Rhode Island to Move 2008 Primary Date To Tomorrow!

From a report:

PROVIDENCE, RI—The Rhode Island legislature has passed a law moving the state’s presidential primary to tomorrow, forcing candidates from both parties to hastily revise their schedules and platforms.

“I love Rhode Island, always have—especially the people,” said Sen. John Edwards while being briefed on Rhode Island politics aboard a plane bound for Providence. “Just because it’s a small state doesn’t mean it’s not important. Frankly, I’ve always believed Rhode Island, or the ‘Ocean State,’ as I prefer to call it, should be much bigger—an issue on which my opponents have remained curiously silent.”

Former Gov. Mitt Romney announced his intention to release a 10-point plan addressing the issues that most deeply affect Rhode Islanders, as soon as he and his staff figure out what those issues are.

Sounds like at least two of the candidates are on top of this.
I wonder what the rest will do!

Imus’ Plug is Pulled

As expected, CBS radio fired Don Imus due to the rising pressure over his statements concerning the Rutger’s University Woman’s Basketball Team.

The firing is certainly justified, and outrage over this incident was correctly lead by Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson.  Now, it is time for them to raise their voices against the vitriole produced by “gangsta rappers” and other “hip hoppers”.  The lyrics of these songs make Imus’ comments sound as if they come from a woman’s rights group, or the NAACP.  Fair is fair, and it is high time that a concentrated effort be raised not only be leaders in the black community, but also by those who sponsor such radio shows nationally to exert similar pressure as was correctly applied to Mr. Imus.   Somehow, I have a feeling that won’t happen.

Before you cry too many tears for Mr. Imus, he is an exceptionally wealthy man, who earned $8 million per year for his radio show, and I have little doubt if he wishes, will land on some other radio station after the heat has blown over.

Don Imus Gets a Slice of Humble Pie; It’s not Enough

For years I’ve listened to Don Imus on WFAN.  There have been times when I’ve been a regular listener, and his parodies, ascerbic sense of social commentary, and the quality of the guests that he features on his show, typically prominent politicians, including President Clinton, VP Gore, VP Cheney, and President Bush (41), high profile writers and social commentators such as Frank Rich, Maureen Dowd, Mike Lupica, James Carvel, Mary Matlin, and Anna Quindlen among many others, have made his show part of the morning for mainstream Americans and power brokers.  By giving politicians and pundits large blocks of time, typically fifteen minute segments, Imus has provided a venue not given to many by the mainstream media an outlet for their voice and ideas.  However, another part of his show are more than a bit over the edge.  If anyone thinks that this incident involving calling a woman’s basketball team a bunch of “nappy headed hos” is a one time breach of etitquette you are hardly correct, and Imus, CBS Radio, Westwood and NBC News need to be held accountable for his words.

MSNBC hosts an airing of the Imus show every morning, and typically members of their news media, Tom Brokaw, Bryan Williams, Tim Russert, and other NBC regulars appear on the Imus show regularly benefit tremendously from their patronage of this show; and they need to have their feet held to the fire for this incident.  Can you imagine the uproar had this incident been perpertrated by Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity on their radio shows?  Will this incident, which is just one example of many from this raise the furor of all members of the media, and those politicians, and candidly Democrats are more welcome on his show than GOP politicians; one can argue that this show was the John Kerry network during the last Presidential election, the calls from all sectors of the media, would be immediate, prolonged, and effective.  These commentators would correctly be fired, as well as others who were responsible.  Will politicians raise their voices as was correctly done when Ann Coulter made an incorrect remark at CPAC?

Don Imus should be fired, his positive work with children notwithstanding.  If he is allowed to get away with  just an apology, it would be a blow to the cause of responsible journalism.  Don Imus is not a “shock jock”; he is a power broker, and now he has to pay the price for his irresponsibility.  The same can be said for NBC, which is fast leaving the realms of responsible journalism.

Cultural War Against Easter: Part VII War and Peace

You still need to be in the framework of about 100 to 400 AD. Things are changing, not just in the political climate, towards the end of the timeframe, due to Constantine’s doings, but also in the social frame. In short, the edict of toleration soon gives way to social preference, and then legislative preference, and the Christians end up on top.

However, this change was happening throughout the Empire of Rome prior to Constantine’s and later Emperors policy changes towards the new religion. For the past 300 years this religious movement has radically altered the social fabric at a community level. The liberalizing effect of the belief system toward relationship of father to son, mother to daughter, husband to wife, leader to the masses, is making inroads into a culture that has often been clothed in opression, in an Empire which is mostly opressive. The gods are also that way. Feckless creatures these gods, who act in a manner much like the worst parts of human nature, and yet demand to be pleased. Contrast that with the image of a God that wishes to have communication with man. That is not angry with man. The first words that God speaks to man after a 400 year silence is “Fear not”. God is not angry with us. The message takes root.

