Here's my (limited) understanding of this whole moronic process: First, they killed this bill last month (wasn't it?), except they didn't really 'cause it was more like it turned into this vampire/ghoul thing-y since it revived on Tuesday and the Senate was like the clueless people in Sunnydale (if you don't know the reference, don't worry about it) and helped it out of the grave, but then today they decided they didn't want a zombie cluttering up the senate floor with all its stinkiness and rot, so they buried it again.
However, according to a friend of mine, when Feinstein (D- CA) made her remarks after the vote today, she implied that this might come up again, although not before 2009.
Night of the Living Dead (Shamnesty Edition), 3.0!!!!
Is all of this as confusing to you as it is to me? I would think that our Founding Fathers didn't intend for their posterity to have such a hard time knowing and understanding what their elected officials were up to!
When the troops were finally (and kudos to NBC for having the balls to air a viewpoint contrary to the teachings of the Traitor Left)
allowed to express their frustration with the tireless efforts of the
objectively pro-terrorist Left Column to stab them in the back just
like they did during Viet Nam, we fully expected the nutjobs in the
media to throw a hissy and, right one cue, we have this in The Washington Compost:
... and of course the rest is a classically perfect snark-fisk. Make sure you go read!
The big problem with kicking this little sissy's ass is that it would be too goddamned easy.
Again, read the whole thing! [/UPDATE 3.0. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program]
After all, they're the ones over there doing the job; why don't we listen to what our troops are saying about "redeploying" or "a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq. [emph mine]" (link)
"One thing I don't like is when people back home say they support the troops, but they don't support the war. If they're going to support us, support us all the way."
"If they don't think we're doing a good job, everything that we've done here is all in vain."
Yep. The troops are "feeling the love" from Code Pink, Michael Moore, Jon Kary (*smirk*), the RINOS, MoveOn, the SheHag...
It seems to me to be the perfect time to quote from Patrick Henry's pamphlet series, the Crisis. The first paragraph of the first pamphlet, dated 23 December, 1776, says:
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if
so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated...
Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. [...] Yet panics, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar
advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. In fact, they have the same effect on secret
traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world.
Indeed.
And now we seem to see these hidden thoughts exposed in many. The craven cowardice and the lack of discipline and resolution in the face of a threat to our country do in fact disclose "secret traitors."
Listen to the men and women who are there on the front line: they want to finish the job well. They want to persevere.
I'm sure the soldiers were expressing a majority opinion common amongst the ranks - that's why it is news - and I'm also sure no one in the military leadership or the administration put the soldiers up to expressing their views, nor steered NBC reporter Richard Engel to the story.
Oh, right, like we don't already get bombarded with anti-war claptrap in the LameStream Media already. Sure, they're always talking about how nobly and courageously our men and women do their job, right? The MSM is constantly talking about the lives saved, the medicines distributed, the schools built, the smiles and respect earned, the friendships made by our troops. Right?
*crickets chirping*
I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people.
Really? You want to explain to citizen volunteers why they can't voice their profound dissatisfaction with the constant refrain of "We can't win this war" and "Redeploy!" from spineless wimps who couldn't collectively gather a gram of honor or courage from amongst their ranks? Wow. I want to be a fly on that wall: it should be entertaining.
Mr. Arkin then quotes some soldiers from the video, as I have done, and then says:
These soldiers should be grateful that the American public, which by all polls overwhelmingly disapproves of the Iraq war and the President's handling of it, do still offer their support to them, and their respect.
Through every Abu Ghraib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform, accepting that the incidents were the product of bad apples or even of some administration or command order.
M'kay. Like, we've got hundreds of rape and murders we've been prosecuting, right? Oh, no, that would be the "insurgents." We've had our bad apples, yes - but they get prosecuted and jailed. You guys would far rather lionize the terrorists and give them a pass for their barbaric murders (torture - REAL torture, babycakes, beheadings, suicide bombers, killing civilians deliberately and regularly...). You assume "innocent until proven guilty" for our men and women in uniform, yet you want to extend rights equivalent to those of citizens to these Islamic monsters.
