The enemy is a false ideology.

Ultimately ideology is the battle ground where the final battle must be won because it cannot be bombed into oblivion.  However, ideology is coming more and more to the forefront.  This is good.  How to win an ideological conflict? This is the question?

December 7, 1946

Five years after Pearl Harbor, the war was over. The Third Reich was kaput. The Japanese were vanquished as well.

But five years and counting after 9/11, there is no victory in sight. There is not even much clarity about why we are fighting, or whom we are fighting. Some of the most important victories in this shadowy twilight war have come in the form of arrests of those who were plotting attacks even more heinous than 9/11, but these arrests have an unfortunate side effect: they perpetuate the illusion that we are not seriously threatened, that there is nothing to be particularly concerned about -- after all, they haven't struck since 9/11. They probably can't. They probably just got lucky on that day.

One main reason, meanwhile, why the war is so poorly understood and controversial: the enemy is not a nation-state but an ideology, an ideology which has been spread throughout the world and can now be found in practically every nation on the planet. Because of the religious derivation of this ideology, analysts are generally reluctant to identify it properly or fully.

• They don't wish to examine how this ideology is advancing through peaceful means.
• They refuse to consider the ways in which it threatens American society, laws, and mores.
• And multiculturalism dins into all our ears that all value systems and belief systems are equal, and that only "bigots" oppose one or another, or dare to examine how one may be contain incitements to violence and supremacism.

 

Technorati tags: ideology, islam, wahidism, spencer, illusion, war, fighting, enemy, Muslim, Western World, Christianity, Judism, Socialism, Society, Army, Bomb, 9/11, Japan, ISG

ISG: a study in the tolerance of gobal, ideologically guided terrorism.

Before the Dec 7th bombing of Pearl Harbor the U.S. was negotiating with Japan.  Is it significant that the ISG (Iraq Study Group) comes out with a tolerance of global, ideologically guided terrorism plan for Iraq the day before Dec. 7th..  They see the tip of the iceberg but Titanic-like they proceed with a plan which will lead to the continued degeneration of a fearful, materialistic, godless culture already filled with self loathing.   

We left Korea unfinished.

We left Viet Nam unfinished

We are disposed to let the terrorists do as they will because we are leaving, if ISG has its way, before finishing.

Got Berka?

Tags: Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, ISG, Terrorism, God, responsibility, Titanic, Pearl Harbor, Japan, America, Creator

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Should America set a firm date to pull out of Iraq?

 

The Iraq Study Group set the end of 2008 as the date for the withdrawal of US combat forces in Iraq.  What’s your opinion on setting a date for a withdrawal from Iraq?  Tell your Member of Congress and President Bush what you think.

• Yes, the US should set a firm date for withdrawal from Iraq, regardless of the security status in the country.

• No, the US should allow events on the ground determine a withdrawal timetable.

Link to Congress.org  and vote.

David Belfort Wanted you to see this: Bring Both Holy Texts, Representative Ellison

David Belfort (david.belfort@gmail.com) wanted you to see this: Bring Both Holy Texts, Representative Ellison
-------------------------------------------------------------
Message from David Belfort:
Dennis Prager has the right idea. Same God.

Bring Both Holy Texts, Representative Ellison

http://www.townhall.com/TalkRadio/Show.aspx?RadioShowID=3&ContentGuid=50c480b8-d8e0-4b4d-adc0-6111fd3379bf

=============================================================
TownHall.Com
http://www.TownHall.com

From Slashfood Blog

 I liked this so much I put the whole story.  This is a good thing.  I hope there will be follow-up on reports of "passing on the good things". David

Starbucks' chain of cheer

Posted Nov 12th 2006 2:32PM by Nicole Weston
Filed under: Coffee, Business, Coffee shops

Have you been to Starbucks lately? If so, you have probably noticed that their signature holiday red cups are in use, but if you are lucky, you might have noticed something else was happening in the stores, too. Starbucks just launched their cheer-pass movement. The company's goal is to start a chain of cheer this season by passing on good things to some of their customers, in the hopes that they, in turn, will pass that good cheer on to someone else by doing something thoughtful for another person. To kick off the program, last week some Manhattan commuters were given free subway MetroCards and free movie tickets were given away in Chicago. Other bits of cheer from the company might include free samples of the chain's holiday beverages, bags of coffee and $5 Starbucks Cards.

The only "catch", such as it is, is that the cheer spread by the company is accompanied by cheer passes, which are numbered cards that you are supposed to pass on if and when you "pay it forward" and do something good for another person this season. They have the Starbucks logo, but the real purpose of the passes is to track the chain of good deeds. By entering the number of the card on the cheer pass website, you can enter your good deed and see what other ones were associated with that particular card before you received it.

The company hopes to distribute 10,000 pieces of cheer daily for the next eight weeks to see, in the holiday spirit, just how far one good deed can go.

Technorati tags: coffee, starbucks, cheer, giving, free, samples, cheer pass, holiday spirit, Christmas, Hoy Day, Holidays

Source: Slashfood

Let's have a pompous Christmas forgetting ourselves long enough to yearn for the King

I enjoy the contributions of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.  Seeing yet more light  radiating from a  recently polished facet of their work gives me goose bumps and tingles. A friend of mine, William Lay, shared the following:

I am a huge fan of Tolkien, and I wanted to share some excerpts from a book that I found recently called:  “The Philosophy of Tolkien:  The Worldwide Behind The Lord of the Rings”, by Peter J. Kreeft.

Kreeftis professor of philosophy at Boston College.

