Wickipedia defines the word Hubris ( /ˈhjuːbris/), in the following manner: “also hybris, meaning extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power."
Below are excerpts from two Presidential speeches. The first was made by then President George W. Bush after our military captured the ousted Saddaam Hussein. The second was delivered by President Obama following the killing of Osama Bin Laden. There are vast differences between the two speeches if you look closely at them. After reading the definition of Hubris it should be easy to figure out who best fits the definition of word.
President Bush:
“The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by
a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate them.”
President Obama:
And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as I continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network. Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by my intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that I had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Not too difficult, huh? Notice even one place in Bush's speech where he took any credit for the actions of the intelligence and military communities? I didn't either.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
We Noticed
I received the following article/letter via e-mail today. The e-mail said the piece was written by Sherry Hackett, wife of the late, great comedian Buddy Hackett and a staunch Democrat. Research has shown me the author was not Sherry Hackett but a woman named Faye Parrish of Bunnell, Florida. Her words, however bear repeating. You don’t have to be a Republican or a Conservative to agree with at least some of her words. I post this with all credit to Faye Parrish. Well said, Faye.
President Obama:
Today I read of your administrations' plan to re-define September 11 as a National Service Day. Sir, it's time we had a talk.
During your campaign, Americans watched as you made mockery of our tradition of standing and crossing your heart when the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken. You, out of four people on the stage, were the only one not honoring our tradition. YES, "We noticed."
During one of your many speeches, Americans heard you say that you intended to visit all 57 states. We all know that Islam, not America has 57 states. YES, "We noticed."
When President Bush leaned over at Ground Zero and gently placed a flower on the memorial, while you nonchalantly tossed your flower onto the pile without leaning over. YES, "We noticed."
Every time you apologized to other countries for America's position on an issue we have wondered why you don't share our pride in this great country. When you have heard foreign leaders berate our country and our beliefs, you have not defended us. In fact, you insulted the British Crown beyond belief. YES, "We noticed."
When your pastor of 20 years, "God-damned America " and said that 9/11 was " America 's chickens coming home to roost" and you denied having heard recriminations of that nature, we wondered how that could be. You later disassociated yourself from that church and Pastor Wright because it was politically expedient to do so. YES, "We noticed."
When you announced that you would transform America, we wondered why. With all her faults, America is the greatest country on earth. Sir, KEEP THIS IN MIND, "if not for America and the people who built her, you wouldn' t be sitting in the White House now." Prior to your election to the highest office in this Country, you were a senator from Illinois and from what we can glean from the records available, not a very remarkable one. YES, "We noticed."
All through your campaign and even now, you have surrounded yourself with individuals who are basically unqualified for the positions for which you appointed them. Worse than that, the majority of them are people who, like you, bear no special allegiance, respect, or affection for this country and her traditions. YES, "We noticed."
You are 24 months into your term and every morning millions of Americans wake up to a new horror heaped on us by you. You seek to saddle working Americans with a health care/insurance reform package that, along with cap and trade, will bankrupt this nation. YES, "We noticed."
We seek, by protesting, to let our representatives know that we are not in favor of these crippling expenditures and we are labeled "unAmerican","racist", and "mobs". We wonder how we are supposed to let you know how frustrated we are. You have attempted to make our protests seem isolated and insignificant. Until your appointment, Americans had the right to speak out. YES, "We noticed."
On September 11, 2001 there were no Republicans or Democrats, only Americans. And we all grieved together and helped each other in whatever way we could. The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans. And YES, "We noticed.."
There were many of us who prayed that as a black president you could help unite this nation. In six months you have done more to destroy this nation than the attack on 9/11. You have failed us. YES, "We noticed."
September 11 is a day of remembrance for all Americans. You propose to make 9/11 a "National Service Day". While we know that you don't share our reverence for 9/11, we pray that history will report your proposal as what it is, a disgrace. YES, "We noticed."
You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold. You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy. YES, "We noticed."
We have noticed all these things. We will deal with you. When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you from office.
Take notice.
President Obama:
Today I read of your administrations' plan to re-define September 11 as a National Service Day. Sir, it's time we had a talk.
