These are all the Blogs posted today: Tuesday, 22, 2008.
WE HAVE NAMES OF 4 U.S. SOLDIERS CHARGED IN DEATH OF DETAINEES IN IRAQ
Props against same-sex marriage: Blind faith, blind hate, or are they the same?
62 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog State Propositions against same-sex marrige: Is it blind faith, or blind hate, or are the two indistinguishable? _
To be fearful is easy. It’s the natural first essential state of non-vertebrates and vertebrates, including and most especially humankind. Fear is the fertile base from which all hate springs. Indeed, all religions depend for their existence on fear; not love — fear. Consider only that being “religious” in a behavior is to do it without thinking about the behavior; without even knowing why: “He took the same route to the office religiously.” And it was to the religious inclination that Voltaire referred when he posited, “He who can lead you to believe an absurdity can lead you to commit an atrocity.” The Bible Belt in America is an amorphously supposed geography that is the American South, where ostensibly one will find greatest social reliance on the what is within the Bible, as a guide for social norms and behavior. While that may be a generally accurate supposition, it’s nothing anyone should be the least proud of. The Bible treats lightly or fully endorses to the extent it demands fratricide, polyandry, slavery, infanticide, incest, polygamy, genocide, child abuse, and mass theft and rape as well as other extraordinarily execrably intolerable practices . . . all because God said so. Recall the story of Abraham, and how God demanded of his loyal servant that he take his only son, Isaac, “and offer him . . . for a burnt offering,” as a test of his abiding, unquestioning loyalty? Think — please, just T-H-I-N-K, do not be religiously servile: THINK! — what this really says about God, and about whatever it means to believe and behave admirably. If, as the world’s three most influential religions contend, God is omnipresent, all-powerful, and omniscient, why would God put anyone to such a test, the outcome of which His omniscience knew beforehand the outcome of . . . unless and only because God is not, as claimed, omniscient? An inherent contradiction that cannot be dismissed, ignored, or forgotten. Would anyone today find innocent a father who murdered a child on the defense that God told him to kill the child, as a “burnt alive” human sacrifice? You ever burned your fingers on the range top? Is there anyone who will in any way not condemn most stridently this horrible, horrible tale of a father and a god who would even consider burning a child alive? Don’t give excuses, give a reason it would be okay. Or, what about stoning a daughter to death because she was not a virgin on her wedding day? Or stoning a son who supposedly spoke or acted disrespectfully to his father? Or condemning to death someone for any of the many ever-so-minor trespasses defined as capital offenses in the Bible? Nope. Didn’t think so. In the words of the father (George H. W. Bush), “wouldn’t be prudent.” It wouldn’t be prudent because we, as a society, as a thinking world, consider those commandments in the Bible as the very embodiment and expression of evil itself. Yet, how can that be? It’s in the Bible! They’re stories of examples to follow, and they are Commandments from God! But we pick and choose. We pick and choose because we know better about what’s right and what isn’t than what is in the Bible. Regardless, there is a great proportion in our country that are wielding the Bible like a terrible Gattling gun, to mow down those they hate, those they fear, because they’re “different,” “they’re homosexuals,” and “they” should not be allowed to fully express their love and devotion to another human, via marriage, because “it’s an abomination to God.” Give me a goddamned break! Read astutely the qualifying word “if”: Whether your god be God or Allah, if He requires the first diminishment of basic human rights on account of any of His human creations expressing their love and devotion for one another, however it is they choose, then that god, be it God or Allah, is a ground-hugging, slithering viper, and all who elect to abide some egregious sanctioning of those others are themselves the most incredibly blind, lying, hypocritical and loathsome in Creation. I had to be coerced to see Brokeback Mountain. There is nothing whatsoever about the sight of men engaged in the physical adoration of each other that is not uncomfortable, that is the least pleasing to me. Then again, I feel the same about folks with pink or blue (or, pink and blue) hair, or lip or nose rings, or 17 eyebrow piercings, or a tongue-stud that isn’t discomfiting to me. And therein is the crux of the matter. My comfort ought never