tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75522778817962738562024-03-13T01:39:45.033-04:00Eternal Optimistraehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10808097290710098393noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-64769511761595879402014-01-06T21:06:00.002-05:002014-01-06T21:06:28.090-05:00STAYING ON THE ARKJust thinking this evening about being on Noah's Ark.<br />
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<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFa_r5IGtat5D7fLc4drWTCFcXHQgsxMY9BQwdEedmwnZtdGeIHKCRawk8RqHgmLpN3eA90d7KySf_YcyTQaYRlPXXNnoKAXFrploS4zGFGcPgg6UwNt0d75VacGGFdSex8XUFhrJXpNc/s1600/Noahs+ark+5.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.miamisburg.org/images/noahs%20ark/Noahs%20ark%205.jpg">A replica of the Ark.</a></div>
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That had to be a mess. Crowded, and the smell must have been overpowering. I am sure the people on the ark wished they could get off, and some of them may have thought of jumping overboard.</div>
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Jumping overboard is a bad idea, no matter how much sense it seems to make while you are delirious about your circumstances.</div>
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One of the more fiendish things our enemy does is whisper to us that our present condition is forever. This is a lie, but it is one of the hardest to combat, since by definition any difficult circumstance has already gone on too long. The temptation to jump ship is very strong, especially when there are people around you jumping ship, and people in the water yelling that it is warm. </div>
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Go back to your bunk and thank God you are alive. There is no future jumping ship. Right now the society around us is quite toxic. Humans were not designed to live in that environment. Church is an ark. My advice is to keep going to Church and do your best to clean up the ark and make it livable. But don't fool yourself into thinking the water's fine and you're a good swimmer. The stats tell a different story, my friend. </div>
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If you are having a hard time with church, my advice is that you draw closer to God, not jump ship and swim away. Difficulties with church are not "the problem." They are a symptom of our problems. Human problems are humans. Simply put, we have to do a lot of changing to be genuinely happy. Jumping ship doesn't help with that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI444nOZJ-554BJ_drqDyTJ7Cr9nlIg8-_CMIa3fiXHkz0d0Zz_zuWjHlLlL_1B8TBY_dCezIOXy_-VPJDH6gHs_nEd7Us4Dh2TYk3cD0sdOOXZBeVEVWsUnWPS0A3dLPO88Utgnkb0E/s1600/Madonna-December.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI444nOZJ-554BJ_drqDyTJ7Cr9nlIg8-_CMIa3fiXHkz0d0Zz_zuWjHlLlL_1B8TBY_dCezIOXy_-VPJDH6gHs_nEd7Us4Dh2TYk3cD0sdOOXZBeVEVWsUnWPS0A3dLPO88Utgnkb0E/s1600/Madonna-December.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/theanchoress/files/2011/12/Madonna-December.jpg">The Magnificat, a wonderful little help.</a> </div>
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Reading God's word, prayer and fasting are good for us. So find a good daily devotion (the <a href="http://www.magnificat.com/">Magnificat</a> is a wonderful help) and make a point of praying and reading the Bible every day, and going to Church at least every Sunday. </div>
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See, God likes us, but he's not lonely. We don't pray and go to church because he's lonely. We pray and go to church to save our lives. It is breathing, eating, sleeping. It is a bad and painful idea to stop, no matter how intriguing the counter-arguments are.</div>
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So stay on the Ark and do your best to clean it up and bail it out when the bilge water gets too foul. That's the price we pay for having so much life going on around us. It is better than the alternative.</div>
the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-21684834950514845902013-11-10T15:01:00.001-05:002013-11-10T15:01:39.079-05:00LOVE, SEX, AND MARRIAGE<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-LsUfEpIUljU1wlMXSGP167yRSwQnO3pzF3TPXxI9BJwFQmVwtaqpYW0FjcFHoQnG2jvwGiLAwX8y_wlqHP04xu_px3oqHZ7XMPgcRXA-mJkzpCcC_b-RNo42M3x-eODTgrBlP6L1oo/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-LsUfEpIUljU1wlMXSGP167yRSwQnO3pzF3TPXxI9BJwFQmVwtaqpYW0FjcFHoQnG2jvwGiLAwX8y_wlqHP04xu_px3oqHZ7XMPgcRXA-mJkzpCcC_b-RNo42M3x-eODTgrBlP6L1oo/s320/wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=QEhBuyeawObnjM&tbnid=GAQyygLi_wrWJM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photosbyg.com%2Fst-johns-lutheran-church-wedding-photography%2F&ei=DwVMUqm3Foie9QSfz4DwCw&bvm=bv.53371865,d.eWU&psig=AFQjCNGu2I4hddEbpl8omAnBFhonY3iVUA&ust=1380800099984942">In the beginning.</a></div>
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Love, Sex, and Marriage are pleasant subjects to think about, but there seems to be a lot of confusion about them right now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXSLJU9a1Yr3b1_prushFB-oXEchYU6CROKzlsa3us42Snel9mly_pIi0KJa-Th-WKjBYag8m5pm0ckfaUjj49g8Ooh2Vi4DNB5ikY7pyX7Ja5teIb7XZPh9AA5epCITkBwyOotD3DWg/s1600/Older+couple.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXSLJU9a1Yr3b1_prushFB-oXEchYU6CROKzlsa3us42Snel9mly_pIi0KJa-Th-WKjBYag8m5pm0ckfaUjj49g8Ooh2Vi4DNB5ikY7pyX7Ja5teIb7XZPh9AA5epCITkBwyOotD3DWg/s320/Older+couple.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=V-McMYU_5RMq_M&tbnid=LGgT5Mh6uttMLM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.findyourdreamweddingdress.co.uk%2Fsomething-new-someone-older-age-of-new-married-couple-rise%2F&ei=7AJMUvCQHY7U9QT8k4GoCw&bvm=bv.53371865,d.eWU&psig=AFQjCNE5nYXiWTy3pb_DgyhVcdUEssthQg&ust=1380799539216920">Still happy.</a></div>
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A society that encourages sexual promiscuity is committing suicide. A society that successfully dissociates sex from love, faithful and permanent marriage, and from child-bearing, will dwindle and disappear. This is because sex is powerfully attractive. A few tips:<br />
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If sex is separated from marriage, a substantial number of people will tend to pursue sex, not marriage. Marriage has a lot of complexities; sex, not so much. </blockquote>
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If sex is separated from child-bearing, a substantial number of people will tend to pursue sex, not child-bearing. Sex is more fun. </blockquote>
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If sex is separated from love, a substantial number of people will tend to pursue sex, not love. Loving another person is one of the most complex and difficult things human beings ever do. It is also the most rewarding. Sex is simple and easy. A lot of people will choose simple and easy over complex and difficult.</blockquote>
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Rejection from a person with whom one has been sexually intimate is a grave and often irreparable wound. It is possible to heal from such wounds, just as it is possible to survive a badly fractured skull, but we were not built for this. Some people recover, but many never do. </blockquote>
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Children do best, in every measurable way, when raised by two loving, faithful, permanently married, biological parents. There is no reasonable dispute about this in the scientific literature. If the question is "what is best for my child?" there is no other answer.</blockquote>
The difference between a society surviving and dying off is very thin. It is the difference between bearing enough children to replace our population, and going slightly below replacement level. Slightly below replacement level is like slightly below the surface of the pool. You stay there and you drown, even just a few inches from the surface. When a large and growing number of people choose not to reproduce, or not to reproduce enough to replace the population, it is cause for alarm. Such a society is asking itself "why live?" and is answering "I don't know." Such a society is broken.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN6BsRHQEzPIEJMDRIb_L-nDqnIYvVTMo6fkyD9KNCxsmRNLkxs2Hm57Oj2f_JFFLNueVKrDpLjOUsp1G6S7-R2dkQzwuEQGK8IFYqon_GBHhC-nye7426JgLoZxkZcH2buoIVorXI_4/s1600/Danger+Drowning+warning+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN6BsRHQEzPIEJMDRIb_L-nDqnIYvVTMo6fkyD9KNCxsmRNLkxs2Hm57Oj2f_JFFLNueVKrDpLjOUsp1G6S7-R2dkQzwuEQGK8IFYqon_GBHhC-nye7426JgLoZxkZcH2buoIVorXI_4/s320/Danger+Drowning+warning+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lifeconfidenceforkids.com/Danger%20Drowning%20warning%20sign.jpg">Danger: Drowning Ahead</a></div>
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Right now most of Western and many Third World societies are <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html">not replacing themselves.</a> That is a polite way of saying these societies are killing themselves. Part of how we are killing ourselves is that we have separated sex from traditional marriage. So separated, sex becomes merely a kind of addiction, maybe the strongest. Sex becomes a powerful end in itself, divorced from having children. In the end, like every addiction, it winds up destroying us.<br />
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We are killing ourselves, just one generation after the publication of <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/docs/humanae_vitae.pdf">Humanae Vitae,</a> written by Pope Paul VI in 1968. The Pope taught that separating sex from love and having children was wrong. Turns out he accurately prophesied what would become of us if we insisted on separating Love, Marriage and Sex. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFzhWeWY7kpIN7-PbelbCkipBRL_UHSBQQf3O8NKEdqxFaW7hnf7U7gHZBV1L5KNc6HunPTj2GfQtXwkPzGmaxzScL_EhUC50yFzKxyTCklT8pxLOW14Z_7GAut5eKt6zgbJisgSdj7k/s1600/Paul+VI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFzhWeWY7kpIN7-PbelbCkipBRL_UHSBQQf3O8NKEdqxFaW7hnf7U7gHZBV1L5KNc6HunPTj2GfQtXwkPzGmaxzScL_EhUC50yFzKxyTCklT8pxLOW14Z_7GAut5eKt6zgbJisgSdj7k/s320/Paul+VI.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=kY5XdHfFMu-C0M&tbnid=TeTFuzh20ahggM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FHumanae_Vitae&ei=FAZMUufQIoia8wTbyYGQDw&bvm=bv.53371865,d.eWU&psig=AFQjCNFxi-1lt_fQIJP-RBk6nY-GrjdH8w&ust=1380800322694495">Paul VI: He was Right.</a></div>
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He was right, and it was good of him to warn us. It was a very loving thing to do, despite the fact that it made a lot of people, including many Catholics, very angry. If you read his essay, you will see that he is appealing to us in reason and in love.<br />
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The fact that it is common now for people to disdain traditional marriage, fidelity and child-rearing does not mean that these attitudes are healthy. That someone can no longer feel gun-shot wounds does not make shooting people healthy. While we love and care for people with gun-shot wounds, and see lots of them in the ER, it does not mean that we embrace shooting people as "normal." However common it may be, we can see its ill effects and reject shooting people as a way of life.<br />
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Traditional marriage is not just a convention or a fashion, to be tossed off by humanity when it gets bored or tired, like an old pair of shoes. Traditional marriage is the foundation of human society. Without it, society dies. <br />
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Just look around. We recognize some addictions for what they are, and we see the wreckage they create.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLU2NcNtR6C1pcOcFtm8u6sSZv_fmfS_AV9E9FVnA3x3Yy2HvRIupxDHewo22EMf_uvK5mcXKXm9zhi5yI9zV8W1PM8NSgkxayNAjP6PI-L-obVTs4uUljrJw8hsf6EErjL8IVhj4IGpc/s1600/heroin-addiction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLU2NcNtR6C1pcOcFtm8u6sSZv_fmfS_AV9E9FVnA3x3Yy2HvRIupxDHewo22EMf_uvK5mcXKXm9zhi5yI9zV8W1PM8NSgkxayNAjP6PI-L-obVTs4uUljrJw8hsf6EErjL8IVhj4IGpc/s320/heroin-addiction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://treatmentcenterfinder.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/heroin-addiction.jpg">I hurt myself today . . .</a></div>
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Sex, not so much. But what Johnny Cash had to say, as he was dying, about his own battles with addiction and infidelity resonates powerfully with me as I examine my own life. God saves us from many things, but most dramatically, from ourselves. The name "Jesus" meant, in Aramaic, "God saves." It is moving to see Jesus on a cross at the end of this music video. No matter where we are, there he is, saving us.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>HURT</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I hurt myself today</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To see if I still feel.<br />I focus on the pain<br />The only thing that's real<br />The needle tears a hole<br />The old familiar sting<br />Try to kill it all away<br />But I remember everything.<br /><br />What have I become<br />My sweetest friend<br />Everyone I know goes away<br />In the end<br />And you could have it all<br />My empire of dirt<br />I will let you down<br />I will make you hurt.<br /><br />I wear this crown of thorns<br />Upon my liar's chair<br />Full of broken thoughts<br />I cannot repair<br />Beneath the stains of time<br />The feelings disappear<br />You are someone else<br />I am still right here.<br /><br />What have I become<br />My sweetest friend<br />Everyone I know goes away<br />In the end<br />And you could have it all<br />My empire of dirt<br />I will let you down<br />I will make you hurt.<br /><br />If I could start again<br />A million miles away<br />I would keep myself<br />I would find a way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">- by Trent Reznor, as performed by Johnny Cash</span></div>
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the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-66657864123234273252013-10-13T23:54:00.000-04:002013-10-13T23:54:09.922-04:00BLOWING UP THE OUT-HOUSE<div class="tr_bq">
Syria is a sad civil war that has had some bizarre twists lately. Most recently Mr. Putin intervened to "save" his man Assad from an American bombing that, while much discussed, appeared unlikely to happen. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrZZrK84Zo80JIhXT4ZFYgRpyaKh6VBKHhJnBsw7PFFf8vd3zh-S5I2fGdm1ILhMu3Mhyphenhyphendn0SehY9N2vnCsIL1ehf_qQIx0yy7m2MesYPGHYa0TdQUqvD1wGOPXuGSnhLiTsMwIvsD6E/s1600/syria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrZZrK84Zo80JIhXT4ZFYgRpyaKh6VBKHhJnBsw7PFFf8vd3zh-S5I2fGdm1ILhMu3Mhyphenhyphendn0SehY9N2vnCsIL1ehf_qQIx0yy7m2MesYPGHYa0TdQUqvD1wGOPXuGSnhLiTsMwIvsD6E/s320/syria.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=Nz-6msWAhfLM1M&tbnid=br5WtVmU7vKObM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatdoesitmean.com%2Findex1681.htm&ei=dDgtUr7XHtOx4AP64oHgAg&bvm=bv.51773540,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNHQbcdQwyhtsaigTYHeXQE5fWyMgQ&ust=1378781664674023">"Syria is a Humanitarian Disaster"</a></div>
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We announced last year that if Assad used chemical weapons it would be a game changer. Parenthetically, why we thought this was a "game changer" is still unclear. Assad was killing lots of people before using chemical weapons. Presumably the dead were unhappy with their murder even when it wasn't due to chemical weapons. See this <a href="http://theoatmeal.com/comics/syria">poignant "comic."</a> Then we caught Assad using chemical weapons to kill lots of people. Then we were stuck with defining "game changer," which we mulled over in public for a good bit, to no effect.<br />
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The arguments for using military force were that (1) we have to stop Assad from using chemical weapons and (2) we have to show the Iranians we mean business, because they keep trying to build a nuclear bomb. Assad had a front row seat as we wrecked Iraq and Afghanistan. Assad knows we <i>can</i> bomb him; he just didn't think we <i>would</i>. Turns out he was right.<br />
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I don't think throwing a few Cruise missiles into some dusty town-hall in Syria will convince Assad to stop bombing his own population. Neither will it convince Iran that we are ready to destroy them to keep them from building nukes. Bombing Syria would just kill a lot of poor people who don't have the wherewithal to get out of the way. <br />
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The lead up to Syria amounted to shouting through a bull-horn that we were about to throw a stick of dynamite into an out-house, the idea being that the neighbors will hear that you have dynamite and maybe quit playing Metallica at 3 a.m.<br />
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<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=cEyCgGmq6ElyLM&tbnid=IigYBsllELLi-M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shabbs.com%2Fhuntcamp%2F&ei=KTItUpCOONf64AP6-4HgDA&bvm=bv.51773540,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNG3KMHI9oqodR9U-cFjLcjUKPXl3Q&ust=1378780069490391">Burning Out-House</a></div>
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Problem is the neighbors already knew you had dynamite. They just don't believe you are going to blow up the outhouse, because you are going to get $h!# all over the place, most especially on yourself. Throwing dynamite into an out-house is a dumb idea. Not bombing Syria was the correct decision.<br />
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Making a lengthy public demonstration about bombing Syria was dumb. Being called on a bluff was unhelpful.<br />
<br />
I do not think we lost credibility with the decision not to bomb. I don't think anyone took us too seriously to begin with. Our internal problems are news all over the world. For the last several years the president has not been able to get his own party in Congress to vote for his budgets, never mind Republicans, who so don't like his budget ideas they keep trying to shut the government down. Right now we cannot keep our government open, never mind take effective military action. We are not fooling anyone.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Certainly not <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/15/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE98A15720130915">Assad</a>. Certainly not <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iran-press-hails-obamas-un-speech-131331445.html">Iran.</a> Certainly not Putin.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLkG5c2TL2gzqfcT48KrkbOVyjgBcCcdb7x_oIi_jnHa5nm2AKw2lsw6exnqBO53wNkeOJFKBIhpRPDqKTvsLeqkoVn2geql-XkFUuG4XMMnaoT6YqKw5BVW0WuiyeU8tWuS4urBn_Yk/s1600/putin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLkG5c2TL2gzqfcT48KrkbOVyjgBcCcdb7x_oIi_jnHa5nm2AKw2lsw6exnqBO53wNkeOJFKBIhpRPDqKTvsLeqkoVn2geql-XkFUuG4XMMnaoT6YqKw5BVW0WuiyeU8tWuS4urBn_Yk/s320/putin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=keJrL72rP6x5yM&tbnid=r_DHEqaYuNZ3rM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffreedomslighthouse.net%2F2013%2F09%2F12%2Frussian-president-vladimir-putin-lectures-the-united-states-in-new-york-times-op-ed-mocks-idea-that-america-is-exceptional%2F&ei=8CZKUqqOMsXC4AOby4CIBA&bvm=bv.53371865,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNEBVjkobMuwGFsWNbzrWO2RyLlDSg&ust=1380677720851890">Mr. Putin Feeling Fine.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Talk about "losing" credibility is idle. We've already lost it.<br />