During your campaign, Americans watched as you made mockery of our tradition of standing and crossing your heart when the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken. You, out of four people on the stage, were the only one not honoring our tradition. YES, "We noticed."
During one of your many speeches, Americans heard you say that you intended to visit all 57 states. We all know that Islam, not America has 57 states. YES, "We noticed."
When President Bush leaned over at Ground Zero and gently placed a flower on the memorial, while you nonchalantly tossed your flower onto the pile without leaning over. YES, "We noticed."
Every time you apologized to other countries for America's position on an issue we have wondered why you don't share our pride in this great country. When you have heard foreign leaders berate our country and our beliefs, you have not defended us. In fact, you insulted the British Crown beyond belief. YES, "We noticed."
When your pastor of 20 years, "God-damned America " and said that 9/11 was " America 's chickens coming home to roost" and you denied having heard recriminations of that nature, we wondered how that could be. You later disassociated yourself from that church and Pastor Wright because it was politically expedient to do so. YES, "We noticed."
When you announced that you would transform America, we wondered why. With all her faults, America is the greatest country on earth. Sir, KEEP THIS IN MIND, "if not for America and the people who built her, you wouldn' t be sitting in the White House now." Prior to your election to the highest office in this Country, you were a senator from Illinois and from what we can glean from the records available, not a very remarkable one. YES, "We noticed."
All through your campaign and even now, you have surrounded yourself with individuals who are basically unqualified for the positions for which you appointed them. Worse than that, the majority of them are people who, like you, bear no special allegiance, respect, or affection for this country and her traditions. YES, "We noticed."
You are 24 months into your term and every morning millions of Americans wake up to a new horror heaped on us by you. You seek to saddle working Americans with a health care/insurance reform package that, along with cap and trade, will bankrupt this nation. YES, "We noticed."
We seek, by protesting, to let our representatives know that we are not in favor of these crippling expenditures and we are labeled "unAmerican","racist", and "mobs". We wonder how we are supposed to let you know how frustrated we are. You have attempted to make our protests seem isolated and insignificant. Until your appointment, Americans had the right to speak out. YES, "We noticed."
On September 11, 2001 there were no Republicans or Democrats, only Americans. And we all grieved together and helped each other in whatever way we could. The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans. And YES, "We noticed.."
There were many of us who prayed that as a black president you could help unite this nation. In six months you have done more to destroy this nation than the attack on 9/11. You have failed us. YES, "We noticed."
September 11 is a day of remembrance for all Americans. You propose to make 9/11 a "National Service Day". While we know that you don't share our reverence for 9/11, we pray that history will report your proposal as what it is, a disgrace. YES, "We noticed."
You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold. You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy. YES, "We noticed."
We have noticed all these things. We will deal with you. When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you from office.
Take notice.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Finding God
After my post yesterday and the comments and ensuing discussion, both on the public page and in private messages, I felt this story was a good follow up. I have researched this and cannot find any information that leads me to believe it’s not a true story. Snopes.com only has a discussion between people who believe it and those who don’t and TruthorFiction.com says it’s absolutely true. I do know God does work in mysterious ways and sometimes He finds people instead of the other way around. As Garth Brooks said a few years ago… “Sometimes God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
The story appears as it was posted. It's a little long but worth the read. At least, I think so.
**************************************************************
This story was written several years ago by Father John Powell, a retired professor from Loyola University in Chicago. Father Powell is advanced in years, but TruthOrFiction.com found him and talked with him. The story was fresh in his mind and he confirmed that it is true and happened in the way that he described it.
Subject: a true story - Finding God
Rev. John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:
Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith.
That was the day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then.
I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts, but on that day, I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange - very strange. Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God.
We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew. When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?"
I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically.
"Why not?" he asked. "I thought that was the product you were pushing."
I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"
He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.
I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line: "He will find you!" At least I thought it was clever.
Later, I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe.
"Tommy, I've thought about you so often - I hear you are sick," I blurted out.
"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks."
"Can you talk about it, Tom?" I asked.
"Sure, what would you like to know?" he replied.
"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?" I asked.
"Well, it could be worse," he replied.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals; like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies' in life," he replied.
