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March 29, 2006
We've Liberated Istanbul!
OK, this is why it is bad that I read Free Republic more than I read the Daily Kos. Imagine my surprise when I saw an article on Free Republic claiming that "Howard Kagoolian PROVES MSM is lying about Iraq!" Howard Kagoolian is a moron running for Congress in California. He recently visited Iraq to show how great he thinks the war is. On his site, he posted some photos from his trip, including one that was supposed to demonstrate how peaceful the streets of Baghdad really are:
Wow. That's pretty peaceful. I mean, there's a of UPS truck unloading packages... wait a minute... UPS doesn't deliver in Baghdad! (outside the Green Zone)
Problem: that a picture of downtown Istanbul.
First, the obvious clues: Iraqis speak Arabic and write in Arabic script. Turks speak Turkish, which is written in a romanized script. "2.Noter" is a franchise offering notary and other business services — in Turkey. Edo is a brand of ice cream manufactured and sold — in Turkey. "Carşi" means "shopping center" — in Turkish. Additionally, the yellow cab is a common site in Instanbul, as is the box-like white public toilet on the street corner. The list goes on.
The same morons who refused to believe that Ben Domenech was a plagiarist were out to cheer on Kaloogian's lie and decry the "DUmmies" who were calling him out. Free Republic has since pulled the posting, noting only a "Possible blunder regarding photo." That means that they are so wrong, they can't even pretend to be right.
Now, below is a scene from a downtown Baghdad market:
You can see some subtle differences, such as the lack of UPS trucks, and the palm trees in the background. Notice the difference between the way the women dress. The architecture of the buildings is also radically different. If you look carefully, you'll notice other striking differences between the two photos.
On Kaloogian's new prospects for re-election: bwahahahahaha! Below is Kaloogian posing with — please swallow any liquids before reading further — General Custer.
Posted by Winston Smith at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2006
Bwahahahaha
It happened so fast, I didn't even really have a chance to blog it.
The whine-wing blogosphere rallied around Ben Domenech, wingnut douchebag and, as we discovered in a short period of time, rampant plagiarist.
Ben's tantrumosphere final word was true to wingnut form. He blames everyone but himself. His fawning admirers join in, either ignoring his misdeeds, or rationalizing them.
What I find most interesting are the number of apologists who take the position that plagiarism isn't so bad (even for a writer, I guess) because not only did they plagiarize in their youth, but did much worse things. Newsflash: excluding victimless crimes like illegal drug use, I didn't do anything as bad or worse than plagiarism. Why doesn't it surprise me that Domenech's fan club would be chock full of people who were irresponsible and unethical for a major portion of their lives?
What makes this worse, is that William and Mary — the venue at which the bulk of Domenech's unethical behavior has been uncovered — has a much-touted honor code. Young Domenech was pledged to live by this code, and given the volume of plagiarism discovered in the last 24 hours alone, he couldn't possibly have been unaware of the fact that he was violating it.
In the piece linked above, Domenech claims:
My critics have also accused me of plagiarism in multiple movie reviews for the college paper. I once caught an editor at the paper inserting a line from The New Yorker (which I read) into my copy and protested. When that editor was promoted, I resigned. Before that, insertions had been routinely made in my copy, which I did not question. I did not even at that time read the publications from which I am now alleged to have lifted material. When these insertions were made, I assumed, like most disgruntled writers would, that they were unnecessary but legitimate editorial additions.But all these specifics are beside the point. Considering that all of this happened almost eight years ago, and that there are no files or notes that I've kept from that brief stint, it is simply my word against the liberal blogosphere on these examples. It becomes a matter of who you believe.
Oh my, the "liberal blogosphere"! Well, who, other than "moonbats" would trust them as a source?
Who care? The editor of the paper, the FlatHat, wrote to Atrios:
Hi --This all seems to have happened really fast. I hadn't really checked the news til midday today when I saw all of this happened. It might be kind of moot now, but I was Domenech's editor at The Flat Hat when he was writing the reviews. Four people, including me, would have handled his copy, the others being my assistant section editor, the managing editor and the editor.
This should seem obvious, but no one on the editorial staff was going into Salon (or wherever) and pasting whole sections into his reviews. We were more concerned about getting the paper done so we could get home at 2 in the morning instead of 5. We may have put additional words in the story, but it would never have been completely foreign content. It was just editing.
So: boo hoo hoo for the right-wing kleptocracy, and kudos to those mean ol' liberals who keep harrassing them with the ugly facts of their own words and actions.
