Important events in N.E. Ohio

How did it get to be June already?  Here in Ohio, we've had two solid months of Monsoon Season and now, suddenly, it's summer, with temps in the 80's this week and a blur of yellow in the sky.  Meteorologists are still trying to identify it.  


I wanted to highlight a couple important events happening in N.E. Ohio.  I hope my (9) readers in Germany, my (3) readers in the UK and whoever you are in the United Arab Emirates will bear with me for a moment...

Understanding SB5 Discussion in Wadsworth

Date:  Thursday, June 2nd

Time:  7:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: Wadsworth Church of the Nazarene

743 High Street, Wadsworth, Ohio

Melanie Elsey from the American Policy Roundtable will explain what is truly in SB 5, Ohio’s collective bargaining reform bill. Taking a non-partisan approach, she ignores what is being propagated by the left and the right and strictly interprets what is written in the bill.

To gain a full understanding of what this bill means for Ohioans, Melanie has compared SB 5 with our current Ohio Revised Code. For a preview of what may be discussed, visit the Frequently Asked Question: Ohio SB 5 as passed by the Ohio General Assembly,

With political propaganda dominating this issue, it’s time to understand the facts. Please bring your family and friends to this informative, honest discussion about SB 5.

~~~~~

Islam and the West

The The AP Roundtable holds policy briefings in communities building leadership networks on special issues and projects. A team of experts come together to talk about timely legislation and issues that impact your community. Join us for a Discussion on: Islam and the West featuring: Robert Spencer Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 at 7 pm Cleveland, Ohio Space is limited and you must be pre-registered. Please RSVP no later than Friday, June 3, 2011. To find out more information and to RSVP to the Ohioevent, contact Allison Allen by phone or email: 1-800-522-VOTE ext. 104 | aallen@aproundtable.org Please provide your name, address, phone and email address. To help host or schedule a policy briefing near you, please contact: Rob Walgate, V.P. at (800) 522-VOTE ext. 105

April 28, 2011

Illiterate Children Reciting the Koran on Film: The Left Gives a Standing Ovation for Islam | NewsReal Blog:

 "One of our stars is a 10-year-old kid from Tajikistan named Nabiollah, an angelic, big-eyed moppet who can recite the entire Quran from memory in an astonishingly pure boyish soprano, with remarkable command of melody and intonation. He’s like the Justin Bieber of Quran recitation, and judges at the Cairo event seize on him as an amazing gift from Allah. But memorizing the Quran (in Arabic, which he does not otherwise speak or read) at a rural madrassa has nearly been Nabiollah’s entire education; he is functionally illiterate in Tajik, his own language.

How does the Left respond to clear anti-education?  They are a bit uncomfortable, but still manage to rise to their feet and applause this pro-Islam film.  In the conflict of education versus Islamic propaganda – Mohammad wins every time."

Salon.com summarzied the film this way:

It’s “Spellbound” plus a poetry slam. Plus Islamic fundamentalism…but if you’re open to the possibility that Islam in practice is an incredibly diverse spiritual and social movement that embraces 1.6 billion human beings and a lot of internal discussion and disagreement, and that the more we know about it the better, then “Koran by Heart” is a movie you’ve got to see...

...She recounts that at the screening Rifdha and her parents were actually there along with the film’s director.  Afterwards they took questions.  And one person had the guts to ask the father directly if he would be open to letting Rifdha get more education and be a scientist.  The Muslim father responded by saying Rifdha must be a housewife.

Just when Osman and all the Progressives are about to come to their senses about Islam, the director of the film speaks up.  Here’s how Osman ends her article: 

The director quickly took the microphone and spoke some words of wisdom. When we go around the world making films we don’t tell people how to live their lives, he said. Nobody tells us how to live our lives, he added. He graciously thanked the family for coming all the way to New York to attend the opening. Inspiring film. Good point. Lesson learned...

...And there you have it.  It doesn’t matter what the Left believes about education, women, or freedom. The spread of Islam must happen.  We must not fear it or reject any part of it.  We can’t push our values on them, no matter how much the culture of Sharia spreads into our own borders.
Many of the articles on the film screenings reported the movie getting large standing ovations" 

It's tricky being a liberal these days, isn't it?  At least if you're trying to be consistent.

~~~~~

Allen West is Right: Leftist Women Castrate Our Men | NewsReal Blog: (HT: Joel)
Author and blogger Suzanne Venkner, who is the niece of Phyllis Schlafly responded to the following statement by Rep. Allen West:

"We need you to come in and lock shields, and strengthen up the men who are going to the fight for you. To let these other women know on the other side — these planned Parenthood women, the Code Pink women, and all of these women that have been neutering American men and bringing us to the point of this incredible weakness — to let them know that we are not going to have our men become subservient. That’s what we need you to do. Because if you don’t, then the debt will continue to grow…deficits will continue to grow."

Venker said,

 ...The problem is that too many Americans, women in particular, are afraid to take a stand against feminism. They think being opposed to feminism means being against women’s rights or being throwbacks to a bygone era when women were at home doing nothing else with their lives but caring for children — which, besides being untrue, is not a bad thing anyway. But that is precisely how liberal women want people to think of feminism: as American women’s saviors.
But feminism did not save the women of America. If anything, it ruined them...