“Take kingship.  Though we do not have kings in America, or want them, our unconscious mind both has them and wants them.  We all know what a true king is, a real king, an ideal king, an archetypal king.  He is not a mere politician or soldier.  Something in us longs to give him our loyalty and fealty and service and obedience.  He is lot but longed for and will some day return, like Arthur.  In The Lord of the Rings, Arthur’s name is ‘Aragorn’.  When we read The Lord of the Rings, he returns to his throne in our minds.  He was always there; The Lord of the Rings only brings him back into our consciousness from the tomb of the unconscious, where he was sleeping.”  (pp.44-45)

“The very fact that pompous is now used only in a bad sense measures the degree to which we have lost the old idea of ‘solemnity.’ . . . In an age when every one puts on his oldest clothes to be happy in, you must re-awake the simpler state of mind in which people put on gold and scarlet to be happy in.  Above all, you must be rid of the hideous idea, fruit of a widespread inferiority complex, that pomp, on the proper occasions, has any connection with vanity or self-conceit.  A celebrant approaching the altar, a princess led out by a king to dance a minuet, a general officer on a ceremonial parade, a major-domo preceding the boar’s head at a Christmas feast – all these wear unusual clothes and move with calculated dignity.  This does not mean that they are vain, but that they are obedient. . . .  The modern habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is no proof of humility; rather it proves the offender’s inability to forget himself in the rite.”  (p. 149, quoting C.S. Lewis, A Preface to “Paradise Lost” at 17, 21)

Let's have a pompous Christmas forgetting ourselves long enough to yearn for the King among us.

Tags: Tolkien, C.S.Lewis, Kreeft, Boston College, Philosophy, Paradise Lost, Lord of the Rings, King, cremonial, unceremonious, humility, habit, lolemnity, loyalty, fealty, unconscious, consciousness, mind, minds, throne, tomb, sleep, sleeping, self-conceit, pomp, pompous, major-domo, Christmas

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Example of Religious persecution in Turkey?

Who are Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal?

By tmatt on Islam

During this busy week, I have been watching to see if two men’s names showed up, at any point, in Google News.

I mean showed up in mainstream news sites, not the sites that care about issues like religious liberty. Of course, once upon a time, we could assume that, as a rule, journalists tended to care quite a bit about issues like free speech and the rights of oppressed minority groups. Where is A.M. Rosenthal when you need him?

Anyway, the names are Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal (left to right in the photo).

You can find out why they are important by flashing back to an AsiaNews report from earlier this month.

But I have been watching to see if their names surfaced in coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Turkey. Why? To answer that question we have to turn to some form of advocacy media — like this Compass Direct report by veteran journalist Barbara G. Baker (a friend of this blog), which was, thank goodness, picked up by Baptist Press.

To cut to the chase, these two men continue to be accused of “insulting Turkishness” because they have, as evangelicals, tried to do evangelical things. You know, the kinds of basic free-speech activities that people can do in countries that are part of the European Union. I think.

Formally the two Christians are charged with violating Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, under which scores of Turkish intellectuals and writers have been prosecuted in the past 18 months for allegedly denigrating “Turkish identity.” The former Muslims also are accused under separate statutes of reviling Islam (Article 216), as well as secretly compiling files on private citizens for a Bible correspondence course without the individuals’ knowledge or permission (Article 135).

“We don’t use force to tell anyone about Christianity,” Tastan said. “But we are Christians, and if the Lord permits, we will continue to proclaim this.”

Describing himself and Topal as “citizens of the Republic of Turkey who love its democratic, secular system,” Tastan emphasized that he and Topal had nothing to hide in defending themselves in court. “We are not ashamed to be Turks. We are not ashamed to be Christians.”

Now, what does this sound like from the other side of the issue, from the side of the rising tide of — depending on who is doing the labeling — the “ultranationalists” or in some cases “Islamists.” Are the Christian men anti-secularist or anti-Islam? Which label will get you jailed or killed quickest?

The attorney pushing to silence Tastan and Topal is Kemal Kerincsiz:

“Christian missionaries working almost like terrorist groups are able to enter into high schools and among primary school students,” Kerincsiz told reporters. “They deceive our children with beautiful young girls.”

At this, one Turkish Christian in the crowd shouted, “He’s lying!” Several nationalist demonstrators reacted violently, starting to shove the converts’ supporters and hitting one. But police promptly intervened to detain and remove the attacker, releasing him a few minutes later.

The Christian who had been struck also was detained briefly by the authorities, who questioned him and then photocopied his identity card before releasing him.

. . . By this time, a group of local nationalists had unfurled a banner in front of the cameras reading, “Missionaries: Keep your hands off our schools and children.”

There’s a lot more to read. Here is my question: Why isn’t this mainstream news if the back story to the papal visit is Turkey’s bid to enter the European Union and, well, the Western world built on some form of rule of law? I am glad that “Christian news agencies” cover these stories, believe me. I respect the work they do. But why do I need to read about this religious-liberty issue on “religious” news sites?

I want to read about this in the elite MSM newspapers and wire services. It’s news.

Right? Does religious liberty matter? Does free speech matter? How about the freedom of assembly? And isn’t this linked, in a way, with the freedom of the press?

Photo from Compass Direct News.  Trackback to : Get Religion Blog

 

Technorati tags: Religion, Europeurope, Turkey, EU, Religious Freedom, America, MSM, Media, Reporting, Ethics, Jounalism

Spirited Dialogue Kit | citizenJoe

 A possible venue for HDH activities in your neighborhood.

Spirited Dialogue Kit

Step I—Get a Buddy, or Two

Step II—Find a Venue

Step III— Choose a Topic

Step IV—Getting a presenter or two?

Step V—Inviting the World

Step VI—reading materials

Step VII— hosting the event!