be weighed when it comes to what an individual may or may not do, so long as I am not directly harmed by the behavior. For, tyranny breathes its terrible life whenever a person or group is accorded the right to decide what behaviors another may and may not engage, what rights they may and may not enjoy. Such power is veritably a virulent assault on the human dignity of that targeted person or group, and on us all. Proposition 8, on the California ballot this November, seeks to deny to gays/homosexuals, and lesbians the right to wed another of their sexual orientation. The ballot initiative was placed there by folks who would have the rest of us believe it was for religious beliefs. Do they really believe the rest of us are that incredibly stupid? No! they did it out of nothing more elevating than their reptilian fear and the hatred that fear spawned. (See above re cherry-picking the things that are abominations to God.) Moreover, the energy of these venom-brained serpents built when San Diego’s mayor, Jerry Sanders, recanted his promise to veto the city council motion supporting same-sex marriage. In a news conference, the mayor acknowledged his own daughter was gay, and that he could not in good conscience betray her right to her pursuit of happiness via marriage to whomever she chose. The Prop-8 supporters thereupon claimed the mayor had betrayed them. Ministers and conservatives from around the country denounced the mayor and threw cash into the campaign to make the proposition part of the state constitution. I wonder. What about Paul’s original clients in Damascus, or the slave traders, after John Newton penned Amazing Grace, were they betrayed, or are these examples of men who found their conscience, and their salvation? Certainly, those who endorse a prohibition against same-sex marriage are entitled to their opinions. Just remember, however, that segregation based on race; declaring who can ride on the bus and where, and which drinking fountains certain folk can use, and which restrooms, and which lunch counters, and which schools a child might attend, and which kinds of persons an individual could marry — all based on some judgment of racial appropriateness — are also opinions that all are entitled to. They who espouse those rancid notions have their right to do so, but the rest of us have an even greater moral obligation to excoriate them, to denounce them openly and assertively, for whatever invidious presuppositions may be the germinal seeds of those opinions. Their claims of reliance on biblical edict will have validity only once they argue just as vehemently for a parent’s right to burn his child alive, because God said so, or for daughters to get their father drunk, in order to have sex with him, or for an impure daughter to be stoned to death . . . Any holdings otherwise betray the stark truth: It’s all just blind fear and hatred. — Ed Tubbs Thousand Oaks, CA PS — Of course I welcome responses, those that disagree as well as those that agree. But I’ve got to insist that only those retaining the courage of their convictions to include their real name and the city where they reside, exactly as they would for any letter to the editor, will be read or responded to. Now is the time for all of us to live up to the words and sentiments in our National Anthem.Read more | 0 comments
CNN: OBAMA: STABILITY ULTIMATELY IN THE HANDS OF IRAQIS
MCCAIN WAS WRONG ON EVERYTHING ABOUT IRAQ AND
Bonus Army & the Pro-Vet Advocacy of Smedly Butler
22 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog Regarding the Bonus Army (the 66th anniversary of which will be marked on 28 July) it’s worth noting that the event featured two great heroes of WWI, Douglas MacArthur and Smedley Darlington Butler, in opposing camps. General "Dugout Doug" MacArthur served as overall commander of the federal response ordered by President Hoover, while Dwight D. Eisenhower, as a member of MacArthur's staff, had strong reservations about the operation. Troops carrying rifles with unsheathed bayonets and tear gas were sent into the Bonus Army's camps. President Hoover did not want the army to march across the Anacostia River into the protesters' largest encampment, but Douglas MacArthur felt this was a communist attempt to overthrow the government and thus exceeded his authority. Hundreds of veterans were injured, several were killed, including William Hushka and Eric Carlson; a wife of a veteran miscarried, and other casualties were inflicted. The visual image of U.S. armed soldiers confronting poor veterans of the recent Great War set the stage for Veteran relief and eventually the Veterans Administration For his part Major-General Smedley Darlington Butler, a 33-year veteran of the Marine Corps who was twice decorated with the Medal of Honor, had rallied the veterans’ cause by making an appearance and speaking to the Bonus Army: [Butler] according to the New York Times, "evoked tremendous applause when he mounted an improvised stand," and with a "damn" and "hell" every few words, urged the vets to stick it out: "You hear folks call you fellows tramps, but they didn't call you that in '17 and '18. I never saw such fine soldiers. I never saw such discipline.... You have as much right to lobby here as the United States Steel Corporation.... this is the greatest demonstration of Americanism ever seen.".