...That’s because feminism is about rejecting the timeless institutions that makes most people happy and any good society flourish: marriage and motherhood.
Liberal women don’t explain it this way, of course. They insist they’re not against the traditional family but merely want women to have choices. Hogwash. Not only do feminists subtly and overtly undermine traditional gender roles, they take credit for something they didn’t do. American women’s choices (a.k.a. “progress”) were expanded not from the bra-burning demonstrations that sought to reform society but from a natural evolution that was aided by technology – technology that was invented by men, I might add. American women should be thanking men, not feminists, for the lives they have today. 

Allen West’s argument that liberal women have neutered men was courageous and spot on. It just wasn’t self-explanatory. West would have done well to quote antifeminist warrior Carolyn Graglia when making his argument:

"The traditional family will remain in peril until we derail the feminist engine of reform by killing the sexual revolution, by replacing no-fault divorce laws with laws that protect homemakers and families, by ending preferential treatment of women in education and workplace, and by reforming all laws that discriminate against one-income families through requiring them to subsidize child care for two-income families.

But these things will not happen until a change occurs in those men who have rejected the value of a woman’s traditional role and of a man’s contributions that make this role viable. Without those contributions, what do men think will define their manhood? If women’s traditional role is expendable, then, as increases in the number of well-educated, never-married mothers indicate, so also are men expendable for all purposes other than sperm donor. The result is a society increasingly like Sweden’s, which has the lowest marriage rate and one of the highest illegitimacy rates and employment rates of working-age women in the western world."

The liberal feminists need to be reminded every now and then that the most significant "liberators" of women were not Gloria Steinem or Margaret Sanger, it was the men who invented the electric washing machine, the electric stove, and running water. 


It's rather humorous that "The Donald" is getting so much attention for being a straight-talker and not being afraid to say controversial things.  Of course, half of what he says falls into the realm of reality show fiction and the other half is shameless self promotion.   Meanwhile,  Rep. Allen West is saying actual substantive controversial things, speaking about matters of consequence with intelligence and eloquence.  Let's hope we Americans wise up and demand more of West and less of Trump.

~~~~~

Pornography raid underscores Wi-Fi risks - Technology & science - Wireless - msnbc.com: 

(HT: Challies)

"BUFFALO, N.Y. — Lying on his family room floor with assault weapons trained on him, shouts of 'pedophile!' and 'pornographer!' stinging like his fresh cuts and bruises, the Buffalo homeowner didn't need long to figure out the reason for the early morning wake-up call from a swarm of federal agents.

That new wireless router. He'd gotten fed up trying to set a password. Someone must have used his Internet connection, he thought.

'We know who you are! You downloaded thousands of images at 11:30 last night,' the man's lawyer, Barry Covert, recounted the agents saying. They referred to a screen name, 'Doldrum. 

'No, I didn't,' he insisted. 'Somebody else could have but I didn't do anything like that.'

'You're a creep ... just admit it,' they said.

Law enforcement officials say the case is a cautionary tale. Their advice:

Password-protect your wireless router."

I happen to be married to a techie who is very fussy about suchs things and I always wondered what the big deal was.   OK....I get it now! Those SWAT team goons would probably confiscate my super-cool Google Chrome CR-48 notebook computer....what a tragedy that would be!  


But seriously, this story does raise some important questions.  Like,  should the internet be free and open to anyone?  Some who were interviewed for the story  and commenting on it thought so and purposely leave their routers open as a courtesy to passersby, hoping others will do the same.   This raises some obvious privacy concerns, although many in the younger generation don't seem to have the same worries their parents do.  I suppose the rise of cloud computing will change this landscape as well.  


The other question is why a heavily armed SWAT team was even needed for this operation.  Could they have just knocked on the door and taken him into custody?  Viewing child pornography, as vile and disgusting as it is, is hardly drug running or gang activity.  What is the likelihood this guy was lying in wait for them with a cache of weapons?  What kind of police state do we live in that an innocent man is subjected to the SWAT team breaking down his door in the middle of the night? 

~~~~~

Do you have questions about Ohio's SB5 and what it means for union members and taxpayers of the state?  The American Policy Roundtable has prepared and excellent guide:

Frequently Asked Questions: Ohio SB5 as passed by the Ohio General Assembly

The guide takes on questions such as:

• What does the collective bargaining process look like under SB5?
• Will repealing the salary schedules put teachers with higher salary at risk for losing their jobs?
• Will tenured teachers (continuing contracts) lose their tenure?
• What does it mean to base salaries or wages on performance? 
• If public employees can't negotiate for their health care benefits, won't their health coverage be much worse? 

APR has done Ohioans (regardless of which side you're on) a huge service in preparing this detailed FAQ that cuts through the spin.  I hope it makes it into the hands of every Ohio voter as the rhetoric continues and opponents of SB5 prepare to wage a well-funded campaign in their attempt to repeal it.  

Is the Koran Burning to Blame?

Who is at "fault" for the brutal massacres in Afghanistan following the Florida Koran burning stunt? Certainly, it was a stupid, pointless thing to do.  As a Christian, I see no way in which the actions of Terry Jones could further the cause of Christ (that said, it wouldn't be the first time God used a donkey to accomplish his purposes!).   At least twenty have been killed - two beheaded - in the name of Allah, supposedly because an obscure Florida pastor burned some words printed on paper.  