Posted by Winston Smith at 04:40 PM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2006
Freeper Proves Saddam Had WMDs... in 1987
An unusually talented Freeper has been translating some of the secret Iraqi documents recently released by the Bush Administration. The latest revelation? Saddam Hussein had WMDs... over a decade ago. The Freepers commenting on this the news are gleeful that there is finally proof that Saddam Hussayn had chemical weapons and used them on the Kurds. But, who said he didn't?
Well, mainly the Reagan Administration, which was in power at the time.
In 1991, the first Bush Adminstration took advantage of an opportunity to denude Iraq of most of its WMDs. A final revelation in 1996 allowed U.N. teams to remove the last of Iraq's arsenal. When we invaded in 2003, there weren't any WMDs. If we'd invaded in 1987, these documents might have been interesting. But we didn't invade in 1987 because Iraq was our ally.
Freepers are retards.
Posted by Winston Smith at 02:21 PM | Comments (0)
March 17, 2006
The Just War Doctrine MUST be Re-visited!
Today's Saint:
St. Patrick, Bishop (Commemoration)
Today's Meditation:
Holy Spirit, in communion with you, even when we seem to have received no answer to our prayer, through it you have already accomplished something within us.
From the book:
Peace of Heart in All Things by Brother Roger of Taizé published by GIA Publications
Today's Readings:
First Reading: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28
Psalm: Psalm 105:16-21
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Yesterday President Bush released
This document came as a total shock to me; any leader who claims to be "Christian" but advocates attacking other countries and peoples 'pre-emptively' is a
I have begun reading the paper, as well as reviewing Church Teachings (the writings of Augustine, Ambrose, Tertullian, Aquinas and others) on war - and the "Just War Doctrine" in particular. As I am still taking in data, praying and meditating on it, and trying to make sense of Bush's latest ethical hypocrisy - I have not had time to write an article for this Friday in Lent. I will comment on the document fully, with commentary from Scripture, Church Writings and the Catechism - but it is going to take me a bit... please be patient!
Here are links to some pages I have found that outline the "Just War Doctrine" well for laymen:
- Article on "War" at newadvent.org
- Benedict XVI's speech for World Day of Peace, January 2006.
- PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD
GAUDIUM ET SPES PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI ON DECEMBER 7,1965 - "Just War" doctrine at Catholic Answers - this is good because it is written with the "War on Terror" in mind.
- "Hawks, Doves, and Pope John Paul II", America, August 12, 2002. By Father Drew Christiansen, S.J.
- A Just War Primer, with citations from the Catechism.
- Is is acceptable for Christians to lay ambush during war?
For those who live in the Dallas area, there is a Peace Rally this Sunday - March 19th 2006 to commemorate the Third Anniversary of the War and Occupation of Iraq.
2 PM, St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1816 Routh Street, Dallas, Texas. The rally begins at 2 PM and will conclude with a march to the Federal Building Downtown Dallas. People of ALL FAITHS are encouraged to show their support!
MORE INFO:
- Walt Harrison, 1-800-490-8161, ext 103
Trish Major, Dallas Peace Center Communications Dir. 1-214-823-7793
- First Reading: Jeremiah 18:18-20
- Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16
- Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28
- First Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18
- Psalm: Psalm 116:10, 15-19
- Second Reading: Romans 8:31-39
- Gospel: Mark 9:2-10
- Honor the One, the creator, the god(s) as revealed to your ancestors and your people.(Deut. 4.19-20)
- Do not deny the supernatural by saying the material world is all that exsits; do not place yourself above the gods.
- Do not spill blood needlessly, nor murder.(Gen 9.4-6)
- Do not steal; respect other's property as your own
- Do not misuse your sexuality
- Do not be cruel to animals; respect all of creation and nature
- establish courts and a justice system that ensures the freedom, liberty, and equality of all
- the release of political prisoners,
- advocation of workers' rights,
- feeding the hungry,
- clothing the poor,
- giving the homeless shelter,
- shedding of our egotism,
- and the acceptance of our human shortcomings.
- "Yet even now," says the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
- and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.
- Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly;
- gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
- Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare thy people, O LORD, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, `Where is their God?'"
- Then the LORD became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.
Posted by Sister Weasle at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)
March 15, 2006
Better Get a Shredder
Check out this story about a fellow who deliberately tried to create an identity theft credit card application and who ... well, read it for the punch line.
