Bill O’Reilly was the first to bring up Pat Robertson’s statement on the Haitian pact with the devil to rid them of French rule. Bill said he didn’t agree with Pat but Dawkins says in an article posted online that at least Robertson is true to his own theology.
Dawkins starts his article by side stepping the usual requirements and protocol for standard article submission. His name appears before and after the title. He follows that with bold article sub headings and bold parenthetical statements made for effect, all that remains after that is the Dawkins style of solipsistic banality for which he is so noted. Most authors would have their articles rejected out of hand regardless of content if they broke this many rules.
Let me begin with my own take on Haiti by saying in no uncertain terms that regardless of what caused this disaster we must all do everything we can to help relieve the misery of these islanders for humanities sake. The stories out of Haiti are compelling and this kind of tragedy is calling for people with heart to respond regardless of their theology or the lack of it. I’m sure the last thing on the minds of those rescued, relieved or restored is the theology of those who gave them aid.
The article entitled “Richard Dawkins: Haiti and The Hypocrisy of a ‘Bankrupt’ Christian Theology” is followed by an emboldened header that says “We know what caused the catastrophe in Haiti. It was the bumping and grinding of the Caribbean Plate rubbing up against the North American Plate: a force of nature, sin-free and indifferent to sin, un-premeditated, unmotivated, supremely unconcerned with human affairs or human misery.”
Just the words “We know what caused the catastrophe in Haiti” reek of prior philosophic postulation and are all too much like the description of the big bang alleged to have taken place some 400 million years ago which no mortal witnessed.The North American and Caribbean tectonic plates are estimated to be some 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) deep but that depth does not keep Dawkins from speaking with full pomposity about what took place on the fateful day the quake of 7.0 magnitude began to rumble across the little Caribbean island.
To be truthful exactly what happened 15 miles beneath the earth on that day is as speculative as deciding that God doesn’t like the pact the Haitians are reported to have made with the devil. Science has no leg on either assertion and should stay out of it entirely. But to be fair if the prophetic record is called into play then the theology of God’s judgments by means of natural disasters or catastrophes is on much firmer ground.
Dawkins claims the shifting plates were an indifferent “force of nature.” How does an atheist assign the word “force” to nature, randomness, or disorder and argue that an intelligent God would not use force for any purpose at all. It seems they are satisfied to say that nature which has no intelligence can use force but God who is supremely intelligent is impotent. To borrow a phrase from the Apostle Paul it would seem that Mr. Dawkins and his fellows are simply “beating the air.” (1Cor 9:26)
All of this naturally leads to the question of whether Pat Robertson was correct. Unless Pat or some other person with a certified prophetic ministry and calling was forewarned that this was God’s intention then the question is forever moot. We cannot know. All we can know for sure is that God retains supreme authority over the affairs of men and he will not yield one iota of that power to an entire civilization, a single nation or an individual even if it is one of the world’s most notable atheists.
On a personal level I wonder what Dawkins or anyone else for that matter will say when every major city in the world is toppled by a worldwide earthquake at the close of the rule of the antichrist.
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” (Rev 16:18-19)
Suffice it to say that the Bible’s prophetic record is bolstered by its historical record. If God said a nation would rise, it did. If he said a nation would fall, it did. If he said Jewry would be dispersed throughout the world, they were. If he said they would be gathered back into Israel just before the last days, they have been since the British Mandate of 1948. If he says the antichrist will rule for seven years over a new revived European empire then look around because it is at the doors.
It takes a great deal more faith for most people to believe in a 400 million year old speculation, un-witnessed by anyone than the straight up prophetic/historical record of the bible.
http://www.americanprophet.org has since 2005 featured the articles of Rev Michael Bresciani along with news and reviews that have earned this site the title of The Website for InsightMillions have read his timely reports and articles in online journals and print publications across the nation and the globe.
President Obama said Wednesday night he will work with Congress and the military to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars gays and lesbians from openly serving in the armed forces.
Obama made the remark in his first State of the Union speech during a short litany of civil rights issues, which included his successful hate crimes bill, a move to "crack down on equal-pay laws" and improvement of the immigration system.