Sample invite

Sample readings, fact sheets and chartsy stuff

Intro

We started Spirited Dialogues in NYC with a few simple ideas: bring together folks with different viewpoints in an casual spot, toss out a topic, maybe prep guests with materials or a presenter, and open up the discussion using a couple of rules: “be nice” and “try not to talk more than a minute.”

It worked like a charm.

Getting a Spirited Dialogue started in your hood won’t take much—an interest in open dialogue is all that’s needed.

This Spirited Dialogue “tool kit” shows you how easy it is. If you’re already a natural organizer or host/hostess, we’re probably not going to tell you anything new. If your inner organizer is just beginning to bust out, however, we have a tip or two to steer you in the right direction.

Also included in the SD kit:

Sample readings and fact sheets (from past and future SDs)

Source: Spirited Dialogue Kit | citizenJoe

Townhall.com::The News::Pope Prays at the Blue Mosque

 

Pope Benedict XVI prayed alongside an Islamic cleric in Turkey's most famous mosque Thursday in a dramatic gesture of outreach to Muslims after outrage from the pontiff's remarks linking violence and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

The pope bowed his head and closed his eyes for nearly a minute inside the Blue Mosque after Mustafa Cagrici, the head cleric of Istanbul, said: "Now I'm going to pray."

Pope Benedict XVI, right, is greeted by Istanbul's Mufti Mustafa Cagrici outside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. The pope visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul on the third day of his four-day trip to Turkey. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Source: Townhall.com::The News::News Article

This is leadership.  God and the Catholics should be proud of the Pope.  At great personal risk he goes to Turkey.  While standing in the Blue Mosque he says, "Now I'm going to pray."   This is the this is the religious leadership the world needs.   Leaders that break down man-made barriers to participate in our relationship with our creator. 

After all.  Where can one pray that the creator is not. 

Final note: Don't let small minds cloud this "God's Family" event with "religious barrier" thinking.  What if he bowed toward Mecca?  In which direction can you pray where God is not?  

And finally:   Someone has to set an example of how to absorb the "enemy" in love to eventually bring about willing submission. Submission to our common parent . . . God.  We need more of this kind of leadership.

And finally finally: Especally Christians should understand the outward submission to another's desire does not alter the purpose and motivation of our heart.  When centered on God's will , such acts of submission will ultimately come around to the victory of true love.

 

Technorati tags: Pope Benedict, Islam, Istanbul, Pope, Blue Mosgue, Mustafa Cagrici, Leadership, Creator, Istanbul Mufti, Prayer, Catholics, God

NYC: When a policeman does nothing to prevent a crime blame yourselves and the Mayor.

How about the NYC policemen who killed a man who appears to have been using his car to try to kill them. The next day NYC's Mayor doubts the wisdom of the police's action in public.

Next thing you'll be reading about a policeman who stands by doing nothing as someone rapes, beats, shoots, robs someone. Why? Because you've allowed the position of the police to be gutted by lawsuits and lack of support through the leadership your Mayor.

The Mayor should have spoken in this way . . .

As is always the case in a situation like this . . . there will be an investigation. I will not prejudice this investigation by speculating on what happened and why. Our policemen put themselves in harms way everyday to protect the well being of our community. The policemen and the families involved in this incident need our prayers now. Next question!?

Where are our leaders?

Tags: NYC, Police, NYC Police, Prejudice, Policemen, Mayor, Mayor Bloomburg, Race, Racism, Sharpton, Jessie Jackson

Court Rejects Maine School Vouchers Case - Forbes.com

Technorati tags: voucher, school voucher, Maine, School, Courts, Judges, Case, Family Values, Family

 Judges are directly or indirectly placed by the way we vote.  Use internet services like GovTrack.US  Look around.  You can find a place where they send email alerts based on the information you are concerned about. 

Link to Court Rejects Maine School Vouchers Case - Forbes.com

Spirited Dialogue Kit : Citizen Joe

Spirited Dialogue Kit

This can be useful.  I recommend studying this and applying it's guidance in your community. Pick your issue, study, find a place ( your home, school, restaurant, coffee shop, et al), prepare, invite, execute.  Your community will be the better for your effort.  Read on and let me know how it goes.

Intro

We started Spirited Dialogues in NYC with a few simple ideas: bring together folks with different viewpoints in an casual spot, toss out a topic, maybe prep guests with materials or a presenter, and open up the discussion using a couple of rules: “be nice” and “try not to talk more than a minute.”

It worked like a charm.

Getting a Spirited Dialogue started in your hood won’t take much—an interest in open dialogue is all that’s needed.

This Spirited Dialogue “tool kit” shows you how easy it is. If you’re already a natural organizer or host/hostess, we’re probably not going to tell you anything new. If you’re inner organizer is just beginning to bust out, however, we have a tip or two to steer you in the right direction.

Also included in the SD kit:

Sample readings and fact sheets (from past and future SDs)

Step I—Get a Buddy, or Two

Step II—Find a Venue

Step III— Choose a Topic

Step IV—Getting a presenter or two?

Step V—Inviting the World

Step VI—reading materials

Step VII— hosting the event!

