, and initiate this handshake to someone who does not match your own demographic or partisan profile. As Milliken says, we "ought to be talking about the issues." He has earned my handshake.

=======================

Former governor Milliken backs away from McCain

by Pat Shellenbarger | The Grand Rapids Press

Friday October 10, 2008, 6:57 AM

GRAND RAPIDS -- He endorsed John McCain in the presidential primary, but now former Republican Gov. William Milliken is expressing doubts about his party's nominee.

"He is not the McCain I endorsed," said Milliken, reached at his Traverse City home Thursday. "He keeps saying, 'Who is Barack Obama?' I would ask the question, 'Who is John McCain?' because his campaign has become rather disappointing to me.

"I'm disappointed in the tenor and the personal attacks on the part of the McCain campaign, when he ought to be talking about the issues."

Milliken, a lifelong Republican, is among some past leaders from the party's moderate wing voicing reservations and, in some cases, opposition to McCain's candidacy.

During a stop in Grand Rapids on Thursday, Lincoln Chafee, a former Republican U.S. senator from Rhode Island, said he's voting for Obama and urging others to do likewise.

McCain campaigned for Chafee's unsuccessful re-election bid in 2006, but Chafee said he is concerned McCain has swung to the right, a divisive strategy that could make it difficult for him to govern.

"That's not my kind of Republicanism," said Chafee, who now calls himself an independent. "I saw what Bush and Cheney did. They came in with a (budget) surplus and a stable world, and look what's happened now. In eight short years they've taken one peaceful and prosperous world, and they've torn it into tatters."

As for McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his running mate, "there's no question she's totally unqualified," Chafee said.

He had similar reservations about Obama's lack of experience, but said the Democrat's handling of the campaign convinced him he's ready to lead.

Chafee said he has spoken with several other moderate Republican leaders, and "there are a whole lot of us deserting."

One of them is Phil Arthurhultz, a former Republican state senator from Whitehall, who was traveling the state with Chafee to drum up support for Obama.

Bob Eleveld is a former Kent County Republican chairman who led McCain's West Michigan campaign in 2000. This year, he has remained mum unless asked.

"I'm not supporting either of them at this point," he said. "Suffice it to say there are a number of people who have been strong Republicans in the past, including party chairs, who feel as I do." He declined to name them.

In the past, McCain was more of a moderate known for his straight talk, Eleveld said.

"I think the straight talk is gone," he said, describing himself as a member of the party's moderate wing. "I think he's pandering to the Christian right. That's some straight talk from me."

Whether they represent a widespread movement or a few disenchanted members in the Republican Party is unclear.

"I don't think for one minute John McCain has violated the trust we put in him," said Marge Byington Potter, a former chairwoman of the Kent County Commission, who calls herself a moderate Republican. "I think McCain understands people are in a situation that people are hurting terribly."

Milliken stopped short of saying he will vote for Obama, but said he differs with McCain on the Iraq war and his choice of Palin.

"I know John McCain is 72. In my book, that's quite young," said Milliken, 86, Michigan's longest-serving governor. But he added, "What if she were to become president of the United States? The idea, to me, is quite disturbing, if not appalling.

"Increasingly, the party is moving toward rigidity, and I don't like that. I think Gerald Ford would hold generally the same view I'm holding on the direction of the Republican Party."

"Catholic Enough?"

Kenzie — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:01:18 EDT

I can across a discussion of Joe Biden's Catholic faith in Michael Paulson's Articles of Faith (and more specifically the comments section) on Boston.com. I was shocked to see the discussion unfold about whether or not Joe Biden is "properly Catholic." I'm deeply hurt by the knee-jerk reaction of the commenters who claim to be more Catholic because they support the pro-life movement. I was shocked to hear them clamor for Joe Biden to stand up against Roe v. Wade, against the legislation in place to allow every American to have no fear of religious persectuion for prescription. It is truly awful to read, Catholics denouncing Joe Biden with no knowledge of him and the way he lives his life. This is not the Church I grew up in.

I think Pope John Paul II may be shaking his head right now, somewhere...

The fact is, it is the Church's responsibility to reach out to the people around it. They do a very good job of that, at least they did in my neighborhood. But if you take away people's right to chose their religious values and their right to chose the way they live (which you are essentially doing if you are passing laws limiting the way they live their lives based on a personal religion), that's just coercion and control and it results in their false morality. If you want people to make the right choice, reach out to them, show them the way you would want them to live. But by trying to force them to live the way you live, this to me is violating the precepts of our Faith. I remember growing up in a Catholic Church of tolerance, understanding, and love. You should always stand up for what is right in the world, yes, but you also have to respect other people's rights to live the way they choose. You can reach out to them and teach them the Way, but they have to choose to take it. And for Senator Biden to support legislation that made the choice for these people, that took away the opportunity for their moral struggle... that would be unCatholic. Joe Biden would essentially be applying his own religion to the entire US, religious or not. And perhaps some think everyone should be Catholic. But Pope John Paul II and I both agree: you have to let them make that choice. Or it isn't real.

I'm appalled we're even talking about whether or not he is Catholic "enough." Same argument going on with whether or not Obama is "black enough." I'll tell you what: they are AMERICAN enough, and they are able to have the vision to live faithfully to their beliefs and still promote equality and pursuit of happiness for every human being, seeing past religion, past party lines. If you think abortion should not happen, reach out to the mothers with gentle words (as Christ would have done, and JPII would have done!), show them their options, support them and love them and show them that things can turn out okay because they will have a support network at all times, and a God who loves them no matter what. Joe Biden knows his faith in his heart, and it is very, very dear to him. When did seperation of church and state become so passé???

My Church is the Church of love, and of choosing to have a close relationship with God. It is not about choosing one's religious values like one chooses fruit at the grocery store, and this is NOT what Senator Biden is doing in his political positions. It's about reaching out with love to the people who do not know how to make the "right" choice (whichever choice you find that to be), and showing them light. Not outlawing their moral dilemma entirely. Or are we supposed to be enacting mass conversion of Jews, Protestants, Muslims, Atheists, like we did to the unsuspective natives of South America, or in the Spanish Inquisition? I believe the Catholic Church has learned from that mistake. We are a new Church, we have grown from the ashes of bloody revolution into a place where people can find comfort, joy, a home. I hope to see more understanding, more reason in the coming weeks, and less of this spiteful drivel. Because of people like this it was very hard for me to grow up being Catholic, and I don't want that for my children. We can be a people of faith and of fairness. We can help people find their own way. I believe in the strength of heart, the fairness of spirit in every Catholic, and I believe in Joe Biden as a strong Catholic who will do right by this country, for every man and woman, Catholic or otherwise. And to me that is beyond "Catholic enough."

What's Wrong With the Christian Right?

TJ Franklin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:19:53 EDT

Before I even get started, let me say that I am and always have been a christian and I plan to stay that way. Lots of people might see this as believing in myths or superstitions, but either my life has had an amazing number of incredible coincidences, or God has been actively answering my prayers on a regular basis.

Sure, non-believers will criticize my beliefs. Unlike many christians, however, that doesn't bother me at all. You see, I have an open mind and don't mind looking at things from other people's points of view. I try to live my life by following one of the bible's most important, and yet grossly neglected morals: judge not, lest ye be judged.

Now, don't get me wrong. Not all christians are close-minded people with a stubborn insistence to ignore every possibility except for their own tunnel-visioned views. However, a surprisingly and unnervingly large group of them are, and they're increasing every day.

