And justice for all

Last night I recited the Pledge of Allegiance at a political meeting in my community. Can't remember when I last did that. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Now in an unrelated, but related story . . .

"The USDA Special Milk Program started in 1955 [when I was in school I think we paid two cents for a carton of milk] with the purpose of providing milk to children in schools, child care institutions, and summer camps that do not participate in other Federal child nutrition programs. The program reimburses sponsors for the milk they serve."

Believe it or not, this program is still going, but buried in the updated rules is the requirement that where the milk is distributed there MUST be a poster that states, "and justice for all".

The original pledge was much shorter and didn't specify the United States and didn't include God. "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." And I have no idea what the original milk program was for!

Buried on p. 12--Muslim killing Muslim in Karachi

The Pakistan Taliban strikes again--blew up a very secure area in Karachi, Pakistan, of top government officials and 5-star hotels, according to the Wall Street Journal today on p. 12. So I dug a little further and found Al-Jazeera's account:

Around 3,800 people have been killed in suicide attacks and bombings, blamed on homegrown Taliban and other armed groups across Pakistan, since government troops stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad three years ago.

The Karachi bombing came less than a week after a suicide bombing on a mosque packed with worshippers killed 68 people in northwest Pakistan.

Karachi has already suffered its most serious bout of political violence in years, with 85 people killed after a politician was shot dead in August.

The city is Pakistan's economic capital, home to its stock exchange and a strategic port where Nato docks its supplies ready to be transported overland to support the war in Afghanistan.

Although I don't believe George W. Bush's nation building ideas worked in 7th century Islamic countries, I think the American leftists, and that would include our President, are blind and deaf about who is killing whom in the Middle East and the Asian continent which is home for millions of Muslims, adherents of the religion of peace.

Labeled an extremist for common sense

Minnesota State Representative-elect Glenn Gruenhagen offered this at a statewide school board association meeting and the blog writer Hal thinks he's an extremist. The school board reps didn't like it (doesn't surprise me), but apparently voters saw something in him they liked.

Resolutions:
Stop labeling and drugging students - 2 for; 103 against.
Emphasize rote learning - 2 for; 130 against.
Implement phonics reading - 8 for; 94 against.
Teach principles of patriotism - 13 for; 88 against.
Implement abstinence - 7 for; 95 against.
Separate classes by gender - 16 for; 86 against.
Teach fallacies of macro evolution - 7 for; 100 against.
All children are gifted - 12 for; 89 against.


Hal's Blog

Christians and George Soros

Many Christians refuse to watch Glenn Beck. They think he's an alarmist, a kook libertarian, or don't like his Mormon faith.  In recent weeks, there are two very good reasons to be watching and listening--his story about inflation (read articles on today's WSJ on inflationary prices on A5 and C7*), and his story about George Soros infiltrating many Christian organizations and the media, essentially buying them up. 

The Christian Left, and even many evangelicals who have become really sloppy in aligning themselves as "emerging" or "emergent" are involved in promoting pro-choice, illegal immigration, gay marriage and anti-Israel movements. Last night, using his typical high-tech, high touch methods to illustrate a point, Beck rolled out an enormous sheet of brown butcher paper on which were written the names of all the "charities" George Soros, an atheist, supports, most of which are the antithesis of the Gospel and the basic concepts on which the United States was founded.  Soros is working hard behind the scenes to get Beck off the air.  However, there are many Christians now wise to his tricks and are providing some balance and research to fight him. Even a little blog like mine gets the hit and run socialists posting in my comments or sending me e-mails(removed if they get nasty) if I speak out about Soros.

Jim Wallis is probably the best known of the Evangelical Left (although the evangelical part of him has certainly been starved  as the left of him swells and gets ever more pompous) who has taken Soros funding to support his left wing agenda.  Two years ago our Vineyard Church here in Columbus invited him as a major speaker at its rally for peace and justice (I'm paraphrasing here), and I suspect this would not happen today as Wallis' links to radical movements and marxism become more clear to even the most obtuse, warm and squishy Christian.  Also, the Christian left has been quite alarmed by the Tea Party strength, as it eats away at its own power base, so it is fighting back.