<br />
the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-33857658535131378382013-09-28T23:03:00.000-04:002013-09-29T09:11:02.936-04:00CELEBRITY NEWS!I just got done glancing through a couple of popular magazines that cover celebrities. Call them <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=weeple">"WEEPLE."</a> Some celebrity news from the pages of WEEPLE: <br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>Two voluptuous sisters are both disappointed in their wealthy but disinterested male consorts, one a basketball player, the other a rapper. One of sisters, with a new baby, is having trouble with her weight.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4WPH2ur8h2yMXDtD0Ofczt8ytnW84zGHvJecgmIgZkHbnYYdXUBywVcbp5rxSV_6Lrz-tO4_h_Qn1DSWHAXbudKPJaMbDkoSj4-QqOyai3BY62yF9cPH4dcMkCekipr3hjNagkoOJhw/s1600/Kim-Kardashian-and-Kanye-manhattan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4WPH2ur8h2yMXDtD0Ofczt8ytnW84zGHvJecgmIgZkHbnYYdXUBywVcbp5rxSV_6Lrz-tO4_h_Qn1DSWHAXbudKPJaMbDkoSj4-QqOyai3BY62yF9cPH4dcMkCekipr3hjNagkoOJhw/s320/Kim-Kardashian-and-Kanye-manhattan.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=n8ypnSzx0tXJdM&tbnid=gLplZRgKnypj_M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnecolebitchie.com%2F2013%2F04%2F23%2Fkim-kardashian-talks-divorce-maternity-style-criticism-kanye-being-defensive%2F&ei=Qh9IUpD8J7La4AOSuYHYDw&bvm=bv.53217764,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNHcD9tANWrEKZwDBkiy36kBam5UDQ&ust=1380544692216329">Volptuous sister and disinterested consort.</a></div>
<ul>
<li>One 20-year old starlet has been exposing herself in public lately. She is apparently crushed over a boy-friend who recently left her, and she has decided that public lasciviousness is the way to get over her heartbreak.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcjDUkUi02t9zLfVJuR5o2AlBNvSjrnU9jMn0Xvaz0ed4s4KH8S-oR90e9QZsJi1l7-jwERRy_DeGo-3T8qjm-vSVzCVdy7tDyL7xPaMJxy56LChDyy0zVSyRW8ibsrfD76DsKngw0EA/s1600/miley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-1-650-430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcjDUkUi02t9zLfVJuR5o2AlBNvSjrnU9jMn0Xvaz0ed4s4KH8S-oR90e9QZsJi1l7-jwERRy_DeGo-3T8qjm-vSVzCVdy7tDyL7xPaMJxy56LChDyy0zVSyRW8ibsrfD76DsKngw0EA/s320/miley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-1-650-430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=rTA-CrLiZ3RHrM&tbnid=CBotpxESuhmPtM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fcolumns%2Fpop-shop%2F1567360%2Fmiley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-video-is-completely-insane-watch&ei=7B9IUrL3C5XK4APc6YDgAw&bvm=bv.53217764,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNFsZ7Onvcg1ydmk5luaoSrW5xFPlA&ust=1380544859452000">Working through issues.</a></div>
<ul>
<li>A not-so-famous former TV star has announced that, at age 50, he is ready to meet "Mrs. Right," get married and have children.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The 18-year old half-sister of an alcoholic, drug-addicted and criminal 20-something starlet has just had extensive plastic surgery to look more like her troubled, beautiful half-sister. Their father has ditched both of their mothers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdD-XpSF0b2svHP-SElrhjZn-FgYsSdyvKqFNHa8RABQZrPKs60GMKZG2C-81-1wW4eDYT4FkiTrh067J5Q-7sRf_GAPL3A6JDz1DxOQcuawY14DUDGyq794YWjXE3xdtmtiNBNjQndk/s1600/lindsay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdD-XpSF0b2svHP-SElrhjZn-FgYsSdyvKqFNHa8RABQZrPKs60GMKZG2C-81-1wW4eDYT4FkiTrh067J5Q-7sRf_GAPL3A6JDz1DxOQcuawY14DUDGyq794YWjXE3xdtmtiNBNjQndk/s320/lindsay.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=wceL-BQRCptVtM&tbnid=FXF1szMKQlUQnM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibtimes.com%2Flindsay-lohan-other-celebrity-mug-shots-photos-708805&ei=EiJIUv6nErLe4AP5ioHYCw&bvm=bv.53217764,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNGsHbRbScTsb96-kOEJ8qG260_PQQ&ust=1380545411171125">I want to be like my sister.</a></div>
<ul>
<li>A TV star wore a dress so low-cut that one of her breasts popped out unexpectedly during a formal event.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A 50-year old movie star was angered to meet her 35-year old ex-husband, accompanied by his new 30-year old girlfriend, at a Kabbalah function. She introduced him to Kabbalah.</li>
</ul>
<div>
People wonder why I follow Christ. I think from now on I will start by having them read WEEPLE. That should explain it.<br />
<br />
WEEPLE expresses a deep truth about human beings - we are sad and have a hard time fulfilling our needs. I think we read WEEPLE because it makes us feel good, since we are not THAT messed up, but what's with that? I know my heart. If I had the money and the lack of boundaries that money brings, I could easily be on the cover of WEEPLE. <br />
<br />
Easily.<br />
<br />
I thank God for my lack of money and good looks.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-9745625048322444392013-09-01T11:36:00.000-04:002013-09-01T20:48:55.275-04:00ARAB SPROINGSome time ago Eternal Optimist commented on a nasty op-ed article in the NY Times in which the author lacerated Israel for casting aspersions on Egypt's democratic aspirations, and generally ranted that Israel needs to make peace. <a href="http://crapshed.blogspot.com/2011/12/nyt-op-ed-israel-cheesy.html">Read the comment here.</a><br />
<br />
This was before Morsi's ham-handed grab for totalitarian power in Egypt. Which mushroomed into a military coup. Perhaps the op-ed writer is less outraged over Israel's cynicism about the new, and now newly toppled, Egyptian government.<br />
<br />
The Israelis seem to have gotten things about right, and the Times op-ed writer about perfectly wrong. The Arab Spring turned into the Arab Sprang. It is now the Arab Putsch and headed toward the Arab Train Wreck. Let's call it the "<b>Arab Sproing</b>," since "sproing" is the sound your car makes when that metal thingie that holds everything together breaks and flies past your ear, just before the engine throws a rod.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBn4MH8v-WXTjPgdesOwPLYeCHSTwH5XHdSpHNnnqaxrUoi-6gzb0mTSBx0OAe-ks17rRmco_TPnz4PCh_j2HaL1KaWqodoWWYMy7_nj7BokYrm95MLgIwWC932743a9NPLyZhCOcOlU/s1600/broken-down-bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBn4MH8v-WXTjPgdesOwPLYeCHSTwH5XHdSpHNnnqaxrUoi-6gzb0mTSBx0OAe-ks17rRmco_TPnz4PCh_j2HaL1KaWqodoWWYMy7_nj7BokYrm95MLgIwWC932743a9NPLyZhCOcOlU/s320/broken-down-bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/broken-down-bus.jpg">Egypt</a></div>
<br />
The Times is the voice of Colonel Klink on public policy. Study the Times on any public policy issue, and you will at least know what not to do. Whenever you are about to listen to the Times, remember that it bought the Boston Globe for about 1 billion and just sold it for 73 million. That's a loss of about 900 million dollars. Careful there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfIJkJ0-fWO1rHbG3rFZYSnDZ-oleQKW2TG6kqJmZanVDiHrf_93W_A6LLEH54KhkUrMvQrZZXlVV3_mj64wNAxTRaoN7ZNC1mH8flY2uyrRnpeYb_-PN0Qf9bT3bzmOMSQ6ZS44CxfE/s1600/klink+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfIJkJ0-fWO1rHbG3rFZYSnDZ-oleQKW2TG6kqJmZanVDiHrf_93W_A6LLEH54KhkUrMvQrZZXlVV3_mj64wNAxTRaoN7ZNC1mH8flY2uyrRnpeYb_-PN0Qf9bT3bzmOMSQ6ZS44CxfE/s1600/klink+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=7QRRSgr6c2DE1M:&imgrefurl=http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/97542&docid=V9KBhR4GkW9YPM&imgurl=http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/770/wk4.JPG&w=640&h=480&ei=JOgKUt7CMuzC4APjmYDIAw&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:13,s:0,i:129&iact=rc&page=2&tbnh=186&tbnw=251&start=13&ndsp=22&tx=128&ty=81">Colonel Klink: Dependably Wrong</a></div>
<br />
At least the Times has a great sports section. (That is irony, for anyone who has not read the Times Sports Section: "Proletarians View A-Rod as Tragic Victim of Capitalism").<br />
<br />
Egyptians voted in droves for the Muslim Brotherhood, whose rhetoric on the Jews is Hitler's. No wonder Israel was less than enthused about the <b>Arab Sproing</b>. However the <b>Arab Sproing</b> works out for the Egyptians, it looked like a continued cold winter for Israel, surrounded by people who forthrightly declare their urgent need to kill all the Jews. I'm sure that Egypt's military is not favorably inclined toward Israel, but they appear to be less eager to actively kill Israelis than are the Muslim Brothers. <br />
<br />
So by Israel's lights maybe this is an improvement. <br />
<br />
Having dealt with genocidal fascists in Europe, during the 1930s and 1940s, the Israelis are understandably suspicious of such folk. That's why they formed the state of Israel, <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=286527">saying "never again."</a> I cannot imagine any constructive dialogue with Hamas, which controls Gaza, or a government in Egypt that is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. The only question that Muslim fascists in Palestine and Egypt want to discuss with Israel is how quickly Israel can wind up its affairs and disappear. And by disappear they mean "die."<br />
<br />
So here's to more snotty pieces in the Times, which keep us both entertained and oriented, in a negative kind of way. And here's to Israel: 65 years of democratic success in a sea of fascist Muslim failure.<br />
<br />
<br />the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-84772369649231439382013-09-01T10:58:00.000-04:002013-09-01T10:58:29.175-04:00"DISCHANGEFULNESS"Eternal Optimist was feeling forlorn, long ago, toward the beginning of Mr. Obama's first term:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Now, I am quite willing – and even eager – for someone to point me
toward an example where sustained deficit spending worked out well.<br />
<br />
See, this is where things get scary, because <span style="font-weight: bold;">I can’t think of any</span>.
So help me out here. Maybe someone knows an example where this
worked. Or maybe even if there is no good example, you can help me
understand how buying up toxic mortgages, and nationalizing banks and
the health care industry are going to allow us to pay off the piles of
debt we are racking up. Even if it is just a theory. Because for the
life of me I can’t even figure out a theory, much less recite an
example, of how it works.<br />
<br />
<b>So let me know if
you have some great examples of chronic deficit spending success
stories.</b> I could use the encouragement.</blockquote>
I haven't had any response on this one. Anyone got any encouraging stories yet? It's been 5 years. Greece? Portugal? Spain? Illinois? California?<br />
<br />
Detroit?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRsBrjJwkTtXEtxdq7w1b8tKfMAwP3zjS2niLLHQfHqCkbPzGlYAmX7wDxKIuNWc2V-5op9MYKEcuSGOdANcmb3cKKbJIXeEXUrA257ebNtDgsTdgBIWu0xEAMaE9ce96_MDKezvFOCU/s1600/zombieland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRsBrjJwkTtXEtxdq7w1b8tKfMAwP3zjS2niLLHQfHqCkbPzGlYAmX7wDxKIuNWc2V-5op9MYKEcuSGOdANcmb3cKKbJIXeEXUrA257ebNtDgsTdgBIWu0xEAMaE9ce96_MDKezvFOCU/s320/zombieland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.heavy.com/media/2013/07/zombieland.jpg">Detroit: Suffering From Poor Self Esteem</a></div>
<br />
I heard Cleveland has a great new marketing slogan, "We're Not Detroit!" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM">Watch the video here.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF0QAFzGyA1AqyZVyGaGHuIKQzjjP2U68uz_Kjp8GoZ4h79I6Wdl6rYgUXUOumfBdmQFtJS44b-l_z86UnlwRhnWvgvdhyDhXaI_cZZQI0vW2YdYU9FPg5Ld-HOedOEqD2FZR_HB8NsE/s1600/cleveland-were-not-detroit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF0QAFzGyA1AqyZVyGaGHuIKQzjjP2U68uz_Kjp8GoZ4h79I6Wdl6rYgUXUOumfBdmQFtJS44b-l_z86UnlwRhnWvgvdhyDhXaI_cZZQI0vW2YdYU9FPg5Ld-HOedOEqD2FZR_HB8NsE/s320/cleveland-were-not-detroit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/cleveland-were-not-detroit.jpg">Cleveland: 'Murcan for "Schadenfreude"</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The idea seems to be that America is different. Somehow we are immune to all that. Just like the junk bond bubble in the 80s, the tech bubble in the late 90s, and the housing bubble in the mid-00s. Just like economists told us the debt-propelled stock bubble in the late 1920s was "different," and could go on indefinitely. <br />
<br />
I have a new investment strategy. Whenever economists and politicians begin telling you how this particular debt-propelled binge is different, and can go on indefinitely, begin selling whatever is currently blowing up. Because the reason they are saying this is that they have run out of other explanations, and people are getting nervous, since the situation doesn't make sense.<br />
<br />
Here is a new word for our current condition: <i>dischangefulness</i>: the state of depriving yourself of change for the better.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-44582589832898550732013-01-01T14:06:00.004-05:002013-01-01T14:06:52.091-05:00FACEBOOK OPTIMISTBowing to the inevitable reality that Facebook interconnects one-sixth of humanity, Eternal Optimist has opened a (very conservative) Facebook page. Obviously he was not able to accomplish this on his own. Rather, a talented consultant of tender years helped him negotiate the intricacies of opening a new account.<br />
<br />
How lovely that the young are willing to share their wisdom with the old! It makes me optimistic.<br />
<br />
I am also optimistic that after years and years of economic and political turmoil, America will eventually sober up and realize that it cannot fund entitlements and government programs forever via the issuance of debt. It appears right now America is of two minds on the subject, and this is likely to go on for a long time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qBukeapr-H4l_VeSSP1Ppd4Cau20miouBoEq3FSnskTq2tzG00Q2kixkyn2co9ZRG0TylrI7K81RlYmupVaW032N6_tDcV84Qj40Gf4ByFINmNViXcOC8_am1fXfMxEfV-_u45-iXyM/s1600/Wile_coyote_cliff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qBukeapr-H4l_VeSSP1Ppd4Cau20miouBoEq3FSnskTq2tzG00Q2kixkyn2co9ZRG0TylrI7K81RlYmupVaW032N6_tDcV84Qj40Gf4ByFINmNViXcOC8_am1fXfMxEfV-_u45-iXyM/s400/Wile_coyote_cliff.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://allthingsd.com/files/2011/11/Wile_coyote_cliff.png">Fiscal Cliff</a></div>
<br />
Facts, however, will intrude at some point. <br />
<br />
Anyone not a union president acknowledges that our entitlement programs are on the road to bankruptcy and have to be reformed. Anyone not a union president has to be uneasy at 1 billion a year in annual deficits, funded by endless debt issued by the Federal Reserve and Treasury.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH80jcbR3Alh18VgfrP-FI3zd55ADK4O1xwarXeEsvudOBT6fM3MUddRvMbBqpVTnsQmZMnbKmUIB6Xv9B8NHkf3fJKCDWkqM-937Ih3d3Udwtlfs681YxA1UFkbOe3zEhTwqIz0krrw/s1600/fat_guy_little_boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH80jcbR3Alh18VgfrP-FI3zd55ADK4O1xwarXeEsvudOBT6fM3MUddRvMbBqpVTnsQmZMnbKmUIB6Xv9B8NHkf3fJKCDWkqM-937Ih3d3Udwtlfs681YxA1UFkbOe3zEhTwqIz0krrw/s320/fat_guy_little_boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.frogsoda.com/images/captions/fat_guy_little_boat.jpg">Union president's position on fiscal prudence.</a> </div>
<br />
I am sure Mr. Obama recognizes both truths. He is not overly concerned, since he is confident that he can successfully blame
Republicans for tax increases and spending cuts that he agreed to a few
years ago. <br />
<br />
Mr. Obama's plan to fix entitlement deficits: ignore them and they will go away.<br />
<br />
Mr. Obama's plan to fix current annual deficits: ignore them and they will go away.<br />
<br />
Mr. Obama's plan, as I understand it: if we tax rich people and keep issuing lots of debt, somewhere along the line we will have an economic recovery based on wind and solar power and everything will fix itself. <br />
<br />
Thankfully, Mr. Obama has been predicting economic recovery since 2008. At some point, I suppose, he will be right, although whether that point arrives in the next 4 years I am not sure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVyiaZiRfUunOaCx59nlYJbG6_tvwRxoRdvcODrMOttVdxiEFqp60xQ1MNMAacXQyEj6uNsXFRFBLF-ts70BHg52XmcHwNEOBi9nmMX8gqYLuh02N3JnRpsD3H85MsTk2z8Xy3mD_Iws/s1600/ostrich-head-in-sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVyiaZiRfUunOaCx59nlYJbG6_tvwRxoRdvcODrMOttVdxiEFqp60xQ1MNMAacXQyEj6uNsXFRFBLF-ts70BHg52XmcHwNEOBi9nmMX8gqYLuh02N3JnRpsD3H85MsTk2z8Xy3mD_Iws/s320/ostrich-head-in-sand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ostrichheadinsand.com/images/ostrich-head-in-sand.jpg">Mr. Obama's Plan.</a> </div>
<br />
In the meantime, Eternal Optimist is confident that we could trim the budget, begin fixing entitlement funding, and not cause an economic catastrophe. Mr. Obama, and 52% of America, disagree. So we won't do it anytime soon. Simple as that. <br />
<br />
<i>[Caveat: at this point, since I have disagreed with Mr. Obama, I will have been called an elitist, a racist, a fascist and possibly a warmonger. This is a verbal tic that passes for debate among some of my Obamaista friends. I am none of the above.] </i><br />
<br />The Republicans must feel like they are negotiating with the Palestinians, whose idea of good faith is to demand that you submit to genocide and then blame you for unreasonably breaking off negotiations.<br />
All of this was easily predictable. The Obama Administration is just Chicago machine politics writ large. The Machine is good at winning elections, but bad at governing. To study our fate as a nation, study the City of Chicago and State of Illinois.<br />
<br />
Ugh.<br />
<br />
the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-31575736688672248102012-12-29T09:15:00.004-05:002012-12-29T09:15:52.089-05:00FAMILY OF DESTINATION<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ahM0Hw2EJ-YP3wwrPMdMn4g92dC05BFuDRJ9cwSThVb-krF43PdQ50XhDAoN2w9R0MV2scGrGMTQnDApneyw6f986SbLL4WzDRVhni9oR-46kwW_Ya6UcuPAs5Jni7_rIf_tMob0T44/s1600/last+supper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ahM0Hw2EJ-YP3wwrPMdMn4g92dC05BFuDRJ9cwSThVb-krF43PdQ50XhDAoN2w9R0MV2scGrGMTQnDApneyw6f986SbLL4WzDRVhni9oR-46kwW_Ya6UcuPAs5Jni7_rIf_tMob0T44/s400/last+supper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.trinitychurchashland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/original-picture-of-the-last-supper.jpg">L'Ultima Cena (daVinci)</a></div>
