Anti-Snitchin' Culture
This cartoon from Kansas City's own Lee Judge is a sad commentary about the civility discussion in America and the bad influence that hip-hop music has had on our cuture. I remember the first time that I really listened to one of these 'songs' that my son had bought when he was in Junior High. I was shocked and amazed at the crude vulgarity of it.Many of these 'artists' have now taken the word rebellion to new lows. I sat and watched a CBS 60 Minutes story last Sunday about how hip-hoppers are telling small kids in urban communities not to cooperate with the police. Here is an excerpt from the show:
In most communities, a person who sees a murder and helps the police put the killer behind bars is called a witness. But in many inner-city neighborhoods in this country that person is called a "snitch."God help us.
"Stop snitchin'" is a catchy hip-hop slogan that embodies and encourages this attitude. You can find it on everything from rap music videos to clothing. "Stop snitchin'" once meant "don’t tell on others if you’re caught committing a crime."
But as CNN's Anderson Cooper reports for 60 Minutes, it has come to mean something much more dangerous: "don’t cooperate with the police – no matter who you are."
As a result, police say, witnesses are not coming forward. Murders are going unsolved. You can read more about this here.
Hauling Iraq
This cartoon is an insightful commentary on the major issue confronting the frontrunning Republican candidates for the presidency. My suggestion to them is to unhook the Iraq trailer.
Politicized Fear
This 8 minute video accents the politics of fear currently being played by candidate Gulliani. Politicians are good at this. Whether the audience is senior citizens concerned about medicare / social security or those concerned about terrorist strikes on our homeland the use of fear is a despicable tactic. Sad that Gulliani has sunk to it.
Presidential Poll: April 2007
I hope to periodically poll you all to see what everyone is thinking about the candidates.
Feel free to vote once ... pretend that you are in 'the booth' ... and feel free to change your vote next time :)
Feel free to vote once ... pretend that you are in 'the booth' ... and feel free to change your vote next time :)
Candidate Comparison: What I Want
I thought that I'd interupt my series on the candidates to weigh in saying what, at this point in time, I want in the next president. I commented at Danny Kaye's place with this:
I want somebody that will:What are your requirements? Maybe we can help each other think through the alternatives.
1) Bring the troops home!
2) Get our nation out of debt!
3) Free us from Corporate American tyranny!
4) Support the poor in our nation!
5) Think about the future of social security and medicare!
I don't know if any of the current candidates are up for the job.
Marital Perspective
Kind of cute cartoon that reminded me of how different husbands and wives can view the same thing. I guess, in a sense, we all see life from different views and priorities. I think that marriage is the place where we live out the gray areas of life ... finding and enjoying the diversity of a loving and caring relationship. It is good that we married folks all don't think alike. It reminds me of some things that President Lyndon Johnson once said:"If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that one of them is doing the thinking."
"I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one's wife happy. First, let her think she's having her own way. And second, let her have it."
Ghost Bloggers
A few years ago when I began blogging it seemed that nobody knew what a blog was. Today it seems that every weather man and celebrity on TV is telling me to go to their blog. The question I ask myself is why do they blog and do they have ghost bloggers? Maybe Scott Adams is onto something in this Dilbert cartoon. I wonder - do you know of any ghost bloggers?
Candidate Comparison: Church and State
This is the ninth in a series of posts about where the six front running presidential candidates stand on the issues. The information is from the Pew Forum. Previous posts were on Abortion, the Iraq War, Gay Marriage, Poverty, Education, The Death Penalty, Immigration and Stem Cell Research.
Hillary Clinton
In a 2005 speech, Clinton said that religious political officials should be able to "live out their faith in the public square." During her 2000 Senate campaign, Clinton argued that allowing teachers to post the Ten Commandments in schools was a violation of the constitution.
John Edwards
Edwards says he believes in the separation of church and state, but also thinks that there is a role for faith in public life. He said "freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion," but he "would not, under any circumstances, try to impose [his] personal faith and belief on the rest of the country."
Rudolph Giuliani
As mayor, Giuliani emphasized that believers and atheists alike must tolerate each others' views. During his 2000 senate campaign against Hillary Clinton, Giuliani said the Ten Commandments are ''part of Western civilization,'' and ''if teachers want to emphasize what is in it and talk about it, there shouldn't be some kind of inquisition that they can't do that.''
John McCain
McCain favors keeping the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance; he has said the nation was founded on "Judeo-Christian values" but added that "political intolerance by any political party is neither a Judeo-Christian nor an American value."
Barack Obama
Obama says he believes in the importance of the separation of church and state, but says that a "sense of proportion" should guide how it is enforced. He says that the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance and voluntary student prayer groups on school property are two examples where conflict between church and state has been alleged, but should be less strictly policed.
W. Mitt Romney
Romney says the First Amendment does not mean that no religion should be established, or that secularism should be established in place of religion. He also says Judeo-Christian values helped found the United States and continue to influence it today. Romney supports keeping references to God on U.S. money, in the Pledge of Allegiance and in public places to remind Americans of their heritage.
I have to admit that I am pretty skeptical about how the candidates spin this one. Most candidates seem to play to the middle. Really, who is going to come out in favor of taking God out of our country. Several candidates use the "T" word (tolerance) when speaking of church and state stuff ... maybe that is the word we will use to describe what we need if one of these is elected president.
Hillary Clinton
In a 2005 speech, Clinton said that religious political officials should be able to "live out their faith in the public square." During her 2000 Senate campaign, Clinton argued that allowing teachers to post the Ten Commandments in schools was a violation of the constitution.