"These soldiers should be grateful that the American public..." Exactly backwards, Willy-boy. These men and women put their lives on the line in service of freedom and democracy while YOU sit on your fat rear end back home and toss spit balls on their honor.
So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?
Hey. NO WHERE did I see a call from the soldiers for you to give up your "rights and responsibilities to speak up." How about you learn some responsibility for the consequences of your juvenile little whine? Our enemies have access to the 'Net and our media - don't you think they're going to gloat gleefully over opinions like yours? You and your ilk, sir, give ample opening for the enemy to strengthen themselves and gorge themselves on America's lack of resolve and commitment.
By the way, our men and women aren't paid HALF of what they're worth, especially since they have to deal with your arrogant, supercilious and disdainful rhetoric while at the same time trying to exterminate inhuman cockroaches... AND they do it with loonies like YOU insisting they keep both hands tied behind their backs.
You, sir, are unworthy to polish the soles of their boots with your spit.
Now. Run along and find a veteran at Walter Reed or something, so you can get your ass properly whupped.
Idiot.
UPDATE 2.0 - Greta makes the excellent point in the comments) that the troops shouldn't decide, precisely, since our Armed Forces are under civilian command. I admit it was a somewhat poor choice of words on my part, but certainly the civilian command ought to at least listen to what our troops are saying and take heed?
Hey-ho! I'm actually starting this before noon (barely - it'll be AFTER noon before it's finished, LOL), but I am determined to keep up with my resolution!
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Just because you're in a garage, doesn't mean you're a car"? If you have, I bet it was in the context of discussing what a "real" Christian is.
Many people accuse the church of hypocrisy these days, and in many ways, they're correct. The American church has grown fat and lazy, and European churches have grown marginalized and heretical. Scandals abound, the Gospel is ignored, and God's Word is dismissed. It's tragic, yes, but worse than that, it's sinful. It blasphemes the Name of God and drives people away from His saving grace.
However, in one way it is incorrect to accuse the Church of hypocrisy.
Ah, you noticed that I capitalized "Church" this time, didn't you? Whenever I capitalize "church," I am referring specifically to the true Church - the real believers who are sanctified by the Blood of Christ and trust Him alone for their salvation from sin. The true Church crosses denominations, cultures, ethnicities, gender, age - God has called His children out from every tribe and tongue and nation. Every culture, every "race" will be represented at the Throne when God draws time to a close and ushers in Eternity, and the triumphant roar of worship will be given in every tongue this earth has ever heard.
So, what does that have to do with the false charge of hypocrisy? Well, the people who make up the true Church have honestly faced their sin and helplessness, and gone to the only Healer who could cure them. We aren't denying the truth of what we are: sinners. Those who are in the garage and calling themselves cars are the hypocrites - the tares. God will eventually root them out and cast them away, but not before His timing is complete.
Thus, the wheat and the tares grow side by side, and it can be very difficult to discern between the two. However, God knows His own -
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
But we who think we're Christians must be very careful. Although we cannot lose our salvation, if it is true salvation, some may be deceived that they are saved when they are not. Thus, we must be careful to work out our own salvation, we must constantly evaluate ourselves to see that we are in the faith and following our Lord and Savior.
And so, the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares is also a cautionary note - don't assume. Walk humbly before your God, and if you're not sure, then get on your knees and into the Word. Have a long, honest talk with your Father in Heaven.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
God is a good God: He is generous, loving and faithful. But He is also holy and cannot look upon sin, and so you must be washed clean before you come into His presence. He has provided the way through the death of His Son; the offer is open to all who hear His voice and obey... GO TO HIM!
This morning while driving the Darling Munchkin to school, I had my iPod playing, and an old song by Styx, from their Grand Illusion album, started playing... and I was taken back to when I wasn't much older than ten (I was 14), and Styx was one of my favorite groups!
I remember having the radio on all the time. I remember stacking six albums on my record player, and turning it on low as I went to sleep. I remember going to the record store and flipping through album after album, looking for Manfred Mann's the Roaring Silence so I could have "Blinded by the Light" in my collection.
