Ahmadinejad has a boo-boo and wants Obama to kiss it and make it all better.
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Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, is demanding an apology from the new US president for "crimes" committed against Iran by attempting to prevent, through covert measures, the development of the Iranian nuclear weapons program. This follows on the heels of Obama's first official opportunity to acquiesce (a.k.a. an interview) as president on an Arab television station. If the U.S. led war in Iraq and Afghanistan was a useful recruitment tool for terrorist groups, can you imagine what a public apology by the Commander in Chief of the world's strongest military to one of the biggest sponsors of international terrorism would mean for the growth of terrorism? It sends the message that terrorism works! The U.S. will cave if you press us hard enough! If one statement could guarantee an emboldened terrorist community and a more dangerous world, an apology to Iran is it. A declaration of war with Iran is a close second... or a tie. I haven't decided. :)
Unilateral Peace
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A Code Pink member had a sign at the inauguration today that read "Yes we can, can end the wars!" (Code Pink is a women's antiwar protest group with a penchant for pink garments and flair for the dramatic.) It reminded me how much the concept of unilateral peace bothers me; that a war can be ended by only one participant in the conflict. Its not a divorce. A war has at least two participants but one army can't just tell the other its moving out of the house, taking the kids, and asking for a cease-fire. If one side stops fighting, the other side doesn't automatically become a harmless bunny rabbit. This is especially true if one combatant group has sworn to rid the planet of their infidel enemies. Think killer rabbit from Monty Python's Holy Grail.
Let's run through the logic for a moment. We the (dare I say) good guys, a.k.a. infidels, stop fighting a war. Then, the opposing forces, having been shown the error in their jihad-ing ways by our magnanimous gesture, decide to find a new vocation after centuries and generations invested in hatred and the dream of a globally oppressive utopia. Not to mention the multitudes of virgins awaiting all good little martyrs on the other side. Oh sure, its extremely unlikely that Islamic fascism would rule the world someday, but why start handing out rope hoping no one tries to hang us.
Call me crazy... but it seems to me that if we stop fighting and the bad guys don't get the memo, the battlefield only changes locations, perhaps following us home to the U.S. like some sadistic lost puppy. And then, its our civilians facing the business end of a death wish, since our military stopped warring and is off planting flowers or something. The danger doesn't end just because we want the world to be all lollipops and rainbows and we tell the bad man to stop.
Let's run through the logic for a moment. We the (dare I say) good guys, a.k.a. infidels, stop fighting a war. Then, the opposing forces, having been shown the error in their jihad-ing ways by our magnanimous gesture, decide to find a new vocation after centuries and generations invested in hatred and the dream of a globally oppressive utopia. Not to mention the multitudes of virgins awaiting all good little martyrs on the other side. Oh sure, its extremely unlikely that Islamic fascism would rule the world someday, but why start handing out rope hoping no one tries to hang us.
Call me crazy... but it seems to me that if we stop fighting and the bad guys don't get the memo, the battlefield only changes locations, perhaps following us home to the U.S. like some sadistic lost puppy. And then, its our civilians facing the business end of a death wish, since our military stopped warring and is off planting flowers or something. The danger doesn't end just because we want the world to be all lollipops and rainbows and we tell the bad man to stop.
Faith for sale
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It's fall and time for old boots and new tobacco. I proudly proclaim that I own a classic pair of Sketchers boots from the mid-90's. Ah the 90's. When men were men and boots were boots. Oh yes its true. Sketchers at one time made actual boots. Now in the age of bastardized genre-bending music and gender-bending attire, Sketchers has deteriorated into inbred, cross-pollinated footwear designs. But I digress.
Recently during a cigar walk, complete with old boots, I passed Urban Outfitters. The store is located in an old church and it struck me how metaphoric it is to have commerce in a church.
An example of commercial principals in the church is church marketing. Church marketing rubs me the wrong way. Especially roadside church signs and their witty letter boards. Honestly, who is going to have a profound religious experience after reading a lame and sugary sweet half-sentence on a light-up sign that could just as easily be telling me today's special at the Stop-N-Go. These churches are trying to either attract new members or impart pearls of Gospely wisdom to the unwashed masses. I contend they fail on both fronts. The logic behind church marketing irritates me. God's love and message of salvation is it's own marketing. No colorful banner or fantastically charming roadside sign will ever top that. I don't remember reading about Paul wandering around, wondering how to attract a congregation. He focused on the message of God's love and the man who embodied it. And the masses congregated.
God builds strong congregations where He sees fit. The fitness of a church is based solely on its relationship with Him. As a result, the church that openly and publicly lives the Gospel will attract attention. In essence, take the church to the people instead of bringing people to the church. Being the Word is the only solid ground on which to build the Kingdom of God. All else is shifting sand. Furthermore, the goal should be the spiritual development of the individual and encouraging that individual to find a Christian community of worship; any Christian community of worship. After all, is the message of the Gospel the redemption of mankind or the growth of a singular church?
Recently during a cigar walk, complete with old boots, I passed Urban Outfitters. The store is located in an old church and it struck me how metaphoric it is to have commerce in a church.
An example of commercial principals in the church is church marketing. Church marketing rubs me the wrong way. Especially roadside church signs and their witty letter boards. Honestly, who is going to have a profound religious experience after reading a lame and sugary sweet half-sentence on a light-up sign that could just as easily be telling me today's special at the Stop-N-Go. These churches are trying to either attract new members or impart pearls of Gospely wisdom to the unwashed masses. I contend they fail on both fronts. The logic behind church marketing irritates me. God's love and message of salvation is it's own marketing. No colorful banner or fantastically charming roadside sign will ever top that. I don't remember reading about Paul wandering around, wondering how to attract a congregation. He focused on the message of God's love and the man who embodied it. And the masses congregated.
