An interesting piece on religious tolerance. The only question is, why isn't the ACLU all over this? I mean, when even the Pledge of Allegiance is a concern for schools?
I wonder what would've happened if a little Christian or Jewish kid had wanted to pray so demonstratively in his school. What do you think?
http://www.northjersey.com/news/aroundnj/Wayne_super_stands_his_ground_on_Muslim_prayers.html
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Bush Leads Messiah!
The latest Gallup Poll is in, but these numbers are not likely to be seen anywhere in the mainstream media.....
After 30 days on the job, Obama still has a fairly good approval rating at 59%. Yup, not bad. But let's compare that with George Bush's approval rating 30 days into his first term....62%. Hmmm?
I guess that's the problem with being a messiah versus being just a normal politician coming into the toughest job in the world. Much more is expected. Failure is not tolerated.
Maybe if he'd made a few hundred less promises to every flippin' interest that was out there during the campaign?! And always with glittering inspiration that they only needed to put themselves in his hands (i.e. the government's). The Hope. The Promised Land would be theirs. Well, governments often fail to fulfill. In fact, many more times than not. Even ours. But try telling than to a bunch who's only inclination is to turn to them for.....whatever.
They're out there Obama. Waiting. You owe them more than another speech. You promised.
After 30 days on the job, Obama still has a fairly good approval rating at 59%. Yup, not bad. But let's compare that with George Bush's approval rating 30 days into his first term....62%. Hmmm?
I guess that's the problem with being a messiah versus being just a normal politician coming into the toughest job in the world. Much more is expected. Failure is not tolerated.
Maybe if he'd made a few hundred less promises to every flippin' interest that was out there during the campaign?! And always with glittering inspiration that they only needed to put themselves in his hands (i.e. the government's). The Hope. The Promised Land would be theirs. Well, governments often fail to fulfill. In fact, many more times than not. Even ours. But try telling than to a bunch who's only inclination is to turn to them for.....whatever.
They're out there Obama. Waiting. You owe them more than another speech. You promised.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A Burris Under The Saddle
What will it be today Harry?
First, he rejected Roland Burris. He simply couldn't have this Blagojevich-orphan coming to Washington as an embarrassment to the party in the very same week that the messiah was swearing in.
Then he received a directive from Obama to let it go. Too many racial undertones with these two old white guys, Reid and Durbin, locking the poor, rumpled Burris out of the Senate chambers. Quite a scene.
Then the real facts about Burris, which everyone (including Reid) suspected all along, start seeing some sunshine. So that brings us to today, and there's Roland Burris just back to Washington and again he's an untouchable. I guess Durbin at least invited the guy in for five minutes. Probably threatening, er....I mean urging, him to resign for the good of Obama.
And Harry? Well who knows. I guess he really can't do anything until he gets some directive from the White House or at least waits until public sentiment directs him one way or another. Certainly he wouldn't want to make his own mind up on something this important!
Classic. Just classic.
First, he rejected Roland Burris. He simply couldn't have this Blagojevich-orphan coming to Washington as an embarrassment to the party in the very same week that the messiah was swearing in.
Then he received a directive from Obama to let it go. Too many racial undertones with these two old white guys, Reid and Durbin, locking the poor, rumpled Burris out of the Senate chambers. Quite a scene.
Then the real facts about Burris, which everyone (including Reid) suspected all along, start seeing some sunshine. So that brings us to today, and there's Roland Burris just back to Washington and again he's an untouchable. I guess Durbin at least invited the guy in for five minutes. Probably threatening, er....I mean urging, him to resign for the good of Obama.
And Harry? Well who knows. I guess he really can't do anything until he gets some directive from the White House or at least waits until public sentiment directs him one way or another. Certainly he wouldn't want to make his own mind up on something this important!
Classic. Just classic.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
R.I.P. Ted Ulaender
Memory is a very strange thing.
Last night, I opened my Sports Illustrated and learned about the passing of Ted Uhlaender. Yeah, that guy. Never heard of him did you? Ted was a ball player for the Minnesota Twins back in 1968, maybe '69 also. Then he moved on to the Indians I think.