I began to look through my mental file cabinet under 'S' where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.)
"But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class."
(He remembered!)
He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time."
(My clever line - He thought about that a lot!)
"But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened.”
“Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit. Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable.”
“I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.'”
“So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him. 'Dad.' 'Yes, what?' he asked, without lowering the newspaper. 'Dad, I would like to talk with you.' 'Well, talk.' 'I mean.... It's really important.' The newspaper came down three slow inches.”
“What is it?”
“Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that."
Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him. "The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me.”
“It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. I was only sorry about one thing --- that I had waited so long.”
“Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to. Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop: 'C'mon, jump through. C'mon, I'll give You three days, three weeks.' Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."
"Tommy", I practically gasped. "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.’”
“Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell it."
"Ooh, I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class."
"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call." In a few days, Tom called, said he was ready for the class; that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision.
He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined. Before he died, we talked one last time.
"I'm not going to make it to your class," he said.
"I know, Tom."
"Will you tell them for me? Will you tell the whole world for me?"
"I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."
So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God's love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven - I told them, Tommy, as best I could.
Rev. John Powell, Professor, Loyola
The story appears as it was posted. It's a little long but worth the read. At least, I think so.
**************************************************************
This story was written several years ago by Father John Powell, a retired professor from Loyola University in Chicago. Father Powell is advanced in years, but TruthOrFiction.com found him and talked with him. The story was fresh in his mind and he confirmed that it is true and happened in the way that he described it.
Subject: a true story - Finding God
Rev. John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:
Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith.
That was the day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then.
I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts, but on that day, I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange - very strange. Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God.
We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew. When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?"
I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically.
"Why not?" he asked. "I thought that was the product you were pushing."
I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"
He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.
I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line: "He will find you!" At least I thought it was clever.
Later, I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe.
"Tommy, I've thought about you so often - I hear you are sick," I blurted out.
"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks."
"Can you talk about it, Tom?" I asked.
"Sure, what would you like to know?" he replied.
"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?" I asked.
"Well, it could be worse," he replied.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals; like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies' in life," he replied.
I began to look through my mental file cabinet under 'S' where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.)
"But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class."
(He remembered!)
He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time."
(My clever line - He thought about that a lot!)
"But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened.”
“Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit. Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable.”
“I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.'”
“So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him. 'Dad.' 'Yes, what?' he asked, without lowering the newspaper. 'Dad, I would like to talk with you.' 'Well, talk.' 'I mean.... It's really important.' The newspaper came down three slow inches.”
“What is it?”
“Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that."
Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him. "The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me.”
“It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. I was only sorry about one thing --- that I had waited so long.”
“Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to. Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop: 'C'mon, jump through. C'mon, I'll give You three days, three weeks.' Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."
"Tommy", I practically gasped. "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.’”
“Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell it."
"Ooh, I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class."
"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call." In a few days, Tom called, said he was ready for the class; that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision.
He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined. Before he died, we talked one last time.
"I'm not going to make it to your class," he said.
"I know, Tom."
"Will you tell them for me? Will you tell the whole world for me?"
"I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."
So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God's love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven - I told them, Tommy, as best I could.
Rev. John Powell, Professor, Loyola
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thoughts On God...
I haven’t written much over the last few months because of things going on in my own life. The other night, however, I felt compelled to write something. I watched a couple of videos on Youtube of “The Booth Brothers”, gospel music in incredible harmony. They sang “Amazing Grace” and it gave me chills. I finished the post today.
Although I was raised in a church, I’m not a religious person. I don’t go to church anymore, at least for now. But I do believe in God and in Jesus Christ and I’m glad they are both in my life. I have friends who are Atheists, they don’t believe at all, choosing to believe in science rather than in God. And ultimately, I’m OK with that if it’s what they choose to believe. Personally, I believe science couldn’t exist without God. I know I’m supposed to witness to them and try to change their minds but in reality, I know it would be a waste of my time and I don’t believe God wants us to waste our time witnessing to people who refuse to believe.