Card issuers will respond with a card to any application that comes back with any signs of life -- and they'll deal with fraud later. That's how the credit industry works.A certain number of high-risk applications will turn out to be fraudulent, but many won't, the thinking goes. And the banks can afford to play those percentages. To them, identity theft is just a cost of doing business, another line item like paper and postage and electricity. If there's a person behind that hastily approved application who must deal with credit report black marks, well, so be it.
The mind-set appears entrenched. Cockerham said he got an anonymous e-mail in response to his blog from a credit card industry worker with a confession: His employer tells him to approve literally everything -- even applications that come in with the words "stop sending me these." The issuer figures the consumers might change their minds once they have their hands on the plastic, Cockerham relayed from the e-mail.
Don't think the ripped-up application scenario is far-fetched. While I was researching the book "Your Evil Twin: Behind the Identity Theft Epidemic," many police officers in the western half of the United States told me there is a tight connection between identity theft and methamphetamine addiction. Meth addicts, who can stay awake for 30 hours or more, have been known to obsessively stitch together shredded documents to commit crimes.
For years, I've been quoting experts who say banks don't do a very good job verifying credit card applications. They often don't even check to see if basic information like birthday or street address is correct.
So each of those 5 billion pre-approved applications that carpet bomb American consumers every year is an identity theft ticking time bomb. Cockerham drives this point home with a sledgehammer. An application stitched together with Scotch tape? With a cell phone listed under phone number, and a change-of-address request?
At a time when ID thieves are unrelenting, when thousands of consumers around the country are reporting thousands of dollars mysteriously missing from their bank accounts, withdrawn via the magic plastic from places like Russia and Canada -- this is no time for banks like Chase to approve credit card applications that have been taped together. What more proof is necessary that the system is broken?
And get a shredder. Better yet, I may just BBQ (in my gas grill) all my credit card apps from now on.
Posted by Steven at 11:26 PM | Comments (0)
Jesus didn't make cabinet appointments...
Today's Meditation:
Today's Readings:Many people would like to attain union with God but they cannot bear the contradictions he sends them. They hate the sickness which strikes them, or the poverty they suffer, or the insults they receive. Since they cannot be resigned, they never succeed in reaching total union with God.
-- St Alphonsus de Liguori
Today's gospel reading consits of the
Verses 17-19 are quite similar to the Marcan source Matthew uses throughout his gospel, but contains extra details that point to its later date of composition (circa 80-100 CE). Mark (1034) speaks only of Jesus being killed, but Matthew specifically states that he must be "...scourged, crucified and raised on the third day".
Jesus (interestingly) in this passage states that it is the
Another interesting fact is that this passage speaks of Jesus' death in a revolutionary and reforming context - not in a redemptive or soteriological sort of way. This is so surprising for some readers that they try to impose their own christological ideas on this passage.
The request of James and John was meant to be read in a revolutionary or reformationist light. The sons of Zebedee approached Jesus and asked him to give them a cabinet position. Jesus was going to have a "kingdom" and they wanted to be a big part of it.
Jesus tried to explain to his disciples that they had
failed to understand what he has just told them in verses 17-
19... i.e that Jesus' teachings and social protests will lead
the spiritual and political leaders of Jerusalem to kill him.
James and John made the mistake of taking the words of Jesus
about "The Kingdom" (1310-16)
Jesus' kingdom was not and is not of this world - to ask for a cabinet positon was stupid and presumptuous. It showed that the disciples, despite spending so much time with Jesus, still did not understand him, his message or his mission. As a great Rabbi said in the Talmud "Only an idiot or a child interprets Scripture literally."
Posted by Sister Weasle at 01:58 PM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2006
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease
Posted by Steven at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)
[Proposed] New GOP Logo
Posted by Steven at 10:06 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2006
Remembering Tom Fox and Forgetting Reality
On Friday, Digby wondered if conservatives, were happy about the death of peace activist Tom Fox. The answser, my friend, is blowin' on Free Republic and that answer is: yes.
Celebratory glee can be found all through the responses to the announcement posted on Free Republic. Here are some choice comments:
LoneRangerMassachusetts: Now if we could only get a few million more like-minded leftists to follow suit.
bboop:Pacifists are smarmy and self-righteous. They think their moral code is higher than anyone else's. They think that not doing anything is morally better than doing something. It is an eastern religion sort of mentality, I think. And oh so wrong about the evil lurking in every heart.
goldstategop: Liberal pacifists... get killed. If Muslims had pacifists, the position of Tom Fox and his followers might make sense. In reality, its a death wish harbored by deluded fools. We wouldn't do that to Muslims but if we fell into their hands, there'd be no question about the outcome. Its time for people to wake up!