"We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all created equal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it," he said.
"We must continually renew this promise. My administration has a Civil Rights Division that is once again prosecuting civil rights violations and employment discrimination. We finally strengthened our laws to protect against crimes driven by hate," he said.
"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."
Former Navy pilot Sen. John McCain said "it would be a mistake" to repeal the 1993 law that bars gay men and lesbians from revealing their sexual orientation, and prevents the military from asking about it.
"This successful policy has been in effect for over 15 years, and it is well understood and predominantly supported by our military at all levels," McCain said. "We have the best-trained, best-equipped, and most professional force in the history of our country, and the men and women in uniform are performing heroically in two wars. At a time when our Armed Forces are fighting and sacrificing on the battlefield, now is not the time to abandon the policy."
But in a message to Pentagon leadership, Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it's time to repeal the law.
"As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military," said Shalikashvili. His letter was sent to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who supports repealing the policy.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organization that works with those affected by the "don't ask, don't tell" law, praised Obama's call for repeal.
"We very much need a sense of urgency to get this done in 2010," the group said. "We call on the president to repeal the archaic 1993 law in his defense budget currently being drafted, that is probably the only and best moving bill where DADT can be killed this year. ... The American public, including conservatives, is overwhelmingly with the commander in chief on this one."
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, flatly disagreed with the idea of ending it.
"When it comes to 'don't ask don't tell,' frankly, I think it's worked very well. And we just ought to leave it alone," he said to reporters Wednesday morning.
The policy prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the U.S. armed forces.
The policy bans military recruiters or authorities from asking about an individual's sexual orientation but also prohibits a service member from revealing that he or she is gay.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Michigan, supports ending the practice but wants to go about it carefully.
Levin said he did not have any details about what the president would say.
"If we do this in a way which isn't sensitive ... we could have exactly the opposite effect of what I hope will be the case -- which is to change the policy," he said Monday.
Levin said the committee plans to hold hearings on the issue in early February, although the hearing may be with outside experts -- delaying a hearing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, that had originally been promised, CNN was told by a congressional source.
Obama campaigned on the promise that he would repeal the law in his first year of office.
Speaking to the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, in October, Obama admitted that "our progress may be taking longer than we like," but he insisted his administration was still on track to overturn the policy.
"Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach," he said.
Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell deflected repeated questions about the policy at Wednesday's Pentagon briefing, directing reporters to take their questions to the White House.
"We continue to work on this problem," said Morrell. "But I'm not going to get into it with more specificity than that."
There are already posted disturbing videos of young school children singing/speaking praises to President Obama, but when eleven more dropped in our email box it came as quite a shock. What seemed like an aberration now appears to be a troubling pattern.
Maybe “epidemic” is a better word.
Each one of the videos below is creepier than the last because the further down you go, the younger the children — brace yourself for kindergartners – except for the last and most disturbing video, which you have to see to believe.
Young captive minds, easily influenced, eager for direction, enlisted into a cult of personality focused on an individual who, other than being the first black president, has yet to accomplish anything of significance.
But Obama’s skin color has nothing to do with this. Does anyone interested in retaining their merit badge for intellectual honesty really want to argue that Condi Rice or J.C. Watts would’ve spawned a dozen-and-counting tribute videos?
This is about brainwashing our children into Leftist identity politics. Sure, the schools can argue that they had some kind of parental permission — which, if true, is somehow even more disturbing — but who even considers doing something like this with young minds? That’s a rhetorical question.
There was some guesswork, but to the best of our ability the videos run from oldest to youngest, starting with high schoolers. We list the name of the school and the date the video was posted. From there, if it could be found (or a confident guess made), you’ll find the schools’ website, followed by the original title given to the video and any notes added by whoever uploaded to YouTube.
Each video has also been transcribed so you can follow the bouncing ball…
*****
WEST HIGH SCHOOL — 12-6-08
This is the school’s probable website. What’s going on here is explained below in the video notes.