Of course, to a certain strain of Muslims, these are fighting words, and any and all infidels are fair game now, supposedly as a result of this one man's actions.  Or maybe they just enjoy killing and fighting and it didn't take a whole lot to inflame them.  The New York Times reports:

"Both Afghan and international news media had initially played down or ignored the actions of Mr. Jones, the Florida pastor. On Thursday, however, President Karzai made a speech and issued statements condemning the Koran burning and calling for the arrest of Mr. Jones for his actions. On Friday, that theme was picked up in mosques throughout Afghanistan.

“Karzai brought this issue back to life, and he has to take some responsibility for starting this up,” said a prominent Afghan businessman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution if he was identified as a critic of the president.

“Karzai’s speech itself provoked people to take such actions,” said Qayum Baabak, a political analyst in Mazar-i-Sharif. “Karzai should have called on people to be patient rather than making people more angry.”

So Afghan president Karzai (our ally, right?), called his troops to action and they responded by going on a murderous rampage.  Hamid Karzai responded by asking U.S. lawmakers to officially condemn the (1st amendment-protected) Koran burning, asking them to "condemn the act in strong words... and bring those responsible to justice."  Bring them to justice?  Like the kind his people meted out to U.N. workers?  I wonder what he means? Those are potentially chilling words.  So is Hamid Karzai to blame for the violence?


One voice that has not been given much attention has been that of Hamid Karzai's brother.  CNN reports:

"The protests in the last two days in Kandahar have no link to the Quran burning in U.S. at all, but were all organized by some people to loot public and government properties," Ahmad Wali Karzai told CNN, adding that he condemned the desecration of Islam's holy book."

Never mind, the "Blame the Koran Burning Meme" rolled on:


Senator Harry Reid, on Face the Nation refused to say whether the Senate would pass a resolution condemning Terry Jones, however he acknowledged that "Ten to twenty people have been killed" and "We'll take a look at this of course...as to whether we need hearings or not, I don't know."


Senator Lindsay Graham said, "I wish we could find a way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we're in a war. During World War II, we had limits on what you could say if it would inspire the enemy."


He added, "Burning a Koran is a terrible thing, but it doesn't justify killing someone. Burning a Bible would be a terrible thing, but it wouldn't justify murder. But having said that, any time we can push back here in America against actions like this that put our troops at risk, we ought to do it."


So is the First Amendment to blame?


President Obama condemned the violence against the U.N. workers: 

"Their work is essential to building a stronger Afghanistan for the benefit of all its citizens. We stress the importance of calm and urge all parties to reject violence."

Note the moral equivalence of "all parties."  As if burning a Koran and beheading an actual human being were approximately equal on the violence scale. 

Which leads The Daily Caller to ask:  "The President of the United States bombs a Muslim country, and some nobody in Florida burns a Koran. Guess which one’s to blame for rioting in Afghanistan?"


No irony there. 


General David Petraeus, leader of the U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan issued the following statement:

"KABUL, Afghanistan – In view of the events of recent days, we feel it is important on behalf of ISAF and NATO members in Afghanistan to reiterate our condemnation of any disrespect to the Holy Quran and the Muslim faith.

We condemn, in particular, the action of an individual in the United States who recently burned the Holy Quran.

We also offer condolences to the families of all those injured and killed in violence which occurred in the wake of the burning of the Holy Quran.

We further hope the Afghan people understand that the actions of a small number of individuals, who have been extremely disrespectful to the Holy Quran, are not representative of any of the countries of the international community who are in Afghanistan to help the Afghan people."

CNN reports:

"U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry said in a statement that Americans respect the Quran 'and all religious texts and deplore any action that shows disrespect to any religious faith."

"NATO Ambassador Mark Sedwill of Great Britain, meanwhile, called the burning of a Quran by a small Florida church 'an act of disrespect to the Muslim faith and to all peoples of faith. It does not represent the views of the peoples or governments of the alliance."

Does anyone else notice a pattern here?  These "international coalition" types are falling all over themselves declaring that AMERICANS DO NOT DISRESPECT THE KORAN OR ISLAM!  As if that's against the law now.  Perhaps it is now against some International Law that our lawmakers weaseled us into when we weren't looking.  Sigh.


Here are some things to think about with this situation:


1. What Terry Jones did was stupid but he is not (ultimately) responsible for the actions of barbarians in Afghanistan who killed so indiscriminately. They are responsible and accountable for their own actions. No one, including Terry Jones, "made" them kill.  They are determined to kill and will use any excuse to do so. 


2.  Senators Graham and Reed need to think about who/what the real enemy is here.  Hint: It's not the first amendment. 

3. We need to be very concerned that these "international coalition" representatives are speaking on our behalf and saying foolish things. I understand that perhaps General Petraeus  thinks that his statement will help to calm the situation and pacify the murderous mob. But he goes too far in speaking on behalf of the "countries of the international community" that are represented in Afghanistan.  He is first an American general, not some international therapist.  As an American, I am NOT required to respect the Koran, nor am I required to respect Islam. This multiculturalism is going way too far when I am required to agree to these terms. 


4.  Just because I have the freedom to disrespect Islam and the Koran doesn't mean I ought to do it.   As a Christian, I am to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), and deliberately angering millions of people clearly falls outside the parameters of love.  Romans 12:18 says, "If possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."  Just because I am free to disagree with Islam doesn't mean I should disrespect Muslims.  I should love my neighbors and work to build bridges and relationships -  FREELY choosing to do so, not because I'm forced to by some U.N. mandate.