<br />
The
Bible is a family history. Genesis is the story of Adam and his family. The Old Testament is the story of Abraham's family; the New Testament, of Jesus' family. Jesus spent the night before he died with his brothers, at the supper table. He was not working late at the office.<br />
<br />
Jesus came as a "brother"
to Israel - in the Aramaic of the day, he was
part of their family, a relation. The word "brother" was used for all
male kin, not just the sons of your mother or father. Jesus is the hope
of his family. He is the answer to our family of origin problems. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nrRUYYjmXJ8EmNk1Xp5ET4VCDdAzGK0HzauTaC2Hr4z9i5blZFsGNxJONeYOmpS7lTIQ9vJLXR4nJFjN2PoLQSkVgVQNdwxhVxz0cyt1hA5AXAnK1S6xCt52QkbwUU4pEAVModK99A8/s1600/Christ+rembrandt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nrRUYYjmXJ8EmNk1Xp5ET4VCDdAzGK0HzauTaC2Hr4z9i5blZFsGNxJONeYOmpS7lTIQ9vJLXR4nJFjN2PoLQSkVgVQNdwxhVxz0cyt1hA5AXAnK1S6xCt52QkbwUU4pEAVModK99A8/s320/Christ+rembrandt.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.artgalleryabc.com/images/rembrandt170.jpg">"The Head of Christ" - Rembrandt</a></div>
<br />
In the Book of Matthew we begin with Jesus' Hebrew genealogy. In the
book of Luke the genealogy of Jesus is extended back to Adam. Jesus is
kin to each of us, our "brother," and his love and justice extend
to all mankind. We are his family. We are not mere
numbers, we are not "strangers" to him. He expresses his care for us as
his deeply loved brothers, mothers and sisters. <br />
<br />
Our hearts are comforted by knowing that He loves us with the
unconditional love, mingled with absolute honesty, that is the very best
that good families offer. It is no accident that a society who denies
Jesus, who denies God, becomes uprooted, bleak, despairing, and
suicidal. We have lost our family. We have lost the bedrock of love
and acceptance that we were meant to have.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbScnV8K7XJ9_5kNgxLNC5WSd8rJioOsbQACchlmJxw4kaP4D_LLDMTJzj1f5qZxxSMk3cuLB6qcYjE1YeeQHmwQI6ovm3o54OfdyH0cWX3DkiJWAqBHKbeIKwPB0znQ6vlh-UfiJAP0/s1600/Cana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbScnV8K7XJ9_5kNgxLNC5WSd8rJioOsbQACchlmJxw4kaP4D_LLDMTJzj1f5qZxxSMk3cuLB6qcYjE1YeeQHmwQI6ovm3o54OfdyH0cWX3DkiJWAqBHKbeIKwPB0znQ6vlh-UfiJAP0/s400/Cana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTcFjKdmCfgJ0GhPFGwsCKu_Aq9-QdF8IcWfTDrz7sx0_pyA8wP">The Wedding Feast at Cana - Jan Vermeyen (d. 1559)</a></span></div>
<br />
Jesus was accused of spending too much time at weddings and feasts, eating and drinking. He spent a lot of time with family and friends, being happy together. Jesus had this to say about his family: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Who
is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward
his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever
does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and
mother.”</blockquote>
He did not exclude or deny his biological family
by this statement. Rather, He
included in his family "whoever does the will of my heavenly Father."
We see this most especially at the cross, when he joined John and Mary
together as son and mother.<br />
<br />
Remember that when Jesus speaks, it
is not just an assertion of fact. Jesus' words are acts of power. By His word all was created. When he says we are his
family if we do the will of God, it is not just "as if," or figurative,
language. We are by His word made His family.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLh4ySuZYD0zxswS-Pnb76YjCmANzhaAK-W74lYsHf9foAsiYATEzJvytbTNXdA15KYc4tLeo0SNkCFUEVna0xVTwmpFEtO1wXUiIHIPAtowLEm6t3hDucmTCKw5eYxUELV03iMtIcNw/s1600/holy+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLh4ySuZYD0zxswS-Pnb76YjCmANzhaAK-W74lYsHf9foAsiYATEzJvytbTNXdA15KYc4tLeo0SNkCFUEVna0xVTwmpFEtO1wXUiIHIPAtowLEm6t3hDucmTCKw5eYxUELV03iMtIcNw/s400/holy+family.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgYUvsGFKq8nlOakte4EP5Af8tjGXkA33lA-WB5v8SQe4wcY3a"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgYUvsGFKq8nlOakte4EP5Af8tjGXkA33lA-WB5v8SQe4wcY3a">The Holy Family With the Little Bird - Bartolome Esteben Murillo (c1650)</a></div>
<br />
Christmas is the day we begin again our worship of Jesus, who came to us as a new-born baby, to show us a new life. We are all welcome to participate in his new and perfect life, because He loves us. We are His sisters and brothers.<br />
<br />
We
all have our "family of origin" issues, as the psychologists
tell us. Jesus is the healing of our family of origin issues. He is our "family of destination."<span style="color: blue;"> And our destination is a wedding banquet.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsndmTt_6giHiAmqlJGt-2VHtNfChaMy9W4MqxVA7CXI8ci0vE4FQD8ueQT_7ieCCaIxZ9eZhulHkqG-fP0_UoI2504xjo552uw3Wa9OUWm89MtAdk-EnkKOnjkbCKe57F10vnUoDH_es/s1600/banquet+of+the+lamb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsndmTt_6giHiAmqlJGt-2VHtNfChaMy9W4MqxVA7CXI8ci0vE4FQD8ueQT_7ieCCaIxZ9eZhulHkqG-fP0_UoI2504xjo552uw3Wa9OUWm89MtAdk-EnkKOnjkbCKe57F10vnUoDH_es/s400/banquet+of+the+lamb.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJePiUk0p1Wt97N5oUQWPEHa4VwmroufG57EQ10ZyGvnH9RzRz5xIPKoD8ZGj4ONnutR8-INHXlz_X0_YFBIizgSX0b7sFenXu95sNhm3Qw6ispSmAAkeASLP03RQzzU8SJgLQgFa3n_K/s1600/banquet+of+the+lamb.jpg"><span style="color: blue;">Banquet of the Lamb</span></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!</span></span> </span> </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-81560885788948210432012-12-22T12:40:00.000-05:002012-12-22T12:40:12.095-05:00PERHAPS<div style="text-align: left;">
Explain to me again, in simple words,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How we find ourselves, this Advent season,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
weeping (once again) for children murdered </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
by a young man run amok at a school?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The words and images come ceaselessly</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
With ads for jello, gum, Depends and cars.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The slaughter of innocents moves product.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We sure do talk a lot, to no effect.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How long until we see the substance, not</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The accidents of motive, time and place,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of opportunity, intent and act?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Maybe we could confess our ignorance?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So quick to question God, so slow to ask</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ourselves (in whom we trust, to whom we pray) - </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What have we wrought? Why are we so broken?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Maybe we could murmur a contrite prayer?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ah me, this glist'ning shunt, greased with the fat</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
dripping from the human sacrifices</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We offer every day, every hour - </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our children for our self-absorbed desires.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On we slide, a bloated, gassy torso,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Pus leaking from a dozen rotting wounds.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On we slide, a circus freak in lipstick,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Wedged in a coffin filled with our own waste.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We gorge on lust, pride, greed, and irony</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And expect our children to find meaning.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We adulterate, abort and divorce</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And wonder at their madness and despair. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Ye wander, witless, in your wilderness</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Refusing drink from the water of life.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ye deaf, blind, dumb, ye lame, ye sore smitten -</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Drink yet from the river of life and live."</div>
</blockquote>
Perhaps it is true we need a savior?<br />
Perhaps we cannot find our way alone?<br />
Perhaps in these tears we could kneel and pray<br />
To the poor baby born on Christmas Day? <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqsrX9k7E6LITjjCgV3XogdgrOGyDA8HJIjfqVXV9zC6H-Tl4j3PkGvrENkYevrYs5IinIhD_E11M7c1nDlj2JBLIUAX95ZJrW-YSR02u2LYHybREM2h_0UBJ7AvqGAuSWK3Bi8l9yJQ/s1600/christ+asleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqsrX9k7E6LITjjCgV3XogdgrOGyDA8HJIjfqVXV9zC6H-Tl4j3PkGvrENkYevrYs5IinIhD_E11M7c1nDlj2JBLIUAX95ZJrW-YSR02u2LYHybREM2h_0UBJ7AvqGAuSWK3Bi8l9yJQ/s400/christ+asleep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.nouvellesimages.com/img_The-Christ-Child-Asleep-(detail)_Bernardino-LUINI_ref~160.001668.00_mode~zoom.jpg">"The Christ Child Asleep"<span style="font-size: x-small;"> - </span>Bernardino Luini (d. 1532)</a></span></div>
the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-81222257913585606152012-12-01T11:15:00.002-05:002012-12-01T11:15:15.253-05:00ETERNALLY OPTIMISTIC<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">This is an optimistic time of year. Today marks the end of "Ordinary" time, in the Catholic liturgy, and tomorrow marks the beginning of Advent, the four weeks during which we prepare for the Christmas holiday. Or "Christ Mass" "holy day." </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0viBBW_1N4puBdLzf0GtCfNVnutlNADC-P1G9pj6l0zK3AgbxOhA-N5CfJI2AiuR0MbixeWHuiQrpeuveTLv04ahgzDK7zJAiInypEz1fHOeX3nYTkToRwcsAaAQk8HTSicfkdoTNwQ/s1600/adven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0viBBW_1N4puBdLzf0GtCfNVnutlNADC-P1G9pj6l0zK3AgbxOhA-N5CfJI2AiuR0MbixeWHuiQrpeuveTLv04ahgzDK7zJAiInypEz1fHOeX3nYTkToRwcsAaAQk8HTSicfkdoTNwQ/s400/adven.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mattbortmess.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/art_of_advent_12.jpg"><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Advent Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!</span></a></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Next time someone gets snarky about the Catholic Church, remember that it gave us Christmas and the concept of a "holiday." You might remind them, as well, that it is to the the Catholic Church that we owe Sundays off from work, the New Testament, the concept of universal education and health care for the poor, and the inalienable dignity and value of each human being, no matter how humble.</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">None of these ideas had any currency in human society or government at the time of Christ. It was Christ's Church in which they were nurtured and spread, in the face of extraordinary opposition. </span><br />
<br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">And to the Church we owe 2,000 years of fabulous art, music, literature, philosophy and theology.</span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">I'm not bragging, I'm just pointing out facts for your consideration.</span><br />
<br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">The liturgical readings of late have been consumed with last things, and have focused on the Book of Revelation. </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSGIWnVjCstB4Pq-CD-sEhzVQM9h1iZDbAiy15DZQ17cGfyUdPGfoCDI38LUFRyyxfLtndVYwneIOQ9smyECVXkOKoEp4X-3z8oVhAAxubNOeFILiJIJeEesn5JbW5WrE0DzkRivV618/s1600/christ-the-judge-michelange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSGIWnVjCstB4Pq-CD-sEhzVQM9h1iZDbAiy15DZQ17cGfyUdPGfoCDI38LUFRyyxfLtndVYwneIOQ9smyECVXkOKoEp4X-3z8oVhAAxubNOeFILiJIJeEesn5JbW5WrE0DzkRivV618/s400/christ-the-judge-michelange.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Last-Judgement.html">Christ the Judge (from Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment")</a></span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">People usually think of Revelation with a certain amount of awe, since many of the visions described there are of enormously powerful alien creatures filled with malice toward the human race. "Revelation," the movie, would far outstrip in intensity and pure terror any apocalyptic science fiction movie of recent years.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6HwOrpsPNALlp6MNiZkrMiRxmfY8mg5pGNPkDq5nk7SAO8bxDvCI8_XqGUjLxyXM_6BzVELgnxMjElp1Uboav81InjuSxtPgE8_0KE_xym7T2rP__XVhdP6CxnifeTPLvQnWLKc64dk/s1600/lastjudgement-damned-man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6HwOrpsPNALlp6MNiZkrMiRxmfY8mg5pGNPkDq5nk7SAO8bxDvCI8_XqGUjLxyXM_6BzVELgnxMjElp1Uboav81InjuSxtPgE8_0KE_xym7T2rP__XVhdP6CxnifeTPLvQnWLKc64dk/s640/lastjudgement-damned-man.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116">The Damned (<span style="font-size: small;">from "The Last Judgment"</span>)</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Hunter S. Thompson recognized the power of Revelation when he wrote</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">I have stolen more quotes and thoughts and purely elegant little starbursts of writing from the Book of Revelation than anything else in the English language.. . because l love the wild power of the language and the purity of the madness that governs it and makes it music. </span></blockquote>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Of course, as with almost anything Thompson wrote, you must separate the flares of insight from the smog of peyote fueled megalomania and self indulgence. For Thompson, Revelation was a book of madness. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F5aLClO9REGcGA-O28wAAw4bkzcf9rn6pluPTr8Xh8sa4wI49kGC0J6GKj5pd4M7-oVDcvF9GM7Tcw6um09U-q9lxpRX-Wtm526daNpGbIQpTQH6Ijt0BW1erJSYYuoGZb6Wmzglhik/s1600/hunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F5aLClO9REGcGA-O28wAAw4bkzcf9rn6pluPTr8Xh8sa4wI49kGC0J6GKj5pd4M7-oVDcvF9GM7Tcw6um09U-q9lxpRX-Wtm526daNpGbIQpTQH6Ijt0BW1erJSYYuoGZb6Wmzglhik/s400/hunter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> <a href="http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/images/11/2009/08/hunter.jpg">Who is mad? Hunter or John the Revelator? Judge wisely.</a> </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Thompson's words have the benefit of paying the book its due, in his typically perverse way. Counting on the book being madness is one of two options. If the book is even one-tenth true - in any sense, physically, spiritually or allegorically - we are in for a catastrophically bad ride. </span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">So dismissing it all as "madness" is perfect. Unless, of course, you are wrong.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelsq76x_na-15A5X0uq_k3IsrZGa_RDYlOGFABQwScKOeS8MoJDVxuLKPVHZpqjT6MtZSUekNNEzVrUNZr1Akn_t6bhTt4fgJxnPn2yV2o9DtJ0XnvzZRVKaq2_TEA5ZGMltWBp-3dMM/s1600/durer-apocalypse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelsq76x_na-15A5X0uq_k3IsrZGa_RDYlOGFABQwScKOeS8MoJDVxuLKPVHZpqjT6MtZSUekNNEzVrUNZr1Akn_t6bhTt4fgJxnPn2yV2o9DtJ0XnvzZRVKaq2_TEA5ZGMltWBp-3dMM/s400/durer-apocalypse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116"> </span><a href="http://parkwestgallery.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/durer-apocalypse.jpg?w=500&h=373"><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116">Durer: The Apocalypse</span></a></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Little known by those casually familiar with Revelation are the passages of light and hope cast liberally throughout the book. </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">One of the readings from today's liturgy is from the final chapter of the Book of Revelation, speaking of the end of all things:</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">A</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">n angel showed me the river of life-giving water,<br />
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God<br />
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,<br />
On either side of the river grew the tree of life<br />
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;<br />
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Nothing accursed will be found anymore.<br />
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,<br />
and his servants will worship him.<br />
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.<br />
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,<br />
for the Lord God shall give them light,<br />
and they shall reign forever and ever. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">Who are these servants? Jesus identifies them in his first sermon: "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." </span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">The Kingdom passes not to the powerful, not to the arrogant, not to the "wise" or smart or wealthy, nor to the cunning or the ruthless. The Kingdom passes to the "poor in spirit," to the meek, the humble, those who mourn and those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness." It passes to those spurned by this world, insulted for having believed in a King and his eternal, just and loving Kingdom. </span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">This hope is mocked and dismissed by the erudite as the "opium of the people." Quite the contrary, </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">this hope is "medicine for the nations," as the Book of Revelation says. And my, my, the nations - including our own - certainly seem to be in need of some medicine right now.</span></span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;">So it is hard not to be optimistic as we embark again on the Church-wide retelling of the story of that Eternal King's love. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7R3CY06j_2yc1DQ4QNXn1crOaI8WF-V8DwCe0gQwJEB6hzABC0iNM095ciGb6ikD1bJSWsVqlHiksX8PkyeuV995lbQvIPKrYp3jpWZYb8OXvyX-zkoYVBebZuarcRPOP4rhgSvBLao4/s1600/sassoferrato-madonna-with-the-christ-child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7R3CY06j_2yc1DQ4QNXn1crOaI8WF-V8DwCe0gQwJEB6hzABC0iNM095ciGb6ikD1bJSWsVqlHiksX8PkyeuV995lbQvIPKrYp3jpWZYb8OXvyX-zkoYVBebZuarcRPOP4rhgSvBLao4/s400/sassoferrato-madonna-with-the-christ-child.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_48_1354280425443_116" style="font-size: 18px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.friendsofart.net/static/images/art1/sassoferrato-madonna-with-the-christ-child.jpg">Sassoferrato: Madonna with the Christ Child</a> </span></span></div>