Sample invite

Sample readings, fact sheets and chartsy stuff

Tags: debate, issues, government, society, family, responsibility, laws, activism, citizen, joe citizen, dialogue, spirited, U.S. Government, America, Neighborhood, religion, God, Man, Individual, Private, Freedom

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Britons critical of Christless Christmas

By Paul Majendie of the Washington Times
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
November 14, 2006

LONDON -- Christian and Muslim Britons joined forces yesterday to tell city officials to stop taking the Christianity out of Christmas, warning them that this simply fuels a backlash against Muslims.
    They attacked local authorities who used titles such as "Winterval" for their Christmas celebrations and avoided using Christian symbols in case they offended minority groups, especially Muslims and Hindus.
    The question of how best to integrate Muslims into European society, which has Christian roots but is increasingly secular, has become a burning issue, with Britain playing its part in the debate after years of promoting multiculturalism.
    The Christian Muslim Forum, set up by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual head of the Church of England, complained that taking the Christian message out of Christmas played into the hands of extreme nationalists who then accuse Muslims of undermining Britain's Christian culture.
    "The desire to secularize religious festivals is in itself offensive to both our communities," said Ataullah Siddiqui, vice chairman of the forum.
    Anglican Bishop of Bolton David Gillett said that when local authorities rename Christmas so as not to offend other religions, their stance "will tend to backfire badly on the Muslim community in particular."
    "We are concerned that those approaches, which are based on anti-religious philosophies or a fear of religion, are causing alienation in a wide variety of communities and fanning the growth of extremism," said Bishop Gillett, the forum chairman.

This is definitely an effort in the right direction.  God's speed.

Tags: Muslim, Islam, Christian, Christianity, London, England, Christian Muslim Forum, Bishop, Archbishop, Winterval, Christmas, Holiday

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United Nations names Josette Sheeran to head the World Food Program

EDITH M. LEDERER The Associated Press  Article Last Updated:11/08/2006 12:04:52 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations on Tuesday named American diplomat Josette Sheeran the next head of the World Food Program and she said her top priorities will be to ensure no child goes to bed hungry and to reduce hunger-related deaths.

Sheeran, the U.S. undersecretary of state for economics, business and agricultural affairs, will replace American James T. Morris for a five-year term as head of the world's largest humanitarian agency.

"WFP has the unique mission of making sure that no child goes to bed hungry any night, and while WFP has made huge contributions to saving lives there's more to be done," Sheeran said.

"According to the U.N., 25,000 people a day die from hunger-related issues," she told the Associated Press in a telephone interview. "So my first focus will be to make sure that we have the resources and capability to meet the emergency needs."

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, who was told of the decision and jumped the gun on the official announcement, said the United States was very pleased and called Sheeran extraordinarily well-qualified."

Tags: Bolton, Sheeran, UN, WFP, Hunger, 25, 000, Hunger Deaths, Daily

I believe there is a good opportunity for slowing hunger deaths in the world now that Sheeran is in charge of WFP.  God's speed Josette.

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ACLJ • American Center for Law & Justice

When the Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week concerning the federal ban on partial-birth abortion, Planned Parenthood argued to have the ban declared unconstitutional. Did you know that your tax dollars are going to support Planned Parenthood? Find out what you can do about it.  Today on Jay Sekulow Live! PLAY

Link to ACLJ • American Center for Law & Justice

Society will decline more quickly if we allow the continued disolution to the family through the self-centered, sacrifice others for my sake thinking behind partial-birth abortion.  Do your part to learn what is happening and find your place in this effort to protect what was given to us . . . life.

Technorati tags: Partial Birth Abortion, Planned Parenthood, Family, Supreme Court, ACLJ, American Culture, Family School of Love

Germany Ponders Pastor's Grisly Suicide - Forbes.com

73-year-old pastor's last sermon focused on his fear that Christian Europe would be overwhelmed by Islam.  A few weeks later, at one of the most important Lutheran landmarks, the Rev. Roland Weisselberg soaked himself in gasoline and set himself ablaze.

Turkish-born lawmaker sought protection from death threats after calling Islamic head scarves a symbol of oppression of women.

In Berlin, an opera company has become Europe's latest freedom of expression flash point. A planned production of Mozart's "Idomeneo" outraged Muslims with a scene depicting the severed heads of the Prophet Muhammad along with other religious figures including Jesus and Buddha.

Pope Benedict XVI used a speech at a German university in September to decry violent trends in Islam, setting off a maelstrom of protests around the world. The German pontiff is scheduled to begin a visit to Turkey on Nov. 28 in his first papal trip to a mostly Muslim nation.

Self immolation due to fear of . . .  , seeking protection from death treats for something said, speech  decrying tendency to violence and the speechgiver is scapegoated for violence worldwide and the one I left out; "freedom of expression" opera all  these hit at the problem and it isn't Islam or Germany.  Society in general is slipping away from the challenge of all true religions . . . to sacrifice self for others.   Any attempts to solve the problems above will fail  if living for others is allowed to atrophy.   The family is the seed of this living for others . . . beyond all boundaries of race, nation or religion.   Long live the family.

Source: Germany Ponders Pastor's Grisly Suicide - Forbes.com

Technorati tags: Islam, Christianity, Europe, Germany, Berlin, Opera, Idomene, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammad, Mozart, Lutheran, Weisselberg, Pope Benedict, death threats, oppression, family School of Love, Family, violence, barriers, race, religion, nationality, Jewish, Jew, Turkey

Universal Peace Federation Web » Blog Archive » Universal Peace Federation

A new project, initiated at the UPF inauguration, to help humankind to become one global family, is the Peace King Tunnel/Bridge that should connect the Asian and North-American land masses through the Bering Strait detroit. This is a very challenging engineering project, devised at USD200 billion, which is in comparison, the same amount of money that America has poured in the war in Iraq for the last 3 years. It will be part of an International Peace Highway project that should connect all continents together, free of borders, in which no armament or war equipment should be allowed to travel. This International Highway Project started already in the 1980’s under Reverend Moon’s initiative, starting with a tunnel between the Korean peninsula and Japan.

 

The effort taken to succeed building such a project would indeed bring countries together.  This fact alone makes it the most practicle project for the UN under the Project direction of UPF.  Let's build.  What do you think about this project?