Somehow, a synapse or two inside my 10-year old head recorded this name as it was mentioned by Tiger announcers George Kell or Ernie Harwell way back when, in some series against the Twins. Some of my fondest memories of my Grandfather were when I would listen to the Tiger broadcasts on a warm summer night on his scratchy AM radio, in "up north" Michigan. The small speaker competing with the hum of crickets and an occasional whip-poor-will back in the woods behind the house. And along with that memory, stuck some of the names, like Uhlaender, who by itself, never would have stayed if it wasn't for the connection to these wonderful summer nights.
Until I read it yesterday, I hadn't seen, nor thought of that name once in the last ten years. Not once in the last twenty. Not once in the last thirty. And yet, I read it and recognized it instantly. Very strange....and really a miracle when you stop and think about it.
I read a quote one time; can't remember from who, but it was something like, "man will know about everything in the universe, before he knows how his own brain can comprehend it". Of all the thinking powers, I think the ability of memory is the strangest. It can be very pleasant, and very awful. But it always amazes. Now don't ask me what I had for lunch yesterday. That escapes me at the moment. Ask me in 2019.
Last night, I opened my Sports Illustrated and learned about the passing of Ted Uhlaender. Yeah, that guy. Never heard of him did you? Ted was a ball player for the Minnesota Twins back in 1968, maybe '69 also. Then he moved on to the Indians I think.
Somehow, a synapse or two inside my 10-year old head recorded this name as it was mentioned by Tiger announcers George Kell or Ernie Harwell way back when, in some series against the Twins. Some of my fondest memories of my Grandfather were when I would listen to the Tiger broadcasts on a warm summer night on his scratchy AM radio, in "up north" Michigan. The small speaker competing with the hum of crickets and an occasional whip-poor-will back in the woods behind the house. And along with that memory, stuck some of the names, like Uhlaender, who by itself, never would have stayed if it wasn't for the connection to these wonderful summer nights.
Until I read it yesterday, I hadn't seen, nor thought of that name once in the last ten years. Not once in the last twenty. Not once in the last thirty. And yet, I read it and recognized it instantly. Very strange....and really a miracle when you stop and think about it.
I read a quote one time; can't remember from who, but it was something like, "man will know about everything in the universe, before he knows how his own brain can comprehend it". Of all the thinking powers, I think the ability of memory is the strangest. It can be very pleasant, and very awful. But it always amazes. Now don't ask me what I had for lunch yesterday. That escapes me at the moment. Ask me in 2019.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Too Silent and Too Deep
Running deep and maybe a bit too silently apparently caused two nuclear submarines from the British and French navies to collide in the Atlantic last week. The two navies are silently shrugging it off, while the anti-nuclear crowd is saying that it could have easily been the end of the universe. Both opinions are in improper response.I'm baffled how it could happen. It's true that these ships constantly prowl in silent mode, meaning that they don't emit sonar because that can also make the ship visible to others, but even if they weren't "pinging", how do these two ships end up occupying the same space at the same time in the vastness of the Atlantic?
I'll be anxious to see if any more details come out on this. Anything much more than this apparent low-speed crash, could have been very serious indeed. I really wonder if a little cat-and-mouse game had been going on, as incredible as that may seem? Remember the scene in "The Hunt for Red October"? I'm also thinking about a recent television special I saw on treasure hunting in the English Channel, and how the French navy had brought one of their patrol frigates to within 150 yards of an American privateer research vessel. A dangerous and unnecessary move, but maybe kind of indicative of some hot-headed navy captain. Definitely not what you want driving a nuclear sub!
Last week, a Russian and an American satellite collided in high-earth orbit. That is at least as improbable as this sub accident. Space is much, much bigger and emptier, but I read that there are also popular paths or orbits for certain types of communication satellites of this sort. So maybe the chances for these two accidents are about the same.
