By Their Creator...
I felt a lingering sadness over the hanging of Saddam Hussein at the end of last year. It is not difficult to understand the sentence, and it was based on only a fraction of the actions he committed against humanity. The Wall Street Journal put forth a reasoned argument for execution and others rightfully pointed out that any nation responsible for his detention would become a target of terrorism. Ultimately the people of Iraq through their justice system decided his fate, and allows us all to rest easier that justice was done. Common practice dictates that those who violate the rights of others have their own rights taken away.
The Popes opposition to the execution recognizes a higher reality, that our founding fathers themselves submitted to, that human rights are given by God to all men and are inalienable. If we truly practice our belief in God can we ever justify the killing of others? The taking of an other's life is in a sense to claim an authority equal to that of God and carries an immense responsibility. It demands that those who were victimized accept the sentence as recompense for the violations against them and permit the loved ones of the accused to grieve. It demands that the loved ones of the accused accept that grave sins had been committed and not hold a grievance against others for the execution. Saddam's letter stated a realization that goodness exists on the side of his enemy. It is this ability to see beyond the man-made barriers we build between ourselves that enables us to recognize the inherent equality bestowed upon all men by God as our founding fathers did.
Islam had another chance to show its merits before the world, if not by showing clemency for Saddam, then by carrying out the execution with dignity followed by an appropriate response by all. The ensuing illicit execution video was not only a poor reflection on Islam in the Middle East but on all those who took delight in its images. The timely investigation and arrests of the perpetrators spoke well of Iraq's fledgling democracy.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
For Crying Out Loud
The students of the University of Wisconsin Madison are paying "Sex Out Loud" $90,000 a year in student fees to give workshops on sexual pleasure. This includes how to use sex toys and play out fantasies. The organization began some ten years ago to inform students of the dangers of HIV and other STD's. The group claims to include abstinence and 'other' safe sex practices in its education. How teaching perversion is safe sex or healthy escapes me. It must go hand and hand with one of the other major vices of college life; binge drinking, especially the safe part. The rise in prominence of sex columnist in campus newspapers, and other programs such as these, work to erode the family unit and portray ones partner only as an object to serve one's own sexual desires. I would think that women would find this especially vile.
Unfortunately the only models of sexual life for our young people are the likes of Madonna, Paris Hilton and Bill Clinton. Perhaps parents need to be more vocal in their own homes during the raising of their children rather than keeping sex a mystery. Yes you young college men and women, your parents do have sex. A lot of sex, and they find it very pleasurable. We are a far cry from the days of one room homes.
Unfortunately the only models of sexual life for our young people are the likes of Madonna, Paris Hilton and Bill Clinton. Perhaps parents need to be more vocal in their own homes during the raising of their children rather than keeping sex a mystery. Yes you young college men and women, your parents do have sex. A lot of sex, and they find it very pleasurable. We are a far cry from the days of one room homes.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Let Them Eat Cake!
Cake, referring to the build up of soot and creosote cleaned from chimneys.
And this is just what the democrats and other anti-war forces, including the mainstream media, have said to the Iraqi people. The constant barrage of demanding timetables, claiming civil war, that we are losing and should pull out, all for political gain, are influencing policy. To pullout of Iraq is to send Iraq and the surrounding area into turmoil, causing untold death and suffering. To stay the course, new or otherwise, is to suffer more casualties but overall save more lives and bring stability to the region and world. Like Vietnam, the left is tempting us to think of our own short term interests over the interests of the Iraqi people or the long term interests of the Unite States or the world.
Whether the announcement of Iraq's readiness to take control over its security by June was in response to the lefts accusations or not, does not make it necessarily bad. The pressure I'm sure drove Iraq to act more quickly than otherwise and can relieve our burden.
But what happens next? The news media announces that we can now pull out of Iraq, while the Bush administration states our troops will be pulled back to bases in Iraq. This is where our politicians and media need to break their alliance with Islamo-fascists. To continue to call for withdrawal will bring an end to hostility as a strategy by the terrorist to get our troops out. And as soon as we leave a relentless attack will ensue against the new government. To commit to the well being of the Iraqi people, we need to support our troops and their mission and not call for withdrawal.