Now, to the point of my post. The first video I watched, “If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven” is about looking forward to seeing people we love again who have passed on to the next life. If you don’t believe I guess you don’t have that to look forward to. If you do believe you know you’re going to see that person again regardless of how long it takes. I think of my son that way. I believe one day I’ll see him again and that feeling is indescribable.
One friend of mine, who professes to be an Atheist, talks about holding his newborn daughter in the finite, like one day it will cease to exist. I refuse to believe that. Everything I have been taught since I was a child reminds me that life doesn’t end at death but that death is merely a transition to eternity for those who believe. I suppose if you think about it in logical, scientific terms it doesn’t make much sense. But science hasn’t exactly explained the gaps in the evolution process from amoebas to ape to man, even though they want us to believe we descended in that manner. There is no evidence to support the entire transition, only a theory. So I choose to believe the Bible. I don’t necessarily think everything happened all at once. In fact, I think evolution in some ways is supported by the Bible. In the Book of Genesis God created the heavens and the Earth, and all the creatures therein, in 6 days. So how long is a day to God? How long is a day to a being who has been around forever? If creatures and people evolved over millions of years is that “evidence” God had nothing to do with it?
Have you ever studied the human body? Is it really feasible that such an incredibly complex and intelligent creature can exist merely by a random grouping of cells? I think not.
It is my belief, and the belief of millions, or billions of other people in the world that there is a supreme being whether it is called God, Yahweh, Allah, or something else. For the purpose of this post I’m not going to get into who may be right or wrong. Those who don’t believe in a supreme being of some sort are themselves a minority in the world. That minority seems to be growing daily, which, in my opinion, is one of the reasons things are getting worse in the world. But the minority will disagree with me on that point.
The main thing I’m saying here is that I not only believe in God but also in an afterlife. I believe I will see my son and be able to hug him again when my life is through here on Earth. It doesn’t matter to me if some people think I’m crazy and/or wasting my time believing as I do. All that matters is that I believe it, as do countless others.
Those of you who don’t believe God is real – mock me if you so desire, although I don’t mock you for your beliefs so I think those of you who do this simply prove your shallowness. If I’m wrong in my beliefs, so be it. If you’re wrong – sorry for you. I’m happy and like who I am and your opinion, while respected, isn’t necessary.
Although I was raised in a church, I’m not a religious person. I don’t go to church anymore, at least for now. But I do believe in God and in Jesus Christ and I’m glad they are both in my life. I have friends who are Atheists, they don’t believe at all, choosing to believe in science rather than in God. And ultimately, I’m OK with that if it’s what they choose to believe. Personally, I believe science couldn’t exist without God. I know I’m supposed to witness to them and try to change their minds but in reality, I know it would be a waste of my time and I don’t believe God wants us to waste our time witnessing to people who refuse to believe.
Now, to the point of my post. The first video I watched, “If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven” is about looking forward to seeing people we love again who have passed on to the next life. If you don’t believe I guess you don’t have that to look forward to. If you do believe you know you’re going to see that person again regardless of how long it takes. I think of my son that way. I believe one day I’ll see him again and that feeling is indescribable.
One friend of mine, who professes to be an Atheist, talks about holding his newborn daughter in the finite, like one day it will cease to exist. I refuse to believe that. Everything I have been taught since I was a child reminds me that life doesn’t end at death but that death is merely a transition to eternity for those who believe. I suppose if you think about it in logical, scientific terms it doesn’t make much sense. But science hasn’t exactly explained the gaps in the evolution process from amoebas to ape to man, even though they want us to believe we descended in that manner. There is no evidence to support the entire transition, only a theory. So I choose to believe the Bible. I don’t necessarily think everything happened all at once. In fact, I think evolution in some ways is supported by the Bible. In the Book of Genesis God created the heavens and the Earth, and all the creatures therein, in 6 days. So how long is a day to God? How long is a day to a being who has been around forever? If creatures and people evolved over millions of years is that “evidence” God had nothing to do with it?
Have you ever studied the human body? Is it really feasible that such an incredibly complex and intelligent creature can exist merely by a random grouping of cells? I think not.