the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-12495213777208236512012-11-22T12:24:00.000-05:002012-11-22T12:24:44.196-05:00KNEE DEEP IN THE SURF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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President Obama and his Progressive brethren (and sistren) operate under a straightforward and attractive foundational principle: people's assets and income should be roughly equal, or at least more equal than they are now. Call this principal "financial equality." This principle is the necessary foundation for the Progressive assertion that wealth should be "redistributed" by the government.<br />
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Financial inequality is different than poverty. If 99% of our society were suddenly given $200,000 each by the government, but the other 1% were given $1 million each, income inequality would have increased, but not poverty. <br />
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It is possible for an entire society to get much wealthier, but at the same time, for financial inequality to increase. Conversely, it is possible for a society to become much more equal financially, yet for everyone to get much poorer. For instance, perfect destitution for everyone would also mean perfect financial equality. I am sure Mr. Obama does not seek perfectly distributed destitution, so the goal is likely lots of wealth distributed evenly.</div>
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Once you accept the principle of financial equality, Mr. Obama's policy choices become much easier to understand. Even though tax increases on wealthy Americans will do very little to balance the budget deficit, and are likely to slow economic growth, they tend to reduce financial inequality, and are therefore desirable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b-r9fMjjdifmp83o2X0K3UhdfPgYvFXrU79Nruods1I2cGRvMHSdkeoJ8yxjQ9wrX9nzgO7-97uPcJ5qnz4dHCrzDPsnO5TYOTF5KPJOKQlZfqtQM3XRKwXI-e3Y5cXr1eldg3SfIyg/s1600/uncle-sam-taxes-4x3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b-r9fMjjdifmp83o2X0K3UhdfPgYvFXrU79Nruods1I2cGRvMHSdkeoJ8yxjQ9wrX9nzgO7-97uPcJ5qnz4dHCrzDPsnO5TYOTF5KPJOKQlZfqtQM3XRKwXI-e3Y5cXr1eldg3SfIyg/s400/uncle-sam-taxes-4x3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4b74477000000000006ab8cc/uncle-sam-taxes-4x3.jpg">More Taxes = a Happier America.</a> </div>
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Financial equality makes sense, as a policy, when you believe that if everyone had roughly the same income and assets, we would all be happier, healthier, and more neighborly, provided the income and assets were enough to live on.<br />
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This is where I have my doubts. Let me share just a few brief examples.<br />
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Would financial equality eliminate war? Unlikely. Plenty of very wealthy nations have gone to war over the years. Think of Germany (4 times between 1867-1945). Think of every colonial power during the 19th century. These countries were not trying to gain financial parity. They were wealthier than the countries whom they attacked. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3dw6zlvLyJ25_CNnj92MNcU9fu97RTVkY1PIy9XWnFi5BPcr2IWg9_xMJebA0mmCAQk4CojxjisgzCAD8Pi_csUi20tezH0JqY-TjxJ4Ldz-LRKA_4bOLr1y7_-_ALk-rnanY-h77jE/s1600/Kaiser-Wilhelm_1373957c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3dw6zlvLyJ25_CNnj92MNcU9fu97RTVkY1PIy9XWnFi5BPcr2IWg9_xMJebA0mmCAQk4CojxjisgzCAD8Pi_csUi20tezH0JqY-TjxJ4Ldz-LRKA_4bOLr1y7_-_ALk-rnanY-h77jE/s400/Kaiser-Wilhelm_1373957c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01373/Kaiser-Wilhelm_1373957c.jpg">Kaiser Wilhelm, not thinking financial equality.</a></div>
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Neither would financial equality eliminate drug addiction, as anyone who has dealt with addiction can tell you. <br />
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Perhaps there is a point, when everyone has financial equality, where we would see drug addiction disappear or greatly diminish, but this seems wildly unlikely. There was a huge problem with alcoholism in the former Soviet Union, which made far more progress toward financial equality than we have.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DXDlA_EozvApDLRxlGdd-Z2PiPWeKmMZTuffOxQLMwR-ptEu0LaNfOWPq93E9ynftV5ss6NJg2Lr2JLCoMuGNi9MRQa6l9I-L8kK19KTZ3QjrDsc7-OMPa4MxLFbaTkNlzU9k3IPNaE/s1600/Stalin+-+AAA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DXDlA_EozvApDLRxlGdd-Z2PiPWeKmMZTuffOxQLMwR-ptEu0LaNfOWPq93E9ynftV5ss6NJg2Lr2JLCoMuGNi9MRQa6l9I-L8kK19KTZ3QjrDsc7-OMPa4MxLFbaTkNlzU9k3IPNaE/s400/Stalin+-+AAA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Joe Stalin encouraging people not to drink so much vodka, circa 1935.</div>
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Would financial equality eliminate greed and envy? Not in my experience. People in most American suburbs are very evenly matched financially. They still suffer from lots of envy and greed. College professors, some of the smartest, most financially equal and Progressive people on earth, are notoriously prone to envy and greed, fighting savagely with each other over seemingly minor financial issues. <br />
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Getting more money can ease certain types of pain, but it doesn't make people happy. If my getting more money doesn't actually made me a happier person, how does making sure I have the same amount as everyone else make me happier?<br />
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I don't buy the first principles of Progressivism. I don't agree with the notion that financial inequality is problem #1 with humanity. Not by a long shot. That doesn't mean I think poverty is a good thing, or irrelevant. Remember that financial inequality and poverty are not the same thing.<br />
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So the basic premise of Progressivism is suspect, in my mind. In addition, there is an unavoidably messy secondary problem. It has to do with implementing the Progressive vision.<br />
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The difficulty is that people are not equal in their gifts and personalities. They are spread all over the "bell shaped curve." Some are very industrious, some are very lazy. Some are incredibly aggressive, some very passive. Some are smart, some, not so much.<br />
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<a href="http://www.geeksofdoom.com/GoD/img/2012/03/2012-03-30-twins-e1333095071246-533x345.jpg">People are different. Very different.</a></div>
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All these differences translate into very different outcomes, when it comes to money. If everyone is just left alone, some people will accumulate vast wealth and others will not. This is a true even if everyone got the exact same opportunities at birth.<br />
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To get to financial equality, a government must apply force, not just once, but constantly, and not just in certain key locations, but over the entire society. People who are economically maladroit will (by and large) have to be given regular subsidies. The people who are economically adept will (by and large) constantly have to have their money taken away.<br />
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Progressivism, taken to its logical end, does not just welcome totalitarianism, it <span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_500" style="font-style: italic;">requires</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_500"> totalitarianism in order to maintain financial equality. Thus, it becomes very difficult to keep Progressives from lurching over into totalitarianism. </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_500"> </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_500"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRhilE8n_Es2yRsn2W9Kd0iXYoeTXgunH6FaCyumuQlnUw_QSXU">Progressivism ensuring equality.</a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_500">This is why Progressivism so often leads to totalitarianism. No other form of government can even begin to meet Progressivism's need to achieve and maintain financial equality. This is why the Progressive "cure" is often worse than the "disease." That is not to say the "disease" is a good thing and should be ignored. It is just to say that a sick patient does not need an abusive "remedy" that makes the situation worse.</span><br />
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The Progressive's vision becomes almost impossible to translate into an individual's code of conduct. If having <i>some</i> material possessions makes me happy and healthy, why wouldn't having <i>more</i> make me happier still? And why should some hypothetically "equal" amount of material goods maximize my happiness? So 73% of the population are content with their 1964 Dodge Darts and their lack of hot water. This means I should be perfectly happy with the Dart and a cold shower? Because most people are? Because that's what the "average" is?<br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">On the way to financial equality, Progressivism has to hobble at least half its population, the economically adept, and subsidize the other half, the economically maladroit. So it is that half the population, with far more than half the total potential for making wealth, must constantly </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">be </span>suppressed, lest they be too successful, while the other half must be constantly subsidized or they will fall behind.</span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ45yv2QHlVJcAk6F6Y0UNpXchmG8Kje4Mj7QvrJodgJcPYSvTWRx4gW27MPTn0k-7TTkFVf7Zm8nwyRaSTFZPg7DvvwADxhGYBna6tjpJukWB7OLrCGJUotVgxs4UpcpkynJwktzojpU/s1600/animal+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ45yv2QHlVJcAk6F6Y0UNpXchmG8Kje4Mj7QvrJodgJcPYSvTWRx4gW27MPTn0k-7TTkFVf7Zm8nwyRaSTFZPg7DvvwADxhGYBna6tjpJukWB7OLrCGJUotVgxs4UpcpkynJwktzojpU/s400/animal+farm.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"> <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=624&tbm=isch&tbnid=EMJEohm6QbENaM:&imgrefurl=http://4umi.com/orwell/animalfarm/&docid=Ue5uTZ9TRsLnMM&imgurl=http://4umi.com/image/book/orwell/animal_farm.jpg&w=293&h=500&ei=Yo-pUObxO87h0wGz6IDQBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=822&vpy=201&dur=944&hovh=293&hovw=172&tx=85&ty=211&sig=114214718156690960965&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=78&start=0&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0,i:179">Animal Farm: a Progressive Vision.</a> </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">All this is supposed to be managed by those notoriously thrifty and efficient bureaucrats in Washington. </span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">This suppression of the economically adept makes the adept miserable and makes it hard to generate the money to pay subsidies to the economically maladroit. Once the adept learn that hard work will not get them any more goods than laziness, and that they are in effect serfs working to support the economically maladroit, they quite rationally opt for laziness. The closer Progressivism gets to its goal, </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">the more a society's productivity tends to erode.</span> Instead of sharing more and more wealth, as Progressive societies mature they share more and more self-inflicted poverty.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">In sum, Progressivism, for all its intended benefits, is an almost perfect device for the immiseration (<i>noun: the act of making miserable</i>) of a society. Reason and logic suggest that this is so. Many examples drawn from the last 100 years suggest that this is so. </span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">Nevertheless, the glowing promise that Progressivism will make everyone better and happier is such an intoxicating vision that people keep buying it, in the fervent belief that THIS time it will all work out. Progressivism is a bit like rooting for the Chicago Cubs to win the Series, except that Cubs fans don't really believe the Cubs will win. </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"> </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE-3EpZsAAgdMseieS8rAbW2aHFvraLe0kAPMMo21-33k_spYXzm_ZBa244_Q1QxyOVFleNYcHAcSWhY_jRHupQfn4gINe-Q6K29pzy5A4SZmLHZqttfa8kpe7ymXmmc1S1EcKmnyjls/s1600/cubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE-3EpZsAAgdMseieS8rAbW2aHFvraLe0kAPMMo21-33k_spYXzm_ZBa244_Q1QxyOVFleNYcHAcSWhY_jRHupQfn4gINe-Q6K29pzy5A4SZmLHZqttfa8kpe7ymXmmc1S1EcKmnyjls/s400/cubs.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"> </span><a href="http://www.sicovers.com/data/default/images/catalog/large/spr20040405.jpg"><span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">Progressivism and the Cubbies.</span></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">Right now the United States, the wealthiest nation in the history of mankind, is knee deep at Progressive Beach, preparing to wade further into the water with its cool Progressive surfboard. </span><br />
<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"><br /></span>As the waves roll in, we <span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044">may want to watch what is happening in Venezuela, Greece, Italy, Spain, France and the State of California. All six are further out in the surf, paddling toward a shared Progressive vision of the perfect wave. They are either having lots of fun, waving their arms and yelling, or else maybe they are drowning. It would be important to know which one it is. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiix_soWfFm8V687MdGfTjWrQ1Kl_ZKGZ-GH_atO5fs3qYm7i8V7AyNqRq5VX7lVKtVvl1fmWkbeLlknS6hGGjTBuNUTD8q6cJ9jOzMX0DZ59nSmM91Qoxw6ANGnXmexSWCle0t4pEe5NY/s1600/surfing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiix_soWfFm8V687MdGfTjWrQ1Kl_ZKGZ-GH_atO5fs3qYm7i8V7AyNqRq5VX7lVKtVvl1fmWkbeLlknS6hGGjTBuNUTD8q6cJ9jOzMX0DZ59nSmM91Qoxw6ANGnXmexSWCle0t4pEe5NY/s400/surfing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_349_1350955007001_2044"><a href="http://photos.mycapture.com/POAC/601251/20539728E.jpg">Surfing off Atlantic City.</a> </span></div>
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Watching them, we may want to get on our surfboards and rock on, or we may decide to gather up our stuff and head back to the boardwalk before things get ugly.<br />
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As for me, I find all six of those societies, and their governments, alarming. I have no desire to emulate them. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiZ7o3oKGgJW-HtDLc0__UAuJpew4VEQPROrr-s7_ZQ0JqAc0sCmIMom6U_NzhxXoZG-De1y0CvMS0A_QKcwi1OY4bIBRoeZAhCCMUMxfGh-SH7B8oy5fcmCbi9Sl6RO3cqDzxTca_TI/s1600/Atlantic-City-Boardwalk-630x355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiZ7o3oKGgJW-HtDLc0__UAuJpew4VEQPROrr-s7_ZQ0JqAc0sCmIMom6U_NzhxXoZG-De1y0CvMS0A_QKcwi1OY4bIBRoeZAhCCMUMxfGh-SH7B8oy5fcmCbi9Sl6RO3cqDzxTca_TI/s400/Atlantic-City-Boardwalk-630x355.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/lite987.com/files/2012/10/Atlantic-City-Boardwalk-630x355.jpg">Things getting ugly.</a></div>
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In any event I am optimistic that we will all be much better informed on this issue by 2016. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba_ARujvmeap4gzBuGQLuLWpxAIKtm2-xPlts7ONKRJmjpEXIEDLvSWagu9ONltmKhyphenhyphen93lhrT9ywvyz-xnjia-cfyU8F7-OkPZj_l9O5z81P0tmZFtHa74qhh9yyFtUGWOC-h1XpTvyA/s1600/forward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba_ARujvmeap4gzBuGQLuLWpxAIKtm2-xPlts7ONKRJmjpEXIEDLvSWagu9ONltmKhyphenhyphen93lhrT9ywvyz-xnjia-cfyU8F7-OkPZj_l9O5z81P0tmZFtHa74qhh9yyFtUGWOC-h1XpTvyA/s400/forward.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-22468221990741670392012-11-04T21:25:00.003-05:002012-11-04T21:25:55.691-05:00LITTLE THIINGS ARE BIGI ran across a quote from St. Francis de Sales yesterday that struck me as a profound statement of a basic truth.<br />
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Every moment comes to us pregnant with a command from God, </div>
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only to pass on and plunge into eternity, </div>
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there to remain forever what we have made it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeagZXOzsHzhH3MUn-fnE3OC4-mWhCbJo7RlA8cYFoggnhQnzRCIMJWvOSfVc05la0IZpoflMIwjFKR9HrtNM24L7I1YayRoqHpYLV3le9NWYmxE1R3Rpx4BsJ8B1KuZPRTP6SkL6l5Jg/s1600/St+Francis+de+Sales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeagZXOzsHzhH3MUn-fnE3OC4-mWhCbJo7RlA8cYFoggnhQnzRCIMJWvOSfVc05la0IZpoflMIwjFKR9HrtNM24L7I1YayRoqHpYLV3le9NWYmxE1R3Rpx4BsJ8B1KuZPRTP6SkL6l5Jg/s400/St+Francis+de+Sales.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/699/000094417/francis-de-sales-1-sized.jpg">St. Francis de Sales</a></div>
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It is easy to get caught up in the great tumult that surrounds a Presidential election, but the truth is that for all the <i>sturm und drang</i> life's great river will roll down to the sea in its own time, no matter who is elected. My election prediction is that after November 6, 2012, human kindness will still be in much demand and human folly in copious supply.<br />
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I recommend taking a "long" position in kindness and "shorting" folly. It's a high percentage play. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_%28finance%29">See the link for more on the financial lingo.</a> <br />
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This is not to denigrate the gravity of making a choice about who will be our President. In our Republic, we generally get exactly the politicians we want and deserve, which seems a horrible thing to say, but is entirely true. Politicians tend to be a very accurate reflection of our own weakness and folly, as well as our strengths.<br /><br />
Here's a quote from Jesus of Nazareth about how we might make better use of the moments that are plunging into eternity, there to remain forever what we have made them. <br />
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Think of these words as Jesus' "platform," except that He is not running for office and He really means what He says. His words are true and filled with inexorable power. Pretty heady stuff.<br />
