Is Islam a religion? Of course it is...
This article about a Tennessee judge who refused to halt construction of a mosque, tells about the lawyer for the plaintiffs arguing that Islam is not a religion... the rationale for that position is that they (Muslims) have a political agenda.
Have you seen Christians (right and left wing) today? Christianity is a freakin' political party.
Of course Islam is a religion. There are devout practitioners, there are lax practitioners, and there are those who practice it strictly for their own vested purposes. Sounds very, very much like Christianity today.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101117/ap_on_re_us/us_tennessee_mosque
Could American be more xenophobic, or have a more short-sighted and self-absorbed world view?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Bank of America Inept? ( A personal rant)
Boy I've been a Bank of America customer for just about a month and find their customer service horrible... The following is a note that I sent using their website communications.
---------------------------------------------
Several weeks ago, I opened a Bank of America checking account with a USAirways dividend miles debit card. At the time, the representative who opened the account said I didn't need to provide my USAirways Dividend account number, and that they would locate it by name and social security number. Now, there is no mention of my debit card or mileage on my USAirways Dividend miles account, or on my Bank of America on-line account info. THE ONLY REASON I switched from my existing bank, with all my accounts and my direct deposit was to take advantage of the USAirways miles on my debit card. Now, I've not received the reinstatement miles I should have gotten, I've not received the 1,000 bonus sign-up miles I should have received and I've spent thousands of dollars that have not added any miles.
I want someone to find out why my mileage isn't showing up, make sure that I get credited for my reinstated miles, my bonus sign-up miles and the amount I've spent on my Bank of America debit card since the account was opened, or I will close the account and recommend the same for all of my colleagues where I teach college and all of my professional associates, friends and family. I have already called Bank of America twice, have spoken with the representative at the local branch who opened the account, and still this matter remains unresolved. Please advise me who will be following up on this concern. This is a very, very poor beginning to my relationship with a new bank and your customer service has been very lax and unconcerned.
The account was opened at the Kettering Branch 10600 Campus Way South, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
I look forward to a quick response and resolution.
Thank you,
George W. Rizor, Jr.
---------------------------------------------
Several weeks ago, I opened a Bank of America checking account with a USAirways dividend miles debit card. At the time, the representative who opened the account said I didn't need to provide my USAirways Dividend account number, and that they would locate it by name and social security number. Now, there is no mention of my debit card or mileage on my USAirways Dividend miles account, or on my Bank of America on-line account info. THE ONLY REASON I switched from my existing bank, with all my accounts and my direct deposit was to take advantage of the USAirways miles on my debit card. Now, I've not received the reinstatement miles I should have gotten, I've not received the 1,000 bonus sign-up miles I should have received and I've spent thousands of dollars that have not added any miles.
I want someone to find out why my mileage isn't showing up, make sure that I get credited for my reinstated miles, my bonus sign-up miles and the amount I've spent on my Bank of America debit card since the account was opened, or I will close the account and recommend the same for all of my colleagues where I teach college and all of my professional associates, friends and family. I have already called Bank of America twice, have spoken with the representative at the local branch who opened the account, and still this matter remains unresolved. Please advise me who will be following up on this concern. This is a very, very poor beginning to my relationship with a new bank and your customer service has been very lax and unconcerned.
The account was opened at the Kettering Branch 10600 Campus Way South, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
I look forward to a quick response and resolution.
Thank you,
George W. Rizor, Jr.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
THREE THINGS YOUR CHURCH PASTOR WON’T TELL YOU
1. The content of the Bible was voted on, and of the eligible voters, there were fewer voting for it than not voting for it.
The Cardinals of the Council of Trent in 1546 voted on the contents of the Roman Catholic Bible (which closed the Catholic Canon and because pressure from Martin Luther was partly responsible for the vote, pretty much sealed the contents of the Protestant Bible). That vote, for the book that Christians call divinely inspired and the Word of God, passed with 24 Cardinals voting for it, 15 voting against it, AND 16 ABSTAINING. Yep – that’s right – more of the Cardinals either abstained or voted against than agreed to vote for the Bible contents we recognize today.
2. Most Protestant religious services are so similar that denominational differences don’t make a difference.
Most pastors won’t admit, but there is frequently more difference WITHIN the various churches of a denomination than there are ACROSS denominations. If you stumbled into most Protestant churches today, it would be impossible to distinguish from the service, which denomination’s church you’d entered. The same with fellowship and social activities… Churches within a single denomination are more likely to be incredibly different due to different geographic location and churches of different denominations are more likely to be incredibly similar to churches in the same geographic area. Major theological differences between denominations are more likely to be manifested at the highest adjudicatory levels and not so much in the actual houses of worship.
In fact, since Vatican II in the early 1960’s, the Roman Catholic church services have become more and more ecumenical and many devout Catholics have even complained about the similarity to traditional Protestant services.