5. This is a reminder to pray for our troops who are in constant danger.  Whether or not we agree with the mission in Afghanistan, Iraq, and now, Libya, our American soldiers are there voluntarily, fighting a sometimes ill-defined enemy. This event shows how events can turn deadly in an instant, simply because of an ideology and a religion built on hate and terror. 

March 30, 2011

 "The GOP can afford to lose 23 votes"

This doesn't bode well for those who are looking for serious, meaningful budget cuts.  If things move in this direction it will tell us that the House leadership has more in common with the Democrats than with the conservative block in the House and the Tea Party.  

House Republican leaders turn to moderate Democrats for budget deal - The Washington Post: 

"Having difficulty finding consensus within their own ranks, House Republican leaders have begun courting moderate Democrats on several key fiscal issues, including a deal to avoid a government shutdown at the end of next week...

...House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) met with a conservative bloc of Democrats to discuss potential common ground on the budget and other pressing fiscal issues.

Rep. Heath Shuler (N.C.), a centrist Democratic leader, said McCarthy did not specifically ask for their votes on any legislation, saying that the conversation was taking place at “10,000 feet” and that the Republican was “feeling us out.”
The Democrats left the meeting knowing that they could provide the decisive votes, Shuler said, a role they are willing to play...

...It’s just not cutting spending. There are a number of limitations that passed on the floor of the House” that must be addressed, Boehner said. Those provisions have created a large hurdle for securing a final deal. Republican aides have said the provisions and the overall cost cutting are linked: The fewer that are attached to the bill, the bigger the cuts Republicans will seek...

...With 241 Republicans, GOP leaders can afford to lose 23 GOP votes before needing Democratic help. That’s why McCarthy reached out to leaders of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of centrist Democrats — such as Shuler — from conservative-leaning districts.

“John Boehner can’t get something done without us,” [Steny] Hoyer said Tuesday."

~~~~~ 

Cold Equations has a handy guide to countries in the Middle East and N. Africa.  So, if you're the brutal dictator of one of these countries, you can make better informed decisions about your policies.  

Country	Prior relations with the US	Nuclear weapons program	US treatment of country	Status of leader
Egypt	Allied	Not significant	Pressured ally to step down	Permanent vacation
Libya	Moderately warm lately, despite past difficulties	Abandoned under US pressure	Bombs away	Probably on his way out
Syria	Strained to hostile	Not a lot of info, probably has some program	Mild economic sanctions	Life is sweet
Iran	"America is the Great Satan"	Probably going to join the nuclear club soon	Ineffectual, intermittent saber-rattling	Happy as a clam
North Korea	Hostile	Has some nukes, ICBMs are in the works	Ineffectual sanctions, endless talks, unkind portrayal in 2004 movie "Team America: World Police"	You know what sucks about being Kim Il-Jong? Nothing.

~~~~~

Speaking of the "religion of peace"...


Two Christians killed, churches burned: extremists respond to Florida Koran burning - Asia News: 

"Two believers killed, churches attacked, copies of the Bible burned: the Christian community in Pakistan is once again the victim of violence by Islamic fundamentalists, who have targeted places of worship in the country. The extremist violence was triggered by the insane act - repeatedly condemned by Christians in Pakistan and India – of the pastor Wayne Sapp, who last March 20, in Florida burned a Koran under the supervision of the evangelical preacher Terry Jones."

Spero News reports:

 "Msgr. Anthony Rufin, Bishop of Islamabad / Rawalpindi, strongly condemns the latest attack on the Christian community of Pakistan and once again distances the church from the burning of the Koran in the United States. 'We have already explained – says the prelate - we are Pakistani Christians, not Americans. We have repeatedly reiterated that we should not be equated to the Americans. '

"The prelate calls to take urgent action and anticipates the intention to arrange a meeting with Christian leaders, from the Anglican Church and other Protestant denominations to examine the current situation 'of minorities. The young Pakistani Christians, in fact, do not see any reason for hope in the future."

~~~~~

Former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson is featured in the latest ad by the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List.  Facts about Planned Parenthood from the ad:

• Planned Parenthood is Americas largest abortion provider
• 98% of their services for pregnant women are abortions
• Planned Parenthood receives $360 million in taxpayer money every year

~~~~~

Also from the "this makes me sick" file, Chris Wallace interviewed Newt Gingrich on Sunday and questioned him about his apparent hypocrisy on moral issues.  Wallace noted that at the same time Gingrich was leading the charge for President Clinton's impeachment, Gingrich himself was cheating on his second wife with his current wife, Calista (Gingrich's first marriage also ended as a result of his infidelity).   Here is part of the exchange:

 WALLACE: There is something else that bothers people. You were leading the charge to push Bill Clinton from office for lying about an affair and yes, he lied in a court proceeding, in a deposition, where he was sworn to tell the truth, whole truth, nothing but the truth. At the same time, you were leading that charge, you were having an affair. Isn’t that hypocrisy?