How far left have the Evangelicals swung?  Richard Cizik, the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals, now works for George Soros funding organization called the Open Society Institute.  This is beyond teetering on a cliff--he's completely fallen off the mountain top.

It's time to not only carefully read the "we believe" statement, but the mission statements, and the board of directors or trustees of any Christian organization you've been supporting or plan to support. We are at war.

*A5--11/11/10 article on new method to figure inflation--19.7% since last October; C7--article on commodities volatility, cotton, silver and soybeans.

Bush book, Decision Points, flying off the shelves

At least in book stores. It will take much longer in public libraries, whose librarians vote 223:1 for Democrats. Random House says it's the highest first day sales in 6 years, and that doesn't count independent book stores or grocery stores like Meiers or Krogers. (It's $21 at Meier's.) I live in a heavily Republican suburb, but our UAPL has carefully taught us that if we really want to read something with a right of center viewpoint, we'd just better go out and buy it. Then with fewer requests in hand, it can justify not purchasing in a timely fashion the books we'd like to read.

Important Players – Doctrine-unfriendly

I've been trying to work my way through the tangle of terms like "emergent church" "emerging church" and "Emergent Village" and although I'm usually pretty good at detecting clues for movements and understanding divisions within Christianity, this is a MESS.

I just hate it when people change the language, especially Christians. I'm thinking they are soft and squishy on important fundamentals and theology, and warm and fuzzy on social issues. If salvation were about a nice home and full tummy, why would there need to be churches in suburbia?

Important Players – Doctrine-unfriendly « The Berean Watch

No, No Newt

Just watched him being interviewed on Fox--about his rather messy, unfaithful-to-wives personal life, and being a hypocrite about it besides. Let him stay on the side lines as a king/queen maker, but don't, please don't, put us through another Clintonesque presidency.

FDA: Obamacare’s Calorie-Count Mandate Now In Effect—But Not Enforceable

The individual items in a vending machine have a nutritionlabel--except the fresh items like an apple or orange--now Obama wants it also on the outside of the machine. One more way to destroy small businesses. One more reason someone would with an ounce of sense and a month of business experience should have read the bill. Look at all the cigarette packages that are labeled with a warning, and has he stopped smoking?

FDA: Obamacare’s Calorie-Count Mandate Now In Effect—But Not Enforceable | CNSnews.com

Fried Librarian Giblets Awakens ALA Council to Take On Yet Another Non-Library Issue

I got a chuckle out of the title of this blog--Fried librarian giblets. I wonder if ALA will look into the San Francisco Happy Meal melt down? The ALA spends so much time on non-library issues. I suppose that's a sign that everything is super duper OK in library land. Salaries are up; bond issues aren't failing; and the political balance is improving.

SafeLibraries: Fried Librarian Giblets Awakens ALA Council to Take On Yet Another Non-Library Issue

On repealing Obamacare--expand the target

"The case for abolishing Obamacare has three parts, based on its awful effects (a) on health care, (b) on our political system, and (c) on our character as a people. The first of these, Obamacare's deleterious effects on health care quality, cost, innovation, and accessibility, has been well made already by conservative policy analysts and, less well but still effectively, by conservative politicians. On their merits, these arguments should have been enough to defeat Obamacare, and almost were. Floating in the debate's background so far have been anxieties about the legislation's effects on our constitutional system's balance of power and on the American character. These concerns will need to be more thought—through and clearly articulated in the days to come, because to clinch the argument conservatives need to show that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is not merely bad or mistaken policy but somehow dangerous to our way of life. Legislative mistakes can be corrected, after all. Their pollsters are already warning Democratic congressmen to keep claims about the law "small and credible," to stick to "personal stories" of people who will benefit from it, and above all to promise to "improve" it. They're trying to shrink the target. Conservatives need to expand the target, and to emphasize that the stakes of Obamacare include nothing less than the future of self-government in America."