 

Link to Random Works of the Web » Blog Archive » Universal Peace Federation

 

Technorati tags: UN, United Nations, Universal Peace Federation, Peace King Tunnel Bridge, Bridge, Tunnel, Rev. Moon, Japan, Russia, Land Bridge, Alaska, American Commerce, Russian Commerce, Peace, Unity, Culture

Best Buy Announces "Happy Holidays"no "Merry Christmas"

Well, seems to be a lot of activity in this direction. . . removing Christmas from the Christmas holidays.  Target, WalMart and others have been working this line too.   SOOOOO.  Who are these retailers concerned about?  Who is making them feel their "bottom line" is under attack.  Why is removing Christmas from Christmas the action to take?  I want to know?  What about you?  SAY! If I go to another country I would expect to enjoy their Holy Day . . . whatever it is.  SOOOO Why do we have to dumb down to the lowest common denominator?  For my part I will be shopping at places who are not so confused about who they are and where they are and who their customers are.  So read on with this information supplied by the American Family Association.

Best Buy has announced they will be using "Happy Holidays" this coming Christmas shopping season, and they will not be using "Merry Christmas."

Dawn Bryant, a spokeswoman at Best Buy Co. Inc., says their advertising will not be using the term "Merry Christmas." "We are going to continue to use the term holiday because there are several holidays throughout that time period, and we certainly need to be respectful of all of them," Bryant said. Click here for reference article.

While many other retailers have decided to return to the traditional "Merry Christmas", Best Buy will not be among them. Best Buy considers the use of "Merry Christmas" to be disrespectful.

But while Best Buy, the largest consumer electronics company in the nation, will not be mentioning Christmas, they sure do want the shopping dollars from those who remember the Reason for the season.

Take Action

• Send an e-mail to Best Buy telling them of your disappointment at their decision to ban Christmas in their advertising. (You may receive an auto-reply. If so, that is ok. Don’t worry about it, your e-mail has been received.)
• Forward this to your friends and family so they can learn of Best Buy's decision.

Send your e-mail to Best Buy

 

Technorati tags: best buy, Christmas, Children, Parents, Shopping, Holidays, Holy Days, Happy Holidays, retail shopping, American Culture, Culture, Activism

family & marriage | citizenJoe |

http://70.47.85.242/node/247

Technorati tags: family, marriage, issues, government, law, states, society, culture, selfishness, living for others, Family Schoo of Love, love, School, Parents, Children, divorce, seperation

The information below is significant.  If this trend toward self centered living continues the family will decline take society down with it.  What do you think? 

family & marriage

family & marriage

family & marriage

related stuff

• issue guide: same sex marriage

Facts 

The sanctity of marriage is at the center of today's culture war in America. Social conservatives see marriage being attacked by a disintegration of family values and by the advent of gay marriage. Others claim that marriage is making a bit of a comeback and that gay-marriages, rather than harming the santity of marriage, reinforce it.

General

• How many Americans are married:

  • 120.2 million Americans are married (2000) (54% of population 15 years +) (Census).

• Percent of couples that are unmarried. Unmarried couples that live together (NORC) make up:

  • 1997: 7% of all couples; 4.1% of all families

  • 1990: 5.1% of all couples; 3.1% of all families

  • 1980: 3.1% of all couples; 2% of all families

Same sex couples

• Number of unmarried same sex couples living together in the US (Census):

  • 777 thousand (0.7% of all householdes) - compared to 5.2 million unmarried heterosextual households.

• Gender of unmarried couples. Of the 5.5 million unmarried couples that lived together in 2000 (Census)

  • 87.4% were male/female couples;

  • 6.4% were both males;

  • 6.2% were both females.

Divorces

(Census)

• Adults who have married and divorced (NORC):

  • In 1998: 26% of all adults, 33% of those who have been married;

  • In 1990: 25% of all adults, 31% of those who have been married;

  • In 1980: 18% of all adults, 21% of those who have been married.  

• Number of men divorced by 40 years old among:

  • 65-70 year-olds: 23%

  • 60-65 year-olds: 27%

  • 55-60 year-olds: 31%

  • 50-55 year-olds: 31%

  • 45-50 year-olds: 26%

• Number of women divorced by 40 years old among:

  • 65-70 year-olds: 23%

  • 60-65 year-olds: 27%

  • 55-60 year-olds: 33%

  • 50-55 year-olds: 35%

  • 45-50 year-olds: 32%

Kids

• Of families with children, those that are headed by married couples (DOS):

  • 1998: 72.7%;

  • 1980: 80.5%.

• Children born to unmarried mothers (NORC):

  • 1996: 32.4% of all children;

  • 1990: 28% of all children;

  • 1980: 18.4% of all children.

• Children who lived with married parents (NORC):

  • 1998: 64% of all children (12% live with remarried parent)

  • 1990: 74% of all children(18% live with remarried parent)

  • 1980: 74% of all children(13% live with remarried parent)

• How are kids doing? One indicator: illicit drug use of 12th graders (ChildStats):

  • 1998: 25.6%

  • 1990: 17.2%

  • 1980: 37.2%

Where the fact are from:

• Census - U.S. Census Bureau - government site

• ChildStats - government site

• DOS - Department of State - government site

• NORC - National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago

Source: family & marriage | citizenJoe

Mainstream media, Republicans, ID, Ohio School Board, Voters and Gerry Stubbs

Article published Thursday, November 9, 2006
OHIO SCHOOLS
Voters pick proponents of evolution for board
By IGNAZIO MESSINA
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Voters across the state Tuesday picked pro-evolution candidates for the in favor of those on the intelligent design side of a long-running debate over how to teach public school students about the origins of life.Sixteen people ran for five of the 11 elected seats on the 19-member board. The remaining seats are appointed by the governor.  Read on

Now for my take on these events.