And this is just what the democrats and other anti-war forces, including the mainstream media, have said to the Iraqi people. The constant barrage of demanding timetables, claiming civil war, that we are losing and should pull out, all for political gain, are influencing policy. To pullout of Iraq is to send Iraq and the surrounding area into turmoil, causing untold death and suffering. To stay the course, new or otherwise, is to suffer more casualties but overall save more lives and bring stability to the region and world. Like Vietnam, the left is tempting us to think of our own short term interests over the interests of the Iraqi people or the long term interests of the Unite States or the world.
Whether the announcement of Iraq's readiness to take control over its security by June was in response to the lefts accusations or not, does not make it necessarily bad. The pressure I'm sure drove Iraq to act more quickly than otherwise and can relieve our burden.
But what happens next? The news media announces that we can now pull out of Iraq, while the Bush administration states our troops will be pulled back to bases in Iraq. This is where our politicians and media need to break their alliance with Islamo-fascists. To continue to call for withdrawal will bring an end to hostility as a strategy by the terrorist to get our troops out. And as soon as we leave a relentless attack will ensue against the new government. To commit to the well being of the Iraqi people, we need to support our troops and their mission and not call for withdrawal.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Good Government
Reading that the government of Tanzania will fire regional administrative officials if they can't stop a cholera outbreak, I wish our own government would act as harshly to unethical or incompetent behavior by government employees. Uganda is another example of government's influence on the lives of its citizens, finding more freedom and prosperity after deposing Idi Amin Dada; it has become a leader in Africa in its fight against AIDS. Africa has abundant natural resources, a very diverse population, and political influences from Europe, China and the United States among others. A call for good government has gone out across Africa as a solution to its dilemmas and world image. So what makes good government?
Traditional monogamous families.
In the western world, not only Judaism, but also the Greeks and Romans were predominantly monogamous societies (though far from perfect). Of the Greek states, Sparta was the strongest proponent of monogamy and boasts the title of over a 1000-year reign. Sparta was the only Greek State to educate their women. Moreover, they were said to be the best in the world at fighting as a group, being the only Greeks disciplined enough to take a phalanx, a mass of intertwined men and armor moving at a slow trot, and pivot a wing to out flank the enemy. Modified by Alexander the Great's father such tactics developed into the Roman legion. Along with their abilities of conquest they also focused on incorporating the peoples of the lands they invaded. Both the Greeks and the Romans excelled in public works including theaters, roads, aqueducts and public baths.
Judeo-Christian ethics, Greek drama and philosophy and Roman law hold powerful influences on our society today. When the Romans came upon the Germanic tribes they marveled at how well they treated their women and Western Europe, and in turn the United States, have been leaders in concepts of liberty and social justice (in both Christian and materialist veins). All this from societies that honored traditional monogamous families and even more so from those who respected women to the greater degree.
The threat of terrorism, poverty, corruption, AIDS or war and genocide are predominantly coming from cultures that practice polygamy and/or hold women in low regard. The fact that AIDS itself, transmitted almost exclusively through intercourse, has swept the world in apparently only 40 years, illustrates the plight facing our society; the assault on the family unit. Uganda, as part of its successful war against AIDS, has promoted abstinence until marriage and upholds a model in its royal family. The discipline, compassion, insight and relationship skills learned from the traditional family unit are essential in working toward good government and creating a prosperous society for all. Whether Africa can prosper in its advantageous situation and set an example to the rest of the world depends on its ability to promote the traditional family unit. Something that has been lacking in many, but not all, parts of the continent.
Protecting the sanctity of the family unit and women's rights are the real battlegrounds for peace in our modern era, whether Islamo-fascist terrorism, genocide or AIDS.
A History of Marriage
Traditional monogamous families.
In the western world, not only Judaism, but also the Greeks and Romans were predominantly monogamous societies (though far from perfect). Of the Greek states, Sparta was the strongest proponent of monogamy and boasts the title of over a 1000-year reign. Sparta was the only Greek State to educate their women. Moreover, they were said to be the best in the world at fighting as a group, being the only Greeks disciplined enough to take a phalanx, a mass of intertwined men and armor moving at a slow trot, and pivot a wing to out flank the enemy. Modified by Alexander the Great's father such tactics developed into the Roman legion. Along with their abilities of conquest they also focused on incorporating the peoples of the lands they invaded. Both the Greeks and the Romans excelled in public works including theaters, roads, aqueducts and public baths.