This whole post began forming a few days ago, when I saw the news footage of a Sarah Palin rally in which one audience member couldbe clearly heard to yell, "Kill him!"

Elite and Elitist

Miami Democrat — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:18:35 EDT

Is Barack Obama an elitist? Liberals hate being labeled elitist by those Republicans who are millionaires or even billionaires. They genuinely do not understand how the party which is fighting for the middle class and the poor or the minority can be labeled 'elitist'.

They call that the dumbing down of America. They fight the label and claim they are more ordinary than ordinary Americans. But the elitist label stick. Recently some liberal columnist like Maureen Dowd and others are fighting back in a different way. They are claiming, it is necessary to be an 'elite' if you are trying to run a country like the United States. They make fun of the 'hockey mom' or the 'Joe six pack' labeling. They cringe at the idea that Republicans win election by identifying with the 'hockey moms' or 'joe six-packs' even though their policies destroy these very people. Why is this disconnect?

These elite columnists and commentators are missing a very important trait of the American Character. Let me explain.

All this fuss about Rev. Wright

FiredUpVoter — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:29:14 EDT

To all the trolls who are using the Rev. Wright hooplah to justify their hatred for Obama:

Rev. Wright is not running for president.

I doubt that Obama appreciated this guy's comments.

So forget the Rev. Wright thing and move on with your life.

Thank you.

call for intellectual honesty

Unknown user — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:27:30 EDT

I realize this is a political hot potatoe because so many people profess a faith of some kind in the United States and throughout the world.

That said, there is a growing number of people calling for intellectual honesty. Being intellectually honest means you do not hold sacred cows, you allow all claims to be open to scrutiny. The overwhelming majority of the scientific and academic communities do not hold the Bible to be a source of anything further than myth and philosophical ideal. It is not a historical, factual account of history. It is not the basis for science. They hold that God is not an actual being. God is imaginary.

I am calling on our world leaders to stop pacifying us, telling us what they think we want to hear, and instead they need to stand up and publicly state that God is imaginary. God has no place in government. Religious superstitions and beliefs have no place in public office. They may be a source of comfort to some, but they are not real, and should be viewed as myths worthy of some ideological lessons but not historical fact or a basis for science.

Evolution happened. The earth is Billions of years old. God is imaginary. Please show the courage of integrity and truth, and dont be so afraid to tell it like it is.

"Imagine all the people living for today."

Thank You
Ryan Cameron.

Racism Still Alive & Well...

Scott S. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:32:52 EDT

This is a sick article. I caught this on my morning news search. It's interesting that it occurred at a predominately white Christian school. I thought all Christians were supposed to be tolerant and accepting of all. What is even more sickening is that police are NOT treating it as a hate crime but simply as an "expression of free speech". This harkens back to the 50's and 60's. If we vote in religious nut jobs like Palin, we'll face more of this same type of incident.

OBAMA/BIDEN '08

Here is a link to: 'Watch Obsession' - Website

Unknown user — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:17:23 EDT

Here is a link to: 'Watch Obsession' - Website

America is at War Though we would like to think differently, there really are evil people who spend all their time thinking and planning the destruction of American men, women and children. While Christians and Jews are primary targets, these very bad terrorists do not discriminate in their desire to kill and destroy anyone who does not believe as they do. For our enemy, this is a cultural war, this is a religious war, this is a necessary war. Radical, militant Muslims have declared war on America.

https://www.watchobsession.org/

Everyone should see ISLAMOFASCISM - IN ACTION at "Obsession" movie - it's not about politics

Unknown user — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:18:08 EDT

Everyone should see ISLAMOFASCISM - IN ACTION at "Obsession" movie - it's not about politics

OBSESSION does NOT endorse any candidate!

How low can Islamic lobby CAIR go and trying to politicize the danger to ALL Humanity coming from radical Islam???

You Must Watch Obsession Because CAIR Doesn't Want You To Know The Truth About Radical Islam (September 22, 2008)

It is not about al Muslims, but about the radical Islamic fascism (fascism in the name of Islam) force. And CAIR is a very radical Islamic organization that its founders have stated that 'Islam isn't in America to be equal but to DOMINATE!' besides, CAIR is a pro Hamas group (that still haven't rejected its genocide of the Jews Hamas reiterates goal of world domination by Islam - annihilation of Israel -establishment of Caliphate in Jerusalem [1], oh! Don't lie to me that they're about "land") and is linked with Al-Arian that raised funds for the terror organization. CAIR Is basically a HATE 'wolf pack' organzation masked in "civil rights group" sheep cloting.

* Americans Agianst Hate CAIR Watch

* CAIR = Hate & Terror
* Ohio against Terror Anti-Cair, Defending America from the CAIR threat
* The CAIR Files

Financial crisis

Tim Schram — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:52:30 EDT

The basic cause of all the economic problems experienced during the course of this country's history is capitalism. It is fatally flaw in its basic tenets and it is time we stopped to look at it.

We don't continuously strive to raise the emperature in our homes at a faster and faster rate. If we have some cells in our bodies that practice the tenet of uncontrolled and unregulated growth we call it cancer. We know that uncontrolled eating is a bad thing. To think a philosophy of maximum uncontrolled growth and ever increasing profit is any healthier is mass insanity. Yet that is what we want in our economic philosphy. My mother always preached moderation. I wish the mothers of the people that got us in this mess had taught the same lessen or that their kids were intelligent enough to get it.

We need an economic system that meets the needs of our society without the gluttony that causes us to wretch every decade or two. That system should have a modest rate of growth large enough sustain its dependents but small enough not to cause convulsions. What useful function does it serve to have individuals with net worths of over a million dollars. How does this benefit our society or humanity as a whole? As an atheist I have to ask all you christians involved in these periodic vomit fests: What Would Your Jesus Do? Please don't tell me I am more christian than you. That would be a very sad commentary on your faith indeed. Expecially when you use your god to justify your abominable treament of your fellow human for a buck.

I hope AI have angered alot of you. Maybe then you will stop brainwashed chant of the status quo and start to think about what has been happening through out human history. I don't care if you belive in evolution, but you better believe that we adapt to a new world where resources become scarcer or we are DEAD. WAKE UP!

Faith-Based Initiative Should Be Abolished, Not Renamed

Dwayne — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:25:50 EDT

Just as seven years ago the Foundation condemned Pres. George W. Bush's creation of his misguided "faith-based initiative," today the Foundation protests the shortsightedness of candidate Barack Obama in endorsing its continuation.

This is the wrong direction for our country. The next president should have the integrity and courage to back off from Bush's fiasco and abolish the so-called faith-based initiative. It has been a waste of taxpayers' money, has injected religion into politics, deprived needy clients of the best help, and has punched a huge hole in America's vaunted "wall of separation between church and state."

It's lovely to say, as Obama does, that "I believe deeply in the separation of church and state." But actions speak louder than words. There is negligible difference between Obama's and Bush's stated provisos on the faith-based initiative. Like Obama, Bush claimed the faith-based initiative would not allow religious groups to use public grants to proselytize or discriminate against clients, and that public money going to places of worship was only to be used for secular programs. But there is no accountability and no monitoring provisions, as the GAO audit of 2006 documented.

It's also fine for Obama to say the government and its recipients are going to follow the law. But every day at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, we field complaints about violations of the separation between church and state even over established law, such as school prayer. Obama offers no plan for monitoring the constitutional pitfall of a "partnership" between religion and government.