Of the 69 responses to the post, most Freepers say that Tom Fox got what was coming to him (yay! cake and ice cream in the front hall, next to the Hitler statue!). Among Fox's detractors is one poster who claims that he will be delploying to Iraq soon. Can the anti-war spit on his grave and call him a "moron" who got what he deserved if he comes back in a box? Few of us have that kind of hate.
Digby and others have noted the nauseating shadenfreude exhibited on the right by Tom's death, but the reliable wingnuttery of "goldstategop" highlights the main message from the comments: Fox was not just an idiot for being a peacenik, but for expecting to interact with Iraqis peacefully.
Remember, that the only justification for the Iraq war that has any remaining credibility is that we are liberating Iraq and creating a democracy in the Muslim world. How is that mission going, by the way? Great! It's going great, and any evidence to the contrary are just lies of the "MSM".
What struck me is that the same people who will insist that things in Iraq are really great and getting even better, are branding Tom Fox a fool for thinking he would survive his stay in that country. "Democracy is on the march in Iraq, but for God's sake don't go there!"
In fairness to the Freepers, I should note a comment by N3WBI3, which shows that some of them have working hearts and brains. One of the ideas that cropped up early was that pacifists are "lazy" people who just want to let others do the fighting for them.
Come off of it, these guys went to Iraq and dies for their beliefs, I am not a pacifist but to say they were taking the 'easy route' while they are in Iraq and you're over here opining on a website about how lazy they are is really sad..
The chest-beating pro-war Freepers, who insist that people are fighting to save the lazy pacifists, don't bother to put together a coherent case for the necessity of this "just war." They don't even question it, and since the life and death of Tom Fox compells one to do so, they find it easier to just dismiss Fox's life and work with simple-minded bloviation.
Update: cali over at Democratic Underground has a nice response to the Freepers.
Posted by Winston Smith at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
2nd Sunday in Lent, Year B
There are people for whom God is so dazzling that they are blinded and consider themselves to be agnostics. What they know of God is above all his silence. --Brother Roger of Taizé
(From his book Peace of Heart in All Things. GIA Publications.)
Today's Readings:
Let my prayer be directed as incense in Thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice. -- Psalm cxl. 2
Today's first reading comes from Genesis, and constitues one of what I refer to as "the hard stories of the Bible".
How are we, as believers in the 21st century, to look at this story? With suicide cults and parents who murder their children a reality in our world, how are we to understand and integrate this story into our modern faith experience? How does this affect our experience of God?
When reading these verses to write this entry, I felt the same thing I always feel when reading this story in Genensis - I feel a total loss of words. I have difficulty describing this passage, as it is hard for me to identify with the way that God is described in this passage.
I know God as love, peace and many other things... this reading however evokes in me a feeling of nausea and disgust. It makes me think of people like Jim Jones, Charles Manson and David Koresh who spoke of God in very different terms. It also brings to mind Andrea Yates and other women who have killed their children out of their sincere faith that God told them to do so. Was this passage a possible contribution to their crimes? (They honestly believed God was telling them to kill...) In light of such events, what is a believer to do with this passage?
Because this passage is so disturbing, I will share with you one of the Biblical Commentaries I use in my study of the Scriptures to help deal with difficult passages.
The Shocken Bible, Volume I:
(22): The Great Test
This story is certainly one of the masterpieces of biblical literature. In a famous article by Eric Auerbach, it is remarked how biblical style as exemplified here, in contradistinction to that of Homer and other epic bards, eschews physical and psychological details in favor of one central preoccupation: a man's decision to follow God. The result of this style is a terrible intensity, a story which is so stark as to be almost unbearable.
Chap. 22 is a tale of God's seeming retraction of his promise (of 'seed') to Avraham. The fact that other issues may be involved here (i.e. Israel's rejection of local and widely practiced ideas of child sacrifice) may be quite beside the point. Coming just one chapter after the birth of the long- awaited son, the story completely turns around the tension of the whole cycle and creates a new, frightening tension of its own. The real horror of the story lies in this threatened contradiction to what has gone before.
Most noticeable in the narrative is Avraham's silence, his mute acceptance of and acting on God's command. We are told of no sleepless night, nor does he ever say a word to God. Instead he is described with a series of verbs: hurring, saddling, taking, splitting, arising, going (22.3, 6, 9f). Avraham the bargainer, so willing to enter into negotiations with relations (13), allies (14), local princes (20), and even God himself (18), here falls completely silent.