Judeo-Christian ethics, Greek drama and philosophy and Roman law hold powerful influences on our society today. When the Romans came upon the Germanic tribes they marveled at how well they treated their women and Western Europe, and in turn the United States, have been leaders in concepts of liberty and social justice (in both Christian and materialist veins). All this from societies that honored traditional monogamous families and even more so from those who respected women to the greater degree.
The threat of terrorism, poverty, corruption, AIDS or war and genocide are predominantly coming from cultures that practice polygamy and/or hold women in low regard. The fact that AIDS itself, transmitted almost exclusively through intercourse, has swept the world in apparently only 40 years, illustrates the plight facing our society; the assault on the family unit. Uganda, as part of its successful war against AIDS, has promoted abstinence until marriage and upholds a model in its royal family. The discipline, compassion, insight and relationship skills learned from the traditional family unit are essential in working toward good government and creating a prosperous society for all. Whether Africa can prosper in its advantageous situation and set an example to the rest of the world depends on its ability to promote the traditional family unit. Something that has been lacking in many, but not all, parts of the continent.
Protecting the sanctity of the family unit and women's rights are the real battlegrounds for peace in our modern era, whether Islamo-fascist terrorism, genocide or AIDS.
A History of Marriage
Monday, November 20, 2006
What about God?
As the Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches, all related to the Anglican Church, openly embrace homosexual clergy, dividing its congregations, the Anglican Church itself is promoting euthanasia. Now political groups in Norway want to enforce quotas on its national church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, for homosexual clergy. As we debate the validity of peoples sexual orientation, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings or deny them their (God given) human rights, and the sanctity of life under the guise of being fair has anyone asked; What about God? How does God feel? Was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ fair? The laws and practices of religion, namely Christianity, are relentlessly scrutinized and dissected by a humanistic politically correct dogma. In this process has anyone stopped to consider God as a living being, with desires, feelings and rights Himself?
May I humbly suggest the founding fathers of our great nation did just that. That the power and wisdom behind the First Amendment, the establishment clause, was not based on political realities but on an advanced knowledge of the living God. Seeing beyond their religious differences and facing common struggles, they recognized the living God present in all men and sought not to allow humanistic powers to corrupt or restrain this spirit of freedom whose origin was not in question. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;".
As we face a new age of globalization, and the reality of man's immense power over life and the creation, allowing us to reach to the ends of the universe, a deeper understanding of the living God needs to be applied. Humankind needs to recognize their own inherent power, given by God, comes with great responsibility, and to take this responsibility away, is to deny humankind its dignity; their position as His children. Is it fair to blame God for our self made quagmire? God's council has been far from unjust and within His rights as our Father. Whether it is abstinence education, which works and is highly beneficial to communities and society, or working to curing people of their the homosexual tendencies, it is time to acknowledge God and the blessings He has bestowed upon man. Not just to humble ourselves to His ways, but to understand that He suffers with us and has never desired evil or unhappiness for any of His children, which includes all humankind. After a century of seeing godless materialism destroy the lives of the people under its control and ultimately fail, it is time to acknowledge God's feelings and rights, and humankind's unseen ties to His blessings and ideals for our lives. He has only given us the world and the universe in which it rests.
Happy Thanksgiving.
May I humbly suggest the founding fathers of our great nation did just that. That the power and wisdom behind the First Amendment, the establishment clause, was not based on political realities but on an advanced knowledge of the living God. Seeing beyond their religious differences and facing common struggles, they recognized the living God present in all men and sought not to allow humanistic powers to corrupt or restrain this spirit of freedom whose origin was not in question. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;".
As we face a new age of globalization, and the reality of man's immense power over life and the creation, allowing us to reach to the ends of the universe, a deeper understanding of the living God needs to be applied. Humankind needs to recognize their own inherent power, given by God, comes with great responsibility, and to take this responsibility away, is to deny humankind its dignity; their position as His children. Is it fair to blame God for our self made quagmire? God's council has been far from unjust and within His rights as our Father. Whether it is abstinence education, which works and is highly beneficial to communities and society, or working to curing people of their the homosexual tendencies, it is time to acknowledge God and the blessings He has bestowed upon man. Not just to humble ourselves to His ways, but to understand that He suffers with us and has never desired evil or unhappiness for any of His children, which includes all humankind. After a century of seeing godless materialism destroy the lives of the people under its control and ultimately fail, it is time to acknowledge God's feelings and rights, and humankind's unseen ties to His blessings and ideals for our lives. He has only given us the world and the universe in which it rests.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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