The Foundation has taken and won many court challenges against the faith-based initiative. For instance, a federal judge in our Faith Works case in Milwaukee ruled in 2002 that $800,000 in direct federal subsidy to a ministry that existed to "bring homeless addicts directly to Christ" was unconstitutional. The funds were spent (and wasted) by the time we won the case. In 2005, we halted the final federal grant to MentorKids USA, in which volunteer mentors had to sign a statement that they believed literally in the creation story before they could go on to openly proselytize children of prisoners. We stopped a "parish nursing program" in Montana in 2003, and in 2007 a "chaplaincy" in Indiana set up to minister to state employees. Important and pioneering as our legal cases have been, they are a mere drop in the bucket in terms of the public financing of proselytization under the faith-based scheme.

Obama praises Take Youth Education for Tomorrow, a program run by churches and church schools to teach reading after school and during the summer, largely in church settings. Churches and the offices of religious organizations are innately coercive environments. What about parents who don't want their children to have to go to church in order to get reading help? When taxpayers are footing the bill, such programs should be held in a neutral setting--there is, after all, no shortage of public schools, already tax-supported!

It is not only the 16% of the population who is nonreligious who is offended. Many Muslims are forbidden to enter Christian churches. Jewish children may not feel comfortable entering a Christian church. Even many Christian sects are uneasy about adherents entering churches run by competing denominations. The idea is fraught with practical and constitutional peril.

Weirdly, Obama criticizes Bush for failing to reach out to faith-based groups about how to apply for federal dollars. Yet this was a cornerstone of Bush's faith-based initiative. At countless regional and federal faith-based conferences, hands-on technical support at public expense (including "free lunches") is exactly what the Bush Administration has offered churches and religious agencies for seven expensive years!

Obama says "we all have to work together--Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim; believer and nonbeliever alike--to meet the challenges of the 21st century." True, even laudable. But that does not mean "we" should all be taxed to support churches or religious agencies. Many Americans proudly are descended from immigrants who came here to escape mandatory tithes and taxation in support of churches against their consent.

Obama's tone is more balanced than Bush's. But he spoils the effect by criticizing those "who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square." Secularists have never said faith can't be displayed in public. We do insist that faith should not be part of government, subsidized by government or promoted by government. The genius of the founders of our secular republic was to recognize that keeping religion and government separate is the way to prevent religious corruption and coercion.

Obama's reference to needing "people of faith on Capitol Hill"--as if Capitol Hill weren't at the moment dominated by "people of faith"--is both a naive platitude and exclusionary. How would religionists feel if Obama had said: "We need people without faith on Capitol Hill"?

Let's abolish the faith-based initiative and go back to the days before John Ashcroft first proposed so-called "charitable choice." Religious social services have always been free to bid for social service grants, but they were expected to create a secular arm, keep separate books and take their crosses down. A return to the status quo is the simple answer to the mess created by Bush's faith-based initiative.

Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is merely a renaming of Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Ironically, nearly everything Obama criticizes Bush's initiative for ("it was used to promote partisan interests," "it has to be a real partnership--not a photo-op") can be said of Obama's plan and his "photo-op" speech today. Same taxi, different driver. Where's that vaunted "change" that Obama's campaign has been promising?

On a related topic, we are appalled at the arrogant, presumptuous hubris of politicians who claim to know "God's will." Obama joins an unfortunately long line of political candidates and public officials (which includes more than its fair share of despots), who talk about "fulfilling God's will" and "doing the Lord's work." Why are these politicians so special that they possess a direct pipeline to a divinity? The presidential candidates have crossed the line between acknowledging sincere personal faith to wearing faith on their sleeves and unapologetic political pandering. Both John McCain and Obama have been burned by their past close associations with pastors. Why can't they see that religion mixed with politics is always a combustible mixture?

--Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, The Freedom From Religion Foundation.

realism and politics

Jonathan — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:15:05 EDT

The GOP shot itself in the foot when it began its courting of the religious right. Never has it been more obvious than now. The so-called "conservative" party of the US has now inextricably aligned itself with a voting block that simply denies reality, and the Bush administration has openly admitted this. In particular (for me), they consistently deny established scientific reality, and this to the long- (and short-) term detriment of the country.

Denial of evolution science, global warming, and (in Gov. Palin's case) justifying predator culls simply fly in the face of established fact.

Put Away Falsehood - Christians Supporting Barack Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:40:35 EDT

While puttering purposefully around my Facebook page, I noticed that there is a new Chrsitian group in town that endorses Barack Obama. I am heartened to see more people turning toward truth and beauty as this campaign struggle comes to the heated last few weeks. This IS the message, whether you're a practicing worshipper or just have a good heart. By golly, let's spread the good word! Power to the People and Peace to all Brothers and Sisters! Finally!

http://www.matthew25.org/paf/index.htm

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are all of the same body."

Ephesians 4:25

Should "Spiritual" People Vote?

Lauralyn — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:44:57 EDT

By Lauralyn Bellamy, MA, MDiv

I was prompted to write on this topic after reading the minister’s column in the September/October newsletter from a “New Thought” church. I have re-read it many times and cannot find any statement affirming our responsibility as citizens to vote. In fact, it is not clear to me that he thinks people desiring to follow the teachings of Jesus should vote at all!

[Note: Do not assume other Unity ministers or the denomination itself share this opinion. This is one minister’s heartfelt understanding.]

He counsels his readers:

“If you’re paying attention to the outer world and allowing your emotions to drag you that way, you are in the world and of the world and being ‘led to destruction.’ If you’re simply ‘observing’ the outer world – watching without emotion…does it matter to you who wins the election? Look out! If you have an emotional investment in the ‘out’ come, you are leading yourself to destruction. Seek the kingdom of God first, and you will see the divine order in whatever happens in the outer. Be the unemotional observer in the world but not of the world, and you will see ‘a new heaven and a new earth…’”

I don’t believe this is what Jesus taught. Humanity is not incarcerated on earth, our purpose being to stay out of trouble and bide our time until released from this prison of flesh, this cruel world, and transported to the gates of Heaven.

We are not to treat this world as the waiting room of some shabby, cosmic bus station, reading spiritual tracts, doing spiritual exercises, and minding our own business until our bus comes to carry us “Home.” Nor is Heaven achieved on Earth by denying material existence, “tuning on, tuning in and dropping out.”

There is among the spiritual-not-religious, a desire to “rise above” the dirty world of politics. We are so put off by the name-calling, lying, and the news media’s addiction to tabloid sensationalism – that we want to put our fingers in our ears, close our eyes and chant our favorite mantras at the top of our lungs to drown out this “tower of Babel.” If you are among those so disgusted with the way the current Presidential campaign is being waged and reported that you don’t have the stomach to vote, I would invite you to spend five minutes in silent reflection on these words:

“We the people of the Unites 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 Unites States of America.”

“To establish justice” is a religious mandate.

“God has shown you what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah6:8

Jesus made Micah’s teaching his only test for judging his followers:

"For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was homeless and you invited me in; naked and you clothed me…When you did this to the least of my brethren you did it to me." - Matthew 25: 31-46

Throughout the bible, justice is a verb, an action taken to right a wrong, restore a loss, or heal what is broken. Spirituality breathed the Constitution into being! Justice, tranquility, protection from harm, the common good and liberty are collectively named, “Blessings.” Re-read our Constitution and ask, “What am I doing to ‘secure the Blessings of liberty’ for future generations of Americans?”