The chapter serves an important structural function in the Avraham cycle, framing it in conjunction with 12... There he had been asked to give up the past (his father); here he is asked to give up his future (his son). Between the two events lies Avraham's active life as man of God, ancestor, and intecessor. After this, God will never speak to him again...
After Moriyya, we can breather easier, knowing that God will come to the rescue of his chosen ones in the direst of circumstances. At the same time, we are left to ponder the difficulties of being a chosen one, subject to such an incredible test.
The story is also the paradigmatic narriative of the whole book. The Patriarch passes the test, and we know that the fulfillment of the divine promise is assured. Yet there is one ominous note:
love , which occurs here by name for the first time, leads almost to heartbreak. So it will be for the rest of Genesis.
Fortunately, our second and Gospel readings are much more positive!
God our Father,help us to hear your Son. Enlighten us with your word, that we may find the way to your glory. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,for ever and ever. Amen.
In Romans, in interesting contrast to the Genesis selection,
we find that we are children of God by
Romans also gives encouragement, like the Genesis story, but in a much more positive and love affirming way, that God will come to the rescue of his chosen ones in the direst of circumstances. We, as believers and children of God are to rejoice because we are set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of being the children of God.
In Mark, we see that the Mystery of who Jesus is beginning to be revealed. In today's story we see the turning point in Mark's narriative of Jesus' ministry and life. The people of the day (including his disciples) already recognised him as an itenerant Rabbi, teacher, and prophet.
The events described in the Gospel reading showed (to his special disciples, the Apostles) that he was The Messiah. Jesus confirmed this, but also admonished them on revealing this to the general populace.
Modern biblical scholars think that Jesus did this, not
because he did not want to be recognised by the people as
the/a messiah, but that he did not want to be limited by the
contemporary religious and cultural ideals of
Just like Peter, who wanted to build tents for Moshe, Jesus and Elijah - so that they could stay around and hang out - we too need to be sure that we are not limiting our view of Jesus' message and messiahship by our own social, historical and cultural boundaries. We also should not let our "dogmas" and "congregational beliefs" limit our view of the Wisdom and Truth of God... to do so makes us miss the whole point (and the beauty of) the message and life of Jesus, the Christ.
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. On your holy mountain he revealed himself in glory in the presence of his disciples. He prepared them for his approaching death. He wanted to teach them through the Law and the Prophets that the promised Christ had first to suffer and so come to the glory of his resurrection. In our unending joy we echo on earth the song of the angels in heaven as they praise your glory for ever: Holy, holy, holy Lord...
Posted by Sister Weasle at 09:57 AM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2006
"Original Sin" is just a guilt trip...
Today's Saint: St. Simplicius, Pope, died on this day in 483 CE and was buried in the Vatican. He educated the faithful on the sacraments saying they were important by themselves. The church they were administered in did not increase the level of grace received.
Today's Readings:
In today's Hebrew Bible selection, we find personal responsibility emphasized.
According to Ezekiel, only the person who sins is responsible. Sin is a personal matter between the individual and God. Also, this passage indicates that an individual is perfectly capable of living a good, sinless life.
In the Gospel reading, we hear Jesus' words on how we should treat those who are our enemies. When it comes to our enemies, "the terrorists", would Jesus support American policy?
Posted by Sister Weasle at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
March 08, 2006
Jonah was a Bigot
Today's quote:
Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid.-- St. Thomas Aquinas
Today's Readings:
First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32
Today's Hebrew Bible reading is from the book of Jonah. This book was written in the fifth century BCE, after the people of Israel had been subjected to exile. The story of Jonah is told in a didactic style that is meant to help convey its important theological message of inclusiveness, forgiveness and equality for all people.
While most readers focus on the story of Jonah being swallowed by "a large fish" which God prepared for the task, they ignore the
Nineveh was the traditional enemy of the country of Israel as well as the Jewish faith. Jonah was
In the story, Jonah represents a narrow, bigoted mentality; a mentality which was representative of the Jewish people of the fifth century BCE. According to this view, because the Jews were
Jonah's prophecy was meant to strike at this nationalistic, fear-based view. Jonah is a prophecy and parable of mercy; this book shows that noone is outside of the love of God.