GINGRICH: No. Look, obviously it’s complex and obviously I wasn’t doing things to be proud of. On the other hand, what I said clearly — and I knew this in part going through a divorce. I had been in depositions. I had been in situations where you had to swear to tell the truth. I understood that in a federal court, in a case in front of a federal judge, to commit a felony, which is what he did, perjury was a felony. The question I raised was simple: should a president of the united states be above the law? [...]

WALLACE: I’ll ask you man-to-man. did you think to yourself I’m living in a really glass house? Maybe I shouldn’t be throwing stones?

GINGRICH: No. I thought to myself if I cannot do what I have to do as a public leader, I would have resigned.

Well that explains it perfectly!!  Gingrich's experience in divorce court gave him the special knowledge and understanding that was essential in the impeachment process.  What would the nation have done without a cheater and philanderer at the helm in the House that year?  Watch the slimy interview for yourself if you can stand it:

~~~~~

Congressman West Proposes Defense Spending Cuts: 

"Congressman Allen West (FL-22) will introduce today three separate pieces of legislation to cut wasteful defense spending.  The legislation will be voted on by American citizens through the YouCut project.

“The Federal Government has a spending problem,” West said. “While the Democrats continue to propose to add trillions of dollars in new spending and new taxes, I am keeping my promise to my constituents to responsibly cut government spending in order to get the American Fiscal House back in order.   

As I have stated, all government programs must be thoroughly scrutinized, including the Department of Defense. After serving 22 years in the United States Army, I am aware of areas where saving money is very possible.  These cuts are aimed at wasteful Defense Department spending and will not affect the overall mission of our men and women in uniform in protecting our national security.”

West spoke to a group of bloggers at CPAC last month and when the former Army Lt. Col. was asked whether cuts in defense spending were on the table, he answered that there was definitely wasteful spending to be cut and said, "I know where the bodies are buried."  I believe him!


Here's a chart from the CATO Institute showing per capita defense spending for the U.S. and other NATO countries.  Let's hope West can get some of his proposed cuts through. 

~~~~~

Oh, Lebron!!  First, props to the Cavs for their 102-90 victory over the Miami Heat.

------------->>>(AARON JOSEFCZYK, REUTERS) <<<-------------

Also, props to my cousin for some great pics!!

LeBron James was missing from the player introductions (and the accompanying boos from Cavs fans).  He said he was "in the bathroom."  Uh huh. 

March 26, 2011

Rand Paul on Libyan rebels: Who are these people? - National Review Online

“Some people can debate and caterwaul and say that a no-fly zone is not war, but there will not be many people, in and around the country, who believe that putting U.S. troops on the ground is not war,” Paul says. “I can tell you, absolutely, that I will demand a declaration of war on the Senate floor before any troops set foot in Libya.”

Beyond his constitutional concerns, Paul argues that the Libyan conflict is being waged to support a mostly unknown rebel force. “The question is, who are these people?” he asks. “We know how bad the guy in power is, but do we know that these people are not in favor of radical sharia law? Do we know that they do not think that Israel should be wiped off the map? I am always concerned when we are in favor of people who we know nothing about.” George Will, Pat Buchanan, and Sen. Dick Lugar (R., Ind.), he says, have all raised this important point."

Top 10 names Obama didn't give Libyan action | Washington Examiner: (HT: Dan Phillips) 


10.Operation Nine Months In The Senate Didn't Prepare Me For This

9. Operation Organizing for Libya

8. Operation Double Standard

7. Operation FINE! I'll Do Something

6. Operation Enduring Narcissism

5. Operation So That's What the Red Button Does

4. Operation France Backed Me Into A Corner

3. Operation Start Without Me

2. Operation Unlike Bush Wars This One Is Justified Because Hey Look A Squirrel

1. Operation Aimless Fury


From the "religion of peace"....


 Thousands of Christians Displaced in Ethiopia After Muslim Extremists Torch Churches, Homes - FoxNews.com: 

"Thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes in Western Ethiopia after Muslim extremists set fire to roughly 50 churches and dozens of Christian homes.

At least one Christian has been killed, many more have been injured and anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 have been displaced in the attacks that began March 2 after a Christian in the community of Asendabo was accused of desecrating the Koran."

 FreedomWorks launches ‘Diverse Tea’ | The Daily Caller :

"Former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks organization rolled out its Diverse Tea campaign Monday at diverse-tea.com.

FreedomWorks President and CEO Matt Kibbe told The Daily Caller that the program is meant to showcase diversity in the Tea Party movement. The first four members of Diverse Tea highlighted are the Rev. C.L. Bryant, Deneen Borelli, Tito Munoz and Ryan Hecker."

This is an unnecessary distraction from Freedom Works' mission of fiscal responsibility.  The sooner we cease talking about racial divisions and obsessing about skin color, the sooner we will have a color-blind society.  Continuing to focus on it is just feeding the beast of the politics of race and giving fodder to the race baiters. 

Rep. Randy Forbes on our country's Judeo-Christian heritage.  ACLU types are running to their therapists to deal with the trauma of this 4-minute speech that mentions God dozens of times:

 Poll: Most in U.S., except evangelicals, see no divine sign in disasters - USATODAY.com: 

"Nearly six in 10 evangelicals believe God can use natural disasters to send messages — nearly twice the number of Catholics (31%) or mainline Protestants (34%). Evangelicals (53%) are also more than twice as likely as the one in five Catholics or mainline Protestants to believe God punishes nations for the sins of some citizens.