I remember not worrying about seatbelts. I remember going trick-or-treating in my neighborhood and not even needing to worry about being kidnapped. I remember riding my bike to and from the club pool, and sneaking in after dark (after I had my license) to go skinny-dipping. I remember walking from my school to the Avenue (after school - I was a good girl, LOL), and being picked up by one of my teachers and given a lift.
I remember paying $1.95 for a nice, thick paperback novel. I remember Daddy bringing home a calculator that added, subtracted, divided and multiplied, and had one memory... And was the size of a typewriter. Hey, I remember typewriters!
As I talked to the Munchkin about all this, I realized all the things she's growing up with that I had no clue were coming: computers, the Internet, cable TV, stalkers, terrorism...
And I told her that I now understood (yeah, just NOW) how much my parents worried about me as I was growing up - their childhoods were very different from mine, too. Just as I look back on all the freedoms I had that I don't dare give to the Munchkin today, they must have looked at all the changes that happened in their lifetimes and been deeply concerned about my welfare.
The Munchkin's fenced areas are now both narrower and broader than my restrictions were. The Beloved Husband and I want our child to grow up secure but aware, confident but careful, and loved but disciplined. Today, I got smacked in the face (again) with how hard that is.
Don't worry, Mom and Dad. We'll take care of your favorite (only!) granddaughter. We'll watch over her, love her, guide and teach her to the best of our ability. God willing, in twenty or thirty years, she'll be talking to her own children and remember our conversation this morning... And will have the same fierce, protective desire to love, cherish and guide her children into the future as her parents did before her.
Today on Sunday Thoughts with Kat on Wide Awakes Radio, Pat Robertson gives me an opportunity to discuss how God speaks to us and some of His reasons for doing so.
So join me today at 4:30 pm Eastern (1:30 pm Pacific), and let's go into God's Word and hear what He has to say to us ;-)
Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!!
Wait... Waitwaitwait!
Kat! Chrismas is over! Why are you still singing Christmas songs?
Well... Because these aren't really "Christmas" songs - and because they have a very important message for us, particularly for this last day of 2006.
Please tune in to Sunday Thoughts with Kat on Wide Awakes Radio, today at 4:30pm ET, 1:30pm PT, for an important reminder of coming events - and what our top prioity ought to be for the next year, and every year after.
This Sunday, please join me on Wide Awakes Radio for a study in Romans 5. I am currently endeavoring to memorize Romans, chapters 5 through 8, and my focus over the next several weeks will be the thoughts and discoveries God shows me in these chapters.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
and God has been seriously kicking my poor, sore rear end (um, can I say that? LOL) and showing me a lot of excellent applications for my life and my attitude. Here's a taste of what I have so far:
One thing we can take away from this is that, whatever we **feeeeeeellll**, the FACT is that God says His children stand in His grace continually. So, we shouldn't whine and moan about how we "don't feeeeel the touch of His grace!" God's Word says we are there already, and that we will remain there.
Therefore, the problem is not with God, it's with us. We need to change our thoughts, change our attitudes, and eventually change our emotions to align with God's Word. We STAND in His grace, so let's start acting like it!
See? He's really working me over this week... Actually, at the moment, I'm not certain I'll even get past verses 1 and 2, because He's teaching me so much right here.
(UPDATE: Yep. I was right - I'm staying in verses 1 and 2 this week, but I HAVE been good and memorized vv. 1-5... and there's a LOT of excellent goodness in these two verses.)
So join me this Sunday, 4:30 p.m. Eastern, 1:30 p.m. Pacific, and find out if what God is teaching me can help and encourage YOU, as well!
X-Posted from Third World County. Thanks, R'Cat, for the "syndication". :-)
Part 1 of "Mending Walls: Faith" dealt very briefly with a missing meme in today's society: faith as a bilateral covenant of trusting obedience/providence and protection. It's a meme that has been present in every stable and flourishing society the West (and even much of the early Middle East) has produced for millennia, and its lack has profound implications for us today.
But before we very, very briefly approach those implications, I'd like to select just a few, by no means exhaustive, examples of what the lack of that meme has produced in our society.