I guess, things are getting kind of crowded on the planet when things are "accidentally" crashing in the middle of the ocean and in space, unless there's more to it than what we know now. Interesting.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Real Islam
Channel surfing the other night, I happened across one of the Rick Steves’ PBS travel programs. If you’ve seen him, I’m sure you’ll agree that he does a great job of getting off the beaten path of the touristy-types and capturing the real culture of the place he’s in.
I’ve seen many of his shows, most in countries that are commonly visited. But not this night. He was making his first trip to Iran. This one I really wanted to see.
Once he received approval to film and a visa to travel about, he visited five different cities and did his usual mingling with real people on the streets, in the restaurants, museums, shops and bazaars. There were some restrictions imposed as you would have expected, and in the end, he didn’t take anything out on film that wasn’t approved to go.
What was most impressive and very nice to see, was how friendly, outgoing and curious these real people were to see and speak to an American. They just never see them, obviously. I suppose you could cynically accuse the Iranians of somehow “planting” these people, but for all I could see, it seemed like genuine friendliness and respect. Sort of an affirmation of that old adage that people are the same everywhere, and it’s countries that are enemies, not the ordinary citizen.
It was a real delight to view this surprising profile of Iran. Honestly, I felt like I could see myself going there someday to visit these people and see some of the ancient Persian ruins, the incredibly clean cities and the amazing architecture. But just as the show was starting to wrap up and I was feeling so impressed and surprised, Rick decided to visit one of the country’s oldest, largest and most revered mosques. It was here that the respect and delight ended and the disappointment and revulsion, which I frankly expected to have from the beginning, set in. Because it was here in this beautiful shrine and house of worship, that a huge sign hung proclaiming “Death to Israel”.
It’s a really twisted picture isn’t it? That he could travel throughout a major chunk of that country and not encounter a single hateful word or attitude, until he walked into a house of God; at least their God.
And with that, any hopeful and optimistic thoughts rolling around in my head, just vanished.
What comes to mind with this, is the philosophy that atheists (and others) like to express which states that it is religion, and our differing beliefs and intolerance, that is the major cause of the world’s hate, prejudice and violence. Certainly, they can make that case from a historical perspective. But in our modern, enlightened and supposed civilized societies of today, there is only one major religion which espouses violence and hate. One that promises eternal reward for the killing of it’s (supposed) enemies. That religion is Islam, and it was very apparent in this unique picture of Iran.
I’m really done listening to those that just keep harping the simplistic view that Islam is being hijacked by radicals against the will of the people. Even if it’s true that it’s being attempted, it certainly is not being done against anyone’s will in Iran. Nobody is forced to attend this mosque of hate. They go there freely and willingly to worship. In doing so, they empower the radical leadership. How would you react if you showed up at your Church one morning to find that a sign had been hung there saying “Death to Hindus”? What would you do? Continue to worship underneath that banner? Pretend it’s just some radical rubbish and ignore it? I don;t think so.
Last week, a prominent Buffalo, N.Y. Muslim businessman was arrested in the beheading death of his wife. With encouragement from her back in 2004, Muzzammil Hassan launched “Bridges TV” in order to dispel stereotypes of Muslims as terrorists and balance images of Muslim extremism with moderate viewpoints, (he said). Well, so much for that. But it’s a perfect model of Islam today.
All over the world, the stories of violence done in that name of Islam are a daily dose of reality. Women with explosives strapped to themselves kill a score of policeman or a dozen pilgrims on a bus. Somewhere else, a young woman is stoned to death because she was raped! These things are happening every single day, and yet there are those that still would preach that “this isn’t the real Islam”. Well, the mosque in Iran is certainly not the only one who would display a sign of violence like that. They exist all over the Middle East, and probably some in the west. Islam is not being hijacked. It is being guided by a new populace who are redefining Islam as a body who’s faith is violence.
Any Church or religion only exists on earth within it’s believers. The believers are the Church. So with Islam, or any or other body of believers, there is no distinction between the faith and it’s people. If the people believe, support and pray for violence and death, then that is what their religion is.