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<b><i>Blessed are the poor in spirit,<br /> for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<br /><br />Blessed are they who mourn,<br /> for they will be comforted.<br /><br />Blessed are the meek,<br /> for they will inherit the land.<br /><br />Blessed are they who hunger </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and thirst for righteousness,<br /> for they will be satisfied.<br /><br />Blessed are the merciful,<br /> for they will be shown mercy.<br /><br />Blessed are the clean of heart,<br /> for they will see God.<br /><br />Blessed are the peacemakers,<br /> for they will be called children of God.<br /><br />Blessed are they who are persecuted </i></b></div>
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<b><i>for the sake of righteousness,<br /> for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<br /><br />Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you <br />and utter every kind of evil against you because of me.</i></b></div>
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<b><i> Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. <br /> Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</i></b></div>
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<br />the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-82704646442780351222012-10-20T23:37:00.000-04:002012-10-20T23:37:53.985-04:00LIBYAOn September 11, 2012, Islamic terrorists attacked the American Embassy in Libya and killed our ambassador. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31WokIPiykfE7fexFgIjIQGyy-pB_nWWiDE7xzmCeb8u5YlxvpUuQIXlG6m46Nfyv46mSL9_a9re9_b5SMan33vkz4Fb5aK2aiHzzIn90usf4S6IYEiYAbpU7XG5_-Dbu9Tn3cpTq930/s1600/REU-LIBYA-US-EMBASSY-DEATH_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31WokIPiykfE7fexFgIjIQGyy-pB_nWWiDE7xzmCeb8u5YlxvpUuQIXlG6m46Nfyv46mSL9_a9re9_b5SMan33vkz4Fb5aK2aiHzzIn90usf4S6IYEiYAbpU7XG5_-Dbu9Tn3cpTq930/s400/REU-LIBYA-US-EMBASSY-DEATH_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/REU-LIBYA-US-EMBASSY-DEATH_001.jpg">The Libyan Embassy</a></div>
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Immediately after the attack, and <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/09/20/cnn-libya-ambassador-feared-he-was-on-hit-list/70000743/1#.UINoLWeoaSp">until September 20, 2012,</a> the Administration blamed an obnoxious internet video about Mohammed for the assassination, on the theory that a crowd, angry over the video, got out of control and burned the Embassy. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIZpRzCS4uQkfTNgT29ib8u2gBrYLhttCrbuz5xFNoVChn6dqG0eA-EYuZNNgEkkwNKRXoAu0dY_zlS2ghvn8UMQsOuaCayFD_9mWbQ8obzim7qT8YtYm8whEtAf3tqNIPlRH5hIaQug/s1600/susan+rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIZpRzCS4uQkfTNgT29ib8u2gBrYLhttCrbuz5xFNoVChn6dqG0eA-EYuZNNgEkkwNKRXoAu0dY_zlS2ghvn8UMQsOuaCayFD_9mWbQ8obzim7qT8YtYm8whEtAf3tqNIPlRH5hIaQug/s400/susan+rice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/fd/54/fd54cf227e8fcb58b1ba704be53ea204.jpg">U.S. Ambassador to the U.N, Susan Rice, pushing the video story.</a></div>
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This original assessment proved to be totally wrong. <br />
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It turns out that leading up to the attack, our Ambassador and the security people at the Libyan Embassy were pleading for beefed up security. The State Department officials in Washington denied the requests and were reducing security. The State Department was pursuing a policy of "normalization" in Libya, despite the protests of the people at the Embassy that the situation was not "normal," but still out of control and quite dangerous.<br />
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At a minimum, the assessments of both the State Department, in the run-up, and the White House, in the aftermath, were critically deficient. <br />
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In the immediate aftermath of the murder, it would have behooved the Administration to simply state that they were investigating competing versions of events.<br />
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I suspect that no one at the CIA was terribly interested in saying, bluntly, "right now we don't really know what happened or why, and we don't have a lot of high quality intelligence resources in Libya, so an answer is going to have to wait."<br />
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I suspect that the White House was not interested in saying this, either. <br />
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I also suspect that the "video" explanation, however hedged with reservations in initial CIA reports, was manna from heaven for both CIA higher-ups and the White House, because the alternative - that a terrorist attack occurred on 9-11, and we did not see it coming - was too painful to contemplate. One wishes the Administration would have been as dubious about the "video" story as it was about the merit of the Ambassador's plea for security.<br />
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That there were warning signs is now obvious, just as it was in the aftermath of 9-11 itself. The pleas for additional security were ignored or overlooked by people in a position to prevent the disaster, that is, State Department officials in Washington. They ignored these requests because their assessment was that it was good policy to "normalize" the Embassy's situation in Libya, even though our Ambassador there was saying that the place was not "normal," it was still crazy and dangerous. <br />
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The State Department pulled out a significant military presence and sought to treat the Libyan Embassy like one would treat an Embassy in a peaceful and relatively well ordered society. The goal of this plan was to avoid suggesting to the new Libyan government that we did not trust them to keep our Embassy secure, which might have given offense.<br />
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The killing of the Ambassador on 9-11 demonstrates that the Administration's assessment of the situation in Libya was very wrong. The Administration's initial reaction to the Ambassador's murder makes the case even more powerfully. The Administration's assessment of the situation was so poor that even after the Ambassador had been murdered on 9-11- a circumstance that would suggest a terrorist attack to a dull 8th grader - the Administration insisted on believing and reporting a "non-terrorist" version of events that turned out to be false.<br />
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This particular folly is not unusual for the Obama Administration. After the failed bombing of an airliner on Christmas Day, 2009, and an attempted car-bombing in Times Square in 2010, the Obama Administration in each instance initially said there was no indication of wider terrorist involvement. It later became clear that the Christmas Day bomber was linked to al-Qaida and the Times Square bomber was trained by the Pakistani Taliban. <span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20121020/DA211L3G2.html">See here for more information.</a></span><br />
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This Administration has repeatedly seized on "non-terrorist" explanations for what turned out to be terrorist attacks, and pushed this narrative without waiting for the facts to develop. This does not inspire confidence. Perhaps we could adopt a new paradigm, in which we presume that when a group of Muslims kill an American official on 9-11 it is a terrorist attack, until proven otherwise. That is not unfair stereotyping. It is prudence.<br />
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In this instance it took the Administration 9 days to acknowledge the reality of a terrorist attack, strong evidence of which was available the day after the attack. Secretary of State Clinton attributes the lag to "the fog of war." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAgNSOzZVYQjh_xyzpGQHu6F4br3sF0LGCorq-6j02uj3WsjSX-I9sY451MUAvFQOZjx3BtMMtludhbYnV8J9gh46P5AlzO1D8ofBiue0Bplx1KyrCLMLRP2zwAizlgmPexREK6wL0wg/s1600/hillary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAgNSOzZVYQjh_xyzpGQHu6F4br3sF0LGCorq-6j02uj3WsjSX-I9sY451MUAvFQOZjx3BtMMtludhbYnV8J9gh46P5AlzO1D8ofBiue0Bplx1KyrCLMLRP2zwAizlgmPexREK6wL0wg/s400/hillary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120912023615-hillary-clinton-libya-attack-statement-story-top.jpg">The Fog of War</a> </div>
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Odd, since the Administration was so intent on explaining this event as a civil riot, rather than an act of war. In fact, the "fog" was the Administration's ideological "fog." It proved quite difficult to penetrate, but eventually, facts won out. They are stubborn things.<br />
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In this case the facts compose a very sad reality. It is the reality of an Administration's intelligence and policy failures, of an Administration so convinced of its superior wisdom, information and policy choices that it ignores facts. It is the reality of Washington's arrogance, disregarding information from the people in the real world struggling with the consequences of Washington's bad decisions. <br />
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It is the reality of the Obama Administration.<br />
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President Obama recently said in an interview "What happens, during the course of a presidency, is that the government is a big operation and any given time something screws up. And you make sure you find out what's broken and you fix it."<br />
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<a href="http://wizbangblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Obama_2012debate.jpg">"Something screws up."</a></div>
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I think we've identified what is broken. I think we've identified what's screwed up. We should fix it on election day. <br />
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<br />the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-42418798254172073292012-10-07T16:37:00.000-04:002012-10-07T16:37:43.736-04:00MIDDLE FINGERStanding in the rain outside an abortion clinic this afternoon with my two youngest children, praying. People drove by, reading the signs we held that said "Abortion Hurts Women" and "Abortion Mata Ninos" (Abortion kills children). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRHGDRt9iuD3BtRuXt_GfJBM37qzRJw3SHi1j7JrA6M7Tm__JXponen7CPKlMzKe14xRLFAit_o5OVdi_jBwGlNBxodnvrcHLkTDQEIQOKBYPPeAUqzxKgR3uP4jdFY9-sI_Mh3iHqK4/s1600/AbortionProtest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRHGDRt9iuD3BtRuXt_GfJBM37qzRJw3SHi1j7JrA6M7Tm__JXponen7CPKlMzKe14xRLFAit_o5OVdi_jBwGlNBxodnvrcHLkTDQEIQOKBYPPeAUqzxKgR3uP4jdFY9-sI_Mh3iHqK4/s400/AbortionProtest.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://hcss.alcdsb.on.ca/hctoday/OurFaith/Images/AbortionProtest.JPG">Protestors with signs.</a></div>
<br />
We were praying for our country, for the lives of children ended by abortion, for the mothers who had killed their children, for those in the clinic behind us who committed abortions, for those whose lives are haunted by abortion, for the lives of those who may yet choose not to kill their children.<br />
<br />
Mostly people drove by, glancing up at us and then looking ahead. Sometimes people would honk their horns and wave. Sometimes they raised their "thumbs-up," for encouragement. <br />
<br />
Sometimes they would blare the horn and lean out the window, thrusting their middle fingers in the air. One car full rolled down their windows, drove slowly by, and yelled "kill them all!" <br />
<br />
As we prayed I could not help thinking how appropriate it was that people so opposed to life and so in favor of killing children would curse us by saying "f*** you!" The middle finger thrust at another human being is to wish upon them that they be forcibly raped. It is an explicit perversion of sex, turning it from the most profound act of love into an evil expression of the dominance of a powerful person over a weaker one. <br />
<br />
So like abortion.<br />
<br />Lord forgive them, they know not what they do.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-4646181517767630982012-09-27T20:14:00.001-04:002012-09-27T20:14:11.170-04:00I DREAMED A DREAMI dreamed a dream last night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB72HF8YxWL6Qu9LCPUhyphenhyphen18oefPfTBpWG1wp9PtNWwWnuG3oljp0esQ8gaebi0uY7-VNhswd2Jph5XeALtJg6Y704zmK0lwEZRgUC8m_flLx6_Nf1xouAC8CBhOBt75heF2Sdhf83NTxg/s1600/susan+boyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB72HF8YxWL6Qu9LCPUhyphenhyphen18oefPfTBpWG1wp9PtNWwWnuG3oljp0esQ8gaebi0uY7-VNhswd2Jph5XeALtJg6Y704zmK0lwEZRgUC8m_flLx6_Nf1xouAC8CBhOBt75heF2Sdhf83NTxg/s400/susan+boyle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ordinaryjoeblog.com/images/IDreamedADream.jpg">If Susan Boyle can dream a dream, so can I.</a> </div>
<br />
I dreamed a dream in which our President put aside the politics of class warfare and delivered a wonderful speech about coming to grips with our fiscal irresponsibility.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI8uQQuUhtaMj6L0dt9fAgFgTKZbUjo6NuvyOZByZ76wJftYk8by4Xgd51HaI87e1fqfntLHGXOAr3884zb08cQYqENaaGSQZK9iP7S6HlT541ys8mnGWFrEr871xFa-opM5Tl5A_Fro/s1600/obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI8uQQuUhtaMj6L0dt9fAgFgTKZbUjo6NuvyOZByZ76wJftYk8by4Xgd51HaI87e1fqfntLHGXOAr3884zb08cQYqENaaGSQZK9iP7S6HlT541ys8mnGWFrEr871xFa-opM5Tl5A_Fro/s400/obama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQpMgDADJAUMO1fgFcMPvP9kV9shBVUUFquPXozFdffSCAVYYQc&t=1">America, we've got to go on a fiscal diet!</a> </div>
<br />
I woke up and realized it was a dream, but imagine if it were real? What would it sound like?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For the last decade, our national budget has been in the red. Year after year, the annual budget did not cover expenses. The effects of the recession made a bad situation even worse. It also made it clear that our budget has a structural problem, and that Americans have more government than they can afford.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This budget is about priorities, and this structural deficit is an opportunity to start shaping America's future. It is time to take a fresh look at the federal government and ask the hard questions: What programs do we need? What services are essential? How can we provide the highest quality services as efficiently as possible?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We must not put off these choices any longer. Our preliminary budget estimates for 2013 project a budget shortfall of one-third of our operating budget. It is time to give Americans an honest, balanced budget that focuses on current needs while still investing in the future. We cannot protect the status quo by asking more from hard pressed taxpayers. It is time to reform government in a way that provides Americans with quality services and an affordable cost.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The 2013 budget proposal does not contain an increase in income taxes. It cuts taxes on employers to foster job growth. It makes tough choices about cutting expenses, while encouraging innovation and the reinvention of government. It also includes some revenue increases, without which it would be impossible to eliminate the deficit while maintaining and improving the vital services that Americans deserve.</blockquote>
Interestingly, these words are Rahm Emanuel's, the President's former chief-of-staff. I took the liberty of plucking out references to Chicago and put in
references to America, to make the rewrite easier for the President's
speech writers. Chicago's budget deficit is less severe, in percentage terms, than the federal deficit.<br />
<br />
These words were contained in Mr. Emanuel's <a href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/dam/city/depts/obm/supp_info/2012%20Budget/2012BudgetOverview.pdf">2012 budget</a> for Chicago, where, as the newly elected mayor, he inherited a fiscal disaster that could not be blamed on Republicans, since Democrats have run Chicago since 1931 (81 years). Mr. Emanuel chose to try to fix the problem. Most recently Mr. Emanuel had to deal with a teacher's strike triggered by his continued efforts to get Chicago solvent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRptl3N5bMB10iyQqKL5upcaseCq42JnUJ19nbHYtw6HTQBMGgO8dOQfxBigdXig05DxzFHND7YauR8eR5kt4TxcGk9LlSx3-sc4gdGzfyoxHs3QfzbePsgAns_8jw8FKjDBK6_mrBgQw/s1600/Rahm_Obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRptl3N5bMB10iyQqKL5upcaseCq42JnUJ19nbHYtw6HTQBMGgO8dOQfxBigdXig05DxzFHND7YauR8eR5kt4TxcGk9LlSx3-sc4gdGzfyoxHs3QfzbePsgAns_8jw8FKjDBK6_mrBgQw/s400/Rahm_Obama.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EIi1ETxXhyU8ws6wvI7uzZxwyhlpWvDmc_gGRlw-72T-YUUMBtTHGa0m-ZSvuJSUiJgu4_oEGoWKKnQ9BGhbZv4I-i6vFz8PQNonoO2Y5hMNmabdE6FyZI3yqIsPUlosTDBc-xF_ViM/s320/Rahm_Obama.jpg">Mr. Emanuel and Mr. Obama sharing a laugh.</a></div>
<br />
I wonder why having this conversation is "pitchforking the poor" when Republicans say it, but sounds like common sense when a Democrat says it.<br />
<br />
Maybe because it is fundamentally true? And an act of prudence and genuine responsibility for exactly the poor people we all care about, who need a non-bankrupt government much more than the rich?<br />
<br />
Sadly, Mr. Obama cannot make this speech, since it rejects the direction he took during his first term in office, which was to hugely expand long-term government programs and debt. For the past 3 years Mr. Obama has not been able to convince even Democratic Congressmen to vote for his budgets. I find this unsettling, but apparently I am in the minority.<br />
<br />
Like I said, it was a dream.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-20824333232890504692012-09-16T14:51:00.000-04:002012-09-16T14:51:29.693-04:00I SAY IT'S SPINACHI see a federal judge in Boston just ruled that the U.S. Constitution requires that the State of Massachusetts must pay for the sex-change operation of a man in jail for life for murdering his wife. To permit otherwise, the Court ruled, would be "cruel and unusual" punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/apnewsbreak-federal-judge-orders-sex-change-surgery-for-mass-inmate-convicted-of-murder/2012/09/04/786b7e5a-f6af-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html">You can read about it here.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