John Edwards
Edwards says he believes in the separation of church and state, but also thinks that there is a role for faith in public life. He said "freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion," but he "would not, under any circumstances, try to impose [his] personal faith and belief on the rest of the country."
Rudolph Giuliani
As mayor, Giuliani emphasized that believers and atheists alike must tolerate each others' views. During his 2000 senate campaign against Hillary Clinton, Giuliani said the Ten Commandments are ''part of Western civilization,'' and ''if teachers want to emphasize what is in it and talk about it, there shouldn't be some kind of inquisition that they can't do that.''
John McCain
McCain favors keeping the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance; he has said the nation was founded on "Judeo-Christian values" but added that "political intolerance by any political party is neither a Judeo-Christian nor an American value."
Barack Obama
Obama says he believes in the importance of the separation of church and state, but says that a "sense of proportion" should guide how it is enforced. He says that the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance and voluntary student prayer groups on school property are two examples where conflict between church and state has been alleged, but should be less strictly policed.
W. Mitt Romney
Romney says the First Amendment does not mean that no religion should be established, or that secularism should be established in place of religion. He also says Judeo-Christian values helped found the United States and continue to influence it today. Romney supports keeping references to God on U.S. money, in the Pledge of Allegiance and in public places to remind Americans of their heritage.
I have to admit that I am pretty skeptical about how the candidates spin this one. Most candidates seem to play to the middle. Really, who is going to come out in favor of taking God out of our country. Several candidates use the "T" word (tolerance) when speaking of church and state stuff ... maybe that is the word we will use to describe what we need if one of these is elected president.
Freely Predestined
I lifted this one from the pickle jar.
The story is told of a group of theologians who were discussing the tension between predestination and free will. Things became so heated that the group broke up into two opposing factions. But one man, not knowing which to join, stood for a moment trying to decide. At last he joined the predestination group. “Who sent you here?” they asked. “No one sent me,” he replied. “I came of my own free will.” “Free will!” they exclaimed. “You can’t join us! You belong with the other group!” So he followed their orders and went to the other clique. There someone asked, “When did you decide to join us?” The young man replied, “Well, I didn’t really decide–I was sent here.” “Sent here!” they shouted. “You can’t join us unless you have decided by your own free will!”File this under funny :)
Conservationist or Environmentalist?
Just a repost in honor of Earth Day.
2/12: Cal Thomas recently said:
I Am A Conservationist, Not An Environmentalist.
Environmentalists think "big brother" should control what we eat, wear, drive and how much water we should be allowed to use while taking a shower or flushing a toilet.
It got me to thinking about how little I hear about Conservation anymore. I am not sure where I am on Global Warming but I do know that I support Conservation. Here is a definition of conservation:
2/12: Cal Thomas recently said:
I Am A Conservationist, Not An Environmentalist.
Environmentalists think "big brother" should control what we eat, wear, drive and how much water we should be allowed to use while taking a shower or flushing a toilet.
It got me to thinking about how little I hear about Conservation anymore. I am not sure where I am on Global Warming but I do know that I support Conservation. Here is a definition of conservation:
The consumer conservation ethic is sometimes expressed by the four R's: " Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Rethink" This social ethic primarily relates to local purchasing, moral purchasing, the sustained and efficient use of renewable resources, the moderation of destructive use of finite resources, and the prevention of harm to common resources such as air and water quality, the natural functions of a living earth, and cultural values in a built environment.I think that I support that definition. What about you?
John and Elizabeth Come Out Fighting
4/21 Update: Just when was starting to like a Democratic candidate they go and get a $400 haircut :(
3/25: I am sitting here watching Katie Couric interview John and Elizabeth Edwards on 60 Minutes and I decided to blog about the experience. Of course, the interview is all about the Edwards' announcement last week that Elizabeth's cancer had come out of remission and they were once again facing the big C.
Having been through family health issues myself I sat very interested in what this couple had to say. Firstly I have to say "What an impressive couple". As I listen I am sensing a couple that have come out fighting. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
Of course I do share a last name with them both :)
3/25: I am sitting here watching Katie Couric interview John and Elizabeth Edwards on 60 Minutes and I decided to blog about the experience. Of course, the interview is all about the Edwards' announcement last week that Elizabeth's cancer had come out of remission and they were once again facing the big C.Having been through family health issues myself I sat very interested in what this couple had to say. Firstly I have to say "What an impressive couple". As I listen I am sensing a couple that have come out fighting. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
Elizabeth Edwards:On the whole I think that Katie asked the hard questions and I think that John and Elizabeth answered in a very transparent and vulnerable fashion. Whether they are living in a bit of denial God only knows ... but whether they have courageous hearts seems to be undeniable. My prayers are with them both during this difficult season.
You know, you really have two choices here. I mean, either you push forward with the things that you were doing yesterday or you start dying. That seems to be your only two choices. If I had given up everything that my life was about – first of all, I'd let cancer win before it needed to. You know, maybe eventually it will win. But I'd let it win before I needed to.
Katie Couric:
I think some people wondered if you were in denial, if you were being realistic about what you were going to be facing here.
Elizabeth Edwards:
I think that it is our intention to deny cancer any control over us.
...
Cancer took a lot away from us a few years ago. It took a year of my life and a lot of John's. I didn't want it to take this away not just from me but from those people who depend on our having the kind of president he would be.
Katie Couric:
Here you're staring at possible death...
Elizabeth Edwards:
Aren't we all though.
John Edwards:
I think every single candidate for president, Republican and Democratic have lives, personal lives, that indicate something about what kind of human being they are. And I think it is a fair evaluation for America to engage in to look at what kind of human beings each of us are, and what kind of president we'd make.
You can read the entire transcript here.
Of course I do share a last name with them both :)
No More Limbo For Me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)