The Constitution regards humanity created by God to establish Heaven-on-Earth by means of democracy. The risk of being in the world is becoming distracted from the truths we profess to our fear that the candidate/cause we support will lose, driving us into that hellacious world where the ends-justify-the-means.

When we call the Other Side names, question their intelligence, patriotism, or motives; satisfactory atonement is not abandoning politics, but apologizing for our behavior and returning to the spiritual practice of advocating for justice, the common defense and the general welfare of America as best we can.

If you haven’t registered to vote, do so today! Tuesday, Nov. 4th, cast your vote! The blood of American patriots paid for it. Failure to vote? Now that would be a sin! # # # [[WORD COUNT: 747]]

McCain's Camp Using McCarthyite Tactic!

Lauralyn — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:16:12 EDT

"ARE YOU NOW, OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN, A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY?"

In the mid-1950's, Sen. Eugene McCarthy created a "witch hunt" for Communists in the US State Dept. in hearings that were not only on radio but had TV coverage. He'd wave papers around claiming to have the names of "100" (the number kept changing) communists. He never found any,

Never mind that it was not illegal to be a member of the Communist Party, it fed the FEAR of Soviet domination that was the COLD WAR.

McCarthyism spread to Hollywood and then the new television industry: actors, directors, producers, scriptwriters - anyone and everyone whose name turned up on a BLACK LIST was not to be employed. Some scriptwriters were able to keep working by finding another union member writer to FRONT for them.

Well, it's becoming obvious to me that the McCain campaign is waging that kind of fear-mongering around the religious identity of Sen. Obama.

What does it say about McCain that he refuses to put a halt to the rumor-mongering lie that Obama was and is a Muslim who continues to hide his Muslim identity!?!

I've heard this as recently as this week in an NPR radio interview with a panel of 13 adults (6 "people of color" & 7 whites). The Q: Is America ready for a Black" President? The majority of whites said, “No." One woman in that group stated flatly: “Once a Muslim, you're always a Muslim unless you're killed; you're dead." The incredulous reporter followed up by asking if she was aware that Obama has publicly and repeatedly stated he is not now, nor has he ever been a Muslim. She said she was. "So you simply don't believe him? He's lying?"
"Yes. He's a liar."
A month earlier, on a different news program, I heard an almost identical exchange between a California woman who holds a leadership position in a group representing "Latinos for McCain," and a reporter.

McCain should very publicly disavow this falsehood! Does he honestly believe he can only be elected by allowing these kinds of lies to spread? What does it say about his personal sense of honor and integrity?

Question For Sarah Palin, RE: 2012

TJ Franklin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:38:08 EDT

I'm not sure how many of you may or may not have heard this, but there is a pretty large group of people that believe that the end of the world will occur in 2012. Of course, the majority are conspiracy theorists and religious extremists.

Viewing Sarah Palin's extreme religious views, and her pastor's claims that Alaska will be a refuge for those "left behind" after the rapture (a current theory with which I, as a christian, don't agree with as it's only one of many theories and interpretations of the Book of Revelations).

My question is, does Sarah Palin agree with the 2012 Armageddon theory?

If she agrees, it's not only scary, but makes it imperative that we keep this woman out of the White House and away from the nuclear codes, because quite frankly, I'd worry that she might very well decide that it's God's plan that she be the one to bring Armageddon into reality.

I know that this sounds like some sort of paranoid sensationalism, but just think about it for a second. This is a person who personally prayed for God to make the Alaskan pipeline come to pass as well as praying that we were sending our troops out to fulfill God's will.

If she subscribes to the 2012 Armageddon theory, then it is our DUTY as American citizens and compassionate human beings to keep her and her religious beliefs out of Washington DC at all costs.

God, Guns, and Bitterness...and how to turn it around.

TJ Franklin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:45:15 EDT

I'm from a small town originally, over in Gaston County, NC. Now I live in Charlotte, NC, which is, to the folks I grew up with, "the big city." I'm saying this, because it's relevant to the topic. You see, I've seen firsthand the so-called "small town values" that the republican neo-cons have tried to co-opt as their own.

I'm sure that by now, everyone has heard the rhetoric concerning Senator Obama's statement in California about people clinging to their guns and religion during difficult times. The truth is, he's right, but it was poorly worded, at best.

So, how do you turn something like this into a positive? First off, you have to go on record stating that you support the entire bill of rights, including the 2nd amendment. Yes, we all know that there are, in some cases, good reasons to limit access to certain firearms. No one really needs a machine gun hanging over the fireplace.

It's important to note, that to small town people, and most conservatives, that the second amendment is to guns what Roe v Wade is to abortion.

May there one day be a God-Less America.

Bet from Miami, FL — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:56:51 EDT

A strong government can only come about if it is a secular one. We have only begun to feel the sting that comes from the failure of theocracy. The ramifications of electing an administration that has Jesus as a war advisor will become more and more evident as we begin to pay sacks and sacks of worthless American dollars for a loaf of bread.

We don't need change we can “BELIEVE” in. We need real, fundamental change. A full shift away from religiously driven politics is needed to correct the country's downward spiral.

The last eight years have clearly shown the profound damage that is caused to a modern society when an antiquated religion is allowed rule.

People understand that a change is needed, yet most are content with the notion that this change can be accomplished with a new face. Just a new face, not even a new platform. This explains why Barack Obama is tied with or even trails John McCain and his platform of failure. The race should never be this close when the choices are this clear.

Where Obama should be the clear choice for the country and its' ailing economy, it does not mean the country is choosing to eliminate the poison that is killing it. Bush alone is not the reason the nation is withering away; the reason is his blind faith. That is at the core of his fool's wisdom.

In an attempt to shed the rumors of his secret Muslim religion, Obama has swung to the religious right. With the leftist primary over, he now must appeal to the Bush/McCain base. “Base” being a choice word for that crowd.

“Appealing” to that base is not inherently wrong, bleeding the taxpayer's coffers by laundering money to discriminating religious organizations is. It is that kind of policy talk that makes Obama not terribly different from Bush/McCain.

It is the mission of this publication to keep Obama honest in his plead for “change.” Change that can only come by abandoning the damaging route of religion. McCain on the other hand, is a lost cause. He sold his non-soul for a shot at the big times.

The best candidate will be a secular candidate. And he will end his addresses with a prayer.

“May there one day be a God-less America.”

BetBar

writerfrank@gmail.com

www.myspace.com/betbar

www.blog.myspace.com/betbar

Stem Cell Economics

Economan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:17:23 EDT

Very few people out there actually understand what the McCain-Palin stance is on embryonic stem cell research. Like Bush, there is no real opposition to stem cell research.

McCain-Palin in fact, promote embryonic stem cell research for private companies, they are just not going to provide federal funding for it. Hypocrisy at its worst? Hold on... there's more...

By cutting out federal funding, it prevents the best minds at the best universities in the US from competing to get this money in order to push their research agenda. Through federal funding, solid stem cell therapies could probably be completed in 5 years at the most.

Imagine if your company figured out stem cell therapy... you would be wealthier than Bill Gates.

Understand this... McCain and Palin in reality do NOT oppose embryonic stem cell research on religious grounds, otherwise, it would and should be banned outright. This is an opportunity for a windfall profit for the pharmaceutical companies.

I've enhanced my fundraising site.

Jerod Poore — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:34:54 EDT

I now have a dedicated website for the Obama prayer cards.