The poll found that a majority (56%) of Americans believe God is in control of the earth, but the idea of God employing Mother Nature to dispense judgment (38% of all Americans) or God punishing entire nations for the sins of a few (29%) has less support..

...Nearly half of Americans (44%) say the increased severity of recent natural disasters is evidence of biblical 'end times,' but a larger share (58%) believe it is evidence of climate change. The only religious group more likely to see natural disasters as evidence of 'end times' (67%) than climate change (52%) is white evangelicals...

The article includes this very wise insight:

...This is tragic, but if you ask (why God allows) earthquakes, you have to ask it anytime that people die. We would have to be prophets of God to know that.'

This is such a great point.  Often, when faced with a tragedy of the proportions we see in Japan, we fail to remember that (according to some estimates), 150,000 people die every single day - dwarfing the number killed in the tsunami in Japan.  So the question is not "Why did God send/allow/cause the earthquake?" but "Why do people die?"  The Bible tells us that it started with the first man, Adam: 

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).

This discussion brought to mind a couple of videos I saw last month (HT: Justin Taylor).  Zac Miller went home to be with the Lord in May, 2010 after a short battle with cancer. He made a video about his journey before he died. His wife followed up with a video of her own journey after his death:

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

A Story | Tears of Hope from Adam Kring on Vimeo.

And finally, the inspirational story of a one-legged wrestler who won the national championship:

March 17, 2011

Mandle Company - Candles for Men: 
Looking for a gift for the man in your life? This family-owned company in Michigan makes handmade "candles on testosterone." 

"No matter how strange it may be, every man has a favorite smell. So take a look around and chances are, we have what you’re looking for from football candles to down and dirty candles."

Scents include bacon, auto shop, grass, gunpowder, meat and potatoes, rawhide, and wood shop.  Don't see a scent you like?  You can suggest a stench! 


I saw the video below a while back and I'm pretty sure it's not associated with the Mandle Company.  But I wonder if this is where they got the idea?  

Now on to some more serious matters...

Chuck Schumer to John Boehner: Ditch Tea Party  
The Daily Caller

“Speaker Boehner wouldn’t have been able to pass this short-term measure without Democratic votes, and he won’t be able to pass a long-term one without Democratic votes either,” Schumer said in a statement. “It’s time for him to abandon the Tea Party, and forge a bipartisan compromise.”

"Fifty-four House Republicans, many of them Tea Party-backed freshman, voted against a stopgap measure Tuesday that would fund the government for three weeks while the parties negotiate a long-term deal. The proposal included $6 billion in cuts, but did not touch funding for the health care law and other programs that some in the caucus said needed to be included to get their approval.

"...Schumer said Monday that Boehner “should consider leaving the Tea Party behind” because they “are unwilling to accept anything short of the extreme cuts in the House budget, even if it risks a shutdown."

Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, explained his decision to vote against the three week Continuing Resolution:

“Americans sent us here to deal with big problems in bold ways.  We’re borrowing billions of dollars a day, yet Senate Democrats have done little more than wring their hands for the last month.  With the federal government facing record deficits and a mammoth debt hanging over our economy and our future, we must do more than cut spending in bite-sized pieces.

“Democrats control both the Senate and the White House, and it’s time they stopped dithering.  We need swift action to deal with spending for the rest of this year.  We need to stop sending taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood, and we need to defund ObamaCare.  And we need to start tackling next year’s budget, the debt-ceiling, and other challenges standing in the way of job creation.  We've made some solid first downs on spending.  Now it's time to look to the end zone.”

Freshman Congressman Marco Rubio was even more direct in a RedState editorial:

"All this has led to a very predictable outcome: Washington politicians of both parties scrambling to put together two and three week plans to keep funding the government, while not fundamentally changing the behavior that has gotten us into this mess to begin with. 

Running our government on the fumes of borrowed spending is unacceptable, short-sighted and dangerous. I commend the efforts of House and Senate Republican leaders to deal with this, but I did not come to the U.S. Senate to be part of some absurd political theatre. 

I will no longer support short-term budget plans. While attempts at new spending reductions are commendable, we simply can no longer afford to nickel-and-dime our way out of the dangerous debt America has amassed. It is time our leaders in Washington wake up and realize that we are headed for a debt disaster."

John McCain s daughter wants Romney—not Palin—for president
The Marietta Daily Journal

"'My personal favorite right now is Mitt Romney,' she said. 'I like that he's not so radical. I like that he has really, really played his cards right, almost perfectly since the last election.'"

 As if I needed another reason not to vote for Romney!  Miss Meghan has made herself semi-famous by bashing conservatives, including Sarah Palin, on Twitter and in her book, "Dirty, Sexy Politics," in which she tries to make the case that social conservatism is a political dinosaur that must be retired if the Republicans are ever to win anything again. 

"Criminal justice major Deanna Pucci, 20, of Woodstock, is also a fan. "I absolutely love her," Pucci said. "I'm not really that much into politics, and I follow her on Twitter a lot, but she's just so funny and down to earth, and I think she's a good role model for younger generations.'"

An endorsement by Ms. McCain, a social liberal, will do nothing to convince conservatives that Romney shares their values. But maybe he'll be able to rouse some of the uninformed, 20-something celebrity stalkers, who are notorious non-voters.