Marcus Borg wrote of the story of Jonah:
"The genius of this author lay in the fact that his readers would immediately see the distortion of Jonah's character and because the story was being read in a public setting, they would laugh at his rigid, prejudiced viewpoint. They would comment to one another as the story developed, publicly ridiculing Jonah's attitude. Then with a resounding thump, it would hit them that the stupidity of Jonah was their own stupidity. The narrow-minded bigotry of Jonah was their own narrow-minded bigotry. Their judgement of Jonah was applicable to themselves... Slowly the had to see that God's love is unlimited. God's embrace is not restricted by thier embrace. God's grace is not circumscribed by their prejudices and by their definitions."
We should let today's readings call us to repentance and inclusiveness. Even though it may be easier to act from our prejudices and to retreat to a "safe place" of bigotry, we are to remember that:
"God beckons us out of our confining lives to a place where we are able to grow into more sensitive and open people, people capable of reflecting the infinite inclusiveness of the God whose invitation is not selective... The call of inclusiveness has always been part of the heritage of the Christian Church, whether heeded or not."
(The next time you run into someone who has questions about who God includes, tell them to read the last sentence of Jonah)
Verses to remember while taking action:
Exodus: 2220f;239
Leviticus: 1932-34
Deuteronomy: 1017-19
Posted by Sister Weasle at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2006
Go See "V for Vendetta"
Piss off a Freeper.
Official Movie Site.
Posted by Winston Smith at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)
March 06, 2006
Mesage For You, Sir!
'nuff said? This man has an 18% approval rating, BTW.
Posted by Steven at 06:08 PM | Comments (0)
GOPUSA Bashes Gays, Which is Weird
The Freaks are Running the Sideshow warns a frothing anti-gay piece at fake news and propaganda site, GOPUSA. Why is that weird? Well, because GOPUSA was the home site of Jeff "The Canon" Gannon (aka Jim Guckert), a gay male prostitute.
Make up your mind GOPUSA. Is homosexuality bad, or is it something so great you should charge money for it?
Posted by Winston Smith at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2006
Religious News and Commentary...
Today's quote:
The only begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in His Divinity, assumed our nature, so that He, made Man, might make men Gods.-- St. Thomas Aquinas, Opusculum
Readings for Monday:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has finally
offered words of criticism about Guantanamo Bay. He also spoke
out against Muslim extermists, and the violence that has been
launched by Muslims during the past couple of weeks.
Archbishop Williams correctly sees these actions as "an insult
to God and man" and in no way indicative of the religion of Islam as a whole.
An especially interesting article by the Archbishop.
President Bush's recent trip to India and Pakistan demonstrated once again his Cultural and Religious ignorance. While previous occupants of the White House have been very careful when visiting foreign countries (especially when visiting shrines and holy sites) to be respectful of the host culture's mores and taboos, Bush committed such a faux pas that it was called "a national shame" by Tushar Gandhi, Gandhi's great-grandson.
Posted by Sister Weasle at 08:40 PM | Comments (0)
Why Christians don't need the Ten Commandments
Today's quote:
Some Christians are utterly disconcerted when they hear that their faith is illusory. Then doubt can creep into the soul. But there is nothing alarming about doubt. Inner freedom will open a way from doubt towards trusting. The Gospel will always tell each one of us: “Seek, seek and you will find.”-- Brother Roger of Taize
Readings:
Genesis 9. 8-15
Psalm 25. 4-9
I Peter 3.18-21
Mark 1.12-15
The first reading consists of the Noachide Covenant. This is a very important covenant, not only because it applies to all of mankind, but also because it shows that civilization and culture are to be constructed by human beings to ensure that the dignity, worth, liberty and equality of every man are realised.
This imperative follows the misuse of power and destruction we saw in the previous six chapters of Genesis. The murders committed by Cain and Lamech are representative of the wrongdoing which had become so commonplace (6.5). Yet, even with all of this present, God still longs to make a universal henotheistic covenant with not only Noach, but all of his descendants - even the whole earth. All creatures and all manner of created order are included in the Noachide covenant.
In the Jewish tradition (Talmud - Sanhedrin 58b) the Seven Laws given to Noach here are:
This is the covenant which we, as followers of Jesus, must follow. The 613 precepts of the Torah are for the Jewish people... included in those 613 are the Ten Commandments. We are not bound to those laws, so we should not weigh ourselves down with them. The seven of the Noachide Covenant are enough for us.
In the reading from Peter, we also read of how the New Covenant is an appeal to God for a clear conscience, rather than simply being a removal of dirt from the body. Once again, we are being called into a covenant relationship with all of creation that allows true freedom and liberty. It is our responsibility to use this freedom and liberty to assist others in their path rather than to weild power over them or to judge them.