Video Title: “Multico’s Finale is Obama’s victory speech!“
Video Note: Each year, MULTICO, a company of West High School students chosen to reflect the diverse ethnic and racial population of Madisons schools, tours elementary and middle schools with an original thirty minute production focusing on the concerns and experiences of children and adolescents in a multicultural, multilingual urban environment. MULTICO, a two hour a day English class, writes and performs a series of short sketches that highlight race, gender, sexuality and conflict, providing another tool for classroom teachers to use as we all work towards a more empathetic world.
–
Transcript:
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, today is your answer.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states; we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.
The true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America — that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
America, we have come so far. But there is so much more to do. This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time — to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and to restore the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we can.
*****
MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL — 11-13-2008
This looks like the school’s website. Morgan Park HS is located in Chicago, these are high school students in the choir.
Video Title: “Change We Can Believe In-Song”
Video Note: This song was inspired by President-Elect Barack Obama’s campaign theme. Morgan Park High School Concert Choir of Chicago, IL are the singers on this video. The song was composed by Patricia Tyson (from Chicago), and its intent is to encourage and motivate the listeners and the performers to pursue a more excellent way!
This song has been submitted with the hopes that it will be sung at the Inauguration in Washington, DC!
–
Transcript:
Change we can believe in
Change that makes a difference
Together we can change the world
Tell every man and woman, every boy and girl
Change can tear down every wall
You and I can make the greatest change of all
We’re united we all stand as one
Divided we will fail and we will surely fall
Tell the children
Take them by the hand
Tell the generations that we can take a stand
Tell the nation let them know that God can heal our land
Change is what we all must be
Change is what we all must see
This is our moment, This is our time
Seize it, [unintelligible], we won’t be denied.
Say yes we can, yes we can,
Yes we can
From the power you may go so very long
Go so very long
Let us live [unintelligible]
Don’t matter what may come our way
They can not [unintelligible]
Tell the children
Take them by the hand
Tell the generations that we can take a stand
Tell the nation let them know that God can heal our land
We want change
We need change
We want change
We must change
Change, Change, believe it
Change, Change, a difference
[unintelligible]
Our change is here.
*****
SCHOOL UNIDENTIFIED — 3-9-09
We were unable to locate this school’s name, but it says right on the video and in the notes that these are 7th graders.
Video Title: “Yes We Can – Barack Obama Music Video 7th Grade Version”
Video Note: The 7th grade students followed the 2008 presidential election in several of their classes this term. Concluding the election the students were asked to make video segments based on the popular Obama music video, Yes We Can, by musician Will.i.am. The segments were then compiled into one video. In this video the students discuss various goals as well as how they are able to make a difference in improving our world.
–
Transcript:
Kids Speak over (Yes We Can by Will.I.am) playing in the background:
This is for the young and old
The rich and poor
Democrats and Republicans
Black, White, Hispanic, Native Americans
Gay, Straight
Disabled, Not Disabled
We can!
Yes, I can be my own person.
Yes, I can be a policeman
Yes, I can have a good future
Yes, I can be the first person in my family to go to college
Yes, I can do good in school
Yes, I can become the first Mexican President
Yes we can.
I can save electricity
I can do good in school
I can help clean up the community
I can volunteer
I can save water
I can give donations
Just as a Seventh Grader?
Yes, we can.
[unintelligible]
What you want to do say
Yes we can
Ay
Yes we can
Ay
Baseball, football, Yeah we can do it all
Yes we can
Ay
Yes we can
Ay
The constitution and make straight A’s
Yes we can
Ay
Yes we can
Ay
Lose or choose now what you want to do
Yes we can
Ay
Yes we can
Ay
Yes we can
Be at school on time
What the… loser
Don’t do drugs
Get good grades
Give me your money – give me your money
Leave him alone
No bullying.
Recycle.
Yes we can
Si se puede
I want to join the Army
Yes she can
I want to be a football player
Yes he can
I want to join the Air Force
Yes she can
I want to pass the Seventh grade.
Yes he can
I want to be a doctor.
Yes she can
Yes we can!