You may wonder how the People of Massachusetts are "punishing" this fellow by refusing him the surgery. Or you may wonder how this "punishment" could possibly be "cruel" or "unusual" You would be joined in your wonderment, I think, by the framers of the Constitution.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFQ-OJSC3aPhwpUYKcz8JqkC5bQLxGbrkXgbSV88LoXdfv4QCaY2PoyDg3BRQ3PstKxAekgD5BehY72qXG2JklIrcZs9wGvQMtxdr9YdTdWb4IXI6tqocQjDFMzAK3EDXiaMPTouAArE/s1600/Gov.-Deval-Patrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFQ-OJSC3aPhwpUYKcz8JqkC5bQLxGbrkXgbSV88LoXdfv4QCaY2PoyDg3BRQ3PstKxAekgD5BehY72qXG2JklIrcZs9wGvQMtxdr9YdTdWb4IXI6tqocQjDFMzAK3EDXiaMPTouAArE/s400/Gov.-Deval-Patrick.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nuttynewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Gov.-Deval-Patrick.jpg">Even Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick thinks it's nutty.</a></div>
<br />
The framers were quite concerned about actual torture, like <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/171149/drawing-and-quartering">drawing and quartering,</a> when they passed the Eighth Amendment. They were, almost assuredly, not committing their "lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" to protect a felon's right to cut off his, ahem, and install an artificial, ahem, in its place. <br />
<br />
I prefer to use "ahem" to describe the anatomical realities of this surgery. Suffice it to say that, among other things, it involves a surgical severance of the male member, and a surgical installation of a make believe female member. <br />
<a href="http://uploads.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/nuttyprofessor-500x336.jpg"><br /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_92hiyKaChUpuR2IBdX_Bf1Y4f5HovIDWDiivy_RQNEnwJ23bkDhjdyTQsPsE3WTVvBbJmF2a9k_hyKX_ibF0SFhcR20FXjiS4EyM6Wtcyhy3B-vzr1vDNZ6IsBdQ_JfJgaQKatPg0g/s1600/nuttyprofessor-500x336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_92hiyKaChUpuR2IBdX_Bf1Y4f5HovIDWDiivy_RQNEnwJ23bkDhjdyTQsPsE3WTVvBbJmF2a9k_hyKX_ibF0SFhcR20FXjiS4EyM6Wtcyhy3B-vzr1vDNZ6IsBdQ_JfJgaQKatPg0g/s400/nuttyprofessor-500x336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://uploads.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/nuttyprofessor-500x336.jpg"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://uploads.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/nuttyprofessor-500x336.jpg">Doctor preparing for sex change surgery.</a></div>
<br />
As late as 1960 we universally would have thought that cutting off a man's, ahem, and then installing an artificial, ahem, was cruel and unusual punishment. Now we have advanced as a society to the point where we understand that NOT paying $20,000 to have a surgeon cut off a man's, ahem, is (a) cruel (b) unusual and (c) punishment. We know this because if we do not pay to have it done the prisoner will do it himself, or kill himself.<br />
<br />
We are not entitled to morally compel others to satisfy our desires or needs by threatening to kill ourselves. We cannot morally force someone else to violate his conscience by holding our own lives hostage. This seems a healthy principle, but one which has escaped the judge.<br />
<br />
The prisoner had the freedom to pay for this particular surgery, but he forfeited his freedom by murdering his wife. There are many consequences to committing murder, most of which center on giving up freedoms you once had.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVczNWOeorORzGg4ey4e0j0StNoaFjkJtTRbMpzi_fzpoqgptqsTH0hS1ZSfXqQUy6h2_4d23-kxxJYNh79KgQjf-B5GPTkS-CX-aV0KYeNE11wDrqpMRY4TLNpq4wwjlolvtjntYkPU/s1600/rahway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVczNWOeorORzGg4ey4e0j0StNoaFjkJtTRbMpzi_fzpoqgptqsTH0hS1ZSfXqQUy6h2_4d23-kxxJYNh79KgQjf-B5GPTkS-CX-aV0KYeNE11wDrqpMRY4TLNpq4wwjlolvtjntYkPU/s400/rahway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-BE021470.jpg?size=67&uid=900a59d9-bfbc-4566-8143-c04eb84c75e1">Prison. Still your choice.</a></div>
<br />
The fact that this prisoner is sick enough to maim or kill himself to enforce his own will does not require that we suddenly surrender our own privilege, as free moral agents, not to pay for his choice. To say otherwise is to make the prisoner our jailer. If he is determined to kill himself, he has that choice. But I do not bear responsibility for his exercise of that choice, nor am I required by law or morals to accede to, or participate in, his immorality.<br />
<br />
For instance, as a citizen I am not morally responsible for a prisoner who chooses to hang himself rather than face his life in prison. I do not owe it to him to set him free, because otherwise he will try to commit suicide.<br />
<br />
Framing this as a "medical" decision does not evade the moral question. Medical science can give us diagnoses, and treatments, but it cannot, in the end, decide moral questions for us. You can find qualified psychiatrists who would
opine that almost any treatment would be "medically
necessary," if the patient were sick enough to kill or harm himself for
the want of the "treatment."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_92hiyKaChUpuR2IBdX_Bf1Y4f5HovIDWDiivy_RQNEnwJ23bkDhjdyTQsPsE3WTVvBbJmF2a9k_hyKX_ibF0SFhcR20FXjiS4EyM6Wtcyhy3B-vzr1vDNZ6IsBdQ_JfJgaQKatPg0g/s1600/nuttyprofessor-500x336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_92hiyKaChUpuR2IBdX_Bf1Y4f5HovIDWDiivy_RQNEnwJ23bkDhjdyTQsPsE3WTVvBbJmF2a9k_hyKX_ibF0SFhcR20FXjiS4EyM6Wtcyhy3B-vzr1vDNZ6IsBdQ_JfJgaQKatPg0g/s400/nuttyprofessor-500x336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Psychiatrist about to give opinion on medical necessity.</div>
<br />
In this case, "medically necessary" means the patient will harm himself if you don't do this. Yet this is morally quite different from treating a life-threatening microbe that has invaded the prisoner's body against his will. Medically, the two problems may be interchangeable: they both threaten life and both can be addressed by a medical procedure. Morally, the two situations could not be more distinct.<br />
<br />
The fact that a person wants a treatment, or that the person will harm himself if he does not receive the treatment he wants, cannot be the final word on whether I have an obligation to pay for the treatment. The result of accepting "medical necessity" as an answer to moral objections is madness, not principle.<br />
<br />
We have some experience of the outcome of this madness when it comes to abortion, and in particular, the Obamacare mandates that seek to force Catholics to pay for other people's abortions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIlR5hizjz5Dl26xZCCMOc1G1UVIKn3ix19uaX4LFo1df8PwJC32sFNoG893ngZynoaLC6vEkgxI6Ddq6GGle8RsGDx6dfLjKdYxoh11jM6yrVwYLlYA7uHyGrnVjULuD-efTVe_ab2E/s1600/obama_and_sebelius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIlR5hizjz5Dl26xZCCMOc1G1UVIKn3ix19uaX4LFo1df8PwJC32sFNoG893ngZynoaLC6vEkgxI6Ddq6GGle8RsGDx6dfLjKdYxoh11jM6yrVwYLlYA7uHyGrnVjULuD-efTVe_ab2E/s400/obama_and_sebelius.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3_-y0eVIYaQaTEmxUFgnJyShrimdQXXgOlURMCB0wQuf8SmxgCLQxzL9E99OmbzA5UbWdeyohFww_XJZiBCNUWF2CKpyO-q9XZ5d9n__Yk_cBPRyWKhM9BEy8dO2gheyCZFU3y4op0k/s1600/obama_and_sebelius.jpg">Pay up, or else.</a></div>
<br />
I feel like the little kid in the famous New Yorker cartoon. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0VcPZHOOMZcKZw_M46HZgKcD36lLkqMWXDQtiKxz5GyndLpKA6BOd5F_prp7AuXTrmp3MVFJfuZi9kCYPKn3IM7Te4694wMeJc1XWEusdZwYR7kfIVuIDqFqg586xxNqLql0iC8q6m4/s1600/spinich.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0VcPZHOOMZcKZw_M46HZgKcD36lLkqMWXDQtiKxz5GyndLpKA6BOd5F_prp7AuXTrmp3MVFJfuZi9kCYPKn3IM7Te4694wMeJc1XWEusdZwYR7kfIVuIDqFqg586xxNqLql0iC8q6m4/s400/spinich.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-76482972394283596452012-09-08T11:09:00.001-04:002012-09-08T11:09:18.052-04:00DEMOCRATS PRAYINGArchbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York prayed the benediction at the Democratic Convention the other night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1IgC4rjv3Y8RSM6QjV5NR2J2X1jHfS1RbGRYX5ADT2Md8P7WQSnw2oI2-Zf7l4frPCnef4qTLFGigsttuJSzfvU8qh2ZubpvexEc4MW5hHNjiZcfty35cCXUG2WFf7KIvdr_6RPL6RQ/s1600/dolan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1IgC4rjv3Y8RSM6QjV5NR2J2X1jHfS1RbGRYX5ADT2Md8P7WQSnw2oI2-Zf7l4frPCnef4qTLFGigsttuJSzfvU8qh2ZubpvexEc4MW5hHNjiZcfty35cCXUG2WFf7KIvdr_6RPL6RQ/s400/dolan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.trbimg.com/img-504a02b1/turbine/la-pn-cardinal-timothy-dolan-rnc-dnc-20120907-001/600">Archbishop at the Convention.</a> </div>
<br />
The moment of delivery came at the end of a difficult labor. The Archbishop is the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He had offered to pray at both conventions. The Republicans accepted, the Democrats went into "crickets" radio silence, likely because Archbishop Dolan and the USCCB are leading opposition to several policies of the Obama Administration right now, and having him pray at the convention created some inner turmoil.<br />
<br />
Eventually the Democratic party extended an invitation and Archbishop Dolan accepted it. <br />
<br />
You can see the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F80w9nUGLPQ" style="color: blue;">benediction on video</a><span style="color: blue;">.</span> <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=15507" style="color: blue;">You can read the text here.</a> <br />
<br />
One sees why the Church has always been on, at best, uneasy terms with both political parties. The Archbishop's prayers for immigrants and the poor must have resonated deeply with Democrats, and been a tad unsettling for some Republicans, given the Church's disagreements with some Republican positions on both subjects. Conversely, the Archbishop's prayers for the unborn and for religious freedom likely touched a nerve for Democrats, for the same reason.<br />
<br />
It was a touching moment, and a reminder that even New Yorkers can be gracious. Prayer is like eating a meal together. It tends to beget peace and goodwill.<br />
<br />
As the Archbishop said, at the end, "God bless America." the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-26928303048312064592012-09-06T07:51:00.000-04:002012-09-06T07:51:06.637-04:00BOOING GODPretty interesting last night listening to the Democratic faithful - the core of the Democratic party - booing God. <br />
<br />
The Democrats had removed mention of God from their platform, where it had been since time immemorial. They also removed reference to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel - again, something that has been a staple of Democratic platforms in the past.<br />
<br />
This created a huge furor among those not at the convention, including Independents, Democrats and (as you can well imagine) Republicans. Seeking to quell a political firestorm, President Obama insisted the references be put back in. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx_TdZPel7yrhoPULm9Lr5qVh6Vu1lh-KDdJ1eguRXMO64fjMBX8AL-XlP48oRmdQJ9bv669SSUt_eorUeoJexYYw8DwoHyy24ZsAmqOG1k6Ju9hZNQbFaPyzESclsIpCxA1f2d5-J6o/s1600/convention.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx_TdZPel7yrhoPULm9Lr5qVh6Vu1lh-KDdJ1eguRXMO64fjMBX8AL-XlP48oRmdQJ9bv669SSUt_eorUeoJexYYw8DwoHyy24ZsAmqOG1k6Ju9hZNQbFaPyzESclsIpCxA1f2d5-J6o/s400/convention.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Chair in an uncomfortable spot.</div>
<br />
An amendment to put the two references back in the platform was submitted to a vote on the floor of the convention. It needed a 2/3 vote to put through. It was quite obvious, based on the "ayes" and "nays," yelled from the crowd, that the amendment did not have a 2/3 vote of the delegates. Nevertheless, the chair rammed the amendment through by stating that in his opinion there was a 2/3 majority. <br />
<br />
<br />
There was widespread booing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaR2T9FJaJbQ2wBZO87wmOsGuL9GUTAWZs7XMonsRoNlLm4lwHlBx0rQ-3xdiggKnMow0xk4_w76nhQz8vR89bUuIHS7cyJwCq2l_JFRB-8bDaK2ab4HsrxxeG4NI_AhUPwhuw_FVGzU/s1600/delegate+booing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaR2T9FJaJbQ2wBZO87wmOsGuL9GUTAWZs7XMonsRoNlLm4lwHlBx0rQ-3xdiggKnMow0xk4_w76nhQz8vR89bUuIHS7cyJwCq2l_JFRB-8bDaK2ab4HsrxxeG4NI_AhUPwhuw_FVGzU/s400/delegate+booing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Delegate booing.</div>
<br />
All in all a fascinating glimpse at the heart and soul of the Democratic Party.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cncbOEoQbOg">See the event on this link to YouTube.</a>the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-29975355145523936582012-08-25T11:40:00.001-04:002012-08-25T11:40:40.912-04:00LOVE & HAPPINESSWhat makes people happy?<br />
<br />
Love.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd1icUDZhRW0qr7SwTHmDNfUL_O3nyxH2Uzcy-hdraWiu9ExQ_kixCDLTTqu2VvsRo2V9MkTpUpWPApa2VaAyey7iZ3WprvNJeJxd4Q_0DdLDA2OFWSf_0aQC5N261qkJ_h3DhNw2iK0/s1600/mother_theresa_with_armless_baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd1icUDZhRW0qr7SwTHmDNfUL_O3nyxH2Uzcy-hdraWiu9ExQ_kixCDLTTqu2VvsRo2V9MkTpUpWPApa2VaAyey7iZ3WprvNJeJxd4Q_0DdLDA2OFWSf_0aQC5N261qkJ_h3DhNw2iK0/s400/mother_theresa_with_armless_baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.marypages.com/TeresaMother.jpg">Mother Theresa with a baby.</a></div>
<br />
People are made to love and be loved. That's just the way it works. If you are not loved, you feel the loss keenly. But even more disastrous is not to love. Not to be loved marks a painful wound, but one that can heal. Not to love is a cancer that results in death. The eternally lethal aspect of not being loved is that it may kill off your capacity to love. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXanJkl1CN5NHZs62_GtILJz3AtvHwVcuwpwYg6ZiZ6JeBHTuQoArKbzU9E_HzrBkizjqDmZu91I5SoW1nqfq9wS4eUQ4fgCLMMuZ1A3J_dEg__prTY4wZVnNeUmPwKF6OWqkmxK6F9c/s1600/no+country.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXanJkl1CN5NHZs62_GtILJz3AtvHwVcuwpwYg6ZiZ6JeBHTuQoArKbzU9E_HzrBkizjqDmZu91I5SoW1nqfq9wS4eUQ4fgCLMMuZ1A3J_dEg__prTY4wZVnNeUmPwKF6OWqkmxK6F9c/s400/no+country.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/11/08/arts/09count600.jpg">No country for love.</a></div>
<br />
Much of society operates under the belief - hidden or overt - that leasing the new BMW 528i will make you happy. Substitute food, an Apple iPhone, sex, cocaine, nice clothes, a new house, or alcohol, and you pretty much cover the landscape of public opinion about happiness. At least, that is the impression you would get from either watching TV or reading a magazine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD-S5r1dRiVr-Pqa5PNAMYFugj0_AgeQ68EJaX8pP14zzM90X7-NXs487GXblFt5AA2wNobR18xH8j70PlBkM-m_-4GDv0QhxNl91CeVnuaN_K5j3JA9NnMVtvsgN-ClPAGmOq7_Q2eQ/s1600/bmw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD-S5r1dRiVr-Pqa5PNAMYFugj0_AgeQ68EJaX8pP14zzM90X7-NXs487GXblFt5AA2wNobR18xH8j70PlBkM-m_-4GDv0QhxNl91CeVnuaN_K5j3JA9NnMVtvsgN-ClPAGmOq7_Q2eQ/s400/bmw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSZWnUN3rCe2Lt9uXjP375yWAnLEp-CKpWkDa-aUEEgSF9jOqyb&t=1">Make me happy. MAKE ME HAPPY!</a></div>
<br />
You can substitute a pile of money for any or all of the stuff we crave, but money itself is nothing much. It is just an equalizer that allows us maximum flexibility when satisfying our wants. You can substitute power for all that stuff, too, but power is a kind of universal remote that allows us to dial up the satisfaction of our wants. <br />
<br />
For some, the relentless pursuit of money and power becomes divorced from the satisfaction of wants, and becomes a perverse "high" in itself, generating a toxic anodyne that momentarily dulls the terror of mortality lurking deep in their souls. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIy0DLQNFZQNYzx8gMy26VvjFbIWIXgOMfb19JrVfMxE1OS3mhH3elj2nzxhYhDVt3Dns67SlOdihKEj1nhbKI5Wd1itFhn1tZWDssNyS1zDWIuABtE0uxGc1elFjyvJXFSPsIn8nmGI/s1600/STALIN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIy0DLQNFZQNYzx8gMy26VvjFbIWIXgOMfb19JrVfMxE1OS3mhH3elj2nzxhYhDVt3Dns67SlOdihKEj1nhbKI5Wd1itFhn1tZWDssNyS1zDWIuABtE0uxGc1elFjyvJXFSPsIn8nmGI/s400/STALIN.JPG" width="338" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeepEVB6EkfoRES_5sPx-zldJgr_Q-YsB2a9bJpiWwVchC1KubtUlFemMl3D-2ytJ_bn_b5cxPjcF1WkKWdFoRmpcrPqGOsW-slRUXIFLb-KkFeuDcSHvGc1fbu0v-avH7rz3qIH8wpg/s1600/stalinDM2109_468x551.jpg">Very powerful, very unhappy.</a></div>
<br />
This is not to denigrate the lovely - an interesting adjective - feeling one gets from a new car, or from sex, or from a BMW. It is just to say that none of these things has any lasting impact on our happiness.<br />
<br />
Love is a very curious thing, in the general tumult of life. If you understand love as it has been most deeply understood, it involves a surrender of self in favor of the genuine good of another. The true love of a mother for her children always involves a willingness, at the deepest level, to ensure the genuine good of her children, even if it means sacrificing her own life. The true love of a husband for his wife always involves the same thing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk_6TJk2ENrAl-I62wJcs5pvArnqQyMqk3QM4yDXCepb3tpz6EzBn6e0YB8hbyESwLJZWmnrEbZHjfH7IbVU__9Pu1Arw89EEjj9g3utIKwU8raU3sVHJ1Kf-ejciXpdjsc_RHAsvo0A/s1600/busy-mom-making-dinner-on-phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk_6TJk2ENrAl-I62wJcs5pvArnqQyMqk3QM4yDXCepb3tpz6EzBn6e0YB8hbyESwLJZWmnrEbZHjfH7IbVU__9Pu1Arw89EEjj9g3utIKwU8raU3sVHJ1Kf-ejciXpdjsc_RHAsvo0A/s400/busy-mom-making-dinner-on-phone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2012/05/busy-mom-making-dinner-on-phone.jpg">"I will help you!!"</a></div>
<br />
We go painfully wrong in relationships when we think of love as something less than this. We often think of marriage as a kind of "deal," involving a contract for mutual satisfaction. Sadly, this model does not work. It does not work because it is mistaken. <br />
<br />
Marriage, when practiced in earnest and correctly, does involve profound mutual satisfaction. Yet at the same time it also involves profound self-sacrifice, a willingness to surrender one's own life for the sake of the other. This willingness is not hinged on mutuality, or reciprocation. It is an act of will and devotion that springs from an inward conviction and commitment to the truth of love itself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAbihvpXYSDoGo1r3gdRnfNajrnTt31XYUxkAMQf1HKttyXWfUZwnqzh9re6aOFUKkmG6n4Y9yHyzrgazrX47pui1uTqI3naIfc_LpENX_EYBZh7yO600werMBH8hHZPuoZsEKDlzOGI/s1600/Seint_Edith_Stein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAbihvpXYSDoGo1r3gdRnfNajrnTt31XYUxkAMQf1HKttyXWfUZwnqzh9re6aOFUKkmG6n4Y9yHyzrgazrX47pui1uTqI3naIfc_LpENX_EYBZh7yO600werMBH8hHZPuoZsEKDlzOGI/s400/Seint_Edith_Stein.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1247299215">Edith Stein. During her last days she took care of the </a></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Seint_Edith_Stein.jpg">children in Auschwitz whose parents had been murdered.</a> </div>
<br />
The willingness to lay down one's life for the other is a litmus test for fully mature love. Absent this characteristic, one is dealing with something imperfect and incomplete. <br />
<br />
This is one reason why monogamy is so necessary to fully mature married love, and why adultery is so highly toxic.