Islam is no longer to be respected and held up as faith separate from, but akin to Judaism, Christianity or any other world religion. It is the anti-everything. Time to treat it as such.
I’ve seen many of his shows, most in countries that are commonly visited. But not this night. He was making his first trip to Iran. This one I really wanted to see.
Once he received approval to film and a visa to travel about, he visited five different cities and did his usual mingling with real people on the streets, in the restaurants, museums, shops and bazaars. There were some restrictions imposed as you would have expected, and in the end, he didn’t take anything out on film that wasn’t approved to go.
What was most impressive and very nice to see, was how friendly, outgoing and curious these real people were to see and speak to an American. They just never see them, obviously. I suppose you could cynically accuse the Iranians of somehow “planting” these people, but for all I could see, it seemed like genuine friendliness and respect. Sort of an affirmation of that old adage that people are the same everywhere, and it’s countries that are enemies, not the ordinary citizen.
It was a real delight to view this surprising profile of Iran. Honestly, I felt like I could see myself going there someday to visit these people and see some of the ancient Persian ruins, the incredibly clean cities and the amazing architecture. But just as the show was starting to wrap up and I was feeling so impressed and surprised, Rick decided to visit one of the country’s oldest, largest and most revered mosques. It was here that the respect and delight ended and the disappointment and revulsion, which I frankly expected to have from the beginning, set in. Because it was here in this beautiful shrine and house of worship, that a huge sign hung proclaiming “Death to Israel”.
It’s a really twisted picture isn’t it? That he could travel throughout a major chunk of that country and not encounter a single hateful word or attitude, until he walked into a house of God; at least their God.
And with that, any hopeful and optimistic thoughts rolling around in my head, just vanished.
What comes to mind with this, is the philosophy that atheists (and others) like to express which states that it is religion, and our differing beliefs and intolerance, that is the major cause of the world’s hate, prejudice and violence. Certainly, they can make that case from a historical perspective. But in our modern, enlightened and supposed civilized societies of today, there is only one major religion which espouses violence and hate. One that promises eternal reward for the killing of it’s (supposed) enemies. That religion is Islam, and it was very apparent in this unique picture of Iran.
I’m really done listening to those that just keep harping the simplistic view that Islam is being hijacked by radicals against the will of the people. Even if it’s true that it’s being attempted, it certainly is not being done against anyone’s will in Iran. Nobody is forced to attend this mosque of hate. They go there freely and willingly to worship. In doing so, they empower the radical leadership. How would you react if you showed up at your Church one morning to find that a sign had been hung there saying “Death to Hindus”? What would you do? Continue to worship underneath that banner? Pretend it’s just some radical rubbish and ignore it? I don;t think so.
Last week, a prominent Buffalo, N.Y. Muslim businessman was arrested in the beheading death of his wife. With encouragement from her back in 2004, Muzzammil Hassan launched “Bridges TV” in order to dispel stereotypes of Muslims as terrorists and balance images of Muslim extremism with moderate viewpoints, (he said). Well, so much for that. But it’s a perfect model of Islam today.
All over the world, the stories of violence done in that name of Islam are a daily dose of reality. Women with explosives strapped to themselves kill a score of policeman or a dozen pilgrims on a bus. Somewhere else, a young woman is stoned to death because she was raped! These things are happening every single day, and yet there are those that still would preach that “this isn’t the real Islam”. Well, the mosque in Iran is certainly not the only one who would display a sign of violence like that. They exist all over the Middle East, and probably some in the west. Islam is not being hijacked. It is being guided by a new populace who are redefining Islam as a body who’s faith is violence.
Any Church or religion only exists on earth within it’s believers. The believers are the Church. So with Islam, or any or other body of believers, there is no distinction between the faith and it’s people. If the people believe, support and pray for violence and death, then that is what their religion is.
Islam is no longer to be respected and held up as faith separate from, but akin to Judaism, Christianity or any other world religion. It is the anti-everything. Time to treat it as such.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
There's No "Us" in "I" (or in U.S.!)