It is my belief, and the belief of millions, or billions of other people in the world that there is a supreme being whether it is called God, Yahweh, Allah, or something else. For the purpose of this post I’m not going to get into who may be right or wrong. Those who don’t believe in a supreme being of some sort are themselves a minority in the world. That minority seems to be growing daily, which, in my opinion, is one of the reasons things are getting worse in the world. But the minority will disagree with me on that point.
The main thing I’m saying here is that I not only believe in God but also in an afterlife. I believe I will see my son and be able to hug him again when my life is through here on Earth. It doesn’t matter to me if some people think I’m crazy and/or wasting my time believing as I do. All that matters is that I believe it, as do countless others.
Those of you who don’t believe God is real – mock me if you so desire, although I don’t mock you for your beliefs so I think those of you who do this simply prove your shallowness. If I’m wrong in my beliefs, so be it. If you’re wrong – sorry for you. I’m happy and like who I am and your opinion, while respected, isn’t necessary.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Can They Please Use The Same Playbook?
On January 8th of this year, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at point blank range by Jarod Loughner, a mentally disturbed man who had been displaying more and more odd behavior prior to the shooting. The main stream media and many people on the left, including politicians, were quick to blame right wing rhetoric for Loughner’s actions. Some blamed statements by Sarah Palin and a majority said it was right wing hate speech and violent rhetoric, such as putting the opposing candidate in the “crosshairs” of the campaign, that caused Loughner's actions and demanded that this type of rhetoric stop lest more blood be shed. Any type of violent reference or rhetoric was supposed to cease immediately.
Last month, during the debate over the debt ceiling, politicians and pundits on the left, including many main stream media anchors, made references to the Republicans “holding the American people hostage” and “holding a gun to the head of the American people”. Some, including the Vice President of the United States, referred to members of the Tea Party as terrorists because they were making demands of more budget cuts and less government spending.
So what happened to the demands from the left for an end to the violent rhetoric? Isn’t hostage taking, holding a gun to the head, and terrorism, violence? Is it not considered violent rhetoric?
Well… apparently it isn’t. There were no apologies for the comments from politicians or news anchors, only a denial by the President that Joe Biden called Tea Party members terrorists. Sadly for the President, the truth is “perfectly clear”. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60421.html
So why is it that one side is condemned for any type of speech that can be considered violent or hateful and the other side seems to get a pass? I’m not going to try to pretend that only one side of the political spectrum uses such rhetoric because anyone who actually pays attention to politics and the news knows that both sides are guilty of it. What confuses me is why, given the expressed outrage of the left after the Gabrielle Giffords shooting and the demands to end the violent rhetoric, politicians and news anchors on the left seem to have forgotten their outrage. Or they simply believe it’s OK for them but not OK for the other side.
I just wish both sides would use the same playbook. Either it’s wrong or it’s OK but for both sides, not just one. Maybe they do both use the same book. Maybe the last chapter in that book simply says “No matter what we say, if the other side says it, become irate and demand that it stop!” Never having seen that book I wouldn’t know. But it wouldn’t surprise me.
Last month, during the debate over the debt ceiling, politicians and pundits on the left, including many main stream media anchors, made references to the Republicans “holding the American people hostage” and “holding a gun to the head of the American people”. Some, including the Vice President of the United States, referred to members of the Tea Party as terrorists because they were making demands of more budget cuts and less government spending.
So what happened to the demands from the left for an end to the violent rhetoric? Isn’t hostage taking, holding a gun to the head, and terrorism, violence? Is it not considered violent rhetoric?
Well… apparently it isn’t. There were no apologies for the comments from politicians or news anchors, only a denial by the President that Joe Biden called Tea Party members terrorists. Sadly for the President, the truth is “perfectly clear”. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60421.html
So why is it that one side is condemned for any type of speech that can be considered violent or hateful and the other side seems to get a pass? I’m not going to try to pretend that only one side of the political spectrum uses such rhetoric because anyone who actually pays attention to politics and the news knows that both sides are guilty of it. What confuses me is why, given the expressed outrage of the left after the Gabrielle Giffords shooting and the demands to end the violent rhetoric, politicians and news anchors on the left seem to have forgotten their outrage. Or they simply believe it’s OK for them but not OK for the other side.
