What is bigotry? From Brutallyhonest.org

What is bigotry?

By way of Matteo, The Weight of Glory defines it for us:

Benedict Groeschel: You and I were talking and you told me an anecdote about when they took the crucifixes down from the classroom walls at Boston College. I think this anecdote is a little bit long, but I think our audience would be very interested to hear it.
Peter Kreeft: Well, I was teaching comparative religions, and during the long break, there was a Jewish student and a Muslim student in the front row. The Jewish student noticed a faint cross painted on the wall behind me, so he asked me, "Is that supposed to be a cross?"
I started to explain that that's where the crucifix used to be, and another student, a Catholic, said "Oh, we took the crucifixes down last year."
"Why did you do take them down?"
"Oh, well, we didn't want to offend people."
"When did you take them down?"
"Well, let's see. 1979."
"Aha," said the Jewish student. "It was the Bundy money."
No one understood that, so he explained that President Carter's secretary of state, McGeorge Bundy, had brokered a deal by which federal money could go to private schools if and only if those schools were not sectarian, divisive, discriminatory... something like that. And - by coincidence - all 21 Jesuit colleges took down their crucifixes from their classrooms in the year following that decision. So when he explained that to the students, the students were rather scandalized, and one said, "Oh, no, we wouldn't do that for money."
And he said, "Of course you wouldn't, but I hope you got more than thirty pieces of silver this time." Rather wicked... some of them were so biblically illiterate that he had to explain to them that Judas Iscariot was the first Catholic bishop to accept a government grant.
But then the student said, "No, we did that to be ecumenical."
And then the Muslim chimed in.
"What is ecumenical?"
So the student said, "Oh, ecumenical means we think we're all equal, and we didn't want to discriminate against others, and offend outsiders."
And the Muslim said, "You mean people like me, and my friend the Jew?"
"Well, yes."
"Well, I am highly insulted."
"Why?"
"Well, you're treating me like a bigot."
"No, we hate bigotry."
"Let me explain. Suppose you came to my country. You enrolled in a Muslim university. Now we don't have pictures or images; we think that's idolatry, but when you are in a Muslim university, you know you are in a Muslim university. Who would object to a Muslim symbol in a Muslim university, except a bigot? Now you expect me to be offended by a Catholic symbol - the crucifix - in a Catholic university, so you are treating me like a bigot."
Everyone was thinking.
He didn't stop. He said to the students, "How many of you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?"
And most of them raised their hand.
He said, "Well, we Muslims don't believe that; the Koran says that's blasphemy, that's ridiculous, but we have a great devotion to Jesus. We hardly ever mention his name without saying, 'Blessed be he' or 'Blessed be his name' and we think he's one of the greatest men who ever lived, and he is a great prophet, and we love him and his mother Mary. And if we had pictures of him, we would never take them down, not for any money in the world. In fact," he said, and he was now waxing eloquent, "what if some soldiers came into our classroom and said, 'We demand that you take down this offensive picture of the prophet Jesus'? Every good Muslim would go in front of that picture and say, 'You will take down this picture of our beloved prophet Jesus over our dead bodies. We would be glad to be martyrs for him.' So I think we are better Christians than you are."

You could hear a pin drop.

That, my blog brothers and sisters, is wisdom.
You would do well to pass it on.

Scientists say Christmas lights hurt the planet.

So now scientists are warning that Christmas lights are hurting our planet because of all the wasted power being used that has been produced by coal burning power facilities. 

Of course your electric car is still fine.  The electricity for it comes from the outlet on your wall.

New York's new Tax plan.

What a plan the New York governor and legislature has come up with.

An "iPod tax" that charges state and local sales tax for "digitally delivered entertainment services" - in other words, that new Beyonce song you download.

State sales tax at movie theaters, sporting events, taxis, buses, limousines and cable and satellite TV and radio.

Costlier driving with the repeal of the 8-cents-per-gallon sales tax cap on motor and diesel motor fuel, plus and increase in the auto rental tax.

Tuition increases at SUNY and CUNY, $620 and $600 a year respectively.

A 50 cent tax on cigars. The current tax is equal to 37% of the wholesale price, or 34 cents a cigar.

No more sales tax break on clothes and shoes worth $110 or less, except during two weeks a year.

Higher taxes on wine, beer and flavored malt beverages. He would also impose an 18% tax on non-nutritional drinks like soda.