1. The media-left constantly mischaracterized ID as Creationism


2. The media-left has an agenda against religion and morality in general


3. The media-left heavily favors the left, socialism,, atheism , amorality and Democrats


4. The media-left only wants morality when they can uses it to destroy their enemies otherwise morality is fair game because "Who are you to say?"  . . . as Darwin points out . . .  we are accidents and what is  . . . is . . . (thanks Bill Clinton) because of  "survival of the fittest".

Everything else gets left-out or  painted in an undesirable light.  Example.  Foley, the Colorado Pastor "Sinner" and the Republicans.  At least there was shame in Foley's party and he left his position as Senator.  Those that  media-left protects . . . they stay . . .   like  Gerry Stubbs and are even applauded for their "courage".  OH! Isn't it curious how Foley and Colorado Pastor hit the newsstands at about the same time.  Coincidence!?

mainstream media,ID,Ohio,School Board,students,voters,Foley,Gerry Stubbs,media-left,Darwin,Darwiniacs,origin of life,teach,intelligent design,agenda,Creationism,media misuse,

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Serious gaming may change the face of education

• Education Technology


• Gaming

The line between entertainment and education gets blurrier all the time. That was clearly the case during the two-day Serious Games Summit in Arlington, Va., which featured video games on subjects such as gerrymandering, medical education and military operations, reports USA Today.

"You read about science in a book and it is boring, but if you do something scientific in a game, it can be fun," says Ben Sawyer, co-director of the Serious Games Initiative (seriousgames.org), which held its first summit two years ago.

3-D games are being developed not just for home use but for academia and business, as well. For example, the Redistricting Game, being developed at USC's Annenberg Center for Communications, deals with the repercussions of tinkering with political boundaries. There is a "Virtual Astronaut" game that allows up to 32 players to cooperate on space missions, and the HumanSim game, which tests medical diagnostic skills >>>> read on

This is good news.  Religious, home-schooling educators as well as honest, entrepreneurs should go forward with this ASAP.  History, chemistry, biology, et al are ripe with opportunities.  There are many desperate parents out here who want to give a better education to their children and this media can help.  Let the games begin.
Tags: gaming, video gaming, education, video gaming education, parents, families, family, chlidren, history, biology, chemistry, medicine, medical, entertainment, education technology, entrepreneur, home-schooling, Virtual Education

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Serious gaming may change the face of education

• Education Technology


• Gaming

The line between entertainment and education gest blurrier all the time. That was clearly the case during the two-day Serious Games Summit in Arlington, Va., which featured video games on subjects such as gerrymandering, medical education and military operations, reports USA Today.

"You read about science in a book and it is boring, but if you do something scientific in a game, it can be fun," says Ben Sawyer, co-director of the Serious Games Initiative (seriousgames.org), which held its first summit two years ago.

3-D games are being developed not just for home use but for academia and business, as well. For example, the Redistricting Game, being developed at USC's Annenberg Center for Communications, deals with the repercussions of tinkering with political boundaries. There is a "Virtual Astronaut" game that allows up to 32 players to cooperate on space missions, and the HumanSim game, which tests medical diagnostic skills >>>> read on

This is good news.  Religious, home-schooling educators as well as honest, entrepreneurs should go forward with this ASAP.  History, chemistry, biology, et al are ripe with opportunities.  There are many desperate parents out here who want to give a better education to their children and this media can help.  Let the games begin.
Tags: gaming, video gaming, education, video gaming education, parents, families, family, chlidren, history, biology, chemistry, medicine, medical, entertainment, education technology, entrepreneur, home-schooling, Virtual Education

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Desalinated Water in the news.

By Michael Kanellos, CNET News.com

Researchers at University of California at Los Angeles have come up with a membrane that can filter salt and impurities . . .

It is curious that these two articles appeared today.  Coincidence?  $50 a gallon for desalinated water.

By David Loyn   BBC News

A new report from the United Nations Development Programme has demanded a big increase in spending to provide clean water.  . .

This article talks about the "rich", blurring the main point.  Economics is a reflection of the health of a society.  A healthy society has families which are strong and their tradition is deeply rooted in "living for others".  In such a social climate there are solution for problems including water.

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After the election all I can think of is getting back to basics: Bill Bennet's "Books Every High School Student Should Read"

After the election . . . hmmmm . . . take a look at France and get ready. 

What do you think about this list?  What would you change and why?

What Books Every High School Student Should Have Read
"The works of Shakespeare, the Declaration of Independence, Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" and the Bible lead the list of works that every high school student ought to be required to read, in the opinion of some scholars, journalists, teachers and governmental and cultural leaders.

"Mr. Bennett put the question to a list of experts of his own selection.

"Responses from 325 people were compiled, 73 replying to Bennett's letter, 84 to an article that George F. Will, the syndicated columnist, devoted to the project and 168 high school teachers who took part in summer seminars sponsored by the Government agency and the Mellon Foundation.

"Thirty works were mentioned most frequently. Mr. Bennett commented that any 10 of them "would compare favorably to what is read in many schools," and added that he himself had not read all 30 on the list.

"No book published in the last 30 years made the list.

"Recommended Reading

"Shakespeare's plays, especially "Macbeth" and "Hamlet," were the only works listed by a majority of the participants - 71 percent.

"Fifty percent cited such documents of United States history as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Next came "Huckleberry Finn," the Bible and these works of literature, philosophy and politics:

- Homer's "Odyssey" and "Iliad."

- Dickens's "Great Expectations" and "Tale of Two Cities."

- Plato's "Republic."

- John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath."

- Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter."

- Sophocles' "Oedipus."

- Melville's "Moby Dick."

- Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four."

- Thoreau's "Walden."

- The poems of Robert Frost.