While R'Cat is off at a blogger conference, she's graciously allowing this crosspost from twc: Mending Walls: Faith
The word "faith" is bruited about quite a bit in common talk, in the public arena, in churches, schools and the media. Every venue has a different take on what faith is, how it operates, its value to society, etc.
And mostly, even in Christian churches, the meaning ascribed to the word today, and its ascribed value to society by various groups, is so far off base that I wonder whether "mending" this wall is worth the effort. Perhaps building an entirely new wall and calling it "pfeffernoogle" would be better.
*sigh*
Let me back off a bit with a set of current denotative definitions that describe the word as it is in use today, 'K?
Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief. See Synonyms at trust.
Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
often Faith Christianity. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
A set of principles or beliefs.
I'll not fisk those definitions directly for the evidence of pejoration amounting to almost complete loss of the meaning of the word itself. Instead, in this "Mending Walls: Faith, Part 1" post (yes, there is a part 2), I want to very simply and briefly look at the formation and use of the word "faith" and its antecedents (and the words it is used to translate, in a couple of important cases) as drawn from the Graeco-Roman and Judeo-Christian roots that largely formed the basis of Western Civilization... and provided us with a concept of faith that the modern world has lost.
Part 2 will deal with what our loss of the concept means to our society today... and perhaps what is means concerning our destination as a society.
So, if you're still with me, for the rest of part 1...
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6, NKJV)
Jesus is the Truth incarnate; you can trust Him and know that He will never lie to you.
However, so many things in our lives lie to us, and we listen to them closely. Advertisements say we need products x, y, or z to make us "happy." Movies and TV tell us that to be physically imperfect is somehow shameful. Newspapers tell us that the world is a terrible, horrible place. Doctors tell us that it's OK to kill a pre-born baby because it might have some disease or deformity. Our family and friends tell us that we're worthless or truly extraordinary, too fat or too thin, too good or too bad, too smart or too dumb... On and on and on.
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14: 1-3, NKJV)
Sean Hannity is somewhat famous for saying, "Let not your hearts be troubled." Well, he gets it here, from the words of Jesus. In past few months there has been quite a bit of turmoil and change, which has - quite frankly - unsettled me, along with many others in our beloved country.
Citizens are outraged with our government's lack of fiscal responsibility and its seeming unconcern about border security. We are incensed with the progress of war in Iraq, we are concerned about the threat of Iran, frustrated over taxes and illegal immigrants... Ah, a whole host of things have the ability to spin us up in a second and send our blood pressure skyrocketing.
In the midst of this, Jesus steps in and says, "Peace. Be still!"
Last week our little and peaceful family was struck by the tragic loss of one of its members in a savage criminal act of assassination. The member we lost was my sister's husband who lived with their two little children in our house.
He was a brilliant young doctor with a whole future awaiting him, the couple were the top graduates in their branch of specialty. They had to travel abroad to get their degrees and the war started while they were there but months after Saddam fallen they decided to come back to help rebuild the country and serve their people.
We welcomed them with all love and care, we would sit and talk everyday about our hopes and dreams for a better future for the new generation and for their two little children. We realized that time is needed before they could have a secure and prosperous life and we were satisfied with the little we could make because we believed in the future.
He was not affiliated with any political party or movement and spent all his time working at the hospital or studying at home and he was dreaming of building a medical center for his specialty to serve the poor who cannot afford going to expensive private clinics.
We didn't know or anticipate that cruel times were waiting for a chance to assassinate the dream and kill the future.
It was the day he was celebrating the opening of a foundation that was going to offer essential services to the poor but the criminals were waiting for him to end his life with their evil bullets and to stab our family deep in the heart.
My heart and my prayers go out to this brave family. To have such a compassionate and promising young man - a husband, father, brother, and doctor - killed in such a callous and destructive manner is a true tragedy.
Nevertheless, Mohammed (certainly an honorable bearer of that name) and his family demonstrate the true spirit of freedom and liberty:
The terrorists and criminals are targeting all elements of life and they target anyone who wants to do something good for this country…They think by assassinating one of us they could deter us from going forward but will never succeed, they can delay us for years but we will never go back and abandon our dream.
We have vowed to follow the steps of our true martyrs and we will raise the new generation to continue the march, these children of today are the hope and the future.
