 Click on the Pic for a Happy Holidays with a 24 twist. Catch the 2 night 4 hour Season Premiere of 24. Sunday Jan. 14th and Monday Jan. 15, 8/7c. A little late but a very up to date Santa 24. Go Fox. Copyright © 2006 YouTube, Inc. |
Twelve years ago, 1994, as Hutu militants slaughtered
more than 800,000 of Rwanda's minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus, it was Bikindi's inflammatory songs that
dominated the country's airwaves. Radio Milles Collines,
which egged on the death squads and coordinated their attacks, "played Bikindi's music constantly during the 100
days of killing," the New York Times recalled in 2002. "In Rwanda, almost no one
reads newspapers or owns a television, and radio is kig. According to eyewitness reports,
many of the killers sang Bikindi's songs as they hacked or beat to
death hundreds of thousands of Tutsis with
government-issued machetes and homemade nail-studded clubs." Read
the rest of the article . . .
CAIR Asks Wal-Mart to Drop Game Glorifying Religious Violence(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/19/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked Wal-Mart to stop selling a video game that glorifies religious violence and may harm inter faith relations.CAIR says it has received complaints about the game "Left Behind: Eternal Forces," produced by Left Behind Games Inc. The game reportedly rewards players for either converting or killing people of other faiths.SEE: 'Convert or Die' Game Divides ChristiansIn a letter to Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott Jr., CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote in part:"We believe the message this game is promoting is one of religious intolerance.Look up the word Dhimmi .
December 7, 1946
Five years after Pearl Harbor, the war was over. The Third Reich was kaput. The Japanese were vanquished as well.
But five years and counting after 9/11, there is no victory in sight. There is not even much clarity about why we are fighting, or whom we are fighting. Some of the most important victories in this shadowy twilight war have come in the form of arrests of those who were plotting attacks even more heinous than 9/11, but these arrests have an unfortunate side effect: they perpetuate the illusion that we are not seriously threatened, that there is nothing to be particularly concerned about -- after all, they haven't struck since 9/11. They probably can't. They probably just got lucky on that day.
One main reason, meanwhile, why the war is so poorly understood and controversial: the enemy is not a nation-state but an ideology, an ideology which has been spread throughout the world and can now be found in practically every nation on the planet. Because of the religious derivation of this ideology, analysts are generally reluctant to identify it properly or fully.
- They don't wish to examine how this ideology is advancing through peaceful means.
- They refuse to consider the ways in which it threatens American society, laws, and mores.
- And multiculturalism dins into all our ears that all value systems and belief systems are equal, and that only "bigots" oppose one or another, or dare to examine how one may be contain incitements to violence and supremacism.
Laura Mansnerus’s story on Monday - part of a series that explores whathappens when convicts leave prison and return to their communities -looks at sex offenders.
As more municipalities across the country enact laws restricting wheresex offenders can reside, more pedophiles are being pushed out ofpopulated areas. Some officials fear that the regulations will makesex offenders less stable and harder to track.
Do you think state government should take the lead in deciding wheresex offenders live, or should the municipalities have that responsibility?
Having crossed the line trust cannot be restored in the case of
pedophilia. Quarantine is all that is left to them or the bracelet. The
demise of the family and of the extended family to condone the
promiscuous in mainstream culture is also to blame. The separation of
the pedophile from mainstream life of freedom must be a reminder to the
fallen and the rest of society.
Time served does not apply to the pedophile. We all loose when
anyone allows their instincts to dominate their intellect, emotion and
will.
If you don’t agree and you have a family with your own children you
should be the first to volunteer your neighborhood as the place where a
“time-served” pedophile and enjoy what is left of their life. Not my
neighborhood.
Before the Dec 7th bombing of Pearl Harbor the U.S. was negotiating with Japan. Is it significant that the ISG (Iraq Study Group) comes out with a tolerance of global, ideologically guided terrorism plan for Iraq the day before Dec. 7th.. They see the tip of the iceberg but Titanic like the proceed with a plan which will lead to the continued degeneration of the West.
We left Korea unfinished.
We left Viet Nam unfinished
We disposed to let the terrorists do as they will because we are leaving, if ISG has its way, before finishing.
Soon there will be nothing left of " All men are endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights . . . " because we are leaving out our responsibility. Even God will not protect such immaturity.
Tags: Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, ISG, Terrorism, God, responsibility, Titanic, Pearl Harbor, Japan, America, Creator
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The Iraq Study Group set the end of 2008 as the date for the withdrawal of US combat forces in Iraq. What’s your opinion on setting a date for a withdrawal from Iraq? Tell your Member of Congress and President Bush what you think.