I just wish both sides would use the same playbook. Either it’s wrong or it’s OK but for both sides, not just one. Maybe they do both use the same book. Maybe the last chapter in that book simply says “No matter what we say, if the other side says it, become irate and demand that it stop!” Never having seen that book I wouldn’t know. But it wouldn’t surprise me.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A Child On Loan
My sister-in-law was having a difficult week this week. She was missing her son, above all, and feeling kind of down and “weepy”. How well I know those feelings. They hit you all at once – sometimes lasting only a few minutes or a few hours and other times lasting for days. It happens less and less as time goes by but when it hits, it hits hard. And there’s really nothing you can do but endure it and work through it.
A few months after my son died and old friend from my high school days sent this poem to me. He had lost a son as well, when the boy was a toddler. But the age of the child is irrelevant if they die before their parents. It takes a piece of you.
This poem was written by poet Edgar Guest in 1938. I have no idea why he wrote it or whether he lost a child of his own. But the words are profound; painful yet comforting to those who believe God knows best no matter what happens. I sent this poem to Tami and she responded back that she thought it was beautiful. I have to agree. I thought I’d share it with all of you. If you’re a parent and believe in God, whether you’ve lost a child of your own or not it gives you cause to reflect. At least I think so.
Thank you, Mr. Guest, for your words. You’ve no idea what comfort you’ve brought to many.
To All Parents:
“I’ll lend you for a little time a child of mine,” He said.
“For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three;
but will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
you’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay since all from Earth return;
but there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true;
and from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love and not think the labor vain,
and not lose faith nor hate me when I call him back again?”
I fancied that I heard them say “Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may;
and for the happiness we’ve known forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’ve planned,
we’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."
Edgar Guest
A few months after my son died and old friend from my high school days sent this poem to me. He had lost a son as well, when the boy was a toddler. But the age of the child is irrelevant if they die before their parents. It takes a piece of you.
This poem was written by poet Edgar Guest in 1938. I have no idea why he wrote it or whether he lost a child of his own. But the words are profound; painful yet comforting to those who believe God knows best no matter what happens. I sent this poem to Tami and she responded back that she thought it was beautiful. I have to agree. I thought I’d share it with all of you. If you’re a parent and believe in God, whether you’ve lost a child of your own or not it gives you cause to reflect. At least I think so.
Thank you, Mr. Guest, for your words. You’ve no idea what comfort you’ve brought to many.
To All Parents:
“I’ll lend you for a little time a child of mine,” He said.
“For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three;
but will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
you’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay since all from Earth return;
but there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true;
and from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love and not think the labor vain,
and not lose faith nor hate me when I call him back again?”
I fancied that I heard them say “Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may;
and for the happiness we’ve known forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’ve planned,
we’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."
Edgar Guest
Monday, August 8, 2011
Rock and Roll police?
The other day, while driving, I was listening to one of my favorite classic rock and roll stations out of Tampa, Florida. I heard the familiar beginning sounds of Dire Straits “Money For Nothing” so I turned up the volume and got ready to listen and sing along. (It’s true. I can sometimes be seen on the highways of Central Florida singing along with the stereo. It’s not pretty but it’s fun.)
The first verse of the song went well. Next came an instrumental interlude that I didn’t remember being in the song at that particular point. Then came the third verse and I realized what happened. Someone, either the radio station, their parent company, or the publishers of the song, had removed the vocals of the second verse and left only the music. In today’s society the words apparently are offensive to the point of being removed from a song that is 26 years old. The verse reads as follows:
“The little faggot with the earring and the makeup; yeah buddy – that’s his own hair. The little faggot’s got his own jet airplane. The little faggot is a millionaire.”
These words would certainly not be acceptable if the song was written today. The word “faggot” is derogatory. Except there are songs written every day that contain foul, crude and insulting language. Many rap songs contain things that I wouldn’t want my child to listen to but they’re not played with lyrics removed. Some pop songs are the same way and the music of the subculture is often disgusting. But it doesn’t seem to be censored.