ObamaPrayerCards.com

There you'll find Senator Obama depicted as St. Martin de Porres, with both the traditional prayer to St. Martin de Porres and a tongue-in-cheek prayer I wrote to St. Obama. There are links for easy one page printing of each of the four current options.

The prayer cards are free to download. I have a link to my fundraising campaign here for any contributions people wish to make in exchange for the cards.

I also have links to other sites where people have incorporated Sen. Obama into popular icons as a method to raise money for the campaign. Well, as of now just one link to one person. Specifically a guy in Missoula who has made some awesome t-shirts of Che Obama! Viva la Revolucion!

A SWIFT BOAT ATTACK II ON SENATOR BARACK OBAMA

funkfresh01 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:27:22 EDT

Saturday September 13th the News and Observer will be distributing a DVD to their 160,000 subscribers entitled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" If anyone hasn't heard about this movie you can view the trailer here.

I don't know about you but I do not remember any other time where a news paper has ever sent out a DVD let alone one that his very biased and portrays Islam as an extremist religion!!!!!!!

I find it quite appaling that this type of garbage would be sent out to further instill fear into the public. It again puts innocent Muslims on the defensive and makes them worry about backlash.

http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/trailer.php

These Culture Wars...

Elizabeth from Wilmington, DE — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:55:01 EDT

What is going on here...I don't want to be reactionary, but the last two weeks have left me more stressed out than usual, since the entrance of Palin on the scene. I know, I am not the only one.

My concern is that, less than our exemplary leadership, we supporters need to tread more carefully, and follow his example of speaking with tolerance and moderation.

The Republicans have brilliantly and cynically degraded this race into a outright Culture War, which seems to be happening on every level of society these days. The Republicans are trying to set themselves up as the party of Judeo-Christian moral authority, of values...and so many on the left are playing right into their hands with disgust and borderline anti-Christian condescension.

As a mother, who considers myself to be pretty morally sound, I am outraged by both extremes and I am frustrated. I think the whole country is feeling this.

I think it calls for one of Obama's brilliant speeches. This country immediately needs to hear a discussion of:

(1) his respect for the faithful of America.

(2) the importance of the separation of church and state (+ the inherent Constitutional protections of the faithful)

(3) the key faithful-baiting issues (abortion, gay marriage) with a clarification of his positions, past actions, and what about them is appropriate to legislate and what is not.

(4) how Republicans bait the religious with promises they have no intentions of fulfilling (with all of the ample support evidence which exists of this) and how this brings out the harshest extremism of faiths and POVS, wrongly allowing them to define our national dialogue.

(5) the progressive principles and how they are more in line with Judeo-Christian ethics (when compared to the fear-mongering, hatred, greed and violence that has come to typify the right-wing)

(6) the important role of churches as non-legislative, grassroots organizational entities.

He put race on the table, to beautiful effect.

It is time to put the religion on the table, so we can walk away with the best of it, and leave the fundamentalists of the right and left wing sputtering in our wake.

I hope they are working on this!!!!!!!!!!!

Rural Worries

David — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:31:14 EDT

In my first blog entry, I want to reflect a bit on what I've been seeing in the last few days. An on the ground, front line report if you will. About 10 days ago, I moved from Indiana to Los Angeles. Still unpacked in Westwood, I had to get my luggage ready to travel to New Mexico for my mom's wedding. So, for these reasons, I have traveled across the country in one week and then visited my small rural hometown the next week. I have seen a lot of diners, truck stops, and the living rooms of a handful of friends' and family members' houses. In each stop, I have changed from being quietly confident to not so quietly concerned about this election. In Indiana, I lived in a college town (Bloomington) where the Obama support was visible across the city. In Los Angeles, I moved next to UCLA (Go Bruins!), where I also have seen my fair share of Obama signs. My fear is that due to this support, I've been thinking this race was safely in Obama's pocket. And although I read my share of news blogs, I have not been convinced the polls are a reason to worry in the least. What worries me, at least slightly, is what I've seen with my own eyes: People across the nation are plugged into Fox News. Faux News is playing in every truck stop and hotel lobby: literally every single one I visited. I am not joking here: if they had a tv, it was on Faux News. I have seen family members run to the TV to see anything playing about Palin. They literally see her as someone just like them: blessed enough to be picked for the second highest office in the country. In fact, they see her more of that American dream (you can even be president), than Obama because she does have family struggles; she didn't go to Columbia; her family does hunt; and she is religious.

Coincidentally, I was on a plane from LA to Phoenix two days ago and the guy in front of me while boarding told another he was working for the Obama campaign, something having to do with the media and which messages are getting out there and how. I was so tempted to ask him for a moment of his time. Because, being raised from a small town, I can tell you exactly how to reach these people I call my "folk," regardless of whether I share their beliefs or activities. (And to be clear, I consider them my folk because I respect and empathize with their beliefs and activities). They will unconsciously be wary of the "angry black man" on the attack or the self-righteous black woman with a VIP list on the View. They will listen to a short, simple (not simplistic) explanation about the issues that concern them if the commercial features Toby Keith or Dale Earnhardt more than Will I. Am. or Matt Damon. Attacking Palin makes her seem disrespected. These people around me here in this small town rightfully respect their friends and family in the uniform: police, emergency and military among others.

Of course I'm not saying anything new to people who study media and politics. I'm simply saying that in my on the ground experience in the last few weeks, I'm not even seeing the Obama team try to interrupt and redirect the conversation on Faux News or on the Fox Channels that play Faux news. McCain's slimy ads are literally running every commercial break (including on 9/11/08). I see an Obama ad about once or twice to every seven or eight McCain ad.

But there are good things to report as well. In Albuquerque, I was at a family member's house and middle age male relative (who is devoutly Catholic) was sitting and watching the news (CNN). I know him to be anti-abortion and fairly socially conservative. He is Mexican American and he works across the region with what we could safely call the working class. This was the day after Palin's announcement and I was just assuming he'd say something positive about her or the McCain campain and I'd be forced to decide to engage him in the conversation about why he likes her and why the McCain ticket won't serve the working people of America. But after the news clip about Palin, he looked at me and said that he will now definitely vote for Obama. I was silently surprised and listened for more. He said that he isn't just voting for a person, but for two people and all things considered Obama and Biden are simply better as a ticket than McCain and Palin. And from his comments that followed I gathered that although he might on religious views agree with Palin and McCain, he knew that for military, economic and educational reasons, his vote for Obama and Biden better serves him and his family.

One more small bit of joy: at a Spanish speaking restaurant in New Mexico, I went to pay the bill at the register and the counter had a plethora of saint's cards and prayers under the glass. There was a "Prayer for Our Soldiers" and a number of other Catholic sayings. Then I saw something titled, "Ten Reasons." It was, after closer inspection, a list of ten ways the Bush Administration is ruining this country. Each reason was focused on goals that were stated straightforwardly and yet generally to appeal to a wide range of people with varying world views. And I learned in this moment a bit about political language in small towns. Why talk about abortion when you can talk about family's needing more support? Why talk about the war in Iraq when you can talk about giving the military more support? Why talk about gay marriage when you can talk about respecting diversity? Why talk about earmarking and lobbying when you can talk about giving our schools and teachers more support?

When i get back to my new home in California, I will see how I might become more active in the Obama campaign. I volunteered in Indiana before the IN primary but since then figured that the election was going to be a landslide and so I could perhaps just send money from here on out. Now, after touring the country for my move and this wedding, I realize that more can and needs to be done. Perhaps I can draw from my personal interests and connections: reaching out to Latino voters or religious voters; or writing my home town newspaper. Perhaps I'll print photos of McCain and Bush sharing birthday cake on the day Katrina hit. Or perhaps I'll make large signs asking "what about the Keating Five?" and take them to republican events. No matter how it looks, it is time to get more active.