- Whitman's "Leaves of Grass."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby."

- Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales."

- Marx's "Communist Manifesto."

- Aristotle's "Politics."

- The poems of Emily Dickinson.

- Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment."

- The novels of William Faulkner.

- J. D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye."

- De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America."

- Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."

- The essays and poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

- Machiavelli's "Prince."

- Milton's "Paradise Lost."

- Tolstoy's "War and Peace."

- Virgil's "Aeneid.""

--NYTIMES, 8-12-84

Tags: Books, Recommeded Books, Reading List, Post Election, America, 2006, Democrats, Republicans, France, Riots, Car Burnings, Street Riots, Terrorism, Education

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MiamiHerald.com | 08/24/2006 | Police search for man who burned adult bookstore

 

Police continue to search for a man who burned down an adult bookstore in Miami after watching a pornographic film this month.

Video surveillance from the bookstore, located at 7455 SW 40th St., shows the suspect requesting change from the clerk and then entering a small booth to watch the movie.

After the viewing, the man told the clerk he had a guilty conscience, police said. He then doused the store with liquid, ignited it and calmly walked out.

Source: MiamiHerald.com | 08/24/2006 | Police search for man who burned adult bookstore

 

I don't advocate doing this.  I posted this because of the "conscience" comment.  Certainly, anyone addicted to this stuff . . . if reacquainted with their conscience . . . will be in a most perplexing situation.  Refinements of a way to act may not be in their deck of cards. However, the conscience stricken one did act.  Now that person may have more on their heart and mind . . . like hiding.  I wonder if they caught him?

Newsweek Examines Emerging Tensions Within Evangelical Movement

NEWSWEEK COVER: The Politics of Jesus
Sunday November 5, 3:42 pm ET

Sixty-Two Percent of Evangelicals Say Religion Plays Too Small a Role in American Political and Cultural Life, Compared to 37 Percent of the American Public

For Evangelicals Iraq Is Top Priority this Election Day; Nine Percent Say Abortion Top Issue, Compared to Five Percent of American Public

Newsweek Examines Emerging Tensions Within Evangelical Movement

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In the days before the midterm elections, 62 percent of evangelicals say that religion plays too small a role in American political and cultural life today, compared to 37 percent of the American public, according to the November 2-3, 2006, Newsweek Poll, part of the November 13 cover package "The Politics of Jesus" (on newsstands Monday, November 6). Twenty-nine percent of the American public is equally divided over whether the role religion plays is too big or about right; whereas 21 percent of evangelicals say that the role religion plays is about right; and 14 percent say it plays too big a role.

 It is no accident that this article quickly follows Rev. Haggart's demise. Click here to read more

Religious people who came to America to find a way to be free to live the will of God, the creator, are the real foundation of this country.  The main stream media misses no opportunity to chip away at America's cultural heritage.  If you do not agree with this opportunistic diatribe for a wholesale license to do anything you please without any reference to our purpose for existence . . . go to http://www.ACLJ.org   Sign up, get active and vote wisely tomorrow.   David

Tags: chrisitanity, politics, government, aclu, aclj, Haggart, Election, vote, voting, preaching, freedom

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Insights into the Foley Football

Listen and you decide.

Dr. Laura on Hannity & Colmes

Dr. Laura has a great message. Life is great when we can learn from our mistakes. Laura has. Great message for conflicted feminists too.

The Design Inference Part 2 of 2

And here is the answer to rata0071's point. I perfer this perspective. What do you think?

Mystery of Life: DNA and

Simply rehashing tired "Darwinism will one day explain this all" isn't evidence for Darwinism or against ID.

Martin Luther King Jr - I have a dream speech - Aug 28 1963

An important milestone in American History.

Tommy Emmanuel - Mombasa (from Early History Interview)

Beautiful giving kindness.

Michael Behe on Intelligent Design

Hope you are more curious about our existence and its origin with this little snippet. Darwin's accidents or intelligent design. What do you think?

Hudna for Hamas and Israel HMMMM

hudna   Who said it? Where? Why?  Hat Tip Answers.com for 11/3/06

A daily dose of uncommon words our readers are looking up

Hamas's offer of a hudna with Israel arrived on the op-ed pages of The New York Times along with a definition of this Arabic concept, which resembles a cease-fire:

"Typically covering 10 years, a hudna is recognized in Islamic jurisprudence as a legitimate and binding contract. A hudna extends beyond the Western concept of a cease-fire and obliges the parties to use the period to seek a permanent, nonviolent resolution to their differences....
"This offer of hudna is no ruse... to strengthen our military machine....
"We Palestinians are prepared to enter into a hudna to bring about an immediate end to the occupation and to initiate a period of peaceful coexistence...."
Tags: hudna, nonviolent, resolution, Palesinians, coexistence, peace, process, cease-fire

Bush Speech in GA and Response to Kerry's "study . . . or Iraq . . . "

Free Video Hosting   Music Videos

Best speech I've ever seen.  Thanks Kerry.  Your arrogance is going to do wonders for the election.
Tags: Kerry, Bush, Democrats, respect, military, Iraq, Terrorism, Bush, President, GA, CA, Pasadena High School, Study

DNC's LaVera says they have 5-point plan to block legislation prohibiting homosexual marriage and push homosexual marriage.

Activists say that marriage is "not the only worthy form of family or relationship," and it "should not be legally or economically privileged above others." The statement was signed by 270 homosexual rights activists and heterosexual allies.

Other kinds of relationships that they say deserve marriage-like benefits include "committed, loving households in which there is more than one conjugal partner (polygamy)" and "queer couples who decide to jointly create and raise a child with another queer person or couple, in two households." The goal of the activists is the destruction of traditional marriage.