What a difference between those who work to preserve life and those who work to end it…it's terrorism and crime and there are no other words to describe these acts.
They will keep trying to steal life from us and we will keep fighting back and we will keep exposing them but not with bullets and swords, we never carried arms and we will never do because we are not afraid and because we are not weak unlike those cowards who know no language but that of treason.
Please join with me and lift up this family in prayer. Follow their example and stand firm against terrorism and real intolerance wherever you find it - because you never know when it may target you and yours.
Stand for truth, justice, and freedom now, lest it be taken away from your children and grandchildren.
On Thursday the prosecution told the court Rahman has rejected numerous offers to embrace Islam.
Prosecuting attorney Abdul Wasi told the judge that the punishment should fit the crime.
He says Rahman is a traitor to Islam and is like a cancer inside Afghanistan. Under Islamic law and under the Afghan constitution, he says, the defendant should be executed.
Excuse me, but how is this substantially different from the restrictions and tyranny of the Taliban?
ABC News (on page two) quotes the judge who is apparently presiding over this case -
The post-Taliban constitution recognizes Islam as Afghanistan's religion, and decrees that Islam's Sharia law applies when a case is not covered by specific legislation. The prosecutor says under Sharia law, Abdul Rahman must die.
The judge, however, holds hopes for a solution.
"We will ask him if he has changed his mind about being a Christian," Mawlazezadah says. "If he has, we will forgive him, because Islam is a religion of tolerance."
This is not tolerance, this is INTOLERANCE. So much for the so-called "Religion of Peace"! I can just imagine the outcry and rage of everyone if we swapped religions: if this man were on trial for his life because he converted to Islam from Christianity, and if the judge then called Christianity a "religion of tolerance." Pfft! Hypocrites!
Over the weekend, Michelle Malkin noted that this story is not getting much media attention, even from our Christian President, and posted the charges Rahman is facing:
"Yes that's true, a man has converted to Christianity. He's being tried in one of our courts," Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said, adding that his trial began early last week.
He said the man could face the death penalty if he refused to revert to Islam as Sharia law proposes capital punishment for any Muslim who converts to another religion. Afghanistan's constitution states: "No law can be contrary to the sacred religion of Islam."
Barbaric. Absolutely barbaric! This is not freedom, this is not liberty, this is not tolerance!
Michelle followed up yesterday, giving ABC due credit for reporting on the story, and also posting the addresses for the Embassy of Afghanistan and the State Department. I would strongly urge that we all follow her suggestion and write, politely but passionately, to express our deep concern and revulsion for this perversion of "justice":
Write the embassy of Afghanistan:
Ambassador Said T. Jawad Embassy of Afghanistan 2341 Wyoming Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 info@embassyofafghanistan.org
Contact the State Department:
U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Main Switchboard: 202-647-4000
Earlier this week, I heard a few snippets of a sermon on Ephesians 2, and it's really been sticking in my mind. Story of my life, of course: I can't remember who it was who was preaching. My local station is WRVL-FM - Victory FM, broadcast by Liberty University. However, since I also have XM in the car (and that's where I listen to the radio the most), it could also have been their Family Talk Radio station.
No biggie.
But what the pastor was talking about regarding Ephesians 2 was the huge and transformational difference between who we were before salvation, and who we are now after salvation. It's been going around and around in my mind, and showing me, yet again, how wonderful, gracious and awe-inspiring God's love is!
In a week filled with pain and tragedy, many people are wondering where God is, in all of this. How can He allow such things to happen? What is His purpose? Is He evil or inept? Is He "out to get us"? Does He even care?
I would like to reassure you that He does indeed care - and our cries of anguish and sorrow pierce Him to His heart.
Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before Him bow; and He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened the heavenly door, and man is blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Rejoice! Again, I say, REJOICE! The Savior has come - He is here!
“ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel. And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth; And this One shall be peace. (Micah 5:2-5, NKJV)
The little town of Bethlehem. The City of David, the King. Humble, obscure... and one night, there was no room for a weary couple to lay their heads.
Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the Babe was born for you.