God builds strong congregations where He sees fit. The fitness of a church is based solely on its relationship with Him. As a result, the church that openly and publicly lives the Gospel will attract attention. In essence, take the church to the people instead of bringing people to the church. Being the Word is the only solid ground on which to build the Kingdom of God. All else is shifting sand. Furthermore, the goal should be the spiritual development of the individual and encouraging that individual to find a Christian community of worship; any Christian community of worship. After all, is the message of the Gospel the redemption of mankind or the growth of a singular church?
A more humorous Conservative Manifesto
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The Conservative Manifesto according to the book How to Win a Fight with a Liberal.
Conservatives believe in an honest days work, family values, free enterprise, keeping what you earn and killing them before they kill us.
Conservatives believe in NASCAR, neighborhood barbecues, Sunday sermons, the Ten Commandments, fair and balanced news, faithfully interpreting the Constitution, and that America would be a safer place if Clinton had spent his eight years in office protecting America rather than fiddling with cigars and porking chubby girls.
Conservatives believe in a shining city on a hill, and in protecting that shining city from terrorists, illegal aliens, and social warfare parasites.
Conservatives believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment requiring that every liberal who threatens to move to Canada actually has to move to Canada.
Conservatives believe if there is such a thing as global warming and if rising oceans flood the planet, you're going to need a bad-ass SUV to get around.
Conservatives believe any short list for secretary of defense should include Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris, and Iron Man.
Conservatives believe in moments of silence, border security, terrorist surveillance, preemptive war, the power of the markets, states' rights, the right to life, liberating people so they may live in freedom, and that listening to Hollywood liberals talk about values is like listening to the French talk about military deterrence.
And above all, conservatives have unwavering faith in the strength and character of the American people and every confidence that our great nation will triumph over the twin evils of our time - terrorism and liberalism.
Conservatives believe in an honest days work, family values, free enterprise, keeping what you earn and killing them before they kill us.
Conservatives believe in NASCAR, neighborhood barbecues, Sunday sermons, the Ten Commandments, fair and balanced news, faithfully interpreting the Constitution, and that America would be a safer place if Clinton had spent his eight years in office protecting America rather than fiddling with cigars and porking chubby girls.
Conservatives believe in a shining city on a hill, and in protecting that shining city from terrorists, illegal aliens, and social warfare parasites.
Conservatives believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment requiring that every liberal who threatens to move to Canada actually has to move to Canada.
Conservatives believe if there is such a thing as global warming and if rising oceans flood the planet, you're going to need a bad-ass SUV to get around.
Conservatives believe any short list for secretary of defense should include Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris, and Iron Man.
Conservatives believe in moments of silence, border security, terrorist surveillance, preemptive war, the power of the markets, states' rights, the right to life, liberating people so they may live in freedom, and that listening to Hollywood liberals talk about values is like listening to the French talk about military deterrence.
And above all, conservatives have unwavering faith in the strength and character of the American people and every confidence that our great nation will triumph over the twin evils of our time - terrorism and liberalism.
The Conservative Manifesto of 1937
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The Conservative Manifesto was written by U.S. Senator Josiah Bailey of North Carolina in 1937 in opposition to the New Deal. As the dawn of the Newer Deal and the Even Greater Society approaches, it is fitting to reflect on these solid ideas against collectivization which are still valid today. A recent UCLA study concluded that FDR's socialist New Deal caused the Great Depression to last seven years longer. Presently, financial analysts predict a recession on the horizon. The same brand of policies that lengthened the American Great Depression will undoubtedly be proposed by Congress and the President Elect. History will repeat itself. Not necessarily in the form of "Great Depression; The Sequel" but in a prolonged financial crisis irritated by government intervention.
The Conservative Manifesto 1937
1. Immediate revision of taxes on capital gains and undistributed profits in order to free investment funds.
2. Reduce expenditures to achieve a balanced budget, and thus, to still fears deterring business expansion.
3. An end to coercion and violence in relations between capital and labor.
4. Opposition to “unnecessary” government competition with private enterprise.
5. Recognition that private investment and enterprise require a reasonable profit.
6. Safeguarding the collateral upon which credit rests.
7. Reduction of taxes, or if this proves impossible at the moment, firm assurance of no further increases.
8. Maintenance of state rights, home rule, and local self-government, except where proven definitely inadequate.
9. Economical and non-political relief to unemployed with maximum local responsibility.
10. Reliance upon the American form of government and the American system of enterprise.
The Conservative Manifesto 1937
1. Immediate revision of taxes on capital gains and undistributed profits in order to free investment funds.
2. Reduce expenditures to achieve a balanced budget, and thus, to still fears deterring business expansion.
3. An end to coercion and violence in relations between capital and labor.
4. Opposition to “unnecessary” government competition with private enterprise.
5. Recognition that private investment and enterprise require a reasonable profit.
6. Safeguarding the collateral upon which credit rests.
7. Reduction of taxes, or if this proves impossible at the moment, firm assurance of no further increases.
8. Maintenance of state rights, home rule, and local self-government, except where proven definitely inadequate.
9. Economical and non-political relief to unemployed with maximum local responsibility.
10. Reliance upon the American form of government and the American system of enterprise.
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