What do you get if you cross Timothy Leary with an Episcopalian?
This.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
A Handshake Still Means Something
My late Great Uncle was an old school West Texas oilman. And I remember him telling me that in that the old days, oil deals were done on a handshake. The follow-up paperwork was a formality. A handshake meant something back then in Texas.
I am a bit old school myself in that regard. To me, if I shake your hand, it means I acknowledge you as an honorable person . . . or at least give you the benefit of the doubt in that regard. I cannot recall ever withholding a handshake (except as a courtesy when I was sick and contagious). But I sure can imagine situations in which I would.
What brings up the subject of handshakes? Over the weekend, Rand Paul very publically refused to shake the hand of his opponent Jack Conway at a Kentucky debate for a U. S. Senate seat.
To which, I say, good for Dr. Paul! There is a time to stop pretending that certain men are honorable, when it is not right even to go through a common formality that furthers such pretense. And Conway has proven himself to be dishonorable with his desperate and bizarre attacks on Dr. Paul.
Paul’s refusal is courageous and risky as history shows. But sometimes withholding a handshake is just the right thing to do. Kudos to Dr. Paul for doing the right thing.
I am a bit old school myself in that regard. To me, if I shake your hand, it means I acknowledge you as an honorable person . . . or at least give you the benefit of the doubt in that regard. I cannot recall ever withholding a handshake (except as a courtesy when I was sick and contagious). But I sure can imagine situations in which I would.
What brings up the subject of handshakes? Over the weekend, Rand Paul very publically refused to shake the hand of his opponent Jack Conway at a Kentucky debate for a U. S. Senate seat.
To which, I say, good for Dr. Paul! There is a time to stop pretending that certain men are honorable, when it is not right even to go through a common formality that furthers such pretense. And Conway has proven himself to be dishonorable with his desperate and bizarre attacks on Dr. Paul.
Paul’s refusal is courageous and risky as history shows. But sometimes withholding a handshake is just the right thing to do. Kudos to Dr. Paul for doing the right thing.
First Things Rates Colleges
Over the weekend, I’ve come across so many blogable items, I do not know where to start. But I want to be sure to draw your attention to the November issue of First Things containing its ratings of American colleges.
Unlike most evaluations of colleges, First Things’ looks at a college’s moral, ideological, and religious atmosphere in addition to academics, including whether it is hostile or welcoming to orthodox Christians. And the descriptions are perceptive and even witty. Take, for example, their description of Carleton College as possessing a Leftish “ideological homogeneity greater than one finds in places where there are no local Bible churches to create the anxious thought that not everybody reads the New York Times.” Judging from what a friend who ministers at that campus tells me, that is right on target.
First Things does not presume to tell readers that colleges with low ratings on their moral and religious atmosphere are no-go areas. Instead it makes the wise observation that whereas the faith of some students thrives in a challenging and even hostile atmosphere, the faith of others is not so strong. Students and their families would do well to take that into consideration when choosing a college. The November issue is very helpful in that regard. I heartily recommend getting a copy, especially if someone in your household will be going to college in the near future.
Unlike most evaluations of colleges, First Things’ looks at a college’s moral, ideological, and religious atmosphere in addition to academics, including whether it is hostile or welcoming to orthodox Christians. And the descriptions are perceptive and even witty. Take, for example, their description of Carleton College as possessing a Leftish “ideological homogeneity greater than one finds in places where there are no local Bible churches to create the anxious thought that not everybody reads the New York Times.” Judging from what a friend who ministers at that campus tells me, that is right on target.
First Things does not presume to tell readers that colleges with low ratings on their moral and religious atmosphere are no-go areas. Instead it makes the wise observation that whereas the faith of some students thrives in a challenging and even hostile atmosphere, the faith of others is not so strong. Students and their families would do well to take that into consideration when choosing a college. The November issue is very helpful in that regard. I heartily recommend getting a copy, especially if someone in your household will be going to college in the near future.
Friday, October 15, 2010
BREAKING: Geert Wilders Not Guilty
Good news for free speech. Dutch MP Geert Wilders has been found not guilty on all counts relating to his film and statements on Islam.
The 2010 Election Year Summarized . . . in 30 seconds
This ad for Ken Buck just will not get out of my head. First, it is a really effective ad methinks.
Second – and this is a big reason it is effective – it summarizes the current political situation well . . . very well:
We protested when the government ran up trillions of dollars of debt. We sent e-mails when they nationalized health care. We asked them to get off the backs of small business so we could create jobs. We pleaded with our government to secure our border. And you know what? They heard us, and yet they ignored us. And folks, on Nov. 2, they will ignore us no more.
That just about covers it, in 30 seconds no less.
Second – and this is a big reason it is effective – it summarizes the current political situation well . . . very well:
We protested when the government ran up trillions of dollars of debt. We sent e-mails when they nationalized health care. We asked them to get off the backs of small business so we could create jobs. We pleaded with our government to secure our border. And you know what? They heard us, and yet they ignored us. And folks, on Nov. 2, they will ignore us no more.
That just about covers it, in 30 seconds no less.
Abomination of the Week
The Episcopal Church has its Star Trek Eucharist. Why not Star Trek vestments?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Democrats Disenfranchising Military . . . Again
Illinois has missed a federal deadline to get absentee ballots out to troops serving overseas. So here we go again: Democrats making it as difficult as they can for military to have their votes counted.
Perhaps, some of my more charitable readers think I am prejudging the situation, that these are honest administrative errors. To which I say, C’mon! This is Illinois!
And why does it seem only Democrats get in the way of our troops voting? We’ve seen this before, particularly when Democrats tried to disenfranchise troops in their efforts to steal Florida for Al Gore in 2000.
I know my history of Democrats stealing elections and disenfranchising the military. And I smell Demorats.
Perhaps, some of my more charitable readers think I am prejudging the situation, that these are honest administrative errors. To which I say, C’mon! This is Illinois!
And why does it seem only Democrats get in the way of our troops voting? We’ve seen this before, particularly when Democrats tried to disenfranchise troops in their efforts to steal Florida for Al Gore in 2000.
I know my history of Democrats stealing elections and disenfranchising the military. And I smell Demorats.
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