Sunday, November 16, 2008
Freedom From Religion
My friend Ralph had a link to this web site on the history of the separation of Church and State in America. I just wanted to mark it here, so I could find it easily. It's a great history lesson for everyone.
Obamaphobia
Now that the election is over and the Republican supporters let the the Democrats revel in their victory for a week or so, I've noticed an increasing level of fear expressed by those who didn't support Obama. It's not enough to sit back and wait until they see what Obama will do. No, they've got to predict the horrors that will occur when Obama actually takes office. I thought I'd start a chronical of the fear-mongoring and "prediction", and reactions that are floating around. Here's the start of it:
1. A friend, who works for a military contractor, said that he heard that Obama's been meeting secretly with Bill Ayers to plan some fake attack on the US to galvanize the public to allow Obama to take drastic socialist measures. Of course, this reflects the actual abuse of power that Bush committed by taking advantage of 9/11. Like many rumors, there is a kernel of believability needed to keep the rumor spreading.
2. The same friend said that he's thinking of moving to live with his Dad in Michigan because he expects Obama will be so ruinous to the economy that he'll need to take 'refuge' in a safe place (as if Alabama wouldn't be safe enough). Of course, the economy is already in the tank after eight years of Bush and six of eight years of a Republican controlled congress. The damage is done, the effects will take many more months to even see. I expect it will get worse, and folks like this person will certainly blame Obama on day 2 (they'll let him slide the first day).
3. A guy at work tells me that the Democrats plan to take your 401K, no matter what's in it, and give you a maximum of $500/month extra social security. There is a grain of truth to it, according to a plan by Teresa Ghilarducci, but they wouldn't take what you've already accumulated and would require a %5 investment in a government run Social Security adjunct. Of course, it has to pass congress and the administration...
4. Gun sales are soaring across the nation on fear that Obama will curtail gun ownership in some way.
5. That stupid priest in SC [see Nov 14 post] who told Obama voters they should refrain from communion...
6. Catholic Bishops issued Obama stern warning that they will accept no compromise for the sake of national unity until there is legal protection for the unborn.
7. Here's a Focus on the Family "Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America". OK, this was written a few months prior to the election, but shows the level of fear that exists.
8. James Dobson more recently said in a radio broadcast that Obama's election will set back America's pro-life movement back 35 years. Frankly, I hope he's right. No, I hope that it set's back his movement forever. I don't want to get into an abortion discussion here, but I'll just say that I think abortion is a medical decision between a woman and her doctor and that at some point, perhaps after 3-4months, a fetus transforms from a non-sentient being into a sentient being, albeit still with less inherent 'value' than the life of the mother. This just isn't a political decision. And who in their right mind is for abortion? I mean, I've never met a woman who said "Please make me pregnant so I can have another abortion. I just love them so much!".
9. Local talk radio and letters to the editor have had all sorts of wacky opinions about what Obama will do. It's great entertainment.
I suppose that when a party runs a campaign on fear and then loses, they should expect much of that fear to stick in the minds of their constituents.
All the news isn't bad and I plan to post something about the positive news I've heard at a later time.
1. A friend, who works for a military contractor, said that he heard that Obama's been meeting secretly with Bill Ayers to plan some fake attack on the US to galvanize the public to allow Obama to take drastic socialist measures. Of course, this reflects the actual abuse of power that Bush committed by taking advantage of 9/11. Like many rumors, there is a kernel of believability needed to keep the rumor spreading.
2. The same friend said that he's thinking of moving to live with his Dad in Michigan because he expects Obama will be so ruinous to the economy that he'll need to take 'refuge' in a safe place (as if Alabama wouldn't be safe enough). Of course, the economy is already in the tank after eight years of Bush and six of eight years of a Republican controlled congress. The damage is done, the effects will take many more months to even see. I expect it will get worse, and folks like this person will certainly blame Obama on day 2 (they'll let him slide the first day).
3. A guy at work tells me that the Democrats plan to take your 401K, no matter what's in it, and give you a maximum of $500/month extra social security. There is a grain of truth to it, according to a plan by Teresa Ghilarducci, but they wouldn't take what you've already accumulated and would require a %5 investment in a government run Social Security adjunct. Of course, it has to pass congress and the administration...
4. Gun sales are soaring across the nation on fear that Obama will curtail gun ownership in some way.
5. That stupid priest in SC [see Nov 14 post] who told Obama voters they should refrain from communion...
6. Catholic Bishops issued Obama stern warning that they will accept no compromise for the sake of national unity until there is legal protection for the unborn.
7. Here's a Focus on the Family "Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America". OK, this was written a few months prior to the election, but shows the level of fear that exists.
8. James Dobson more recently said in a radio broadcast that Obama's election will set back America's pro-life movement back 35 years. Frankly, I hope he's right. No, I hope that it set's back his movement forever. I don't want to get into an abortion discussion here, but I'll just say that I think abortion is a medical decision between a woman and her doctor and that at some point, perhaps after 3-4months, a fetus transforms from a non-sentient being into a sentient being, albeit still with less inherent 'value' than the life of the mother. This just isn't a political decision. And who in their right mind is for abortion? I mean, I've never met a woman who said "Please make me pregnant so I can have another abortion. I just love them so much!".
9. Local talk radio and letters to the editor have had all sorts of wacky opinions about what Obama will do. It's great entertainment.
I suppose that when a party runs a campaign on fear and then loses, they should expect much of that fear to stick in the minds of their constituents.
All the news isn't bad and I plan to post something about the positive news I've heard at a later time.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Fall Colors
We had a late Fall this year, and the past two weeks have been brilliant with color. Here are a couple of photos taken from outside out garage on a recent foggy morning.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Quid Pro Quo Religion
It's come to this: a priest in South Carolina is punishing parishioners by telling them "that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion."
I don't think I've ever heard of this sort of thing happening in the US. Sure, I recall John Kerry himself being warned by his priest that he should refrain from communion, but that's a specific individual. This is a case of widespread attack.
Hey, in a way, I don't lament it. It's what I expect from the church and I can only hope that the effect it has will be to drive more away from its hold. That's change I can believe in!
I don't think I've ever heard of this sort of thing happening in the US. Sure, I recall John Kerry himself being warned by his priest that he should refrain from communion, but that's a specific individual. This is a case of widespread attack.
Hey, in a way, I don't lament it. It's what I expect from the church and I can only hope that the effect it has will be to drive more away from its hold. That's change I can believe in!
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