One of the things I find most amazing and confounding about Christmas is how the Lord came to this earth. He certainly could have been born to a rich and mighty family - that would have been no problem for God - but He wasn't.
[Note: while Romeocat is on a limited blogation schedule—and instead acting as an accomplice (likely before, during and after) in family pranks—I'll post the occasional crosspost like this one from third world county. heh She never should have left the keys under the mat... :-) ]
Why Everyone Who Blogs "Important Issues" May Have to Quit Blogging
Nah, it's not because the FEC or some other government weenie bureaucraps might dump on ya that everyone who's an "issues" blogger might have to cut way back or stop. It's not even because NZ Bear might decide every link to Instapundit is worth 10 (or 100) links to anyone else (heh--just kidding Bear :-). No, It's because this guy is covering every single topic he touches better than anyone else.
Yep. Anyone.
In fact, linking to him in such a way as to open the link in a new window is probably an exercise in futility. You'll click the link, read posts like this one and never come back [to third world county, that is NOBODY would ever desert R'Cat! :-) ].
Oh. Wah.
Not that I'd feel the pain, cos if you did click on over there and get lost in the wealth of good blog and never come back here [to third world county] for my mediocre* stuff, I'd feel that I'd served you well and be pleased.
Seriously: that's one fine blog. I'd love for you to come back, but if I lose your readership [at third world county, that is] to someone like this, I'll feel that the service I've done you was well worth it.
Now that I've got that outa my system (and do go for a visit there!), when can we see R'Cat back on her regular blogation here? :-)
*N.B. Hey! "mediocre" ain't but half bad, ya know! ;-)
Lots of things have been going on in my life this week, not the least of which is the sale of our old house falling through. It was for the best, but of course I'm anxious and a bit frustrated about the whole situation.
Nevertheless, I take great comfort in these words from the Lord Most High:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
I was thinking today about what God might be saying to me today, and this is the passage which came to mind, from John 13:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (vs. 34, 35)
Love. The "biggie."
But, in context, what kind of "love" is Jesus talking about here?
(UPDATE - 11Oct05, Submitted, with gratitude, as one of my two debut posts at the Cotillion Ball! Oh, this is gonna be FUN!) (Oops, Also hosted by WonderWoman at her site)
Straight from the horse's mouth, a Multi-National Force-Iraq briefing shows how far that is from the truth (all emphasis mine):
One of the great pieces of information we got recently is 80 percent of the al Qaeda network in the north has been devastated. And those are not our figures, those came from the last six leaders in Mosul , al Qaeda leaders that we captured; they informed us of that. We also had a letter that was captured from Abu Zaid (sp) going to Zarqawi . We recently killed Zaid (sp) and we had that letter, and it also talked about the desperate situation for the al Qaeda and the insurgents in Mosul and in the north. And then also, sources we have inside the al Qaeda network up here have also informed us of that.
...
And then we have the population, I think is the most significant change I've seen over the last 11 months, from a population clearly on the fence, not sure -- they want freedom, but they weren't really sure what freedom was, and they were clearly intimidated, to a population that clearly understands they want freedom; they are absolutely sick and tired of the terrorists, the brutal acts against innocent civilians, and they want a brighter future for their children. And we've got a lot of statistics to back that up. Like when we first got here in October, there was -- no hotline existed. We opened a hotline; we got about 40 calls a month prior to January. The last six months, we're up to 400 calls a month. Every day the citizens are stopping us on the street telling us where a potential suspicious individual is who may be a terrorist, and telling us where they tried to plant IEDs and those type of devices. So the population is clearly very confident.
...
Finally, the government has really improved their legitimacy. They've
had significant economic recovery up here, excellent political participation in Nineveh province from a security council where no one would meet before the last elections to now we recently had a regional security conference with some-300 participants and 400 in the southern part of Nineveh province, so a lot of folks participating, very excited about the future.
Yup. We're killing or incapacitating the terrorists, the enemy is in severe disarray, citizens are stepping forward to help make their country safe and free, the Iraqi government is getting closer and closer to a proper constitution...