Interesting language at Obama’s press conference last night. Although not surprising. The guy is clearly frustrated. Evidently, the whole messianic bubble that he lavished in during the campaign doesn’t quite exist with at least some of the Republican power in Washington. Some are just not ready to bow down yet and submit to whatever he wants, especially on his “stimulus package”. Violin music please.
One particular comment stands out; “I can’t afford to allow Congress to play the usual political games!”. What does that mean? Does he mean the usual games like debate? And what is with this “I” stuff? “I can’t afford….”.
We heard so much of that during the campaign. We learned that “I” is what defines his entire agenda. Most of those “defining moments” of his, where he was beaming in front of his throng of numbed followers, were filled with “I’s”. And they lapped it up. But those are just memories now.
Actually, there is hidden truth in his comment last night. He’s accurate when he says that he can’t afford to not get what he wants. His “followers” won’t tolerate it. Messiah’s are not supposed to fail in their promises. Messiah’s should never compromise.
He can’t afford to fail them. It is only their vision which holds him up.
One particular comment stands out; “I can’t afford to allow Congress to play the usual political games!”. What does that mean? Does he mean the usual games like debate? And what is with this “I” stuff? “I can’t afford….”.
We heard so much of that during the campaign. We learned that “I” is what defines his entire agenda. Most of those “defining moments” of his, where he was beaming in front of his throng of numbed followers, were filled with “I’s”. And they lapped it up. But those are just memories now.
Actually, there is hidden truth in his comment last night. He’s accurate when he says that he can’t afford to not get what he wants. His “followers” won’t tolerate it. Messiah’s are not supposed to fail in their promises. Messiah’s should never compromise.
He can’t afford to fail them. It is only their vision which holds him up.
Friday, February 6, 2009
What's In A Name?
I hate to keep whining. I really do. But I just have to vent this stuff. Sorry….but it’s my Blog.
Almost daily, I’m reading something about commemorative coins, or commemorative plates, or different things being produced to honor our new leader. But those are just some good capitalist making a few bucks off pure suckers, the American way, so no problem there. No, my real beef is with this new rage for naming different public property after him. Have you heard about the number of street names being changed to Obama? And then the ultimate was announced yesterday, where in some city in New York state, a public school is being renamed for him! (Although I’ll bet you my next paycheck that it will not include his middle name!) I didn’t catch who was being removed from the building. Probably some goofball like Neil Armstrong or Theodore Roosevelt.
This is just the beginning too. You know that we’re going to have courthouses, airports, municipal buildings and such coming next. I have an idea: how about the B.O. Waste Treatment Plant? That, I can endorse right now.
Seriously, before we go and add his face to Mt. Rushmore, I’d like to ask people how they think that he has earned this glorification? What exactly has he accomplished ? Get elected? Yup….but I think we now realize that this country was ready to elect a potted-plant as long as it meant not putting another Republican in the White House. So I really wish people would at least wait to see if this guy accomplishes anything at all. Is this unreasonable?
Streets and courthouses are not the worst thing. There is another phenomena that won’t really impact anything until about five years from now. The scene will be in a school kindergarten classroom of a mostly-minority school, probably called Barack Obama Elementary, and when roll-call is announced and the teacher asks for “Barack?”, a dozen little black boys will raise their hands! All named for the messiah five years earlier, by overenthusiastic parents brimming with unjustifiable joy over an absolute unknown quantity. For the sake of those little kids, and for the rest of us too, let’s hope (there’s that word!) that he does something to have earned it by then, other than being black.
Almost daily, I’m reading something about commemorative coins, or commemorative plates, or different things being produced to honor our new leader. But those are just some good capitalist making a few bucks off pure suckers, the American way, so no problem there. No, my real beef is with this new rage for naming different public property after him. Have you heard about the number of street names being changed to Obama? And then the ultimate was announced yesterday, where in some city in New York state, a public school is being renamed for him! (Although I’ll bet you my next paycheck that it will not include his middle name!) I didn’t catch who was being removed from the building. Probably some goofball like Neil Armstrong or Theodore Roosevelt.