2 ex-top Oakland County Dems arraigned in tea party ballot flap
Detroit Free Press
Two top Democrats from Michigan were indicted for getting "fake' Tea Party candidates on the ballot last fall:

“A scheme was devised by a party leader in Lansing to put people on the ballot on the Tea Party ticket,” Bouchard said. “It may not be ethical, but it’s not illegal. But some folks were placed on the ballot without their knowledge and that’s the criminal side.”

The indictment alleges that the two tried to put two county commissioner candidates and a state  senate candidate on the ballot without their knowledge by forging signatures and notarized documents.  Ultimately, the plot was discovered and the Michigan Supreme Court blocked the candidates from appearing on the ballot.  If convicted on the forgery charges, they could face 14 years in prison.  Is anyone else shocked that it's not illegal to put people on the ballot using a fake party affiliation?  


Concerned With Muslims, Gay Activists Cancel Parade in England 
Greg Gutfeld, Big Hollywood

 "So over in England (a country), some gay activists want to cancel a gay pride parade because it will cause “community tension,” between gays and Muslims.The march was a response to anti-gay stickers placed around town, but some worry this event could hurt Muslim feelings. 

Here’s part of a letter from a group of concerned types, who claim the march will “oppress other marginalized groups.”

“We want both homophobia and Islamophobia addressed as a collective problem and not feed one against the other, we do not recognise these as distinct categories.

"So, let’s rewind: homophobia and Islamophobia are the same thing. 

Okay..I gotta ask: do you think they would also group homophobia and anti-Christian attacks as one and the same? Do they see crude jokes aimed at Mormons as no different than anti-gay jokes? 

No way. So why are they embracing Muslims as marginalized brethren – and not others? 

Well, for one, it’s HARDER to protest around people who “really” hate you.So better to stay out of Islam’s way, and target the gentler dissenters, like white pudgy Christians – the people who remind you of dad, and don’t want you dead.And so here we have fear, masked as tolerance, forcing gays into contortions even circus performers wouldn’t try. 

I mean, how can the gay left defend a religion whose practitioners want gays punished? They’re joining hands with folks who, in other more extreme lands, might cut off theirs..."

Baptist Press - In Japan: Baptists struggle to reach disaster zone:
I've read a lot of accounts of the disaster in Japan,  but for some reason, I have not seen many reports of what it's actually like in the midst of the worst hit areas.  Baptist Press shares the accounts of Baptist missionaries and relief workers:

 "Across the upper half of Japan, life is either in tatters or at a standstill. With some roads impassable and fuel almost nonexistent in the north, relief and rescue workers have struggled to reach the areas where they are needed most... 

"Some 70,000 people had already been evacuated from a 12-mile radius; about 140,000 remain in the new 30-mile warning zone, according to news reports. More than 500,000 people have been made homeless by the quake and tsunami. Many endured snow and freezing temperatures Wednesday, as government supplies began to reach the worst affected areas... 

"A four-member team from the Japan Baptist Convention and Japanese Baptist Union was forced to turn around when they tried to enter the disaster zone to check on the 21 churches affiliated with the two entities. Special government permits are needed to travel the expressway and to enter disaster zones. Another main route to the earthquake- and tsunami-affected areas goes through radiation evacuation zones. Back roads are open, but fuel is scarce so traveling long distances is almost impossible...

"We went for search and rescue, but quickly realized the Japanese government had that under control,' Frazier said. The government has deployed 100,000 troops to lead the aid effort. 'So, we drove around evaluating the damage and found an evacuation center... 

"Around 400 people had taken refuge in the center. Frazier said there was no electricity or gas in the area. When the Rescue 24 team arrived, the evacuation center was low on food... 

"All they had was a half of a box of bananas and a half of a box of oranges for 400 people,' Frazier said... 

"The Baptist team went from store to store, trying to find food to help. Frazier said the line just to get into the local 7-Eleven store numbered around 200. They finally came across a truck unloading groceries at the back of a store and convinced them to sell more than the 'rationing' amount so they could feed the 400 people... 

"'We stuffed our van with as much food as it would hold,' Frazier said.
"Survivors in the shelters in the earthquake and tsunami areas said they are short of food and water, according to news reports. The Japanese army is using helicopters to bring in basic supplies. With the country's power supply depleted by the damaged nuclear plants, many shelters have no heat. Frazier concurred that the ongoing nuclear crisis makes it hard to get much aid or relief work done at the moment."

Pray for the Japanese people and for aid workers and missionaries who are facing brutally cold temperatures on top of the other unthinkable circumstances in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. 

March 2, 2011

"The New SB5 *
Colleen Grady breaks down the new and improved SB5 on her State of Ohio Education blog.

"Today the Ohio Senate committee hearing the bill accepted an omnibus amendment to the beleaguered bill that substantially alters the provisions of the original legislation."  After sorting it all out for us, Colleen asks: "Is the bill moving in the right direction?" Stop by her blog and share your comments.  


*Update:  SB5 was voted out of committee today and is headed to the senate for a vote scheduled for this afternoon.  


*Update to the update:  The Ohio senate passed SB5 today by a vote of 17-16.

Tennessee bill would make following Sharia a felony 

The Blaze

"The Tennessee state legislature is considering making it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code known as Shariah, the most stringent measure yet aimed at limiting the expansion of the religious code in superseding civic law. The bill faces steep constitutional hurdles, but the measure’s proponents are confident it will become law."