My thanks to those of you who have stayed active, both paid workers and volunteers on the campaign. You really have made this a viable possibility that Obama will be our next President. I am truly appreciative of all your labor.

Remember 911 Islamofascism's attack upon 3,000 inoccent people!

Unknown user — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:49:39 EDT

Remember Islamofascism's attack!

Al-Qaeda 'marks 9/11 with video'
BBC News, UK - Sep 8, 2008
Zawahiri is thought to be in hiding on the Afghan-Pakistan border The Islamic militant network al-Qaeda, which claimed the 9/11 attacks, has issued a video to mark their seventh anniversary, an Arabic TV channel says.
In the 90-minute tape obtained by Qatar's al-Jazeera TV, deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri denounces Iran and the "Crusader" threat to Islam.

Zawahiri is last known to have appeared in an al-Qaeda video in April.
Other al-Qaeda videos since the 9/11 attacks on America in 2001 featured the group's leader, Osama Bin Laden.

Zawahiri is shown accusing Iran of "co-operating with the Americans in occupying Iraq and Afghanistan".
The deputy leader of al-Qaeda, which draws its support from Sunni Muslims, also condemns Shia Muslims for not calling for a holy war in Iraq against Western forces there.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7604526.stm

September 11, 2001

The Islamic Jihad attacks on 3,000 innocent people in the US (and the sickest cult, the 'death cult' - bloodthirsty 'Palestinians' celebrating it)

September 11 News.com - News Archives, Images of the 9- 11- 2001 attack on New York's World Trade Center...
http://www.september11news.com/

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 VICTIMS This site is dedicated to the victims of September 11, 2001 tragedy. ... Visit this website the week of 9/9/02 to see 9/11 Photo Gallery...
http://www.september11victims.com

Video Clips of the September 11 Twin Towers Terrorist Attacks
http://www.twin-towers.net/tt_video.htm

TIME: Photos of the September 11 attacks and their aftermath Rarely seen photos from the Fresh Kills landfill. Digging out Ground Zero ... Workers continue to search for victims of the World Trade Center attack ...
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/911/

9112001.net - Videos, Photographs, Petitions, Polls, Audios And ...September 11, 911, WTC, World Trade Center, Attack On America, Terrorism, Osama Bin Laden, Patriotism, Afghanistan, Taliban.
http://www.9112001.net/

The September 11 Digital Archive Uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the history of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania and the public ...
http://www.911digitalarchive.org/

Shattered 9/11/2001 Photographs of the WTC attack aftermath by award-winning photojournalist James Nachtwey.
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/shattered

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 VICTIMS, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 VICTIMS. This site is dedicated to the victims of September 11, 2001 tragedy. on-line since 9/11/2001, 11.05 am. ...
http://www.septembe r11victims.com/

Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can't Stand Up to the Facts
http://www.amazon.com/Debunking-11-Myths-Conspiracy-Theories/dp/158816635X

9/11 - PATRIOT DAY , SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
http://www.militarypilots.org/19_WTC.htm

USATODAY.com - Official: 15 of 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were Saudi Official: 15 of 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were Saudi RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia acknowledged for the first time that 15 of the Sept.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2002/02/06/saudi.htm

The Saudi-9/11 Connection It is no coincidence, he claims, that 15 of the 19 hijackers that day were ... Kabbani had warned of the dangers of Islamic extremists well before 9/11. ...
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/11/21/05155.shtml

Sex & The Islamic Terrorist... Remember 9/11 and those 19 hijackers? Remember Mohammed Atta, [the 911 Islamic terrorist and his sexual relations with hookers].
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/columns/013105p.htm

CNN.com - Group hails 9/11 'Magnificent 19' - Sep. 10, 2003 ...But a spokesman for the group, Abu Omar, said this week that the actions of the 19 hijackers were "quite splendid" and were "completely justified" by Sharia ...
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/09/10/sept.11.ukposter/

Online NewsHour Update: Bin Laden Admits 9/11 Responsibility ... BIN LADEN ADMITS 9/11 RESPONSIBILITY, WARNS OF MORE ATTACKS. A tape aired by Al-Jazeera television Friday showed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden admitting ...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/binladen_10-29-04.html

Bin Laden: Yes, I did it - Telegraph OSAMA BIN LADEN has for the first time admitted that his al-Qa'eda group carried out the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/11/wbin11.xml

Bin Laden says he ordered 9/11 attacks In the statement, bin Laden directly admitted for the first time that he carried out...
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/30/content_387058.htm

Bin Laden lieutenant admits to 9-11 A man described as one of Osama bin Laden's closest aides, Abu 'Ubeid Al-Qurashi, has acknowledged that the terrorist network al-Qaida carried out the Sept. ...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=26418

Bin Laden Claims Responsibility for 9/11 - U.S. ... Bin Laden Claims Responsibility for 9/11, Usama bin Laden made his first televised appearance in more than a year in which he admitted for the first time ...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,137095,00.html

DOHA, Qatar (CNN) -- An Arabic-language television network has aired a previously unseen videotape of Osama bin Laden showing the accused terrorist mastermind sitting with a top deputy who claims credit for the September 11 attacks in the United States.
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/04/15/terror.tape/

CAMERA ALERT: PA Blocks Coverage of Palestinians Cheering 9/11 Attacks ... of Palestinians in Nablus and Ramallah joyfully celebrating the deadly 9/11 ...
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=2&x_article=265

Terror in the USA - The Palestinians Celebrate! Articles. Palestinians Celebrate Attacks with Gunfire · "Bullseye," say Egyptians as they celebrate anti-US attacks ...
http://www.gamla.org.il/english/feature/cel.htm

israelinsider: diplomacy: Thousands of Palestinians again ...The Associated Press (AP) filed an official complaint with the Palestinian Authority after a freelance cameraman who filmed Palestinians celebrating the ...
http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/diplomacy/articles/dip_0087.htm

[VIDEO = AUTHENTIC!] Watch - "Rejoicing in the streets of Jenin"
"Rumors of War: 'CNN used old footage to fake images of 'Palestinians dancing in the street' after the terrorist attack on the USA'" (Urban Legends Reference Pages, 2001/09/23)
"No, CNN did not air decade-old footage of Palestinians dancing in the streets. Eason Jordan, CNN's Chief News Executive, confirmed that the video used on CNN was in fact shot on Tuesday, 11 September 2001, in East Jerusalem by a Reuters TV crew, not during the Persian Gulf conflict of 1990-91... ...
Reuters, the international news agency whose camera crew shot the footage, issued the following statement: "Reuters rejects as utterly baseless an allegation being circulated by e-mail and the Internet claiming that it circulated 10-year-old videotape to illustrate Palestinians celebrating in the wake of the September 11 tragedies in the United States. Reuters welcomes a statement by the Universidad Estatal de Campinas-Brasil (UNICAMP), one of whose students was the author of the original e-mail, setting the record straight.
The videotape in question was shot in East Jerusalem by a Reuters camera crew on September 11 in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on the United States. The footage was broadcast by CNN and other subscribers to the Reuters video news service.'".
http://watch.windsofchange.net/themes_09.htm