Are there cultural clashes? Yes in a way, but not as much as would be think. Christianity is a bit different in that it is not ritualistic. It also is remarkably inclusive in its cultural tolerance. St. Paul had written about that when admonshing Gentile believers to not associate culturally with Judaism, that Christianity is not exclusive, but for all. Other incidents that would certainly raise eyebrows, probably as much today as back then are reported by St. Paul. Imagine a butcher shop that is owned by a pagan, and he offers animals to gods, then puts the meat on sale. Can you imagine the moral dilemma if someone admitted to buy that. I can just see the raised eyebrows of self-righteousness in full pose. Yet, St. Paul says that there is nothing wrong with doing so, but if it is offensive to some, perhaps it shouldn’t be done. Interesting that the concept of tolerance is combined with moderation and self sacrifice. However, the meat is just that, meat. St. Paul goes on to say how he adopts the mannerisms and cultures of all, so that he might win them to his message. He insinuates that cultural mores are neither right or wrong, but that what is important is dedication to a set of underlying principals. St. Paul is the first advocate of multi-culturalism in that he sees the value of culture, and that these mores do exist and this is a cause of celebration, not despair.

So, what’s the deal about Easter? First of all Easter is in basis a pagan holiday that was modified to fit the Christian message. The Teutonic goddess Estre was adopted by most of the Roman Empire, and was associated with fertility. Among the practices of this worship were placing ornamented eggs in the dirt to bring about fertility of crops. The new life of spring – the chicks and bunnies – were symbols of her bringing new life to the world. Many of the same attributes are brought to Persephone – but for some reason the old girl Estre really had quite a following. Actually the concept of the eggs didn’t start with Estre, but is predated by Mesopotamian worship of Astarte – whose worship was also copied in Egypt. Candidly, I find these celebrations by our ancestors quite wonderful, and am not in the least offended by them. When Christianity became en vogue, the cultural aspects of the people diffused and took on Christian symblolism. To me, this is one of the greatest appeals of Christianity that it doesn’t really destroy culture, but assimilates cultures with the basics of its own faith and allows for synthesis of religion and culture.

The mixture of the cultures was vitally important to Christianity – and not to play what came first the chick or the Easter egg – must be measured in the historical context of the Early Church. St. Paul, who was a zealot Jew, forged the spreading of the Christian message to non-Jews and immediately began practices which disassociated the new faith from the old faith. By discouraging circumcision, by allowing Christians to purchase and eat meat offered to pagan dieties, St. Paul set about the synthesis of the Christian message and ethos into the contemporary world of his time. Consider that he said I become all men that I may win some men to Christ. This is not situational ethics, this is multiculturalism, and those who would oppose multiculturalism from a “Christian ethic” are about as far removed from the principals of the teachings of St. Paul – as well as his practices – as Pluto is from the Sun.

Perhaps the message of the transformation of Easter from pagan holiday to secular excuse to buy candy hides the real message; grace. Hopefully, the cultural war will stop, and may we learn to see that in fact, the bumping together of the cultures makes wonderful new traditions, which benefit all.

But I’m still not buying a chocolate Easter bunny.

Cultural War Against Easter: Part V Art For Christ’s Sake?

Have to love it when you find someone who is on the same page with you.

Pistol Pete made a great post about this topic.

In celebration of Holy Thursday, All Soul’s Episcopal church in downtown Manhattan will unveil a contemporary ice sculpture based on Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. It’s called The Next Last Supper.

“We want to capitalize on the buzz with the chocolate Jesus,” said Pastor Ima Airettick. “We also want to carve away our tradition and shape it into something relevant, something that people today can digest.”

Necessary Therapy was given an exclusive sneak preview at the sculpture.

The part of Jesus is played by a pregnant bearded woman, sitting Buddha-style on the table. She has her arms around Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump. Others depicted in the sculpture include Hilary Clinton, Barak Obama, Paris Hilton, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Yoko Ono, Osama bin Laden, Anna Nicole Smith, Oscar Wilde and the cartoon character Dilbert.

”Why Dilbert?” we asked the creator behind the sculpture, who goes by the = symbol. = replied, “We want to be inclusive of the animated world. Besides, Dilbert is a big draw.”

The part of Judas Iscariot in the sculpture is played by Jesus. When asked about this, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Isn’t Holy Week all about making fun of Jesus? We’re just doing our part to add to the celebration.”

Sad to see the hatred of some towards the Christian faith. There is making fun, and responsible satire for self-reflection and then there is what is shown above.