The rich would pay more for luxury items through an additional 5% tax imposed on cars costing more than $60,000, aircraft costing more than $500,000, yachts costing at least $200,000 and jewelry and furs costing in excess of $20,000.

In addition, a host of a fees, including those related to motor vehicle licensing and registration, parks and auto insurance, would go up, as would various state-imposed fines.

Isn’t New Jersey just across the river from New York.  What keeps people from crossing the river to do their shopping?

Even with the cuts, the 2009-10 budget would increase a little more than 1%, the smallest hike since 1996-97.

Paterson said the state is facing a $51 billion shortfall over the next four years at a time when tax revenues are expected to drop 6.6% next year.

I would expect tax revenues to drop a little more.  But that is just my uneducated opinion.  I would be interested to see if New Jerseys revenues increase this next year.  We shall soon see.

If people could only understand.

If people could only understand a little bit of how our tax system works we would all be better off.  I first found this at brutallyhonest.org

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, ''I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.'
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20', declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right', exclaimed the fifth man.
'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he gotten times more than I!'
''That's true!!' shouted the seventh man.
'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The lesson continues... go now, learn, and pass on especially to your progressive friends though the caveat at the end applies in a big way:

For those who understand, no explanation is needed
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

Democrat Bail-out.

Mr Obama is carrying a 30 million dollar surplus after the campaign while many others are in debt.

I find it a bit amusing that we are electing officials to our government (especially in these economic times) who cannot balance their own budget, let alone our national budget.  I’m not a fan of campaign reform just because I believe in capitalism and freedom.  But just like everything else money corrupts and the true ideals are hidden away.  I also don’t like that our elected officials are living off donations, spending more than the donations they receive and expect someone to help them out. 

Mr. Obama hold on to your money.  It has been given to you by those who believe in you.  Just because others of your party can’t seem to manage their money does not mean they should get a bail-out as well. 

Are we going to become a Country of bail-outs or are will we go back to our roots of capitalism and freedom.  Survival of the fittest.  Let the weak die so the strong can continue to carry our great Country.

Maybe Mr. Obama should ask each of those asking for money to submit a detailed plan of how they are going to properly manage any new funds.  

Another Obama gimmick?

Mr.. Obama really has the feel good thing down pat.  So Obama wants to hear Americans idea of health care.  Does he really want to hear it or is it just another “hope and change” gimmick to make his base feel good while he continues on with more of the same. 

We shall soon see.

It didn’t work for John Kerry….

I didn’t work for John Kerry four years ago. 

"I'm fascinated by Rap and Hip-Hop" said Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry during an MTV Choose or Lose forum. Offering up a heavy dose of street credibility, Kerry defended gangsta rap, freedom of speech and the realities of street life.

"I'm fascinated by rap and by hip-hop. I think there's a lot of poetry in it. There's a lot of anger, a lot of social energy in it. And I think you'd better listen to it pretty carefully, 'cause it's important."

"I'm still listening because I know that it's a reflection of the street and it's a reflection of life, and I understand all that. I'm not for the government censoring or stepping in. But I don't think it's inappropriate occasionally to talk about what you think is a standard or what you think is a value that is worth trying to live up to."

So Jim Martin decided to try too.

The following video may help us understand why.

White & Nerdy Weird Al Yankovic
by cramchur

Posse Comitatus Act.

It is time to learn and be knowledgeable of our Constitution and the laws limiting the reach of government.  The Posse Comitatus Act was established for the cause of limiting executive power, and is possibly being undermined.  More to follow but be aware and school yourself.

In short.  If the Army, Navy, Marines, or Air Force has been deployed to help protect Americans, it only takes one bad president and supermajority congress to do something unthinkable.   

Hostages tortured? Nooo….!

If anyone truly questioned the type of cold blooded murderers we are fighting against, question no more.

"Bombay has a long history of terror. I have seen bodies of riot victims, gang war and previous terror attacks like bomb blasts. But this was entirely different. It was shocking and disturbing," a doctor said.

 

Asked specifically if he was talking of torture marks, he said: "It was apparent that most of the dead were tortured. What shocked me were the telltale signs showing clearly how the hostages were executed in cold blood," one doctor said.

The other doctor, who had also conducted the post-mortem of the victims, said: "Of all the bodies, the Israeli victims bore the maximum torture marks. It was clear that they were killed on the 26th itself. It was obvious that they were tied up and tortured before they were killed. It was so bad that I do not want to go over the details even in my head again," he said.