Yes we can…be a dentist
Yes I can be an anesthesiologist
Yes I can be a choreographer
Yes I can be a lawyer
Yes I can be a basketball player
Yes I can be a teacher
Yes we can
Yes we can
Yes we can
*****
GIFFEN ELEMENTARY — 2-12-09
This is the probable website for the school. The opening titles state the song’s video was written by the students of Mr. Dobson and Mrs. Dudley, which means these are 5th and 6th graders.
Video Title: “Barack Obama Rap”
Video Note:This is the updated version of a song my students wrote back in 05 after Senator Obama spoke at the Democratic National Convention. This year they updated it in celebration of President Obama’s victory.
–
Transcript:
Barack Obama – Recorded:
“I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world’s poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave-owners – an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.” — Barack Obama, “A More Perfect Union,” March 18, 2008.
Verse 1:
We’re here to tell you about the man. His name is Barack Obama he’s the leader of this land. He was born in Hawaii then he lived in Illinois. His father moved to Africa when he was a little boy. He got into some trouble when he was 17 and he has come clean now he’s [unintelligible] people [unintelligible] He fights for civil rights and better health care. He wants to make sure that we all will have care. He’s [unintelligible] reform [unintelligible] he’s very educated and he’s got a lot of rhythm. First black President with a heart that’s only true, he wants to make the world better for me and you. At Chicago University he used to be a teacher, [unintelligible] At the Democratic National Convention, the name Barack Obama became [unintelligible].
Chorus:
Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can.
Verse 2:
He was born, in August of 1961. In 2008 for President, He won. We have a new President, Barack is the President. He’s a pioneer. You can check the evidence. He’s African-American. The first black President. Now he’s in the white house. The 44th President. His campaign slogan was “Yes We Can” He’s a Democrat. He’s the man with the plan. There is a special book that was written by Obama. It’s Dreams from My Father, not Dreams from your Momma. [unintelligible] [laughter] [unintelligible] He’s running our country. [unintelligible] great power. [unintelligible] He ran against McCain. Now he’s our President we’re ready to make a change.
Chorus:
Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can.
Verse 3:
He attended Columbia U in ’82. He married Michelle in 1992. He’s English, he’s Irish, [unintelligible], he’s a modern Martin Luther who was also a great man. [unintelligible] Obama’s going down as the first in history. [unintelligible] about war and that is really great. He’s known around the world – come on let’s celebrate.
Recording:
Celebrate good times, come on. Celebrate good times, come on.
Celebrate good times, come on. Celebrate good times, come on.
Continuation of Verse 3:
He’s proved that education is a big part of the game. And in his spare time he enjoys basketball. When he’s at work he signs legible. Obama is his name, [unintelligible} man, man, women, women and girl. [unintelligible] He’s a true American. If you believe say, “Yes We Can”.
Chorus:
Say, Yes We Can [repeated]
Audience Member: Yes We Can.
***
GIFFEN ELEMENTARY — 3-29-2009
Here’s Giffen again. The video quality makes it impossible to tell if these are the same students, but according to the YouTube dates this performance occurred the month after the one above, this time in front of something called The Association of Teaching Artists.
Video Title: “Barack Obama Rap at the Albany Institute”
Video Note: This is a group of 5th and 6th grade students from Giffen Elementary School performing the Barack Obama song they wrote with their classmates. It is being performed at a function of the Association of Teaching Artists held at the Albany Institute of History and Art.
–
Transcript:
Barack Obama – Recorded:
“I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world’s poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave-owners – an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.” — Barack Obama, “A More Perfect Union,” March 18, 2008.
Verse 1:
We’re here to tell you about the man. His name is Barack Obama he’s the leader of this land. He was born in Hawaii then he lived in Illinois. His father moved to Africa when he was a little boy. He got into some trouble when he was 17 and he has come clean now he’s [unintelligible] people [unintelligible] He fights for civil rights and better health care. He wants to make sure that we all will have care. He’s [unintelligible] reform [unintelligible] he’s very educated and he’s got a lot of rhythm. First black President with a heart that’s only true, he wants to make the world better for me and you. At Chicago University he used to be a teacher, [unintelligible] At the Democratic National Convention, the name Barack Obama became [unintelligible].