Uh-huh. Sure sounds like a "quagmire" to me - NOT! Go read the whole thing - because, as my Dread Lord Emperor Misha I says,
(UPDATE - 11Oct05 Submitted, with gratitude, as one of my two debut posts for the Cotillion Ball. *sigh* I have arrived!) (Oops, Also hosted by WonderWoman at her site)
Prisoners could be given the vote after the European Court ruled yesterday that laws disenfranchising them were a breach of their human rights.
Ministers promised a review but said that not all 70,000 prisoners in the country would get the vote.
The Prison Officers' Association said the results in some marginal seats could be affected if inmates were allowed to vote in the constituency that included their prison, rather than in the area where they lived.
The Government's defeat at the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, by a
majority of 12 votes to five, means that Parliament will have to change the law.
However, the judges stopped short of saying that all prisoners should be given the vote, merely ruling that "a blanket restriction" on all convicted prisoners went too far.
Now, if I'm reading this correctly, a European court is telling Britain that its laws are wrong, and must be changed. But note that "...the judges stopped short of saying that all prisoners should be given the vote, merely ruling that "a blanket restriction" on all convicted prisoners went too far."
Oh, please. These people broke the law, they were judged and convicted. Now *gasp* they have to face the consequences! One of those consequnces, in Britain (and in several of our States, here in the U.S.), is that you lose your right to vote.
This makes sense to me: if you break the law in such a way that you're sent to jail, I don't want you voting! I want law-abiding, thoughtful, responsible citizens allowed the vote - not someone who has proven that s/he's an outlaw. Too many people treat voting as an unrestricted right, when it's much more like a sober privilege.
The Telegraph goes on to make this point:
Colin Moses, the general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said the ruling would turn prisons into "political pressure points".
He said: "This will focus politicians' minds on prisons if there are 77,000 votes there for them.
"A lot of prisons are in marginal seats and 600 or 700 votes from
prisoners could swing the result of an election one way or the other."
Dominic Grieve, the shadow attorney general, said: "If convicted rapists and murderers are given the vote, it will bring the law into disrepute and many people will see it as making a mockery of justice."
Well, d'uh! Hey, you've already got lawbreakers in jail who don't want to be there, of course they're more likely to vote for people who'll go easier on them and lessen the consequences of criminal convictions.
The Vixen also quotes another article at the Sun, which opens:
KILLERS will get the vote in jail after a ruling by Euro judges yesterday.
They said a ban on prisoners taking part in UK elections violates human rights.The European Court of Human Rights’ decision means fiends like Soham
murderer Ian Huntley will have a say in all elections — right down to
parish councils.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Liam Fox stormed: “This is an outrageous decision and a perfect example of how Europe is intruding in areas of our national life where it has no business.
“Millions of decent, law-abiding British people will be appalled that criminals will be given freedoms that they clearly do not deserve.”
You see why I abhor the thought of an International Court or of our Supreme Court Justices looking to international law, instead of the Constitution?!
Just a little note for those Justices who may be so inclined, the Constitution of the United States of America, Article VI, clause 2 states:
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which
shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or
which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States,
shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every
State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or
Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
Hey, y'all are on the Supreme Court - I thought you knew that!
The alleged spy, Leandro Aragoncillo (search), worked undetected for nearly three years. He was most recently assigned to work with Vice President Dick Cheney.
Aragoncillo was a Marine for 21 years.
On Sept. 12, it was reported that the former FBI analyst, who was stationed at Fort Monmouth (search) in New Jersey, has been sending classified information since January, according to an FBI complaint.
If Aragoncillo has indeed been spying, and if he indeed has been a Marine, and if he is convicted... He's "earned" a formal drumming out.
Now, I can't find the ceremony which does this, but this is what I assume would be the protocol:
the disgraced and convicted person would march, alone, in full formal uniform up the aisle formed by his/her former comrades.
at the end s/he would stand at attention while the charges and conviction were read before all present
the most junior member of the service present would step forward and strip all awards, medals and rank and unit insignia from the traitor's uniform
the convicted person's sword (or equivilent) would be broken and then spat on by the presiding senior at the ceremony
finally, as the disgraced person stood alone, all other military members would about-face, turning their backs to the convict, and march away in silence
Vindictive? No.