If I have a relationship with two women, and I sacrifice my life for
one, the other one is left out in the cold, to put it bluntly.
The one for whom I have sacrificed my life may appreciate and benefit from the gift, but
the other woman is left with nothing but a dead mate, and worse, one who
died for another woman's benefit. This is not heart-warming.<br />
<br />
"Well sure, I love you, but if it comes to a choice between me and thee, that's a little unrealistic, don't you think?" These are words that everyone fears to hear from their most intimate friends and loved ones. The fear that this attitude is at the core of a relationship will chill it and eventually kill it. People refrain from absolute intimacy, even with their sexual partners, for fear that they will discover or confirm that this is at the heart of the relationship. They would prefer living in a superficial world where the truth is left unsaid, because the truth is so painful it is death itself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r8iJV4D_cCwMzKrIRiEYO-9sM1H3-aht-QT3dDxdNmFnTSvPIh3AHwFAQm2lI0bwBtb-G8gMGjinMz5_p-m-xxhUv8J2AKMmyp5AeOhUY8iNOsqNIUQEbcKfHnzPp8WcAiFQKkeF5-g/s1600/self_absorbed_1055635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r8iJV4D_cCwMzKrIRiEYO-9sM1H3-aht-QT3dDxdNmFnTSvPIh3AHwFAQm2lI0bwBtb-G8gMGjinMz5_p-m-xxhUv8J2AKMmyp5AeOhUY8iNOsqNIUQEbcKfHnzPp8WcAiFQKkeF5-g/s400/self_absorbed_1055635.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.toonpool.com/user/13509/files/self_absorbed_1055635.jpg">Fascinating, in a painful and limited way.</a></div>
<br />
I live in a society that panders to falsehood and mocks the truth of love. My society grovels before its idols of sexual satisfaction, limitless greed, and ruthless power, but does everything it can to strangle love. And every notch of the garrote, pulled tighter on the neck of love, is a notch closer to the abyss for the murderer as well as the victim.<br />
<br />
If you would like to know more about love, there is a great book on the subject called the "Gospel of John," which is a short account and meditation on the life of Jesus Christ. <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=John&ch=">You may read it on-line, for free (it is in the public domain),</a> or purchase it at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Gospel-Of-John?r=1&utm_medium=cpc&sort=R&store=book&fmt=PHYSICAL&utm_campaign=G&utm_source=google&view=list&utm_term=+gospel%20+of%20+john%20+paperback&cm_mmc=google-_-G-_-Gospel+Of+John-_-%2BGospel+%2BOf+%2BJohn+%2Bpaperback&imkwid=23188651">Barnes & Noble for $1.99.</a> Most book-stores also carry the Gospel of John as part of a collection known as<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ignatius-Catholic-Study-Bible-Testament/dp/1586172506/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345906095&sr=1-3&keywords=catholic+bible+ignatius"> the "Bible,"</a> which I see is about $13 via Kindle and $17 in paperback. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_uKhbyf8ijRLDweJw2EgvmdWrTUeWJjFfyUwp21DoXXHlTN26fu6rMp0UC_c1HmaiLHWqHm8Rr8mvxMoMpbuRF41Qdw7JCdTcTy2uY9imQSvcoSj_0EU8RPMWfojZK6Qqn5Q7bDViVE/s1600/Apostle-John_Rembrandt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_uKhbyf8ijRLDweJw2EgvmdWrTUeWJjFfyUwp21DoXXHlTN26fu6rMp0UC_c1HmaiLHWqHm8Rr8mvxMoMpbuRF41Qdw7JCdTcTy2uY9imQSvcoSj_0EU8RPMWfojZK6Qqn5Q7bDViVE/s400/Apostle-John_Rembrandt.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thefullbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Apostle-John_Rembrandt.jpg">The Apostle John. Rembrandt.</a> </div>
<br />
It is difficult to put down, once you've picked it up. I highly recommend it. <br />
<br />
<br /><br />the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-54889207253102469092012-08-21T23:28:00.002-04:002012-08-21T23:28:49.402-04:00FORGETTING MEALSI was sitting with a group of female relatives - cousins, aunts and nieces - at a family picnic this weekend. Someone casually mentioned that Mrs. EO was in charge of meals at our house and I responded immediately.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpKiu62ItGyi4-wWPM7Gsbe39bjQPM7WSp6P7NPRGcbGN_GAHHcHVEzpnbUjaiuwMQsA9msmEADiLHxXn1lFGy9TAdcG8l5QHeFjaNZs-tUig14J4IuMyqodt0D5d2nWkay2-gSdR9vk/s1600/Fajita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpKiu62ItGyi4-wWPM7Gsbe39bjQPM7WSp6P7NPRGcbGN_GAHHcHVEzpnbUjaiuwMQsA9msmEADiLHxXn1lFGy9TAdcG8l5QHeFjaNZs-tUig14J4IuMyqodt0D5d2nWkay2-gSdR9vk/s320/Fajita.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://groceryshrink.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/fajita-stirfry-craigslist-001-400x266.jpg">Look, but do NOT touch. Mine.</a></div>
<br />
Now food is very important to me. I like food, and I think food knows this, and I think it likes me in return. We have a very simple, direct and rewarding relationship.<br />
<br />
Mrs. EO's relationship with food is much more complicated. I've found that this is true for a lot of women.<br />
<br />
Yes, she is generally in charge of making food, but no, she is not in charge of remembering to eat. That would be disastrous. How does someone actually say the words "I forgot to eat lunch?" How do you forget lunch? I've missed meals in my life, but forget? Forget? When I miss a meal I am acutely aware I am missing a meal. Mrs. EO frequently mentions to me that she "forgot" to eat lunch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvrdcTiOF6zb4nyrgQ5G6O8eeN2oA04mhjHenjcWu80lTPipq1RL79FDaN33EWNNvgyRLLmgUZQU8rktMn4IdJr_elwAfwCSq86EGlCgIWVhXGxCDiyLxNb4usMPHJ5XD8urumdiiCKQ/s1600/worriedwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvrdcTiOF6zb4nyrgQ5G6O8eeN2oA04mhjHenjcWu80lTPipq1RL79FDaN33EWNNvgyRLLmgUZQU8rktMn4IdJr_elwAfwCSq86EGlCgIWVhXGxCDiyLxNb4usMPHJ5XD8urumdiiCKQ/s400/worriedwoman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtQPlkoK9PjCO8cB60Pg4D3HjMjFpKTdJv_PoAfdb8GUD7D4CvxZ47sNrUY4xg7-FpnHxx3x-EQxyZlkxfogqz7heQbO0rTtoawFnfwHsVMw2MbgKGcKJgrwZoM0vrBzEkqxM14OlS6v2/s1600/worriedwoman.jpg">Worried woman about to forget lunch.</a></div>
<br />
As soon as I started talking about this the women at the table all began laughing. Apparently they, too, had forgotten to eat meals. Frequently.<br />
<br />
This boggles my mind. I just cannot comprehend it. Not just one meal, mind you. Sometimes Mrs. EO will tell me she is feeling dizzy and then say "oh, no wonder, I never ate today!" This morning I mentioned breakfast and her response was "oh, I don't want any, I ate so much yesterday at the picnic."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMXPSLsY_mdjKdlS6589iXXNXooSGAVmkgcYluuZRdRnseMfUQ0emjjEKXVv1dvy8ObeZSuSFdO_9SR15PgUhiuPfJwAJ9MHRy6scZWhz3O4nYRuiU14R3Rk7IGCFi_OGHBdEsXWwn3I/s1600/Worried+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMXPSLsY_mdjKdlS6589iXXNXooSGAVmkgcYluuZRdRnseMfUQ0emjjEKXVv1dvy8ObeZSuSFdO_9SR15PgUhiuPfJwAJ9MHRy6scZWhz3O4nYRuiU14R3Rk7IGCFi_OGHBdEsXWwn3I/s400/Worried+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hipstercrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/woman-looking-worried-4501.jpg">Mrs. EO thinking about all she ate yesterday.</a></div>
<br />
Again,
I find this incomprehensible. You are saying that because you ate a
lot yesterday you don't want breakfast? No breakfast? Today? Because of food you ate - yesterday?<br />
<br />
This forgetting of meals is not because she is saving someone from a
burning house, mind you. Instead, this forgetting of meals is usually
generated by ordinary chores and concerns that whirl around in her head
like an ornate circus carousel, constantly whizzing by, reminding her of the
endless "to do" list that wakes her up in the morning and refuses to let
go of her until the last box is checked at about 11 p.m.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHngU1nbHSLqmj8wLM2tzXeHi5C833ViNuF9Ta8fG-kYUahYvtYYbp17snDn4dOLzn_4SQ6Ry6T1lrfXQQHAm1lU-F8_F8K18sZZ7pxrN_0jwbM-p3oEjaVTo3Ffrn0mFy4RfnKlTS50/s1600/Carousel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHngU1nbHSLqmj8wLM2tzXeHi5C833ViNuF9Ta8fG-kYUahYvtYYbp17snDn4dOLzn_4SQ6Ry6T1lrfXQQHAm1lU-F8_F8K18sZZ7pxrN_0jwbM-p3oEjaVTo3Ffrn0mFy4RfnKlTS50/s400/Carousel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The memory carousel. Lots of horseys.</div>
<br />
Right now Mrs. EO is sorting pictures, because this has been on
her mind for quite a while and will not get off the carousel until she
gets it done. I must confess that 25 years ago, I would have even more
to look forward to before sleep. There would be midnight vacuuming and
dish putting away. There was the 3 a.m. kitchen remodeling episode involving Motown, a large piece of plywood, a circular saw and a bottle of wine. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3uXGvIusvgc7ngIZ56fV-AtRd0T42q8tsOhAMo34ZhRXBBDwZ9y-c1txMMZEQYnYgdjQ0On7YYK2Dlagjpq4am3qiZ0cA5zNrl50k-3Vsbd3emYxVN935grO3bnYYZhz0NKrWPHEC-g/s1600/wife+kissing+saw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3uXGvIusvgc7ngIZ56fV-AtRd0T42q8tsOhAMo34ZhRXBBDwZ9y-c1txMMZEQYnYgdjQ0On7YYK2Dlagjpq4am3qiZ0cA5zNrl50k-3Vsbd3emYxVN935grO3bnYYZhz0NKrWPHEC-g/s400/wife+kissing+saw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thepalewisconsinite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SDC13208.jpg">Mrs. EO loves home improvement.</a></div>
<br />
My "to do" lists typically consist of items one and two, at least, one of which I
am not comfortable talking about on a blog. The other always involves
my next meal. If there is a third thing on the list, the list is
complete, and cannot be added to, or my brain will explode. She, on the other hand, begins to be concerned she's forgetting something if there are not 20 things on her unwritten to do list, each of which can be pulled up on command and reordered or modified without in anyway affecting the perfect integrity of the list.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwX4bAJw80K8bkBJasP3pel0umrBo3myVLvNUikqIf9ZytptM_peapXWUZQ7TUHsMh0S91ctC4navW7Ipu-vCqMZ64j_QAY_c5jIzc3mTbi-gnheUNTwuuKXPsEAl9QkDYz1v5LnJZ6Y/s1600/handwritten-groc-list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwX4bAJw80K8bkBJasP3pel0umrBo3myVLvNUikqIf9ZytptM_peapXWUZQ7TUHsMh0S91ctC4navW7Ipu-vCqMZ64j_QAY_c5jIzc3mTbi-gnheUNTwuuKXPsEAl9QkDYz1v5LnJZ6Y/s400/handwritten-groc-list.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://yourfamilymoney.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/handwritten-groc-list.jpg">Mrs. EO's brain holds lists of lists.</a></div>
<br />
But then, she will forget to eat. And this is where I shine.<br />
<br />
I remind her. Because I don't forget to eat. Not gonna happen.<br />
<br />
I remain astonished and mystified, after 30 years of marriage. I think it is best that way.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-65161635475744527622012-08-11T10:28:00.001-04:002012-08-11T10:28:48.935-04:00MIDNIGHT VISITEternal Optimist's second daughter, Z, has been visiting with us the last week or two here in Big Coldtown (BCT). She's married, and lives far away in a foreign and enchanted place. She enjoys being back in the land of green vegetation and sarcasm.<br />
<br />
Last Thursday she decided to go visit a friend in the City. She started out "late" - by Eternal Optimist's standards - around 11 p.m. This is not "late" by Z's standards. Eternal Optimist is in bed by 10, most nights. Mrs. Optimist, ever vigilant, sprinkled Holy Water on Z before she left. She kissed her goodbye. <br />
<br />
Around 1:30 a.m. a knock at our bedroom door roused EO from his slumber. EO does not rouse well, but does rouse often during the night. He does not have the gift of sound sleep. He used to, but then he had a large family. Whole different story, for another blog. His experience has been that nothing much good happens after midnight, whether phone calls or knocks on the door.<br />
<br />
"Yes" said EO, as diplomatically as possible, through his CPAP machine. "It's Z, dad" came the answer. "Yes" said EO, as kindly as possible, which probably did not sound terribly kindly, but perhaps came across as patient, EO hopes.<br />
<br />
"My friend didn't have any place to stay tonight and I told her she could stay here" said Z. Z has a very sharp tongue and a very big heart. She picks up strays along the way. I figured we'd make the girl coffee in the morning and listen kindly to the story. Maybe make her an omelet, too. Always good to feed people after they've had some harsh domestic issue.<br />
<br />
"That's fine" said EO and Mrs. EO, who was also half awake.<br />
<br />
"I'm going to put her in my room" said Z.<br />
<br />
"Okay" said EO, glad that Z was alive and had not had an accident, and already falling back asleep.<br />
<br />
"She would like to say hi and thank you" said Z.<br />
<br />
"That's okay" said Mrs. EO and EO in unison. "We'll see you in the morning." My eyes were already shutting. The tone of my voice had probably deteriorated a little by now.<br />
<br />
"She really wants to say thank you, dad" said Z.<br />
<br />
Pause. "Okay" I said, mustering all the patience I could. Which was not much, compared to Mrs. EO, or perhaps most other human beings. The stray leaned in our bedroom as I tried to sit up in bed a little bit and take my Darth Vader CPAP mask off. It's very off-putting. As the lights were not on, and I had no intention of putting them on, I wasn't too worried about my ratty T-shirt, unshaven face and matted hair.<br />
<br />
"Hi" said a 20 something voice. "My name is Rae . . ."<br />
<br />
At the mention of her name Mrs. EO sat bolt upright and said "Whaaaaaaa.........?????????????" <br />
<br />
It was my oldest daughter, Rae, who had made a snap decision with her sister to fly out and visit us for the weekend!<br />
<br />
What a wonderful surprise!! The two of them just couldn't bear not to make it an elaborate scam, to boot. They managed to pull the whole thing off without lying, either. We talked until 3:30 in the morning. I was my usual delightful self at work Friday, except that I mumbled a lot and drank a lot of coffee. Come to think of it, I do that normally, so probably no one noticed anything different.<br />
<br />
I am so impressed with my kids. And I love them so much!the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-90379818651820288262012-08-02T22:15:00.002-04:002012-08-02T22:15:43.734-04:00HOPE, CHANGE & IMPENETRABILITY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BkNh5m5H7g0ZVRw1pgx8zAHQPHrf7nqi0SbJ5TPmFuELKh1KicIsomRSGGEMRfTWqX7I5qiCsfpNqmcbJc_AF10PbAYk12oJq5NwAG4DgxBwkRcalwJCBTZEsuYyiMGcH5kFXVmaa8E/s1600/obama+build+that.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BkNh5m5H7g0ZVRw1pgx8zAHQPHrf7nqi0SbJ5TPmFuELKh1KicIsomRSGGEMRfTWqX7I5qiCsfpNqmcbJc_AF10PbAYk12oJq5NwAG4DgxBwkRcalwJCBTZEsuYyiMGcH5kFXVmaa8E/s400/obama+build+that.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Mr. Obama's July 13, 2012 speech in Roanoke, Virginia (a lovely town) contained a line that has become quite infamous, in just a matter of weeks:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"If
you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that
happen." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7vjg5ZgStrbsxkdJOe8SITsw4VvTNohT9PWpPtIOXxBX1N9zJKAJLGgDTSNwL_N2Wb0EU-HTbGde2Qz1jZTd4sICeZd6IvB-N57-yaZCt0DB-Q1OLT2IZV1ieLQAjnTE7kX_kZ2i3EE/s1600/star_overlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7vjg5ZgStrbsxkdJOe8SITsw4VvTNohT9PWpPtIOXxBX1N9zJKAJLGgDTSNwL_N2Wb0EU-HTbGde2Qz1jZTd4sICeZd6IvB-N57-yaZCt0DB-Q1OLT2IZV1ieLQAjnTE7kX_kZ2i3EE/s400/star_overlook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.trekaroo.com/photos/0000/3995/star_overlook.jpg">Roanoke. Somebody else built it.</a></div>
<br />
Mr. Obama's defenders insist that the line has been <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-context-you-didnt-build_648735.html">"taken out of context."</a> This phrase, "taken out of context," is a kind of warning bell when Mr. Obama uses his superpowers to change the meaning of words. <br />
<br />
In similar fashion, when Mr. Obama said that Obamacare was NOT a tax, while it was being voted upon, many took this out of context. What he meant to say was that it WAS a tax, as his lawyers clarified during arguments before the Supreme Court. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNRgiZMSWykwSc1oz3y3HslRRIZjS5fAjSWEyirKv5x2SL-WTX_zobzb5xmmuOroc5Q98bhTd-Wq5vRQwPualdzHiJS9Zj2PSGMinI4o74cS8v2xKnQ23EBa7TNc5QKgmBAsrn6vMSME/s1600/Obamatax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNRgiZMSWykwSc1oz3y3HslRRIZjS5fAjSWEyirKv5x2SL-WTX_zobzb5xmmuOroc5Q98bhTd-Wq5vRQwPualdzHiJS9Zj2PSGMinI4o74cS8v2xKnQ23EBa7TNc5QKgmBAsrn6vMSME/s400/Obamatax.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here are 3 paragraphs of context from the President's speech: the paragraph in which the offending sentence occurred, as well as the paragraphs before and after:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me
-- because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t --
look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You
didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think,
well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart
people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody
else. Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of
hardworking people out there. (Applause.)