Yes, the US should set a firm date for withdrawal from Iraq, regardless of the security status in the country.
Link to Congress.org and vote.
I liked this so much I put the whole story. This is a good thing. I hope there will be follow-up on reports of "passing on the good things". David
Starbucks' chain of cheer
Posted Nov 12th 2006 2:32PM by Nicole Weston
Filed under: Coffee, Business, Coffee shops
Have you been to Starbucks lately? If so, you have probably noticed that their signature holiday red cups are in use, but if you are lucky, you might have noticed something else was happening in the stores, too. Starbucks just launched their cheer-pass movement. The company's goal is to start a chain of cheer this season by passing on good things to some of their customers, in the hopes that they, in turn, will pass that good cheer on to someone else by doing something thoughtful for another person. To kick off the program, last week some Manhattan commuters were given free subway MetroCards and free movie tickets were given away in Chicago. Other bits of cheer from the company might include free samples of the chain's holiday beverages, bags of coffee and $5 Starbucks Cards.
The only "catch", such as it is, is that the cheer spread by the company is accompanied by cheer passes, which are numbered cards that you are supposed to pass on if and when you "pay it forward" and do something good for another person this season. They have the Starbucks logo, but the real purpose of the passes is to track the chain of good deeds. By entering the number of the card on the cheer pass website, you can enter your good deed and see what other ones were associated with that particular card before you received it.
The company hopes to distribute 10,000 pieces of cheer daily for the next eight weeks to see, in the holiday spirit, just how far one good deed can go.
Source: Slashfood
I enjoy the contributions of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Seeing yet more light radiating from a recently polished facet of their work gives me goose bumps and tingles. A friend of mine, William Lay, shared the following:
I am a huge fan of Tolkien, and I wanted to share some excerpts from a book that I found recently called: “The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldwide Behind The Lord of the Rings”, by Peter J. Kreeft.
Kreeftis professor of philosophy at Boston College.
“Take kingship. Though we do not have kings in America, or want them, our unconscious mind both has them and wants them. We all know what a true king is, a real king, an ideal king, an archetypal king. He is not a mere politician or soldier. Something in us longs to give him our loyalty and fealty and service and obedience. He is lot but longed for and will some day return, like Arthur. In The Lord of the Rings, Arthur’s name is ‘Aragorn’. When we read The Lord of the Rings, he returns to his throne in our minds. He was always there; The Lord of the Rings only brings him back into our consciousness from the tomb of the unconscious, where he was sleeping.” (pp.44-45)
“The very fact that pompous is now used only in a bad sense measures the degree to which we have lost the old idea of ‘solemnity.’ . . . In an age when every one puts on his oldest clothes to be happy in, you must re-awake the simpler state of mind in which people put on gold and scarlet to be happy in. Above all, you must be rid of the hideous idea, fruit of a widespread inferiority complex, that pomp, on the proper occasions, has any connection with vanity or self-conceit. A celebrant approaching the altar, a princess led out by a king to dance a minuet, a general officer on a ceremonial parade, a major-domo preceding the boar’s head at a Christmas feast – all these wear unusual clothes and move with calculated dignity. This does not mean that they are vain, but that they are obedient. . . . The modern habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is no proof of humility; rather it proves the offender’s inability to forget himself in the rite.” (p. 149, quoting C.S. Lewis, A Preface to “Paradise Lost” at 17, 21)
Let's have a pompous Christmas forgetting ourselves long enough to yearn for the King among us.
Tags: Tolkien, C.S.Lewis, Kreeft, Boston College, Philosophy, Paradise Lost, Lord of the Rings, King, cremonial, unceremonious, humility, habit, lolemnity, loyalty, fealty, unconscious, consciousness, mind, minds, throne, tomb, sleep, sleeping, self-conceit, pomp, pompous, major-domo, Christmas
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By tmatt on Islam
During this busy week, I have been watching to see if two men’s names showed up, at any point, in Google News.
I mean showed up in mainstream news sites, not the sites that care about issues like religious liberty. Of course, once upon a time, we could assume that, as a rule, journalists tended to care quite a bit about issues like free speech and the rights of oppressed minority groups. Where is A.M. Rosenthal when you need him?
Anyway, the names are Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal (left to right in the photo).
You can find out why they are important by flashing back to an AsiaNews report from earlier this month.
But I have been watching to see if their names surfaced in coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Turkey. Why? To answer that question we have to turn to some form of advocacy media — like this Compass Direct report by veteran journalist Barbara G. Baker (a friend of this blog), which was, thank goodness, picked up by Baptist Press.