Remembering 9/11/01: A picture archive Therefore, it was no surprise to see Palestinians celebrate the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the killing of 3000 innocent people: ...
http://www.factsofisrael.com/load.php?p=/blog/archives/000375.html

CNN.com - Moussaoui: 'No remorse' for 9/11 - Apr 13, 2006 Moussaoui: 'No remorse' for 9/11. Al Qaeda plotter tells jury of his hatred ... Moussaoui testified at his sentencing trial Thursday that he had "no regret ...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/13/moussaoui.trial/index.html

Moussaoui Says He Was Part Of 9/11 AttacksProsecutors have previously presented evidence from FBI officials who said that had Moussaoui confessed his involvement when he was arrested, ....
http://www.voanews.com/english/Moussaoui-Says-He-Was-Part-Of-9-11-Attacks.cfm

Jury spares 9/11 plotter Moussaoui - May 3, 2006 Moussaoui shows no remorse. On the witness stand, Moussaoui displayed a complete lack of remorse for the 9/11 deaths, saying he was sorry only that the attacks weren't more lethal.
"America, you lost," Moussaoui taunted, clapping his hands as he left the courtroom. "I won." ...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/05/03/moussaoui.verdict/index.html

Moussaoui has no sympathy, no remorse - On Deadline - USATODAY.com Moussaoui has no sympathy, no remorse. Convicted 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui has told a jury he has no sympathy for the victims of that day's terror ...
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/04/moussaoui_has_n.html

Moussaoui Wants 9/11 'Every Day', Al Qaeda Conspirator Said It ...... Thursday it made his day to hear accounts of Americans' suffering from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and he would like to see similar attacks "every day." ...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/14/terror/main1501086.shtml

___________

Plot to attack London in 2001

[long befotre the 'Iraq war' excuse].

Al-Qaeda note suggests 'attack on London' Sunday, 16 December, 2001
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/monitoring/media_r eports/1713557.stm

Bin Laden in plot to bomb City | Special reports | The Observer, Chilling plans for a devastating bomb attack on the City of London have been discovered .... Al-Qaeda 16.12.2001: Bin Laden plot to bomb London discovered ...
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,, 619630,00.html

London 9/11 plotter jailed - World - Times Online, ... was jailed in Bombay yesterday for plotting to fly passenger jets into the House of Commons and Tower Bridge in London on September 11, 2001.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1705386,00.html

__________

Regarding Al Qaeda's goal:

Al-Qaida... Current goal is to establish a pan-Islamic Caliphate throughout the world by working with ...
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ladin.htm

Al-Qaeda reveals grand plan... Letter from bin Laden's henchman sets out steps to a caliphate...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article577922.ece

Al-Qaeda chiefs reveal world domination design - War on Terror ...The al-Qaeda master plan to take over the world and turn it into an Islamic state ... Phase five will be the point at which an Islamic state, or caliphate, ...
http://www.theage.com.au/news/war-on-terror/alqaeda-chiefs-reveal-world-domination-design/2005/08/23/1124562861654.html

Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the terror group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has released a new statement in which it explains the reasons for its terror campaign and states that they are not fighting the US occupation of Iraq, but to create "an Islamic state which is part of the caliphate and the Muslim territory."
The terror group then goes on to reveal its real objectives, saying: "We are not fighting to chase out the occupier or to save national unity and keep the borders outlined by the infidels intact," the statement continues. "We are fighting because it is a religious duty to do it, just as it is a duty to take the Sharia [Islamic law] to the government and create an Islamic state."
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.220033018&par=0

CNN.com - Transcript of Osama bin Laden videotape - December 13, 2001The following transcript of a videotape of Osama bin Laden talking with others, ... until they say there is no god but Allah, and his prophet Muhammad. ...
http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/12/13/tape.transcript/

Islam's Declared Apartheid on "Infidels"
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/75894/Islam_s_Declared_Apartheid_on_Infidels_the_rest_of_us_

Al-Qaeda: Kill the Christians
By Patrick Poole | Friday, November 17, 2006

An al-Qaeda manual made a surprise reappearance on October 31st in a new repackaged, reformatted edition on an online jihadi forum associated with the terrorist organization. The manual, A Guide for the Undecided on the Legitimacy of Killing Christians, (Irshad al-Hayara fi Ibahat Dimaa al-Nasara) made its first appearance back in September 2002, published by the al-Qaeda “think tank,” the now defunct Center for Islamic Research and Study, in their bi-weekly magazine, Sawt al-Jihad (The Voice of Jihad). Translated excerpts from the 56-page manual, authored by Hafid Abu-Basir, are available from the Site Institute.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=da70c52b-fcbd-48b5-8418-33c06dc32585

'Convert or die' - Al Qaeda

Al-Qaeda urges non-Muslims to convert to Islam
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3298735,00.html

Al Qaeda's: 'Convert or Die' is consistent with an historic Islamic [...] regarding attitudes towards non-Muslims,
http://www.opinionet.com/article.php?id=6722&PHPSESSID=e1d2e1a1b9dab8e316301603d9ae1d7b

Video: Al Qaeda tells U.S. to convert or die
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/09/02/video-al-qaeda-tells-us-to-convert-or-die

How much is Carl Rove involved in McCain/Palin Ticket?

Stephen — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:29:59 EDT

As if we didn't see too much of him these last 8 years as the master of sleeze-spin for the Bush White House, and their evil agenda.

I've read at least one report claiming Carl Rove is very involved with Sarah Palin. Does anyone know just how involved Rove is with Palin and the McCain/Palin ticket. If voters knew the extent of this, and that radical wing of the republican party's involvement, I doubt they would support McCain/Palin no matter how CUTE she looks and sounds as the fresh face from Alaska.

Like we used to do in soccer, you assign people who's sole role is to stick to a specific player like GLUE. It makes it a lot more difficult for that person to cause a raukus. "Casper the friendly ghost," as I refer to him, is ONE EVIL MAN. He weilds more power in the lives of republicans than God! In fact, I think he believes he is God!

Hooked nose racist Arabs paint hooked noses? - Author Derided by Muslim Students [Association] in Anti Semitic Cartoon

Tyra from Lawrenceville, GA — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:39:01 EDT

[Hooked nose Arabs paint hooked noses?]
Author Derided by Muslim Students [Association] in Anti Semitic Cartoon Author David Horowitz responded today to his recent controversy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. David Horowitz, a popular conservative writer, was derided in a Nazi-like anti-Semitic cartoon, put out by the Muslim Student Association. The cartoon, which was copied and spread around campus, portrays Horowitz, a Jewish man, as a hooked-nose Nazi hiding in a trash can.
http://tothecenter.com/news.php?readmore=4895

The MSA-As Sabiqun Connection
[July 2008]
The Terrorism Awareness Project has just released this very informative video of the blatant Islamic pro-terror movement As Sabiqun, and their influence on life at UC Irvine, and universities across the United States.
http://www.redcounty.com/rccampuswatch/2008/07/the-msa-as-sabiqun-connection/

Infamous 'MSA' - Muslims Students Association HADITH of HATE - Removed!