In the Gospel for today, we see Jesus going into the desert for forty days. Here he was forced to look deep within himself. He was forced to choose between the path of good or evil; both sides of the moral equation were present.
By choosing to do what was good and right, Jesus gave an example for all who are in "a desert place". When we are faced with the opportunity to be exploitative, egotistical, greedy - or any abuse of our true freedom and liberty - we should think of Jesus' example. We too are able to stand because we are people of the Covenant of Justice and Love.
"God's covenant gives us the opportunity to become His people - in reality His "priests" bearing witness to His eternal covenant of truth and righteousness. But too often we think and act according to the spirit of the age. If we follow our own inclinations we are likely to create oppression, sometimes in the name of fighting oppression. Only by understanding God's requirements and covenantal mercy toward us can we look at evil squarely and thus see the need for a change of mind and direction. As justice and peace come about, they will stand as a token of the coming kingdom."--Marvin Olasky 1
1 Olasky, Marvin. Is there a way out? Freedom, Justice and Hope: toward a strategy for the poor and oppressed. Turning Point Chrisitan Worldview Series.Crossway Books : Westchester, Il. 1988.
Posted by Sister Weasle at 05:12 AM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2006
True Fasting sounds a lot like Liberation Theology...
Saint of the Day, St. Katharine Drexel
(a Philly saint!)
There are many who say to the Lord, "I give myself wholly to Thee, without any reserve," but there are few who embrace the practice of this abandonment, which consists in receiving with a certain indifference every sort of event, as it happens in conformity with Divine Providence, as well afflictions as consolations, contempt and reproaches as honor and glory.-- St. Francis de Sales
Today's reading in Isaiah talks to us about true fasting.
Fasting is more than just not eating meat during Lent. True fasting according to Isaiah includes:
Let us each try our utmost to be a true believer keeping a true fast instead of an egotistical hypocrite this Lent.
Posted by Sister Weasle at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2006
Thinking about thinking...
What does it avail to know that there is a God, which you not only believe by Faith, but also know by Reason: what does it avail that you know Him if you think little of Him?-- St Thomas More
Today's reading in Luke emphasizes the true cost of speaking and living the truth. Remaining true to the words of Christ, even when it challenges the status quo is not easy, and Luke states that sometimes one must pay the ultimate price for doing the right thing.
Right now there is a price for being a liberal Christian - ridicule from our Political and Religious leaders.
During the last election we heard leaders say that liberal believers were not moral. Even now, any interpretation of Christianity other than that of the evangelical, fundamentalist Right is called heresy.
For too long we (liberal believers of all faiths) have allowed this to happen. If we continue to let others think about Him for us, if we continue to let our leaders dictate the attributes of our faith, if we continue to think about Him on their terms - there will soon be no truth left. We will be left with an American State Religion devoid of Faith, Reason and Truth.
How do you think of Him? Do you listen to the still small voice inside? Do you heed its call - no matter what the cost?
How vigilant we must be not to stick any labels on anyone’s forehead! Having a rigid image of another person can paralyze the whole evolution of their personality.
Posted by Sister Weasle at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2006
Ash Wednesday 2006
Welcome to the beginning of Lent – the most misunderstood liturgical season of all.
People often think of Lent as the “downer” of the liturgical seasons – a time when one has to “do without”.
While Lent is a season of renunciation, denial and fasting, it is also a season to look inwardly, to delve into our beliefs and to see how we live out those beliefs in our daily lives.
I would like you to join me on a Lenten journey.
First Reading: Joel 212-18.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 61-6, 16-18.
Background to the readings for Ash Wednesday:
First, let’s look at the selection from the book of Joel.
While all this religious doom and gloom may sound familiar to you – just think of Pat Robertson et al - I want you to look at this passage with new eyes. What it really says may not be apparent, because it is taken out of its context. It is standing in isolation. In order to really understand Joel, you need to know more about when, where and why the book was written.
The book of Joel in the Hebrew Bible was composed and edited in the period circa 400 BCE. This period of Jewish history is known for its apocalyptic writings which emphasize “the day of the L-rd”. The prophets and writers of this period used language that was eschatological in tone to emphasize that while they were living in a time of great change and distress, their Lord was with them. All was not lost – all they needed to do was to pray for deliverance.
OK. So apocalypticism was part of the contemporary Jewish cultural milieu, but what was it that set off Joel?