3. Church attendance is segregated.
The old adage (thank you, Dr. King) is that, in America, the most segregated hour of the week is Sunday morning.
A 2008 “CNN Living” article, by John Blake said:
Only about 5 percent of the nation's churches are racially integrated, and half of them are in the process of becoming all-black or all-white, says Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-author of "United by Faith," a book that examines interracial churches in the United States.
DeYoung's numbers are backed by other scholars who've done similar research. They say integrated churches are rare because attending one is like tiptoeing through a racial minefield. Just like in society, racial tensions in the church can erupt over everything from sharing power to interracial dating.
Any good psychologist will tell you that the old adage, ‘Familiarty Breeds Contempt’ is wrong. We like to be with those who dress like us, behave like us, and think like us. It’s easier to give in to social convention than to be as radically inclusive as most religions would prescribe.
The Cardinals of the Council of Trent in 1546 voted on the contents of the Roman Catholic Bible (which closed the Catholic Canon and because pressure from Martin Luther was partly responsible for the vote, pretty much sealed the contents of the Protestant Bible). That vote, for the book that Christians call divinely inspired and the Word of God, passed with 24 Cardinals voting for it, 15 voting against it, AND 16 ABSTAINING. Yep – that’s right – more of the Cardinals either abstained or voted against than agreed to vote for the Bible contents we recognize today.
2. Most Protestant religious services are so similar that denominational differences don’t make a difference.
Most pastors won’t admit, but there is frequently more difference WITHIN the various churches of a denomination than there are ACROSS denominations. If you stumbled into most Protestant churches today, it would be impossible to distinguish from the service, which denomination’s church you’d entered. The same with fellowship and social activities… Churches within a single denomination are more likely to be incredibly different due to different geographic location and churches of different denominations are more likely to be incredibly similar to churches in the same geographic area. Major theological differences between denominations are more likely to be manifested at the highest adjudicatory levels and not so much in the actual houses of worship.
In fact, since Vatican II in the early 1960’s, the Roman Catholic church services have become more and more ecumenical and many devout Catholics have even complained about the similarity to traditional Protestant services.
3. Church attendance is segregated.
The old adage (thank you, Dr. King) is that, in America, the most segregated hour of the week is Sunday morning.
A 2008 “CNN Living” article, by John Blake said:
Only about 5 percent of the nation's churches are racially integrated, and half of them are in the process of becoming all-black or all-white, says Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-author of "United by Faith," a book that examines interracial churches in the United States.
DeYoung's numbers are backed by other scholars who've done similar research. They say integrated churches are rare because attending one is like tiptoeing through a racial minefield. Just like in society, racial tensions in the church can erupt over everything from sharing power to interracial dating.
Any good psychologist will tell you that the old adage, ‘Familiarty Breeds Contempt’ is wrong. We like to be with those who dress like us, behave like us, and think like us. It’s easier to give in to social convention than to be as radically inclusive as most religions would prescribe.
A Thoroughly Embarrassing Person - Konstantin Revvin
What can I say about Konstantin Revvin? He is an embarrassing human being. A person so thoroughly enmeshed in a corrupt mindset that he barely warrants the title human? Too rough? Imagine EVERYONE living by that morality or lack, and you'll see why I don't think it's a harsh enough indictment. Shame on him...
He's at 2:10 in the video.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/business-15749628/students-busted-for-cheating-22954742
He's at 2:10 in the video.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/business-15749628/students-busted-for-cheating-22954742
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The real upshot of the midterms...
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.The privileged remain privileged and the underprivileged remain underprivileged.
The powerful remain powerful and the powerless remain powerless.
The free remain free and the oppressed remain...
Well, you get the idea.
Come quickly, Lord, hasten your day, because we sure as hell can't count on the rational behavior of the American people to deliver us from indecency.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Uh huh... sure.
In a revelation in the book that former President Bush has written, which will be released next week, President Bush says that he considered dropping Dick Cheney as his Vice-President...
But then Cheney chided Bush for using his private number, which Cheney says Bush should have remembered was only for 'really important stuff.' The matter was dropped and never revisited in any way, shape or form.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101102/pl_yblog_upshot/in-new-book-bush-admits-he-considered-replacing-cheney
But then Cheney chided Bush for using his private number, which Cheney says Bush should have remembered was only for 'really important stuff.' The matter was dropped and never revisited in any way, shape or form.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101102/pl_yblog_upshot/in-new-book-bush-admits-he-considered-replacing-cheney
Monday, November 1, 2010
A FALSE DICHOTOMY
During the Bush administration, we heard frequently that if you weren't a supporter of the war in Iraq, then you didn't love your country. Bull. That's a false dichotomy, that you either are for the war or you hate the country. Back the war, or you're un-American. I love my country, but it is my country by accident of birth. I served my country as part of its military during a time of war and I wish my country and its inhabitants well. But the war was a costly and moral mistake and it was wrong.