… The general gave another pep talk the next day, cautioning the veterans to "keep your sense of humor" lest belligerence cost them the considerable public sympathy they had already won.... Congress had just voted down the Patman Bonus Bill to pay veterans the two-billion-dollar bonus promised them in bonus certificates payable in 1945. Bonus Army Commander Walter W. Waters, a former army sergeant, and other leaders feared that their discouraged followers would now give up and return home. When Waters introduced Smedley Butler to the huge crowd of veterans gathered along the Anacostia River to hear him, he was greeted with an enthusiastic roar of acclaim that echoed through Washington like thunder. They all knew Old Gimlet Eye, one of the most colorful generals who had ever led troops into battle. (Source: Jules Archer, The Plot to Seize the White House, 1973, pp. 3, 218-19). Smedly Darlington Butler’s contributions to the Bonus Army’s cause and his post-retirement statements regarding war and service are well worth investigating as we reflect on the struggles which have brought us to this precarious point in American veterans’ affairs. Here I appear to have reached the limit of what can be expressed on this forum concerning the topic.Read more | 0 comments
Abc news article and dicussion on the topic.
32 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/mccain-in-colom.htmlMcCain Following the road down to disaster promises more of the same.Wonder what kind of doo doo we will be in 4 years from now if he becomes president . Anyone up for a protracted war in Iraq with the promise of more wars to come, McCain blows a head gasket. if he becomes president. God save our troops and vets from this man. I don't have any disrespect for the man's service, but give me a break, I don't think our troops are looking eagerly for a protracted war in Iraq without a resolution or a end point and yes they want to come home, because they are tired and exhausted want to be reunited with their families and resume some life of normalcy . There needs to be some resolution and time -line for withdrawl. I don't blame them if they're are fed up and sick of it. They are expected to stay the course. If I felt like I was in a dungeon I'd definitely want to get out and I wouldn't wish the plight of our troops on our worst enemy. Trying to survive in a jungle not knowing who the enemy is , having to live and survive in harsh conditions. Maybe Bush could have done more than just give up golf? He should have to go live one month in the same situation as our troops are forced to live in, he'd be crying for mamma and dadda to bail him out . Ideally you'd think there would be someone who was more compassionate toward our troops who would see the real need to resolve our end in the war. McCain now wants to impose more hardship on these men and women? Someone made a pretty unthinking comment saying , Well gee what are we supposed to do? They need to stay over there and do their job so we don't have a another 9/11 ."Unthinking because Troops over there cannot guarantee that there will never be another attack on American soil, Who knows ? It might come from a Pakistani or a Saudi. Bin laden was not an Iraqi. Even great Britain with all it's cameras and security could not prevent terrorist attacks.What makes some think that troops fighting in Iraq can stop a terrorist attack here? Someone couldn't slip in from the Mexican border or slip under the nose of security here in America? There are things we cannot have control over. Yeah gee what are we supposed to do as Americans? THINK. " Ok bud you go over there and get PTSD , or whatever, so we can be lulled into a false security that our president is actually protecting us from terrorism here." Same people would never think of serving their country, They want whatever they think will benefit them even at someone elses expense .Another person said ,"Well we need the oil" Our troops did not go to Iraq to fight for the interests of oil companies, We need to ween ourselves off our overdependence on oil from other countries. They aren't stable anyway. I noticed Bush smirks alot , what is with that? Our troops have sworn to protect and defend the constitution of the US and our country from a dangerous foreign