What’s interesting out there today?
We can start with Pres. Obama’s Mid East trip.
From Politico
“On his stops in the Holy Land Thursday, President Barack Obama turned again and again to a subject not obviously connected to the current troubles in the mideast: the struggles of African Americans in the United States.
One of the parallels the president drew—comparing the plight of Palestinians to that of blacks in the U.S.—has drawn criticism in the past when he raised it in this region.”
“Obama’s comments—which invoked life under Jim Crow in the U.S. or perhaps even under slavery—seemed to give support to Palestinian narratives that describe Arabs and Palestinians as second-class citizens in Israel. That line of criticism deeply angers many Israelis. Some critics of Israel go so far as to use the word apartheid, a word that angers Israelis further.
But at stops in Jerusalem later on Thursday, Obama invoked the history of African-Americans in the U.S. in ways far more pleasing to Israelis and Jews generally.”
The race card? How original. 🙄
Also note his habit of just saying whatever he thinks his audience wants to hear. Always in campaign mode.
While he fiddles, others point out the obvious. From USAToday
“President Obama’s first journey to Israel as president comes amid earth-shattering change in Middle East, much of it for the worse. The Arab Spring, which once raised hopes of freedom and dignity, has diverged onto the dark path of Islamist authoritarian rule. In Syria, tens of thousands of people have died in a bitter civil war that might have recently seen its first use of chemical weapons. And Iran continues its march toward nuclear weapons capability, heedless of international condemnation. Obama’s effort to seek peace between Palestinians and Israelis is in tatters.
That’s why the White House has been lowering expectations for Obama’s trip to Israel all this week. He will announce no new peace plan, grand design or major foreign policy initiative. His advisers are calling the trip a “listening tour.” That is what you call a state visit when you have little to say.
Despite downgrading the trip, many see Obama’s arrival as the sequel to his 2009 visit to Cairo, where he announced a “new beginning” with the Muslim world. Four years later, that doesn’t auger well for renewed efforts in Israel and the West Bank. According to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project, confidence in Obama in Muslim countries dropped from 33% to 24% in his first term. Approval of Obama’s policies declined even further, from 34% to 15%. And support for the United States in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Pakistan is lower today than it was in 2008 in the closing year of George W. Bush’s administration. That collapse of support has not happened elsewhere.”
Ouch. Lower than Bush. That’s gotta sting his ego a bit. So much for soft-power huh? Doesn’t seem to be working real well. Then again, it’s probably Bush’s fault. Most things are.
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This bothers me. Sure it’s limited now, but you know it’s ever expanding.
From NBCNews
“The U.S. government is expanding a cybersecurity program that scans Internet traffic headed into and out of defense contractors to include far more of the country’s private, civilian-run infrastructure.
As a result, more private sector employees than ever before, including those at big banks, utilities and key transportation companies, will have their emails and Web surfing scanned as a precaution against cyber attacks.
Under last month’s White House executive order on cybersecurity , the scans will be driven by classified information provided by U.S. intelligence agencies — including data from the National Security Agency (NSA) — on new or especially serious espionage threats and other hacking attempts. U.S. spy chiefs said on March 12 that cyber attacks have supplanted terrorism as the top threat to the country.
The Department of Homeland Security will gather the secret data and pass it to a small group of telecommunication companies and cyber security providers that have employees holding security clearances, government and industry officials said. Those companies will then offer to process email and other Internet transmissions for critical infrastructure customers that choose to participate in the program.”
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Looks like some officials are standing up to the promotion of sex on a college campus in their state. I’ll skip the details, but yeah, I’d have to agree. IMHO I don’t see much of educational value in it.
CONTENT WARNING!
From TownHall
“A group of Tennessee lawmakers is preparing to issue an ultimatum to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville – either defund the first-ever “Sex Week” or they will defund the university.”
“This is truly an offense to the people of Tennessee,” State Rep. Susan Lynn said on the House floor. “I am offended for the people of my district at the University of Tennessee having sex week.”
A university spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that the nearly $20,000 event is being funded by student fees and university money.”
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Gee, do you think the promotion of stuff like the above in our learning centers has anything to do with this? I can’t help but think that promoting an “if it feels good do it” mentality leads to stuff like this, not to mention more abortions.
From CNSNews
“Calling it “The Great Crossover,” a report by academics and social activists shows that for the first time in history the median age of American women having babies is lower than the median age of marriage – 25.7 and 26.5, respectively.
These “dramatic changes in childbearing,” the report states, results in dramatic statistics about American children. Among them, 48 percent of first births are by unwed mothers, and by age 30 two-thirds of American women have had a child, typically out of wedlock.