It was a FALSE dichotomy, that you had to be one, and if not, you were, by default, the other.
Similarly today, there are many - mostly on the right - who are saying that if you don't agree with their thinking, you're divisive. You're tearing the country apart and - surprise - you're not patriotic... you're un-American. Only if you 'go along' are you a true American. Well (see the first paragraph), bull. There are moral rights and wrongs and there are better or worse moral decisions and positions in the current political climate and the coming election.
Voting against Democrats because you're unwilling to give them or the President enough time is wrong. Voting for those who oppress the poor, uphold and foster the rich, and disregard civil rights for anyone is wrong. Voting for those whose knee-jerk response to immigration issues is: "I've got mine, don't let anyone else in." is wrong. Unless and until we begin to admit that there are political and societal issues that are wrong, not just partisan but wrong, we're never going to begin to address the quagmire of very real problems facing out nation.
In general, I'm going to stand by my position and my perceptions and say that Democratic values are more generous, decent, caring, egalitarian and worthy than are Republican values. I find Republican values suspiciously self-serving and class-based.
This is not a blanket condemnation of all Republicans, but the preponderance of issues and evidence related to those issues convinces me that voting Democratic is the more decent and caring American thing to do. And it's not divisive or un-American to point out real differences between the two factions vying for our votes tomorrow.
Please be responsible.
Please vote.
Please give that vote a lot of thought.
It was a FALSE dichotomy, that you had to be one, and if not, you were, by default, the other.
Similarly today, there are many - mostly on the right - who are saying that if you don't agree with their thinking, you're divisive. You're tearing the country apart and - surprise - you're not patriotic... you're un-American. Only if you 'go along' are you a true American. Well (see the first paragraph), bull. There are moral rights and wrongs and there are better or worse moral decisions and positions in the current political climate and the coming election.
Voting against Democrats because you're unwilling to give them or the President enough time is wrong. Voting for those who oppress the poor, uphold and foster the rich, and disregard civil rights for anyone is wrong. Voting for those whose knee-jerk response to immigration issues is: "I've got mine, don't let anyone else in." is wrong. Unless and until we begin to admit that there are political and societal issues that are wrong, not just partisan but wrong, we're never going to begin to address the quagmire of very real problems facing out nation.
In general, I'm going to stand by my position and my perceptions and say that Democratic values are more generous, decent, caring, egalitarian and worthy than are Republican values. I find Republican values suspiciously self-serving and class-based.
This is not a blanket condemnation of all Republicans, but the preponderance of issues and evidence related to those issues convinces me that voting Democratic is the more decent and caring American thing to do. And it's not divisive or un-American to point out real differences between the two factions vying for our votes tomorrow.
Please be responsible.
Please vote.
Please give that vote a lot of thought.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
VOTE WISELY; PART 2
I fear for where our country might go, when we forget where we've been.
THESE PEOPLE WILL VOTE - please don't let them carry the election.
http://act.presente.org/cms/thanks/gotv_video?action_id=2343499&akid=238.110920.jGAl0Y&rd=1&taf=1
THESE PEOPLE WILL VOTE - please don't let them carry the election.
http://act.presente.org/cms/thanks/gotv_video?action_id=2343499&akid=238.110920.jGAl0Y&rd=1&taf=1
Thursday, October 21, 2010
VOTE WISELY
[taken verbatim from one of the listservs to which I belong]:
-----------------------------------------
While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.
They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven.."
So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell..
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.
"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil smiles at him and says,
"Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, you voted.."
Vote wisely
-----------------------------------------
While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.
They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven.."
So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell..
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.
"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil smiles at him and says,
"Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, you voted.."
Vote wisely
Friday, October 15, 2010
CATCH-22
Joseph Heller couldn't write this stuff... Catch-22's wildest and most vividly lunatic moments aren't any more insane than our government and our society's homophobia and public wrestling with discrimination and bias.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101015/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_gays_in_military
Congress passes Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It survives a Republican administration. We elect a President who promises to end it. The court issues an injunction ending it. That President's administration files a motion to stay the injunction and reinstate DADT. Then the Pentagon says it's going to comply with the injunction and end DADT, but issues a memo telling gays not to share their sexual orientation, because who knows what will happen if the injunction is halted.
So, it's essentially the end of DADT, but back into the closet.
Joseph Heller couldn't write this stuff...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101015/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_gays_in_military
Congress passes Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It survives a Republican administration. We elect a President who promises to end it. The court issues an injunction ending it. That President's administration files a motion to stay the injunction and reinstate DADT. Then the Pentagon says it's going to comply with the injunction and end DADT, but issues a memo telling gays not to share their sexual orientation, because who knows what will happen if the injunction is halted.
So, it's essentially the end of DADT, but back into the closet.
Joseph Heller couldn't write this stuff...
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