Tyra from Lawrenceville, GA — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:36:33 EDT

"Hadith of Hate" Banned at USC
By Reut R. Cohen FrontPageMagazine.com | 8/29/2008
As Muslim Student Association (MSA) chapters have become increasingly influential at universities and colleges around the country, critics have charged that it is a hate group that sympathizes with the international jihad and promulgates an anti-American and anti-Semitic ideology in its campus actions. In response, the MSA has claimed that it is merely another religious and cultural group similar to Hillel, a club for Jewish students, or the Newman Club for Catholics. That deception has been now unmasked at the University of Southern California, where the school’s Provost, Chrysostomos L. Max Nikias, reacting to a call from the David Horowitz Freedom Center and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, has ordered the campus MSA to remove a “despicable” hadith calling for Muslims to murder Jews as a condition for redemption from its website.
David Horowitz, President of the Freedom Center, hails this as a breakthrough moment when the double standards that control the political and intellectual culture of most universities have finally been challenged. “Up to now, the slightest criticism of radical Islam on campus has been slammed as ‘Islamophobia,’ while Muslim groups and their radical fellow travelers have been allowed to say the most hateful things imaginable about Christians and Jews without any reaction from university administrators whatsoever,” Horowitz says. “Provost Nikias has called the hadith on the MSA website for what it is: despicable. Given the atmosphere that prevails on most campuses today, it was an act of integrity on his part to make this call and to demand that the MSA live up to basic standards of civility that should govern the university.”
The hadith (sacred teaching) reads as follows:
“Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him….”
http://www.rightsidenews.com/200808301838/homeland-security/-hadith-of-hate-banned-at-usc.html

New Videos - Fascism Comes To America & BarackRoll'd

Jarrett in Florida — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:09:44 EDT

Many Americans have become unsettled by the recent tactics of Right Wing Republicans to intimidate and manipulate voters and supporters. This video highlights some things that are clearly unamerican about today's Republican party:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLG1vMoFKE

But if something cute and funny is more your style, please enjoy this clip that is making big waves on YouTube - It's called BarackRoll'd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TiQCJXpbKg

Palin: question of consiistency

LPeters — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:36:10 EDT

Another thoughtful email:

________________________

From: Hughes, Robert <rhughes@seattleu.edu>

Sent: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 7:16 pm

Subject: can someone tell me...?

Please pass along to your networks. I'm hopeful that someone must have an answer to this question that my 12 years of college (including a major in theology, though that was admittedly 30+ years ago) haven't prepared me to answer.

Here's the question: How do Sarah Palin and any other fundamentalist women reconcile their lives and a literal interpretation of their Bible with the following statement attributed to Saint Paul from I Timothy 2:8-15 (King James version):

[8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

[9] In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

[10] But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

[11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

[12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

[13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

[14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

[15] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

It seems to me if you make the argument that this is a historically contextualized statement and not applicable to modern life, you've just denied that the Christian Bible can be only interpreted literally. If this one passage can't be interpreted literally, then what else in the Bible requires a historical contextualization? If people who demand literalism go down that road, they've just agreed that the Bible can't be interpreted literally. And they're no longer fundamentalists. It's an exercise in logic that I just can't reconcile.

So I'm open to any and all other explanations. People can answer to the address below if they have an answer. I'm hopeful that by sending this out to my networks and having people send to their networks, eventually someone will send me an answer that makes sense. If I get interesting answers, I'll compile them and e-mail them out to this same list of initial recipients.

Bob Hughes, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Adult Education
Seattle University
901 12th Ave; PO Box 222000
Seattle WA 98122
Ph: 206-296-6168
E-mail: rhughes@seattleu.edu

Wearing the Obama hat

WNYmathGuy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:04:54 EDT

I was at a church function yesterday and I wore my Obama hat partly to hide my “helmet hair” from riding to and from work, but also partly because I thing the soft sell is a powerful thing. By soft sell I mean showing the team colors while being a good person in public; I put other peoples trash in the garbage cans at times, I smile at strangers, I try to make others lives go smoother, and I treat all people as my equal.

A fun side effect is that it draws fire from both people that disagree with you and people that like to “bust your onions.” The onion-busters are quick to move on when they see they can’t get you mad. They are a waste of time to argue with anyway because they are probably on your side but they like to start trouble. The other ones are worth your time. They will pull out every thing in their head trying to win an argument against you, and all you have to do is take your time and mindfully answer all their fears with facts.

Last night I had a doosey! Funny that he got put on me by an onion-buster. This fellow was a Conservative, pious Republican, who has qualms about Democrats voting the party line. His first statement to me was, “what is wrong with voting against a person because of his color? I wouldn’t do it, but I know a lot of people that would.” I smiled and looked at the ground for a second or two and said, “I don’t have anything against that, voting is a personal decision.” I paused momentarily as I watched some of the red leave his face then went on to say, “but I believe that bigotry is morally reprehensible, and it disgusts me personally.” Wow that felt good! Out of the corners of my eyes I could see stealthy eavesdroppers gathering around trying to get close enough to hear the debate but staying far enough away to not get involved. I thought I should speak louder for the rest of the conversation. I then went on to say that I had never paid attention to politics before this year, and that I literally went to Obama’s site to find reasons to make fun of him, but couldn’t and was so impressed by his policies that I joined his team.

He brought “Hussein” into a sentence and tried to make a Muslim connection and I headed back to it later. I said, “you know people named Jeff right?, but you don’t treat them any different because Jeffery Dahlmer was a mass murderer do you? So why do you want to bag on a guy with a funny name?” He thought for a moment then tried his Muslim connection argument. I said, “I’m a Catholic, but you wouldn’t try to connect me to the Ku Klux Klan would you? So why would you try to connect his fathers religion which was the normal religion of that area to him, and to terrorists?” I had him a bit speechless there and I could see his face wanting to change the argument to something he could win.

The next thing he went on to say was, “none of that matters to me anyway, I only vote on one issue, right to life.” Again I allowed him to speak his mind fully. Although it was dark outside I could see that his red face color was coming down to an ordinary complexion white skin. I don’t think he felt too comfortable after he aired his view because he took a new position near me where his back was now up against a giant hedge. He went on to call the appointing of specific Supreme Court Judges that enact his extreme views as the greatest accomplishment of the Republican Party. I told him that I don’t think it’s so easy to define laws because these issues about life are no simple standardizeable matter. Then he started to talk really crazy about nuclear bombs going off killing everybody in some specific city in our state. I said, “now how can you be pro life and talk like that?!” He became immediately embarrassed and began to swerve it back away from crazy passion to his crazy belief that the end times are near. (if I die and go to heaven, I’m going to kick the shit out of the guy that wrote Revelations) As a changeup I pulled one from the Bible; I don’t know the chapter and verse, but I know I read it in the Bible. I said to him, “scriptures have a story that says if you are lost and starving and you come upon a bird and her eggs, to take the eggs and leave the bird alone. I think the reason that is in the Bible is because God can work with a mother to make new eggs, but God can’t work with the eggs without the mother.” Then I went to women’s health issues and how my grandmother nearly died from giving birth to her last daughter that was an obvious health risk because of how the pregnancy developed low in the womb. If God is all powerful, then the soul of my Aunt would have been put in the next conception. I told him that I think both sides are wrong and it is never a simple matter and writing laws that force everybody to live under one groups opinion is not right or doable.

He talked about how Hitler could have possibly fooled all those people into following him, and I said I used to be a Republican and after meeting so many Democrats I believe these people are the least likely to have that happen, but Republicans grab slogans, don’t investigate and fall in line with their leaders. We left that topic quickly.

I began to steer the conversation to economics, and after things calmed down, he thanked me for taking the time to talk to him. I wouldn’t be so bold to think I have converted him to our side, but I may have at least put out the “angry mob torch” he was carrying. He may be more open minded. He may doubt some of the political things that he accepted as a matter of faith. All in all I believe it was time well spent.