Kay Hymowitz, an author of the report and a William E. Simon Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said at an event to release the report on Wednesday at the Brookings Institution, that it reflects how the view of what marriage is about has changed.”
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Wandering Views 
None of this is good for America.
But the people who are behind this don’t like America as it is. They have a better idea. And Sandra Fluke speaks for the women.
Our SS lesson last Sunday was in I Timothy, and Paul mentioned praying for our leaders. I’ll have to confess, I do not pray for our leaders. I can’t think of what to pray about. I pray for our country that we might be saved from them.
Yet, I’m not fatalistic. There are still ten good men in Sodom.
The Holy Spirit can bring a revival if He will.
O’Rilley was talking about this last night. He said we don’t have any spiritual leadership anymore. Billy Graham is in his nineties, and out of it.
We just don’t have anyone to lead us out of this.
Most people don’t seem to realize that we’re going the wrong way.
Hank Snow has a song about “Going ninety miles an hour down a one-way street”.
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That’s “Dead end street”. I tried to correct it, but it was too late.
Still early. 😦
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Chas, I try to get international news. I read as many missionary reports as I can. I avoid the national news in the same way that I avoid the Sports Section after my team lost the big game.
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It does not cease to amaze me that people listen to Bill O’Reilley’s analysis of if spiritual leadership and then cite to it. That in and of itself is enough to explain how christians become desalinized.
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Here is some positive news out of Family Research Council (Tony Perkins) from yesterday’s report:
The Young and the Not-So-Restless
If you thought defending marriage was tough as an adult, try speaking the truth as a teenager or even a twenty-something. It takes real courage to stand with your face in the wind of pop culture. Fortunately for conservatives, there are plenty of young warriors doing exactly that. Of course, the media would like you to think that these young people don’t exist, and that the battle for the next generation is already lost.
They couldn’t be more wrong. From 11-year-old Grace Evans to the 20- and 30-year-olds on my staff, the light of young conservatives is only shining brighter in the darkness of the Left’s ideology. Their voice is so distinct in the debate that New York Times couldn’t help but notice them. In a feature piece, Ashley Parker talks to these leaders about their determination. “They hear that their cause is lost, that demographics and the march of history have doomed their campaign to keep marriage only between a man and a woman. But the young conservatives who oppose same-sex ‘marriage’–unlike most of their generation–remain undaunted.”
Most of them, like our good friends Joseph Backholm (Washington’s Family Policy Institute), Ashley Pratte (Cornerstone Policy Research), Caitlin Seery (Love and Fidelity Network) Ryan Anderson (The Heritage Foundation), and Eric Teetsel (Manhattan Declaration), are taking a long view of the debate and working to change their generation’s opinion over time–as conservatives have done so successfully with abortion. “If what I believe is true is true, then I’ve got a responsibility to be on its side for as long as I can be,” Eric said.
Elementary student Grace Evans got a head-start on her advocacy, testifying before a packed Minnesota statehouse. “Even though I’m only 11 years old, I know that everyone deserves to have a mom and a dad.” Life hasn’t exactly been easy for the Evanses since then, but Grace has no regrets. Even after being called a “bigot” and a “stupid indoctrinated child” and other things so vile I can’t repeat them, her dad, Jeff, says Grace is helping to show people how radical the other side is. “I’ve been monitoring it to keep my family safe… It’s really shameful the things that people will say, hiding behind an Internet alias… Supporters of same-sex “marriage” are deceitfully claiming that the legalization of gay marriage won’t affect our religious freedoms or freedom of speech. I do not believe them. These attacks on Grace are an example of how we have already lost many of these freedoms. In fact, it’s so bad, they aren’t afraid to viciously attack an 11-year-old girl. Imagine what it would be like if gay marriage becomes legal in Minnesota.”
Of course, if you listen to the media, it’s conservatives who are intolerant. Yet, as stated as fact in a federal court, it was a homosexual activist–spurred on by the Southern Poverty Law Center–who came into our building and shot our friend and colleague because FRC stands for natural marriage. No one should be attacked or called names because they’re participating in our system of government. But unfortunately, that’s been the pattern for brave kids like Grace and Maryland’s Sarah Crank. Both girls stood up in a roomful of elected leaders and defended their beliefs–and that takes a whole lot more courage than sitting at a keyboard spewing hate and lies.
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I follow a FB page that posts fun stuff about L.A.’s past and little-known places to visit, etc.
Yesterday a woman posted on their site that she was new to the area and was looking for a church to attend this Sunday that would include the song “The Palms” in their worship service; it’s apparently a traditional Palm Sunday song (which I’d never heard of).