A terrible infestation of locusts and other pests had attacked Judah - eating all the crops, destroying the grain stores and just making life miserable. This infestation was so bad that people began to think that it was a symbol that the “Day of the L-rd” was at hand and that the world was literally going to end.
Who was this Joel anyway? Why would anyone care what he has to say?
According to Church Tradition, Joel was a prophet. He was chosen by God to call together all the people of Judah to one assembly. He told the people what they needed to do to get rid of the pestilence. Joel called the people to true repentance, and he called the priests to pray for deliverance of the land.
Joel offered this message of hope to the people of Judah:
The implied interpretation that most Biblical literalists get from the message being: If the people of Judah repent, the L-rd would then drive away the locusts and pests that were destroying life in Judah, and bless the people with peace and prosperity.
Just what the heck is Joel saying here? Is he saying that we should pray for God to fix all our pestilence problems? Is he saying that we should see the Holy Trinity as some kind of Orthodox Orkin man? Not literally…
Anyway, Joel used the symbolism of the locusts and their destruction of Judah to show the people of faith what their inner lives had become like. The people of Judah had turned away from the source which gave them true strength, peace and security – and as a result they had a real problem. The problem Joel spoke of is not the locusts, grasshoppers and mildew which affected the grain. The real problem was that Judah had placed their faith in religious leaders who led them down a path of ruin by turning away from what they knew was right and true. The leaders ignored inner truth while emphasizing external religiosity.
Because of the religious leaders, the people of Judah became like the fields which had been turned to dust. They were like the grain stores that weevils had gotten into – what wasn’t consumed by bugs was still not fit for human consumption. Because the people of Judah had turned away from their inner wisdom and ignored their inner voice for too long, they were facing the consequences. They were dealing with the effects of their hypocrisy. That is why prayer and fasting were necessary. The people needed to change their inward reality before they could bring about changes in their world.
Joel outlined what the people were to do:
All of the people of Judah were to gather – from the youngest members of the community to the elders, all were to attend. No one was to be excluded. Joel taught that the strength of the community lay in its diversity and the inclusion of all its members. When all the people were included in the community and had an equal voice, they had strength. But just as had occurred earlier in the history of Israel and Judah, (Judges; I Sam 8) the people had turned from their strength to fallible human leaders who lead them astray. The people of Judah placed excessive trust in leaders that claimed to be holy men who led the country and its people away from strength to depravity.
Because the leaders were most responsible for the fate of the nation of Judah, Joel called for the priests to weep and pray to the L-rd. It was the leaders who led the people to where they were. The care of the people was their responsibility. Because of the leaders’ wanton misconduct, they incurred the most guilt. The people had chosen them to be their guide, but it was their responsibility as leaders to be honorable. The leaders, more than the common people, were responsible for what happened to Judah, both within its borders and in the realm of world affairs.
Joel gives no easy answers. He doesn’t promise that everything will get all better just because they have a nice revival meeting. Joel does not promise that God will play the part of a codependent spouse and clean up after Judah. Nope. There is no promise that the effects of their bad decisions will be ameliorated. The people have to live with the consequences of their actions. After all, true repentance is accepting the consequences of your actions while resolving to not make the same mistake again.
This Ash Wednesday, Joel is especially relevant because we are living in the same sort of situation:
The American government has been taken over by Corporatists posing as Republicans and “Christians”. These individuals are a plague to our country and land – much like the locusts in the book of Joel. They have attacked the Bill of Rights, ignore basic civil liberties and cut social programmes in the name of “security” and “freedom”. They practice external “Christian” religiosity while persecuting members of the Muslim faith. They send our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters to die in Iraq. They claim that no child is left behind while educational, social and welfare programmes that benefit children and families are being denied funding. Our national parks, the best and most beautiful parts of our country, are being sold off and developed; historic sites are falling apart from lack of funding. The very people America has looked to for leadership and guidance have failed. It is time for us, the people of America, to come together. Let us look within ourselves to find our strength – as individuals and as a people. Let us once again appreciate the diversity of our community. Let us include all members in our community.
This Lent, I look to the reading from Joel to be a wake- up call.
This Lent, it is up to we the people to turn away from the path of bad leaders and to change things. Let us turn within, find our strength, repent, and then change the world for the better.
Quote for the day:
You ask me a method of attaining perfection. I know of love - and only love. Love can do all things.
-- St Therese of Lisieux
Lenten Links:
Posted by Sister Weasle at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)