Unborn babies to 'testify' in hearing on Ohio Heartbeat Bill
LifeSite News

"Two unborn babies will ‘testify’ to their humanity in a live ultrasound before an Ohio House committee that is considering a bill that would ban abortion as soon as an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detected.... An unborn child’s heartbeat is generally accepted as beating by 18-24 days after conception. The earliest first trimester abortions generally begin at 4 weeks into pregnancy (dated from the last menstrual period). Pro-life supporters of the measure say the two unborn babies, including one at nine weeks gestation, would become the youngest human beings ever to testify before the Health Committee.

Sarah Palin denounces Obama's DOMA decision

National Review

"I have always believed that marriage is between one man and one woman. Like the majority of Americans, I support the Defense of Marriage Act and find it appalling that the Obama administration decided not to defend this federal law which was enacted with broad bipartisan support and signed into law by a Democrat president. It’s appalling, but not surprising that the President has flip-flopped on yet another issue from his stated position as a candidate to a seemingly opposite position once he was elected."

Boxer says Republicans have a vendetta against Elmo

The Hill

"Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that House Republicans want to strip government funding of PBS because they have a "vendetta against Elmo."

Fred Thompson to lobby for TN trial lawyers

Sherri Clark for iVoters

"Attorney, legal consultant, author, orator, spokesman, US senator, movie star, and now lobbyist, Fred Thompson has accepted the Tennessee Association for Justice’s offer to enlist him in the fight against a tort reform initiative led by newly elected Governor Bill Haslam.  TAJ, formerly known as Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, is hoping that Mr. Thompson’s otherwise conservative positions and uncanny ability to debate/influence will be the secret weapon they need to battle against growing concerns among many Tennesseeans regarding abusive litigation."

Our conservative hero, Fred Thompson, going over to the dark side?

Another Afghan Christian faces execution

Denny Burk reprints a letter from this Christian brother and says, "I hope and pray that it will help to focus attention on Shoaib’s case. Intense international scrutiny led to the release of Said Musa last week. Let’s pray that the same might happen for brother Shoaib."

"My name is Shoaib Said Assadullah. I am 23 years old. For the last four months I have been imprisoned in Qasre Shahi prison, Mazar-e Sharif for the crime of apostasy, which means I’ve changed my beliefs. Not only has my freedom been taken from me, but I [am] undergoing severe psychological pressure. Several times I have been attacked physically and threatened to death by fellow prisoners, especially Taliban and anti government prisoners who are in jail.

My case is supposed to be sent to the court shortly, because the prosecutor has the right to hold a case only for 30 days. The court’s decision is most definitely going to be the death penalty for me, because the prosecutor has accused me under the Clause 139 of the [Afghan] criminal code which says, ‘If the crime is not cited in the criminal code, then the case has to be referred to the Islamic Shariah law.’

They're still enforcing Shariah law in Afghanistan????

Texas getting stood up by D.C. on border security

Town Hall - Elizabeth Meinecke

"Both Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Poe have made several past overtures to the White House and administration on the issue. Poe sent letters to the president and, following the deployment of only 1200 troops, introduced legislation, yet still feels the issue hasn't been fully addressed. Perry also made requests asking for 1,000 National Guard troops along the border. One request came in 2009, and another came after the National Guard troops deployed to Texas last summer as part of the 1200 totaled only 286.

Both said in separate interviews that they had no idea what else needs to happen to get the president to respond adequately to the issue. Meanwhile, terrorists are being smuggled across the southern border. Recently, a U.S. ICE agent was shot and killed by the drug cartels. Juarez, on the Mexican border, has had more civilians killed than Afghanistan had last year."

Rutgers to begin gender-neutral housing

CNN

"In the wake of the high-profile suicide of a gay Rutgers University student last fall, the New Jersey college will implement gender-neutral housing in an attempt to make the university more inclusive...In the aftermath of the Clementi tragedy, members of the university's LGBTQ community told the administration that gender-neutral housing would help create an even more inclusive environment. "

John Piper tweeted: "Responding to Tyler's tragic suicide with gender neutral dorms is like pushing others in after him."

19 Action News in Cleveland is conducting their Food Wars.  Up this week: CORNED BEEF!  Corky & Lenny's vs. Slyman's.  I've never had Corky and Lenny's but I am certain there is nothing better in the world than a Slyman's corned beef sandwich.  Vote here.   I found this short  video on Slyman's website that shows their American Dream. This is what happens when the free market and capitalism collide with hard-working immigrants....100 briskets a day!  When asked why he makes the sandwiches so big, the owner said, "To thank America for my freedom." Another reason to love the U.S.A.!


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...and now a little encouragement...I stumbled upon this blog when Ryan was looking for a church near Hillsdale College and have been blessed by it many times.  The following is a letter the blogger wrote to himself on his 58th birthday:

Be That Guy
Wally Metts
"And slow down so you can make time for others, especially young men who are trying to figure things out. Remember when your Dad died and you had no one to call? Now you are that guy....Learn to be more generous and more grateful. When you get to the end, people shouldn't be tired of you, mad at you, burdened by you or embarrassed by you. Go back to Psalm 112 again and again.

Be that guy too, the gracious, merciful, righteous, fearless, steady guy who fears the Lord and delights in his commands. You are not too old to learn."