Anyway, the moderator actually felt it was necessary to issue a pro-active warning that commenters were not to comment on the merits of “religion” but to limit their comments to trying to help this person find what she was looking for. Either he’d already had to take down some off-topic comments — or he knew what most likely would come from a bunch of L.A. commenters whenever the topic of religion was raised.
I’m not a fan of O’Reilly. At all. And his views on theology and religion are (often) just way off the mark. The guy is frankly pompous & completely full of himself. I usually can’t bear to watch him (and to be honest, Sean Hannity’s beginning to have the same effect on me).
But it’s hard to deny that tolerance of religious faith in this country is falling on some pretty hard times.
Maybe it’s just because I live where I do — in a land dominated so by liberals. But religious faith has generally become a favorite punching bag & object of ridicule where I live. Even a number of the political conservatives (mostly libertarian types) whom I know are very dismissive (and even disrespectful) of religious faith.
Atheists are newly emboldened in our age. And I suspect we’re seeing among the first generations of children — now becoming teens & adults — who have been raised with very little if any religious instruction.
In my era, even if families weren’t regular church goers, there was an unspoken respect for religious faith. Ridiculing believers of any faith was deeply frowned upon and just not very often ever heard. You just didn’t go there.
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I’m with Donna on O’Reilly. He is also rude to his guests. I still like Sean Hannity. But on the other hand I find it amazing that some people really consider The Daily Show a legitimate source of news.
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Right? O’Reilly has really become insufferable. Hannity is still (sort of) watchable for me, though he’s sometimes over-the-top when it comes to partisanship. And I don’t seem to have much of an appetite for straight-on politics ever since last year’s election.
I don’t watch The Daily Show but I know enough about it to share KBells’ alarm — and I do actually know people who have said that is where they get their news.
Eeek.
I prefer more neutral sources, I guess, on whatever station they appear.
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It astonishes me that people consider Daily Show a source of news.
Donna — I don’t think I agree on the point of tolerance for religious faith. I do think people don’t have as much hesitancy to call out issues. IMO, Robertson, Falwell, Ralph Reed and others have brought this on movement Christian conservatives — when you place your faith as part of your political argumentation, you open your faith up to part of the discussion, imo. It’s not uncommon for conservative Christians to question the morals of atheists and decry their positions as situational ethics — why then be surprised when they do the same to you and question the morality of political positions taken on the bases of a faith understanding?
Janice
FRC is also calling on folks to stop funding the RNC and the Republican Senatorial and Congressional Candidates funds — or at least Tony Perkins is, because of the discussion on social issues of late.
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Meanwhile, here in Sonoma County, the Catholic bishop asked the teachers in all Catholic Schools to sign an agreement with the church’s teachings. Uproar, shouts of inquisition, picketing parents, nuns refusing and so forth.
One mother explained on the front page of the paper the bishop’s edict did not reflect her understanding of her faith.
Everyone doing what is right in his own eyes.
Do I have to agree totally with the church’s teaching to teach at the school? That tosses me out, too, but shouldn’t a teacher at least be willing to honor the church’s values, if not in writing at least by the way they live their lives?
Surely that’s a given?
But what do I know? A mother in my community knows more about the Catholic Church’s teaching than the bishop . . . 😦
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CB, agreed that some of these Christian “leaders” are horrible examples of the faith. But, of course, the media keeps going back to them, don’t they? I often wonder why they don’t seek out an R.C. Sproul or a John Piper or an Albert Mohler more often for comment than they do a Pat Robertson. Maybe a few reasons for that, partially ignorance (reporters typically have very little real understanding of the religious landscape).
It’s perhaps easier (and more appealing to man) to go with the caricature? To go with someone you know will give an outrageous quote? Sigh.
Michelle, that’s rich. I know a number of Catholics (in name only) who would be shocked as well.
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appeal to many I meant to say, not man, though both might work. 😉
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Suffice it to say that Pat Robertson and others like him have garnered far more public attention than they either deserve or merit. They are simply not serious or thoughtful (or even knowledgable) spokesmen for the faith.
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That’s a good point, Donna J. Just speaking off the top of my head, but I don’t think your average atheist is all that unsatisfied with their talking head representatives on news shows and the media. And maybe most Christians have been satisfied with having Robertson, et al, be their spokesmen, but I certainly know a lot of Christians who don’t feel that way.
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On the other hand … should Christians be involved in the issues of the society around them? The society in which they and their children live?
Of course they should. And they should be expected to bring biblical principles to bear in taking part in that process.