To cut to the chase, these two men continue to be accused of “insulting Turkishness” because they have, as evangelicals, tried to do evangelical things. You know, the kinds of basic free-speech activities that people can do in countries that are part of the European Union. I think.
Formally the two Christians are charged with violating Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, under which scores of Turkish intellectuals and writers have been prosecuted in the past 18 months for allegedly denigrating “Turkish identity.” The former Muslims also are accused under separate statutes of reviling Islam (Article 216), as well as secretly compiling files on private citizens for a Bible correspondence course without the individuals’ knowledge or permission (Article 135).
“We don’t use force to tell anyone about Christianity,” Tastan said. “But we are Christians, and if the Lord permits, we will continue to proclaim this.”
Describing himself and Topal as “citizens of the Republic of Turkey who love its democratic, secular system,” Tastan emphasized that he and Topal had nothing to hide in defending themselves in court. “We are not ashamed to be Turks. We are not ashamed to be Christians.”
Now, what does this sound like from the other side of the issue, from the side of the rising tide of — depending on who is doing the labeling — the “ultranationalists” or in some cases “Islamists.” Are the Christian men anti-secularist or anti-Islam? Which label will get you jailed or killed quickest?
The attorney pushing to silence Tastan and Topal is Kemal Kerincsiz:
“Christian missionaries working almost like terrorist groups are able to enter into high schools and among primary school students,” Kerincsiz told reporters. “They deceive our children with beautiful young girls.”
At this, one Turkish Christian in the crowd shouted, “He’s lying!” Several nationalist demonstrators reacted violently, starting to shove the converts’ supporters and hitting one. But police promptly intervened to detain and remove the attacker, releasing him a few minutes later.
The Christian who had been struck also was detained briefly by the authorities, who questioned him and then photocopied his identity card before releasing him.
. . . By this time, a group of local nationalists had unfurled a banner in front of the cameras reading, “Missionaries: Keep your hands off our schools and children.”
There’s a lot more to read. Here is my question: Why isn’t this mainstream news if the back story to the papal visit is Turkey’s bid to enter the European Union and, well, the Western world built on some form of rule of law? I am glad that “Christian news agencies” cover these stories, believe me. I respect the work they do. But why do I need to read about this religious-liberty issue on “religious” news sites?
I want to read about this in the elite MSM newspapers and wire services. It’s news.
Right? Does religious liberty matter? Does free speech matter? How about the freedom of assembly? And isn’t this linked, in a way, with the freedom of the press?
Photo from Compass Direct News. Trackback to : Get Religion Blog
A possible venue for HDH activities in your neighborhood.
Step IV—Getting a presenter or two?
Sample readings, fact sheets and chartsy stuff
Intro
We started Spirited Dialogues in NYC with a few simple ideas: bring together folks with different viewpoints in an casual spot, toss out a topic, maybe prep guests with materials or a presenter, and open up the discussion using a couple of rules: “be nice” and “try not to talk more than a minute.”
It worked like a charm.
Getting a Spirited Dialogue started in your hood won’t take much—an interest in open dialogue is all that’s needed.
This Spirited Dialogue “tool kit” shows you how easy it is. If you’re already a natural organizer or host/hostess, we’re probably not going to tell you anything new. If your inner organizer is just beginning to bust out, however, we have a tip or two to steer you in the right direction.
Also included in the SD kit:
Sample readings and fact sheets (from past and future SDs)
Pope Benedict XVI prayed alongside an Islamic cleric in Turkey's most famous mosque Thursday in a dramatic gesture of outreach to Muslims after outrage from the pontiff's remarks linking violence and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
The pope bowed his head and closed his eyes for nearly a minute inside the Blue Mosque after Mustafa Cagrici, the head cleric of Istanbul, said: "Now I'm going to pray."
Pope Benedict XVI, right, is greeted by Istanbul's Mufti Mustafa Cagrici outside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. The pope visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul on the third day of his four-day trip to Turkey. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
This is leadership. God and the Catholics should be proud of the Pope. At great personal risk he goes to Turkey. While standing in the Blue Mosque he says, "Now I'm going to pray." This is the religious leadership the world needs. Leaders that break down man-made barriers to participate in our relationship with our creator.
After all, where can one pray where the creator is not?
Final note: Don't let small minds cloud this "God's Family" event with "religious barrier" thinking. So what if he bowed toward Mecca? In which direction can you pray where God is not?
And finally: Someone has to set an example of how to absorb the "enemy" in love to eventually bring about willing submission. Submission to our common parent . . . God. We need more of this kind of leadership.
And finally, finally, Christians should understand the outward submission to another's desire does not alter the purpose and motivation of our heart. When centered on God's will , such acts of submission will ultimately come around to the victory of true love.
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