This song has been out for 2-1/2 decades. What will be censored next in the name of political correctness. The Pledge of Allegiance is being changed because someone said its words are offensive. How about old movies? “Blazing Saddles” was hilarious but the “N” word was used several times in the beginning. Will it be banned? How about Richard Pryor’s “That N******* Crazy” - one of the funniest comedy albums ever made? What about comedians who are people of color making jokes about white people or gay and lesbian comedians who make jokes about straight people? Will that be censored or is that acceptable because… well, it’s just acceptable? Where does censoring in the name of political correctness stop? And why is it that some things are offensive and others are not? Why is it that it’s OK for some people to insult some groups but not OK for other people to insult other groups? How about Bill Mahar’s show “Politically Incorrect”? Should it not, by its very title, be banned? He certainly offends me sometimes.
I’m not a heartless bigot who believes insulting, mocking or making fun of someone because of their beliefs, their lifestyle, etc., is acceptable and OK. But by the same token I’m not looking forward to the censorship it seems is coming in the near future. Taking the vocals out of a 25 year old song because it might be offensive to someone (but most likely isn’t because it’s just an old song) seems a bit ridiculous to me. I’m curious as to who it was who actually altered this song and I may call the radio station and ask. Do we really want to become a nation where anything and everything that is deemed by someone to be offensive is no longer allowed? Isn’t it freedom of speech, regardless of whether or not it may be offensive, one of the best freedoms we have in this country? And isn’t the right to express yourself, whether or not everyone agrees with you, part of that very freedom?
I’m guessing whoever altered the song, or instructed that it be altered, did so thinking it was the right thing to do. People complain that the government is slowly taking our rights away. Do we want to help them by voluntarily giving them away on our own?
The first verse of the song went well. Next came an instrumental interlude that I didn’t remember being in the song at that particular point. Then came the third verse and I realized what happened. Someone, either the radio station, their parent company, or the publishers of the song, had removed the vocals of the second verse and left only the music. In today’s society the words apparently are offensive to the point of being removed from a song that is 26 years old. The verse reads as follows:
“The little faggot with the earring and the makeup; yeah buddy – that’s his own hair. The little faggot’s got his own jet airplane. The little faggot is a millionaire.”
These words would certainly not be acceptable if the song was written today. The word “faggot” is derogatory. Except there are songs written every day that contain foul, crude and insulting language. Many rap songs contain things that I wouldn’t want my child to listen to but they’re not played with lyrics removed. Some pop songs are the same way and the music of the subculture is often disgusting. But it doesn’t seem to be censored.
This song has been out for 2-1/2 decades. What will be censored next in the name of political correctness. The Pledge of Allegiance is being changed because someone said its words are offensive. How about old movies? “Blazing Saddles” was hilarious but the “N” word was used several times in the beginning. Will it be banned? How about Richard Pryor’s “That N******* Crazy” - one of the funniest comedy albums ever made? What about comedians who are people of color making jokes about white people or gay and lesbian comedians who make jokes about straight people? Will that be censored or is that acceptable because… well, it’s just acceptable? Where does censoring in the name of political correctness stop? And why is it that some things are offensive and others are not? Why is it that it’s OK for some people to insult some groups but not OK for other people to insult other groups? How about Bill Mahar’s show “Politically Incorrect”? Should it not, by its very title, be banned? He certainly offends me sometimes.
I’m not a heartless bigot who believes insulting, mocking or making fun of someone because of their beliefs, their lifestyle, etc., is acceptable and OK. But by the same token I’m not looking forward to the censorship it seems is coming in the near future. Taking the vocals out of a 25 year old song because it might be offensive to someone (but most likely isn’t because it’s just an old song) seems a bit ridiculous to me. I’m curious as to who it was who actually altered this song and I may call the radio station and ask. Do we really want to become a nation where anything and everything that is deemed by someone to be offensive is no longer allowed? Isn’t it freedom of speech, regardless of whether or not it may be offensive, one of the best freedoms we have in this country? And isn’t the right to express yourself, whether or not everyone agrees with you, part of that very freedom?
I’m guessing whoever altered the song, or instructed that it be altered, did so thinking it was the right thing to do. People complain that the government is slowly taking our rights away. Do we want to help them by voluntarily giving them away on our own?
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