Cultaral War Against Easter: Part IV – The Angry Atheist

First a short disclaimer, I don’t see atheists as my personal enemies, I see them as the loyal opposition. Sadly, many of the aforementioned see me, and those who follow religious principals as the enemy. How unfortunate. Before those of you who may be atheistic and wandered into this valley of pernicious Christian dogma – though some of the more zealous in their faith call this a den of relativism, which makes me hopeful that I’ve offended both extremes, consider this wonderful image which is so typical of the angry atheism I see about:

Now, I don’t mind a joke at all, and I also don’t mind poking fun at religion. However, this one goes a bit far, and this is among the more milder forms of hatred towards the concept of religious identity that is so often portrayed by the “Angry Atheists”. Now, many would say this is the “liberal left”, trying to destroy the Christian culture of the US. Christian culture, I’m not so sure about that. Look at the news, and the types of attitudes that run about the US, and let’s be careful before we start comparing America to some sort of Christian panacea. I also know that many atheists have a sense of decency, and are in fact like the vast majority of other people, other than that God thing, heck many of them are libertarian, and I’m not going to try and prove my basis of faith to you. Remember, I don’t hate you, you’re just the loyal opposition. However, I do suspect that many who would wear this type of stuff, actually have a mind frame that is probably way left of center, and by the way can you who are slightly to the right of center leave us centrists and sometimes liberals who really share 90% to 99% of the values you share alone, and stop blaming “Liberalism” which has become a dirty word with cultural hatred. You see the angry athesists are just as hateful as those who do acts of violence on the behalf of God, and the number of Christians who do these acts is VASTLY overstated.

Now, just to show that I don’t mind satire being used with regards to my own faith, here’s an icon a rather like, even though it is surely likely to offend some. I present to those of you previously unenlightened with “The Buddy Jesus”

I don’t have one of these in my car, but I’ve thought about it.  And, honestly, while I don’t ever mean to demean my belief in the divinity of Christ, I am constantly more amazed and connect to the concept that Jesus really was one of us, and therefore he gets it.  I would tease those who I love, and confess, I have a deep abiding love for Jesus, my Lord, my saviour, my best friend, and my brother.  He gets my teasing, and somehow I have a feeling he’ll one day get a good amount of getting even in eternity, and I have no doubt that he’s better at pulling pranks than I am.  He has more clout!

However, this movement is forged by out and out angry atheists, who certainly have a right to not believe, but stop being killjoys goes a little bit beyond the often needed satire.  It’s good to see and maybe make fun of the specks or beams in your own eyes after all.  Here’s a memo to you atheists out there, No one is lining up to “make you convert”. At least I hope so.  Candidly you have have your own mind and a free will, and on behalf of Christians who may have offended you by actling like A**holes, I apologize, but they really aren’t the majority of us, even us Evangelicals. However, you have to understand that you are culturually in the minority, and just deal with it.  That’s they way life goes, and cultural minorities have the dominant culture sometimes cramp their style.  

For those angriest of the atheists, for people who don’t believe in God, you certainly seem to hate him enough.  Be more apathetic about the whole concept and that may set a better example of your enlightenment. We promise we won’t make you bow and kneel and have Christ enter your life, and I think that the vast majority of people of faith will treat you civilly and respectfully.  Please, do not use that line, “It’s hard to believe people who think you’re going to hell, really respect you”.  Remember, You Don’t Believe In It.  At least – and since you are sooooo intelligent this shouldn’t be a problem – be consistent, and then work on being civil.

Cultural War Against Easter? Part III Public Displays of Affection

Those who read this blog regularly, know that I am all for a Christian ethic being about in public life. I’m not talking about prayer in public schools, or having public spaces become a Christian Sam’s lot, with The Ten Commandments – which of course would have been borrowed – manger scenes (I really dislike the term “Kresh”) or replications of the three crosses of Calvary in my local park. I like my religious affections, like most public displays of affection, understated. Slobbering over each other, whether it is a young couple, or you and your religion in public has never and never will be in good taste. I’ll make an exception for the type of PDA that was unleashed on VJ Day – Here’s what I mean.

Now, if the Iraq War ends favorably, I may actually do this same scene, even though to compare it to WW Two is not the best analogy out there, and I think all Americans should do the same, but I don’t think we need such PDA every Holy Day season. For those who would say, but this is about the redemption of my soul, and I must express it. Of course you can do so, have a blast, but is it really needed to be laid out in the public eye for all to see all the time every year? I’m not saying I have a problem with Christmas lights, Easter displays on public places, but I also don’t see it inherently as a part of the spiritual importance of these days. The signficance can of course be expressed by a sense of joy, and that is most often best expressed by the manner in which people engage life. Is there a cultural weakening of the “Christian” message in holidays, probably so, but the nature of the public celebrations has never been particularly Christian, but more secular and commercial, at least in the United States. Part of the leaders of this attack, and there is some merit of the cultural war against “Christian” traditions by “angry atheists”. We’ll deal with these people shortly.