 

Where is all the outrage about this?  Why are we not hearing about how these innocent people were brutally tortured and murdered?  Of course we will probably never hear about it because we are the bad guys.

A senior National Security Guard officer, who had earlier explained the operation in detail to rediff.com, said the commandos went all out after they ascertained that there were no more hostages left. When asked if the commandos attempted to capture them alive at that stage, he replied: "Unko bachana kaun chahega (Who will want to save them)?"

At least these Indian commando’s took care of business.  They attacked with extreme prejudice.  The only way to deal with terrorists.

Synchronized Presidential Debate.

I know the election is over but here’s a fun little montage. 

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Chris Matthews “Who’s in charge?”

Are you kidding me?  “Who’s in charge right now?”  It seems the only people not sure are the ones who just can’t wait for Obama to be sworn in.  Of course the President is the President until January 20 no matter who it is.  Can you imagine in 4 years if Obama is elected out and the conservative media saying the same things.  The Obasms just continue to get stronger. 

When will it end…

My question is, when will all this spending end?  When is someone going to finally stand up and say enough is enough?  Is there no one out there in a position of leadership with the courage to speak out against all this spending?

So the Washington Post had the following article talking about how another stimulus package could cost as much as $700 billion over the next two years.

Facing an increasingly ominous economic outlook, President-elect Barack Obama and other Democrats are rapidly ratcheting up plans for a massive fiscal stimulus program that could total as much as $700 billion over the next two years.

Even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whose aides have in recent weeks balked at suggestions that Democrats might spend as much as $300 billion, conceded yesterday on "Face the Nation" that the price of a stimulus package is likely to be "in the several hundred billion dollar category."

In other articles even President Elect Obama says the crisis will get worse before it gets better. 

Of course it will.  With all the spending and borrowing, America will need a bail out.  This is when it gets scary because it will be at the mercy of which ever country will help us out.  Moving closer and closer to socialism will be the least of our concerns at that time. 

My solution.  Halt spending and get back to basics.  If we are to survive as a country, people will have to start making sacrifices.  We have been living high off the hog too long.  Too many are living in excess.  So either we can choose to cut back on our own or we can let the government continue doing what it is doing and soon they will control our spending for us.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

 

It’s not the governments job to make sure everyone stays in business.  It’s their job to provide for the common defense, insure domestic tranquility and PROMOTE general welfare.  It’s in our constitution, it is what we were founded on and it is through those same principles that we will continue to survive and prosper.

Enough is enough!

My horrible solution to the “Big Three” bail out.

So the hot topic the past couple of days has been whether or not to bail out the “Big Three”. But does there really need to be a bailout? I mean, if enough people are smart enough, and not care too much about their credit rating going down the drain, I have a solution.

First we need about 2 million people who have at least $25,000 available credit on their credit card. These people need to all go and buy a brand new car costing at a minimum of $25,000 dollars. This will be infusing the auto industry with over 50 billion dollars. Of course I forgot to mention they all need to be GM, Ford, or Chrysler cars. These people in turn could all default on their credit cards. This debt is unsecured so they will keep their cars, the government will help these credit companies because they can’t fail. Every one wins. People have new cars, The “Big Three” get money and don’t have to change the way they do business, the unions still continue to have way too much power, the credit companies continue to get money so another 2 million people can do the same thing. As long as we have printers and ink, we can keep printing money. Who cares if in a couple of years your Diet Pepsi will cost $10 due to inflation.

All this can be done without the need of congress to lift a finger and spend endless seconds writing up another bail out bill. Of course that won’t happen because they love having the control and only want more.

Veterans Day

Here are just a couple of the many songs and videos that are dedicated to our troops and veterans.  May we remember them in our prayers, especially for all who are forward deployed protecting us from those who wish to destroy our Freedom and our way of life.  May God be with them and their families through their sacrifice. 

In this election year people can say what they want about our President, George W. Bush.  He has been committed to keeping America safe and has given to those who serve everything possible they need to do the job.  America has even prospered in a time of war, or so we thought.  No one has been asked to give up anything.  Those who have volunteered, have done so knowing they may be giving up everything.  Why?

There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that may explain.

Alma 46:12-13  …In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children…and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land.

Amen.

Passing this along…

Found this at brutallyhonest.org. 

We shall soon see how everything turns out.