For someone to so abuse and besmirch the honor and professionalism of our military, I feel that any convicted person ought to go through the full, formal ritual of shaming and dismissal-with-contempt from the service.
If this.. person... has desecrated the reputation and glory of the United States Marines, he deserves all the public humiliation we can heap upon him.
Well, I must admit my mixed thoughts when I listened to President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers yesterday. It looks like I'm not the only one!
Now, I'm not going so far as to say, along with Michelle Malkin, "Well, it's a new day. Upon sober reflection, President Bush's
nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court appears...even worse
than it did 24 hours ago." Neither am I as sanguine as Hugh Hewitt appears to be, even though he mentions that Ms. Miers has been endorsed by James Dobson and Jay Sekulow.
I certainly give great respect to Dr. Dobson, and certainly he's a fantastic character reference; Jay Sekulow has argued before the Supreme Court, and if he vouches for Ms. Miers, I'm sure that she's a very fine lawyer. However, I do feel that President Bush could have nominated another candidate with documented opinions on the issues of the day.
Is the President sidestepping? I dunno - but both sides seem to have supporters and detractors for Ms. Miers. I think I would have been more comfortable with a nominee who was more controversial, and, of course, I'm somewhat suspicious of anyone who got a nod from Sen. Reid.
I will be fascinated to see whether Ms. Miers displays a sound grasp of Constitutional Law during her hearings. If she does demonstrate she has this knowledge and skill, then I think I will be more comfortable using her character references as an indication of what kind of judge she might be. But, until then, I suppose I'm firmly... on the fence. Let's wait and see, because this could get very interesting!
Do you realize that the (whacked-out, delusional, hallucinating) icons of the Left are really incredibly Anti-American, anti-freedom, and anti-"liberal"? Do you realize that they are not "pro-peace" so much as they are "anti-victory"?
Jay Tea over at Wizbang notes that "our" side is not PRO-war so much as we are PRO-victory. We realize that we are in a nasty, terrible, vicious war against unscupulous opponants, but the Cindy Sheehans cannot comprehend the value and high moral calling that our country is following in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We are fighting to free people so they may choose how they want to live and be governed. Our men and women in the armed forces honorably dedicate their careers to the ultimate service: bringing freedom, democracy, and self-determination to countries oppressed by tyranny, prejudice and fundamentalism.
Our country is a target for Islamic jihadists because we are the "Great Satan." And why? Because the highest ideal of our country is that culture, religion, skin color don't matter -- if you are willing to work, and to live in peace with your neighbors, this country is the best place to succeed and generate wealth and a better life for your children.
In Islam, there is no compromise, no co-existance, no peace. If you do not submit to their worldview, you have no rights and you will be destroyed.
Our men and women in the military carry the flag of freedom to all the world. In Iraq, they live our culture of co-existance in peace and mutual benefit. They live acceptance, they breathe the rule of law, and they combat hatred and predjudice wherever they go. It seems to me that the liberals would jump on board the Freedom Train with enthusiasm to support these ideals!
But, no... For reasons I truly cannot understand, liberals cannot honestly support our troops when they bring freedom to women so they may vote, go to school, and show their faces without fear. Liberals cannot seem to cheer our troops on when they displace and capture a tyrant who revelled in torturing his people. Liberals cannot seem to joyfully welcome arabic people who want to choose their destiny by forming a democratic government. Liberals have no satisfaction when the ruthless murderers of innocents meet ultimate justice.
Liberals cannot give honor, respect and support to the men and women in the uniform of the United States of America who sacrifice every day to make these dreams of freedom come true all over the world, because for some reason they cannot appreciate and cherish the basis of American culture.
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
In denying the ideals of our Founders, moonbat-liberals deny the value and vocation of our men and women in uniform. When they dismiss the choice their sons and daughters make to give their lives for this country and the cause of freedom and democracy for all people, liberals blaspheme the foundation of their "movement" and desecrate the willing sacrifice of the heroes of the United States.
Don't do that. These men and women serve willingly and with full awareness of the dangers - don't diminish them!
Where can you go to honor these men and women? Try