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some
help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody
helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that
allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. <b> If
you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that
happen.</b> The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government
research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money
off the Internet.
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our
individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There
are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I
mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a
hard way to organize fighting fires. </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
In the immediate context, the sentence makes perfect sense, without lots of tortured explanations. Parenthetically, his facts are absolutely wrong about the Internet: it was developed by the military to ensure continued command and control in the event of nuclear attack. Businesses came along and figured out how to use it for commercial purposes. <br />
<br />
In the larger context, Mr. Obama's speech advocated big tax increases for businesses because they benefit from all the great things government does, like roads and bridges. It is only
"fair" that businesses should give us even more of their wealth than they already do, through paying most of our taxes. His offending sentence makes sense, again, in the larger context.<br />
<br />
If what he meant to say was that "if you own a business - - you didn't build [roads and bridges that your business uses]," what was the point? He just got done saying somebody [else] invested in roads and bridges. He needed to say that twice? Was someone having trouble with that concept? BTW, the "someone" who built the roads included the business owners, just like everyone else, who paid their taxes. so the whole idea makes no sense. Twice.<br />
<br />
Mr. Obama is Harvard educated, as we've been told many time by his admirers in the press. If he did not mean what he said, then things get much more worrisome, because<br />
<ol>
<li>he is saying gibberish without being aware of it</li>
<li>he has catastrophic difficulties using pronouns properly</li>
<li>he was speaking in a super-secret language that only he and his followers can understand</li>
</ol>
As for the "firefighting" paragraph, no one's arguing against firefighting. Mr. Obama's opponents argue against trillion dollar borrowed "Stimulus" programs that spend all the borrowed money on Mr. Obama's political cronies, like the bankrupt goofs that ran Solyndra.<br />
<br />
Mr. Obama's speech sounds like some kid smoking pot while trying to write his sociology paper: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
'Cause like, dude, we all helped with that business, you know? Like, its like a fire, you know? It's like a fire, man. A FIRE. We all helped put out the fire. Which helped your business, dude, cause it didn't, like, burn. Remember that? </blockquote>
I don't remember any government helpers when I owned and ran a business. All the risks were mine, all the taxes were the government's. I'd had some good grade school teachers, as Mr. Obama mentioned. I'd driven on the interstate system a number of times, but then, I'd also paid a lot of taxes and tolls, and so had my parents. So I figured we were even. No one mentioned I would have to pay vigorish on all that later.<br />
<br />
Luckily I did not loose my shirt before I found out I wasn't very good at business. It gave me a healthy respect for good businessmen and women, though. Mr. Obama thinks they are just lucky freeloaders. <br />
<br />
He is grossly mistaken, but that is not surprising, given his limited resume. He has been a community activist, a politician, and a writer of self-laudatory fictions. It is not shocking that he thinks businesses are parasites living off the hard work of the rest of us. Nevertheless, he is quite misguided.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SIF3A_tUJuBp7DKdyQKz9oIpxtxUowyDJ-RJMll3a3uMx7ryU40iaRcZZt6_aCraT6PmwGCDuLe3fmTIl5FdH6rNA6W3m3ypGqQG-V836qH-oCzMskO3yW6tAIkhGfW_mDuWqI86HNU/s1600/humpty-dumpty-n00039637-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SIF3A_tUJuBp7DKdyQKz9oIpxtxUowyDJ-RJMll3a3uMx7ryU40iaRcZZt6_aCraT6PmwGCDuLe3fmTIl5FdH6rNA6W3m3ypGqQG-V836qH-oCzMskO3yW6tAIkhGfW_mDuWqI86HNU/s400/humpty-dumpty-n00039637-b.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thenaturaleye.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/humpty-dumpty-n00039637-b.jpg">President Obumpty.</a> </div>
<br />
Mr. Obama's speech veered between opacity and nonsense. We've all bordered on incoherence, but Mr. Obama has help from speechwriters and teleprompters. He should hire new speechwriters and get the teleprompters serviced. His explanation of what he really meant to say reminds me of Humpty Dumpty, in "Through the Looking Glass:"<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"When <i>I</i> use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."</b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b> "The question is," said Alice, "whether you <i>can</i> make words mean so many different things."</b><br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b> "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master<s> </s>that's all."</b><br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b> Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty
Dumpty began again. </b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b> "They've a temper, some of them—particularly verbs,
they're the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not
verbs—however, <i>I</i> can manage the whole lot! Impenetrability! That's what <i>I</i> say!"</b></blockquote>
Hope, Change, and Impenetrability: Obama, 2012.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-81471184795357655512012-08-01T21:41:00.002-04:002012-08-01T21:41:44.305-04:00FIRST AMENDMENT CHICKEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oYzUtisHcLvzGUx5U2uRa5QlLX4WM9VNTVvWcBFd2UqEDEKYBriRhM9_w8KgZ6MRzNy5wGvT6L4qU5nvwZ_rhsxvhF8vhl9nluf0MwixpxrfN_LcMT8Jw9zN8CM9pZHG9yhV2oLF6Jk/s1600/chick+fil+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oYzUtisHcLvzGUx5U2uRa5QlLX4WM9VNTVvWcBFd2UqEDEKYBriRhM9_w8KgZ6MRzNy5wGvT6L4qU5nvwZ_rhsxvhF8vhl9nluf0MwixpxrfN_LcMT8Jw9zN8CM9pZHG9yhV2oLF6Jk/s400/chick+fil+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chick-fil-a-day-20120802,0,1647505.story">Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day (LA Times)</a></div>
<br />
For those that don't know it, August 1, 2012 was "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." If you missed it, be sure to go and get some chicken and support these nice folks, who generally stick to cooking. Recently they've been criticized by the mayors of Chicago and Boston because of remarks by Chick-fil-A's president, stating that he believes marriage is the union of a man and a woman.<br />
<br />
Apparently this is un-American, and the mayors of Beantown and Chicagoland had to let Chick-fil-A know that they wouldn't be getting approvals to do business in Boston or Chicago, not with that attitude. <br />
<br />
You have to admire the moral courage of these two mayors, bravely standing up to a fried chicken store owner.<br />
<br />
Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, said “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values. They’re not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family
members. And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you
should reflect Chicago values.” Emanuel is also co-chair of President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, and President Obama's former chief-of-staff.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's a reaction to Emanuel's remarks from Cardinal Francis George, of Chicago, drawn from the <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=15093">Catholic World News:</a> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Recent comments by those who administer our city seem
to assume that the city government can decide for everyone what are the
“values” that must be held by citizens of Chicago. I was born and
raised here, and my understanding of being a Chicagoan never included
submitting my value system to the government for approval. Must those
whose personal values do not conform to those of the government of the
day move from the city? Is the City Council going to set up a “Council
Committee on Un-Chicagoan Activities” and call those of us who are
suspect to appear before it? I would have argued a few days ago that I
believe such a move is, if I can borrow a phrase, “un-Chicagoan.” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“The value in question is espousal of ‘gender-free marriage,’” he
continued. “Approval of state-sponsored homosexual unions has very
quickly become a litmus test for bigotry; and espousing the
understanding of marriage that has prevailed among all peoples
throughout human history is now, supposedly, outside the American
consensus.” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Was Jesus a bigot?” Cardinal George added. “Could Jesus be accepted as a
Chicagoan? Would Jesus be more ‘enlightened’ if he had the privilege of
living in our society? One is welcome to believe that, of course; but
it should not become the official state religion, at least not in a land
that still fancies itself free. Surely there must be a way to properly
respect people who are gay or lesbian without using civil law to
undermine the nature of marriage.” </blockquote>
"Was Jesus a bigot" is a phrase that rather lingers in the mind. What Rahm Emanuel and others are saying is that to the extent Christian teachings conflict with the views of the government they must be - and deserve to be - suppressed. This is the premise of the HHS mandates.<br />
<br />
So eat some chicken in support of our religious freedoms. And avoid Chicago, which is on pace to have <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/02/chicago-murder-rate-surges-as-new-york-s-drops-to-record-low.html">500 murders</a> this year.<br />
<br />
Chicago values, indeed.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-66484683894178844402012-07-30T08:22:00.002-04:002012-07-30T08:22:10.268-04:00MEDITATION ON THE HUMAN CONDITION<i>Eternal Optimist writes his children periodic emails, short meditations on the daily scriptures read in the Catholic Church. This one was from July 28, 2012, Saturday. It turned into a meditation on the human condition. </i><br />
<br />
<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1343647675311441">
Today's readings are drawn from Jeremiah 7, Psalm 84, and Matthew 13. <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072812.cfm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You may read them here.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jeremiah
receives a message from the Lord, directing him to stand at the gate of
the temple and tell the people "Reform your ways and your deeds. . .
Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds; if each of you
deals justly with his neighbor . . . will I remain with you in this
place."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Jeremiah warns the people against
putting their trust in "the temple of the Lord! the temple of the Lord!
the temple of the Lord!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a warning to
us, as well. Religious practice is a good thing, but not enough. The
Lord wants our lives. He wants us to deal with our neighbors
justly. Our "religion" is worthless unless it changes us for the
good. It is of no use unless it results in love toward our families,
friends and neighbors. It is quite disgusting to be a "religious"
person who mocks God by mistreating the people around him. Jeremiah
asks if we think God's temple is a "den of thieves?" Do we think God
does not see us for who we are? </div>
<br />But here's the tough
part. It is easy to see the hypocrisy in others. Seeing our own blind
spots is much more difficult. Our eyes look outward, not inward. How
do we invert our eyes so that we can see our own souls as Christ sees
them? <br /><br />All humanity is subject to the truth of the parable in
today's gospel. Jesus tells of the farmer who sows good seed in the
field, goes to sleep, and wakes up to find that an enemy has sown weeds
among the good seed. The servants ask the farmer if they should pull up
the weeds, but he tells them not to, because they may destroy the wheat
in so doing. He promises that at the harvest he will have the
harvesters separate the weeds and burn them, and then gather in the
wheat.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The truth of this parable applies in each
individual heart, as well. There weeds grow along with the wheat. The
roots of the weeds circle around our hearts, and are intermingled with
the roots of the wheat, so that God refuses to act in his power to "pull
up the weeds," lest he crush the life out of us. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Yet
in the person of Jesus the Lord asks us to let him disentangle the
weeds and the wheat gently, so that he can claim our hearts. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
How do we do this?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Today's Psalm provides an answer:</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
My soul yearns and pines<br />
for the courts of the LORD.<br />
My heart and my flesh<br />
cry out for the living God.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<br />
Blessed they who dwell in your house!<br />
continually they praise you.<br />
Blessed the men whose strength you are!<br />
They go from strength to strength.<br />
<br />
I had rather one day in your courts<br />
than a thousand elsewhere;<br />
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God<br />
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.<br />
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
Our time in the Lord's dwelling place is time when our hearts grow
toward the light of his love. We are "blessed" there. We go from
"strength to strength" - His strength becomes our strength. And however
you are situated in God's house - whether you merely lie at the
threshold, like the beggar Lazarus in one of Jesus' stories - you will
receive life. And however briefly you are in the Lord's house, you will
receive life: "I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand
elsewhere."<br /><br />It is so difficult to see inwardly. God our Father
loves us with all his heart, in all his truth and justice. In truth,
none of us is satisfied with love that is blind to our weaknesses. That
is a perilous love, sure to be shattered when it awakens from its
dullness and sees us for what we are. <br /><br />Neither do any of us
truly want a "love" that justifies our injustice, that coddles our
selfishness.
Because we know in our deepest beings that this is not love. A "love"
that tolerates selfishness and injustice is no love at all, but a
temporary alliance, like a "den of thieves." It exists so long as our
selfishness and injustice are directed elsewhere. We know in our hearts
that in the end our selfishness and injustice will turn on our
den-mates, and theirs on us. And that is the day they will not be our
"friends" any longer.<br /><br />The Lord gives us a place we can go and see
ourselves for what we are, without dying of shame. It is a place where
we are loved unconditionally, but not blindly, given true hope, not
false pride, and given strength to change, not rationalizations for our
sins. It is the place where the weeds get disentangled from the wheat.<br /><br />That
is why the Lord lived and died for us. That is why he instituted the Eucharist, appointed the Apostles, gave us Confession, and gave us the Holy Scriptures. He gives us the means to change, to gently pull out
the weeds
and to nurture the wheat in our lives.<br />
<br />
I tell you to go to Church because I love you.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552277881796273856.post-65757435526955101982012-07-28T08:43:00.003-04:002012-07-28T08:43:48.064-04:00HEALTH CARE INJUNCTIONA district court in Colorado issued a preliminary injunction yesterday forbidding the federal government from enforcing its abortion and birth control insurance mandates against a private employer. You can read the <a href="http://www.adfmedia.org/files/NewlandPI.pdf">opinion itself here,</a> and the<a href="http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/7524"> briefs of the parties here.</a> <br />
<br />
The issues in the religious exemption cases are entirely different from the recent Supreme Court decision on the Commerce Clause and Tax justifications for the law. The religious exemption cases do not attack Congress' power to pass the law, generally. These cases attack the application of the law to people who have religious beliefs that would be violated by complying with the law.<br />
<br />
The judge ruled that the freedom of religion “questions going to the merits . . .[are] so serious, substantial, difficult, and doubtful as to make the issue ripe for litigation and deserving of more deliberate investigation[.]” The judge held that, given the alternative means for providing birth control and abortion coverage for women (such as free government abortion and birth control benefits), the government failed to meet its burden of demonstrating that its mandate was the least restrictive means of furthering its purposes. <br />
<br />
The judge also held that given the numerous exemptions and grandfathered provisions in the health care mandate, the government had not proven that it had a compelling interest in uniform application of the mandate. In plain words, the judge said that given the number of exemptions already in place, allowing one more employer to avoid providing birth control or abortion coverage was not going to result in a system crash.<br />
<br />
The opinion deals with one employer in one federal district. Nevertheless, the opinion has momentous implications, because the logic of the opinion applies to other people who want to run their businesses without violating their church's teachings on abortion and birth control. The opinion is a lucid explanation of why the preliminary injunction should issue. Because it was written by a Carter appointee, political hatchet men will have a tougher time slandering the judge as a conservative bigot. <br />
<br />
Once again, a court holds that Nancy Pelosi's "are you kidding?" mockery of the notion that Obamacare might be unconstitutional was misguided. As the court said, the issues are "serious, substantial, difficult and doubtful."<br />
<br />
We live in interesting times.the eternal optimisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148966860695390436noreply@blogger.com1