Cultural War Against Easter? Part II “Wabbit Season”

I recall a photo that I saw many years back, and I wish that I had access to it now to post. It is a picture of Christ on the cross and he’s flanked by the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. A picture is worth a thousand words, but I’ll try not to go that long.

This post will likely blend Easter and Christmas together, but that’s okay, because Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny go about as well as baseball, apple pie and America, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One thing it does lack is a third member to make up their own Trinity, but as Meatloaf said, “Two out of three ain’t bad”. In order for me to be theologically correct, I’ll gratuitously throw in Halloween as that certainly does fit the other two “Holy Days” of Easter and Christmas, and All Saints Day. It also keeps my trinity theme in mind, and being thematically tight is a sign of cogent thought, even when on a rant, and a sure sign of reason.

I have to say, I do a mean imitation of The Grinch or Scrooge around Christmas, and during Easter it is often “Wabbit Season”. However, this goes for all of the holidays. I don’t care too much about them, and the obligatory buying of gifts, and hanging out with the family, which I always dread, and then typically enjoy heartily. I think that Seinfeld’s Festivus, with the annual feats of strength and airing of greivances would be a much more enjoyable family holiday. “A Festivus for the rest of us”.

I never told my own children that “Santa Claus” or the “Easter Bunny” was going to leave them stuff. I was actually shocked when I learned that some people expected or participated in “Easter Presents” other than chocolate rabbits and “Peeps”. So much for being of the popular culture. I even have gotten in trouble for telling my middle school aged students when reading a story, I think it was “The Gift of the Magi”, and when answering questions, explaining that there were cultural reasons for Santa Claus and the Easter bunny. Yes, one irate parent complained to the Principal and even wrote a letter to the Board of Education that I had ruined the “Holy Days” for her thirteen year old child. By the way, an ironic aside; this child was part of the “School Improvement Team”. Where students worked with administration, parents and staff to make the school better. Great idea eh? Now, I’m all for giving kids a voice in education, but it seems to me, that the only choices in the school day that this child, and most twelve year olds should make is what they want to buy from the cafeteria or if they want to brown bag. This girl brown bagged by the way as she was a rather radical Vegan and let everyone know it. Ahhh, the idiots I am forced to deal with. I bet most of these idiots really see the contemporary versions of Christmas and Easter as being Holy Days. You need to wake up and smell the choclate laced coffee.

My son, who makes my cynicism look like I’m a member of the Christmas and Easter rotary club is even more Scrooge like. Now, don’t get me wrong, he’s 18 and good at it. He doesn’t want to buy anyone anything, but more than expects to have others shell out big bucks for him. I guess we should have known there was a problem when we were called into the school office for him upsetting the class by saying that Santa and the Easter Bunny were a scam. He was in first grade.

For those who feel that this is an anti-Christian rant, it’s not. I am an equal opportunity hater of Halloween, one of the worst holidays in my mind. When I was a younger and not so reasonable man, I lived in a rather rural area, and would make the habit of tying my rather ornery 100 lb. German Shepherd – who was always in a bad mood towards strangers on my front porch. I wouldn’t allow my own children to trick or treat as I said there is much more to life than begging candy from friends. Well, that happened once or twice until my own kids were ready to start playing tricks on me. They actually didn’t, but I started to give out tricks instead. I still am tempted to do so, but the imminent threat of my lovey dovey hippy wife has brought antoher change. I used to randomly put ketchup packets, duck sauce, taco bell hot sauce packets in the little Halloween wrappers. I also have been known to give out a six pack of tuna fish for Christmas parties with a gift certificate buried inside, oh the pure evil joy of the holidays. I’ve mellowed since. IAgain, threats of divorce or castration while I sleep are powerful motivators and now we buy tons on Halloween candy and typically give all to my 18 year old son when it is done, as we have few visitors even though we live in a fairly well populated area. However, when I see some older teen ager hitting me up for free choclate, I want to bring out the ghost of “Baron” or run to the fridge and take out a handful of ketchup packets.

So much the same for Easter, and the trappings. I don’t need it, and happily proclaim it as “Wabbit Season”.

GOP Lawmakers Call in Expert to Testify About Pardons

The National Journal reports that the expert being called in is former President Clinton.  GOP lawmakers are hoping to use the criteria to open the door for a pardon of Scooter Libby.

A letter of invitation was sent to the former President stating that “”You are no stranger to controversial pardons, most notably the pardon of Marc Rich on your last day in office,” Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, no friend of the former president, wrote pointedly in a letter dated Monday. “I can think of no better person than you to speak on this issue.” Tongue planted firmly in cheek, Smith noted that Clinton had extensive “experience with exercising the pardon authority and defending it from intrusion by Congress.”

If this comes about, it may actually make having C-Span2 worthwhile.

Quote of the Day

I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.

Vincent Van Gogh