Article at Claremont Institute

Eat all the colors, but

be careful. I've been making wonderful chili soups the past few weeks. I grill lightly in olive oil about 4-5 vegetables chopped up, add Progresso Hearty Tomato, and then maybe black bean with bacon flavoring for some protein. Well, today I decided to use up the fresh cooked spinach I had in the frig. Nope. Not a good idea. Red and green make a sort of yucky brown. It didn't exactly change the basic color of the soup, but the green floating in the red is not pleasing to the artist's eye.

Anyone laughing with Bill Maher now?

This is Bill Maher's trashing of the Nine Twelve movement around the time the reports of ACORN assisting a sex trafficking ring came out, which didn't give him concern. Oh, you are such a riot Bill, and so with egg on your face after last Tuesday.

Glenn Beck’s army of zombie retirees are marching on Washington in protest of, well, everything. It’s the Million Moron March, although they won’t get a million of course, because many will be confused and drive to Washington state. But they will make news, because people who take to the streets always do. They’re at the town hall screaming at the congressmen, we’re on the couch screaming at the TV.

I was going to look for a photo, but you all know the face, all 10 of you who watch his show.

Conan is back — all is right with the world - TODAYshow.com

Now that's an amazing headline--ripped right off the internet. Conan is back--all's right with the world. So that's all it took. Obama doesn't need another term, and Jesus didn't need to return. What a relief.

Conan is back — all is right with the world - Entertainment - Television - TODAYshow.com

5 myths about George W. Bush

The only ones who believed the dumb cowboy stuff were the media and their Democratic supporters who just kept passing it along because it made them feel superior. I didn't. I saw his reading list. But over all, a good assessment. Don't know if I'll read the book.

5 myths about George W. Bush

Who's crazy now?

It's OK in a movie to take the Lord's name in vain, which is offensive to probably over half of all movie goers, but a fake, made up conversation by two teenagers can't use the word "gay" as a pejorative ("The social network")? Come on, guys, even gay kids use the term gay that way! Ten years ago they were using "retard" the same way. Look at any slang and it's either incomprehensible so adults won't catch on, or comes via the prisons, or has a sexual connotation. The word JAZZ, after all, originally meant sexual intercourse, as did rock 'n roll, so is that what you're saying each time you use those terms?

Stop treating gay teens like they are a fragile piece of glass. You are sending mixed messages for a political agenda, and it's the kids who will suffer. First of all, you're talking them into being a victim, and you just might be designating someone as gay when he isn't. There are lots of reasons for a teen to have problems, and a few teen-agers do commit suicide for a wide variety of reasons. But not as many as the macho soliders we're sending to Afghanistan and Iraq, and not as many as white men over 60.

When I was a teenager, I'd never heard of homosexuality--was probably a sophomore in college before I was even aware of it. That doesn't mean there weren't just as many gay teens in the 50s as there are today. Somehow, they managed to get college degrees, find partners, and succeed in their careers, because I've met them, worked with them, and am now retiring with them. One dear lesbian friend died in a house fire trying to save her pets; her partner was devastated, and she later died in an auto accident. None of this had anything to do with their sexuality; Pauline and Dora were outstanding advocates for young people of any make and model.

Today gay teens have support groups, "young adult" gay themed books in the library, gay movie stars and athletic figures to idolize, web sites to go to, special counselors in their schools, and politicans who are equal opportunity idiots like Barney Frank for a model. If none of this is working, why are we funding these programs?

Please, stop with the urban legends!

All Saints Day--first Sunday in November

Today is All Saints Sunday, the day Christians remember those called to sainthood (all believers) and espcially particular individuals. My husband and I were communion servers, always a wonderful experience. However, it's also the day the pastor reads from the pulpit the names of the congregation's members who have died since October 31, last year, and the names of loved ones we submit. It's very moving. And Oh! the singing! We get to sing all the verses of "For all the Saints."