enemy, Not to protect the oil The constitution and our founding fathers did not intend for the president to have the absolute power to declare war. Congress is said to to have the power to declare war.... but in certain cas the president did have limited powers. There were founding fathers who thought there would be presidents all to eager to get our country involved in wars for controversial reasons, or perhaps were overly ambitious."In 1973, following the withdrawal of most American troops from the Vietnam War, a debate emerged about the extent of presidential power in deploying troops without a declaration of war. A compromise in the debate was reached with the War Powers Resolution. This act clearly defined how many soldiers could be deployed by the President of the United States and for how long. It also required formal reports by the President to Congress regarding the status of such deployments, and limited the total amount of time that American forces could be employed without a formal declaration of war."Taken from wikipedia If we as a nation should have to go to war it should never be taken lightly. And it better be for legitmate reasons. A soldiers prayer song by Collin Raye. Video ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TQY_slTJQE&feature=related Read more | 0 comments
REPUBLICANS SCREAM FOUL: NY TIMES DID McCAIN A FAVOR BY
More of the same bull
32 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog http://www.truthout.org/article/drilling-without-oil-tax-cuts-without-growth Groan... will the American people ever learn not to be taken for schmucks, What is there not to undertsand.Bush+ Big business interests + no loyalty to our constitution or respect for human rights here in this country+ People gullible+ Failing economy + deficit+ Losing jobs+Plus tax breaks for rich+ Plus corporate welfare + American taxpayer foots the bill + domestic spending cut+Infrastructure crumbling + bridges roads crumbling+ schools and education +Troops and vets bascailly ignored and treated like they have no legitimate rights as citizens +Benefits and pay cuts throughout Bush presidency+ Substandard treatment+ Plus over extended+ People are blind to reason+ Bush's mental deficit + McCain the same= Fill in the blank There is only one way that we can reclaim America for it's citizens we have to take back our power. American people have put faith in people who make promises but don't deliver and have catered to other "interests so to speak. We cannot blindly trust any politicians, they have their weaknesses and temptations too, although Obama looks promising . We need to hold our leaders accountable for their actions. Bind them to the constitution as T. Jefferson said, lest they practice mischief.We've had better presidents of course. While the average American tax payer is being robbed blind, and losing hope , we need to stand up as a people and reclaim our power as citizens to make change and not to believe politicians every word.If we keep giving that power over to people who have not been faithful to the people or this country, who trample over the rights of others to get their way ,show disrespect for the law and the constitution, they will take as much of it away as they can. Our founding fathers expected our citizens to safeguard our liberties, they did not say always to put blind faith in government and even gave us the right to get rid of the government and reestablish a new one if the old one was too tyrannical, it is written in the constitution.So kick out the old faces and get in a new order.Government is supposed to also address abuses and correct them when necessary and we haven't seen much of that happening, Of course we don't always know dishonest person when we see them ,we have to learn through experience. There will never be change as long as we expect them to change.We need to be the agents of change and start standing up for our rights not aqeiesing every time a leader in power tries to play tough guy and undermine our rights. They don't own us, we are supposed to have a government by the people and for the people. again when we don't make them accountable for their actions they are like kids who parents who have set no limits or boundaries, what happens ? They run amuck. The government needs to be treated the same. Like children who have no limits or boundaries. Even the decent ones who want to help the economy, get medical care for our vets and troops, and want to create new jobs, are often thwarted by having the wrong people in power. Bush can threaten a veto. Republicans when they were the majority could choose not to support a bill or whatever. Look at McCain he has power in the senate. Read more | 0 comments
FALLUJAH ON THE BRINK OF EXPLODING INTO VIOLENCE
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