This is just the beginning too. You know that we’re going to have courthouses, airports, municipal buildings and such coming next. I have an idea: how about the B.O. Waste Treatment Plant? That, I can endorse right now.
Seriously, before we go and add his face to Mt. Rushmore, I’d like to ask people how they think that he has earned this glorification? What exactly has he accomplished ? Get elected? Yup….but I think we now realize that this country was ready to elect a potted-plant as long as it meant not putting another Republican in the White House. So I really wish people would at least wait to see if this guy accomplishes anything at all. Is this unreasonable?
Streets and courthouses are not the worst thing. There is another phenomena that won’t really impact anything until about five years from now. The scene will be in a school kindergarten classroom of a mostly-minority school, probably called Barack Obama Elementary, and when roll-call is announced and the teacher asks for “Barack?”, a dozen little black boys will raise their hands! All named for the messiah five years earlier, by overenthusiastic parents brimming with unjustifiable joy over an absolute unknown quantity. For the sake of those little kids, and for the rest of us too, let’s hope (there’s that word!) that he does something to have earned it by then, other than being black.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Don't Do As I Do....
According to Joe Biden, paying taxes is patriotic, and paying even more, as he would like to see us "wealthy" do, presumably makes you even more patriotic. And Obama stands squarely in approval of this drivel that Biden is so famous for. In his eyes, it's in his righteous adaptation of "What can you do for your country?"
But for at least three of the messiah's choices for his first lieutenant positions, that same philosophy apparently doesn't exist. These would have been among his chief prosecutors for his war on freedom.
First the chief Tax Collector himself who was appointed by the anointed one, Timothy Geithner, was found to have not paid his taxes, then flaming lib Tom Daschle decided that he himself was above doing his patriotic duty of paying taxes, and now we have Nancy Killefer, who was to be Chief Performance Officer. I guess her own performance wasn't something she really worried about; just everyone else's! And is that the typical lib m.o., or what?!! The idea of forced sacrifice on everyone but themselves. They have all the right ideals to apply to others.
Obama had better start looking for some real patriot's out there, you know, the ones who actually want to help pay for the entitlements they sponsor. Ah....Hope and Change.
But for at least three of the messiah's choices for his first lieutenant positions, that same philosophy apparently doesn't exist. These would have been among his chief prosecutors for his war on freedom.
First the chief Tax Collector himself who was appointed by the anointed one, Timothy Geithner, was found to have not paid his taxes, then flaming lib Tom Daschle decided that he himself was above doing his patriotic duty of paying taxes, and now we have Nancy Killefer, who was to be Chief Performance Officer. I guess her own performance wasn't something she really worried about; just everyone else's! And is that the typical lib m.o., or what?!! The idea of forced sacrifice on everyone but themselves. They have all the right ideals to apply to others.
Obama had better start looking for some real patriot's out there, you know, the ones who actually want to help pay for the entitlements they sponsor. Ah....Hope and Change.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Still Steamin'
Just finished a great book! One that combines elements from so many of my interests: The Great Lakes, boats, sailors, history, and photography.
The book is titled, "Centennial - Steaming Through the American Century", by Christopher Winters, and it chronicles the history of the oldest, fully operational, working steamship on the Great Lakes.
The "St. Marys Challenger" as she is now known, went into operation in 1906! She's a traditional ore-carrier that now moves cement, 10,000 tons at a time, over Lake Michigan. Her complete story is told very nicely in the book, in honor of her centennial. But it's the dozens and dozens of photographs that really make the book. Many are historical record, but most were taken by the author, who spent three full shipping seasons covering life aboard this old survivor.
I highly recommend it for those who love our inland seas and have watched fondly as one of those giant ships pass by; far out on the horizon or close enough that you could almost reach out and touch her sides as she moves down the St. Clair River or through the Soo Locks.
Check it out.
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