Unless I'm morphing some memories (easy to do at my age) I can remember the first time I heard and sang "For all the Saints," and it was interestingly enough, not in church, but at Camp Emmaus near Mt. Morris, Illinois. I wasn't even a camper--I was the cook's assistant, and had come upstairs after clearing tables and washing pots to sit in the back of the lodge main room to observe the campers (older teens). They were learning a "new" hymn, "For all the Saints," being led I believe by a gorgeous young woman from Chicago with a fabulous voice named Carol Hiller. (It's possible that I've morphed her into the hymn, but this is how I recall it.)

The lyrics seem to be much older than the music, having been written by Bishop William W. How in 1864, but the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams died in 1958, so it's possible that in the mid-1950s, we were learning it as a "new" hymn. However it came to my attention, it has always been a favorite, and the older I get, the more departed saints I have to remember and look forward to seeing again at the resurrection.

The greatest of human adventures

If you want to read a history of America that isn't biased, isn't academic and yet is tremendously optimistic while revealing all our warts, please read Paul Johnson's "A history of the American people." Here's his opener:
"The creation of the United States of America is the greatest of all human adventures. No other national story holds such tremendous lessons, for the American people themselves and for the rest of mankind." p.3

Johnson doesn't have to answer to a tenure review committee in the hopelessly left sided university community, and he's not a part of the notoriously liberal American media.  He's a British journalist who has been visiting and researching the U.S. since his first visit in 1955.  Despite its 3.5 lbs and 1000+ pages and  about that many footnotes, this book is for the ordinary reader, not a scholar.  You can tell, however, that he is a conservative in that as a former Socialist familiar with socialism's failures, he is solidly in favor of a free market economy as the system that brings the most people up out of poverty and enslavement; but also he is incredibly optimistic, which liberals almost never are.  He's not snarky or dark in his evaluations even when explaining (and footnoting) John Kennedy's or Lyndon Johnson's numerous affairs and sexcapades, or finding the one really good thing about Jimmy Carter's presidency. He outlines rather carefully the media making the presidency for us in 1960, and although in 1997 he'd never heard of Barack Obama, the same template was used again in 2008.

I found this wonderful Booknotes interview with Johnson in 1998.  Loved that show.

Johnson notes that left wing liberals and academicians will hate this book--they won't actually read it, but will find factual errors (he encourages that you report these so he can correct them in the next edition but also notes that even sources he cites disagree on details).

Hitler learns the Republicans have taken both the House and Obama’s Senate seat

This film clip has been used so many times in parodies, but this one is incredible. "Bush got C's but Obama failed lunch."



Hitler learns the Republicans have taken both the House and Obama’s Senate seat

Upper Arlington 9/12 project November 11 meeting

Join the UA912 Group on November 11 at 6:30 p.m. as they welcome Pastor Eric Waters from the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church who will present his stirring July 4, 2010 Sermon Entitled: Freedom - A Gift From God. Pastor Waters brought the congregation to their feet. Here is a link to the sermon: http://tech.ualc.org/mp3/audio/100704EWMRC.mp3
Location, Hastings Middle School Auditorium, 1850 Hastings Lane, Upper Arlington, OH 43220, hostess Catherine Hackett.



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Possible holes? You think? Flight school arrests

"Federal officials have arrested dozens of alleged illegal immigrants connected to a flight school in Stow, including the school’s owner and students who received US government clearance to train as pilots despite strict security controls put into place after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The arrests of 34 Brazilian nationals that began in July and concluded quietly last month raise troubling new questions about possible holes in the government’s antiterrorism security net, which bans illegal immigrants from taking flight lessons and requires background checks on any foreigner training to fly in the United States.
Flight school arrests raise terrorism fears - The Boston Globe

TSA seems to be pretty good at making little old ladies take off their shoes and men their belts, but do a background check on a foreigner wanting to learn to fly a small plane? Wouldn't that be profiling? Even the owner of the flight school wasn't here legally.