What’s news today folks?
Open thread, you decide.
Here are 3 related pieces for your consideration.
The first, from TheWallSt.Journal
“At the height of the Nazi Holocaust, the wretched human cargo spilling out of cattle cars onto the platforms of Auschwitz was immediately subject to a brutal selektion by the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele, whose flick of a finger to the left meant immediate death in a gas chamber; to the right, slave labor and slow death from starvation or disease.
Fast forward to 2012 Nigeria, where a latter-day incarnation of selektion has been used—this time not against Jews, but against Christians.”
“Today, Islamist extremists’ rage has the power to transform small, local conflicts into infernos that can snuff out lives thousands of miles away. Threatened targets of religious hatred today include Hindus, Sunnis, Shiites, Bahais and Jews, but the most widely menaced are Christians. A Pew Forum study last year found that Christians are persecuted—by independent groups or governments—in 131 of the 193 countries in the world.”
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The second, from TheTelegraph
“The study warns that Christians suffer greater hostility across the world than any other religious group.
And it claims politicians have been “blind” to the extent of violence faced by Christians in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The most common threat to Christians abroad is militant Islam, it says, claiming that oppression in Muslim countries is often ignored because of a fear that criticism will be seen as “racism”.”
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And the third, from TheLongWarJournal
“Boko Haram launches attacks across northern Nigeria, 25 dead”
“Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least six Christians and burned down a church in the northern Nigerian state of Yobe late on Christmas Eve, according to Nigerian army and local officials. The attack against the Church of Christ in Nations occurred in Peri village near the economic hub of Potiskum. The attackers killed a pastor and at least five worshipers during Christmas Eve services.
“A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church… they opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshipers. They then set fire to the church,” Usman Mansir, a resident of the village, told Nigeria’s PM News. Residents also claimed that the gunmen set fire to several homes surrounding the church, adding that many residents who lived near the church had fled during the attack and were still in hiding.
A separate attack against worshipers at the First Baptist Church in Maiduguri, Borno state, killed a deacon and five church members, according to CNN. Borno state has a predominately Muslim population, and Boko Haram considers Borno its defacto headquarters, according to the BBC.”
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In many cases the world ignores this. In others, the US and it’s allies have enabled and assisted the extremists to seize power. This is a direct result of that support in many places, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Libya to name the obvious ones. I have very little faith that the present leadership of this country will do anything to stop this. I fear the embracing of extremists will only continue.
Wandering Views 
The worst pollution I have seen in my 55 years is those windmills ruining our views of West Texas. It was all caused by the tree huggers and the federal government.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324481204578179373031924936.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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The persecution of Christians has gone on since Jesus ascended. We in the US have been blessed so far in not experiencing it. It is only a matter of time.
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Ricky,
On the surface, using wind would seem like a good idea, yeah? But when the government steps in, it nearly always seems to make a good idea BAD. Even worse than the visual pollution are the economic consequences. The wind power companies that benefit from these government subsidies, can PAY power utilities for the power produced by their wind turbines and STILL make money… What a stupid system. And we’re on the hook for this foolishness.
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I’m late in making this comment, but it’s been on my mind, so I’m going to share it anyway. 🙂
Back before Thanksgiving, & then again shortly before Christmas, there were stories of employees upset because their companies (retail or restaurants) would be open on those holidays. Some of the responses here were that they should pretty much keep quiet & be happy to have a job.
As a fellow Christian & conservative, I understand that point. And I’m not big on employees threatening strikes to force their employers to do what they want.
What has been running through my mind, though, is that we call ourselves “pro-family” & we espouse “family values”. Thanksgiving & Christmas are federal holidays, intended as a time of family celebration. If we take a “Just be happy you have a job” attitude, aren’t we negating our own words about the importance of family?
Now, beyond not patronizing stores & restaurants on those days, I don’t know what we can do to support those employees. And I realize there are some people who must work due to the nature of their jobs (hospital workers, police, etc.)
I guess I’m merely saying let’s show some compassion, please.
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I read over the weekend that the Lord Obama is sending in troops into Afirican Nations to advise them how to fight terriost…
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Karen, I hear you. Retail work can be grueling at holidays. Finding and keeping a permanent job is also tough in this economy. The people who sacrifice their personal preference to support their families are to be commended and encouraged, not denigrated.
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