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And there’s a difference between vigorous and honest debate and disagreement — and the growing trend toward ridicule and simply silencing (“hate” speech run amok?) the other side.
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Thought I would share this: A student was suspended because he refused to stomp on the word Jesus when instructed to do so by his College Professor: http://www.cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_6034.shtml. So much for freedom of conscience.
🙄
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You can’t make that stuff up, can you, DrivesGuy? Even if there’s more to that story, or it’s not accurate, there are plenty of other examples. It may be that Christians should have a thicker skin, as CB may be suggesting, but political correctness is ruling the day here, and things like that are an outgrowth. And we can’t forget that that kind of coercion has made its way into public policy, a la mandated contraceptives in health plans.
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(And I generally agree Christians should have a thicker skin).
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Now, now….
Be nice to Pat Robertson. I think it’s his birthday. 🙂
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I checked. It is.
I knew I’d seen that somewhere. It’s William Shatner’s too. 🙂
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I have to say this AJ. Pat Robertson is a dangerous man who’s doctrine of direct revelation is heresy. I cannot sugar coat this AJ. I know many people follow Pat Robertson, but they are being led astray by a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
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drivesguy: That was an Intercultural Communication class that “seeks to understand how people from different countries and cultures behave, communicate and perceive the world around them.” So which cultural demands that students must stomp on the name Jesus, and if one refuses, he is suspended from the class? Perhaps the culture of filling our schools and universities with Marxist/Socialists who want religion totally eradicated.
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hwesselius had a birthday last Wednesday. Happy Birthday H !!
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The Florida AU case — I think the teacher was slow on the uptake. If the point of the exercise was intercultural communications and proving that what is written on a piece of paper is not the same as the actual discussion, then the teacher missed a golden opportunity to discuss the challenges of intercultural communication in more depth, it is particularly when deeply held beliefs cultural or religious in nature come up that intercultural communication can be most fraught. The Mormon student refusing the exercise was a pefect opportunity to have a meaty discussion.
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I’m curious where the “thicker skin” should come into play in this incident? Should the student had thicker skin and stomped away, anyhow? Or should he have thicker skin and not be so upset about being kicked out because he didn’t?
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The stepping on a piece of paper thing seems kind of Romper Room. There may be ways to learn the subject ‘in the field,’ but this exercise was just silly, and probably nothing that couldn’t be communicated using plain old words.
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Linda
From my POV, the student was need not have had thicker skin about doing something offensive to him. The teacher of intercultural communication sucked and should have used the student’s refusal as a teaching point — that was my takeaway.
Solar
on health care, I think the thicker skin issue is more complicated. Yes, provision of contraception may offend a Christian employer — but does that mean the employer should be able to refuse coverage for an employee? Can the the employer grant coverage for married employees but not for unmarried employees. Must they disclose their health care coverage practices prior to employment? If they pay into a more general fund, how is the issue of co-mingling of fund dealt with and is their business a religious institutition. If it is not does the person have a right to expect a religious exemption? I think there are a number of issues that bear actual discussion rather than acrimonious accusations. Alas we live in a time of accuse first and maybe discuss later. And that’s true of both sides of the political divide.
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CB, I really don’t think any of those questions should have to be discussed at all as private employers should be free to provide health care of their choosing. Prospective employees can take or leave it. Even then, I don’t think those questions are particularly sticky. Why shouldn’t an employer be able to refuse coverage for an employee, or base coverage on marital status or race or anything? I wasn’t aware that companies withheld details of medical coverage from prospective employees, especially ones to whom job offers are made. What comingling do you speak of, specifically, and why shouldn’t it be an employer’s desicion how to manage it? Sacred or profane, the type of institution–so long as its private–shouldn’t have any bearing on how any of these questions are answered. Religious exemptions in this arena are (or would be, in a world that made any sense) ridiculous.
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I suppose substituting stomping on Jesus with drawing Mohammed was not an option.
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Michelle, are all the teachers Catholic? I worked for a Catholic organization where about 60% of the employees were not Catholic. It was expected that anything that went on the air (It was TV network) or in print agreed with Catholic teaching, but what we said in the lunch room was our business. I imagine the same should go for whatever is said in the classroom.
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Thanks Robert, it was my birthday on Wednesday..
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hwesseli,
You are welcome! Have you hit the big 50?
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BTW, hwesseli,
http://www.news-republic.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=1&articleid=7659370
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Happy Birthday, HRW!
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Solar
all of those questions simply lead me to conclude that it’s far past time for the US to have single payer — like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the west.
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Hi CB: How does single payer resolve those questions?
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