The Democrat National Committee has developed plans to help the homosexual activists achieve their goal. Democratic National Committee (DNC) spokesman Danien LaVera says the DNC has developed a five-point plan to help homosexuals block any legislation which prohibits homosexual marriage, and to push homosexual marriage.

1. Label "anti-gay" ballot measures as "divisive" ploys by the Republicans and others to deflect voter attention from other important issues, including "the Bush administration's failed policies."


2. Begin a state "party-building" operation that includes specific training for state party operatives in all 50 states on how to campaign against ballot measures banning homosexual marriage.


3. Work closely with the National Stonewall Democrats to "develop strategy and talking points" to combat state measures defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.


4. Work cooperatively with homosexual organizations fighting ballot measures in each state where they surface, providing campaign advice, expertise, and logistical and financial support.


5. Empower and organize GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender] communities around the country through the help of Brian Bond, the DNC's new "gay outreach organizer."

The first successful effort occurred in Illinois where the Democrats helped the activists keep the marriage protection law off the ballot in that state, including a donation of $10,000.
Hat Tip: American Family Association and Agape Press
Tags: Homosexual, Homosexual couples, marriage, polygamy, traditional marriage, DNC, Democratic National Committee, homosexual marriage, conjugal partner, marriage-like benefits, societal approval, Danien LaVera

Scientists say video games can reshape education

Hat tip: Seattle Times Ben Feller AP 10/30/06

. . . Unlike humans, the games never lose patience. And they are second nature to many kids.

The idea might stun those who consider games to be the symbol of teenage sloth.

Yet this is not about virtual football or skateboarding. Games would have to be created and evaluated with the goal of raising achievement, said federation president Henry Kelly.

There's already an audience: More than 45 million homes have video-game consoles.

"If we can't make the connection, shame on us," Kelly said at a news conference. . .

. . . Doug Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association, said there will soon be 75 million Americans who are 10 to 30 years old — an age bracket that grew up on video games.

"Common sense tells us that a medium so basic to the lives of these 'millennials' has potential beyond the living room," Lowenstein said. "We would be crazy not to seek ways to exploit interactive games to teach our children."

 PREDICTION 1: Education is coming soon to a video-gamer near you. I have often talked with my son, an avid video-gamer, about the missing link in video gaming.  Imagine, history, biology, chemistry, the classics and Math via video-gaming.  One major problem. Purpose, perspective and value of the information is determined by the motivation of those designing the educational game.  In short, whoever controls the culture. 

The advent of video-gaming/ed can give parents more influence in the education of their children as the dynamics of the market place holds sway over the political chicanery of ACLU, NEA, et al

LET THE ED-GAMES BEGIN!!!

PREDICTION 2: ACLU AND NEA et al will try to block video-game/ed  making only certain "certified" education programs available, diverting parental influence from showing up in the market place. 

(note well:   FAS Henry Kelly's words, " . . . games will have to be evaluated . . . "  This effort will fail because the market place will do the evaluation for them.  Henry Kelly is more revealing about his attitudes towards science, standards, ideology and government's role at this site 

PREDICTION 3: PARENTS AND THE MARKET PLACE WILL PREVAIL OVER THE ONCE INFLUENTIAL ACLU AND NEA TYPES.

Tags: Henry Kelly, Federation of American Scientists, FAS, evolution, intelligent design, standards, scientific inquiry, freedom, Darwinism, ideological materialism, video, video-gaming, education, video-gamed

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Ottoman Empire lost control to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's Republic of Truky 10/29/1923

Hat Tip: Answers.com  10/29/06 Spotlight: The Republic of Turkey was established on this date in 1923. Forces led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wrested control from the Ottoman Empire, and Atatürk — whose name means "Father of the Turks" — was named president of the new republic. He made Turkey a secular state, and was intent on modernizing Turkish life and culture. Turkey's capital is Ankara and Istanbul is its largest city.

Quote: "Peace at home, peace in the world." — Kemal Atatürk

The Ottoman empire, which the terrorists which to reestablish, lost control today in 1923.  Yet another reason they could be so active at this time besides the mid-term elections.

I predict the voters of America will overwhelmingly show support for the Bush administration and those who share the President's determination.

Tags: Ottoman, Ottoman Empire, 1923, 10/29/1923, 10/29, Ataturk, Republic of Turkey, Ankara, Istanbul, President, landslide, mid-term election, Peace, secular state, Islam, Muslim

Darwinian fundamentalists are persecuting teachers, scientists and students who question Darwin.

Across America, the freedom of scientists, teachers, and students to question Darwin is coming under increasing attack by what can only be called Darwinian fundamentalists. These self-appointed defenders of the theory of evolution are waging a malicious campaign to demonize and blacklist anyone who disagrees with them.

• High school teacher Roger DeHart was driven from his public school simply because he wanted his students to learn about both sides of the scientific debate over Darwinian evolution.


• Chemistry professor Nancy Bryson lost her job at a state university after she gave a lecture on scientific criticisms of Darwin's theory to a group of honors students.


• A biology professor at George Mason University was recently banned from teaching her students about the theory of intelligent design.


• Biology professor P.Z. Myers at the University of Minnesota, for example, has called for "the public firing and humiliation of some teachers" because they question Darwin.

Free speech and academic freedom are cherished principles in America. They are too important to be sacrificed to the intolerant demands of extremists on any issue.

If you support the right of scientists and teachers to speak their mind about evolution, will you help us? Click here to join Discovery Institute. (Free DVD offer for new members!)
Tags: persecution, Discovery Institute, ID, Intelligent Design, Darwinian Fundamentalists, teachers, scientists, students, evolution, Minnesota, University, Professor, George Mason University, DeHart, Bryson, Myers, blacklist