Chorus:
Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can.
Verse 2:
He was born, in August of 1961. In 2008 for President, He won. We have a new President, Barack is the President. He’s a pioneer. You can check the evidence. He’s African-American. The first black President. Now he’s in the white house. The 44th President. His campaign slogan was “Yes We Can” He’s a Democrat. He’s the man with the plan. There is a special book that was written by Obama. It’s Dreams from My Father, not Dreams from your Momma. [unintelligible] [laughter] [unintelligible] He’s running our country. [unintelligible] great power. [unintelligible] He ran against McCain. Now he’s our President we’re ready to make a change.
Chorus:
Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can.
Verse 3:
He attended Columbia U in ’82. He married Michelle in 1992. He’s English, he’s Irish, [unintelligible], he’s a modern Martin Luther who was also a great man. [unintelligible] Obama’s going down as the first in history. [unintelligible] about war and that is really great. He’s known around the world – come on let’s celebrate.
Recording:
Celebrate good times, come on…
Continuation of Verse 3:
He’s proved that education is a big part of the game. And in his spare time he enjoys basketball. When he’s at work he signs legible. Obama is his name, [unintelligible} man, man, women, women and girl. [unintelligible]He’s a true American. If you believe say “Yes We Can”.
Chorus:
Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, We say – say Yes We Can, That guy say Yes We Can, That guy say Yes We Can, Everybody say Yes We Can!
Audience Member:
Yes We Can.
*****
GOTHAM AVENUE SCHOOL — 2-7-09
Here’s the likely website for the school. Per the video’s title, these are fifth graders.
Video Title: “Ending – Part II of the 5th Grade Performance”
Video Note: Special thanks to Mr. Lewis.
–
Transcript:
We believe in Barack Obama
He loves you and he loves your mama
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
With all the change he’s building
Gonna bring hope to the children
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
Change
That we can believe in
Change
That we can believe in
Change
That we can believe in
We believe in Barack Obama
He loves you and he loves your mama
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
With all the change he’s building
Gonna bring hope to the children
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
Change
That we can believe in
Change
That we can believe in
Change
That we can believe in
Yeah, haha, haha.
Alright, come on now, here we go;
You know we gotta get Barack and all of his crew
In the White House so they can prove that
In their hearts they know what to do
And that includes Michelle and the kiddies too
[kids chanting] “There is not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.”
We believe in Barack Obama
He loves you and he loves your mama
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
With all the change he’s building
Gonna bring hope to the children
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
[Chant at end of song – unintelligible]
*****
POWELL ELEMENTARY – May 6, 2009
This is the likely website for the school. Though the age of the students in the video isn’t given, the website says the school’s age range is pre-kindergarten through the third grade.
Video Title: “Powell Elementary Present Kings of Rock”
Video Note:Ode to Obama, school kids in New Jersey celebrate Obamas win
–
Transcript:
Barack Obama there is none higher
Other politicians should call me sire
To burn my kingdom you must use fire
I create change till I retire!
Democratic Party come correct
Our cuts are on time our rhymes connect
Got the right to vote and will elect
Others can’t feel us but give us respect
Now I walked through crowds, shook many hands
Spent my time saying YES WE CAN!
I stood on many stages, held many mics
Took airplane flights at great heights
PA and Jersey, I won that fight
Chicago Illinois was so hype
Moving so strong
Biden joined the fight
Now we are a team and we ignite!
Now I crash through walls,
Cut through floors,
Burst through ceilings
Knock down doors.
He is George
And I’m Turan
We’re never far behind
In class we shine
For every living person
With dreams and plans
Keep hope alive –
Think “Yes We Can”
We’re the baddest of the bad
The cool of the cool
I’m Barack
I rock and rule.
I’m Joe. I rock and rule.
It’s not a trick or treat or April fools,
It’s all brand new
With a little old school.
We’ve got the music and the message
For all my friends.
Check us out on the internet,
Load and send.
Music ain’t nothing
but a peoples jam.
It’s President Obama
Rockin’ with the band!
*****
HENNIGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – July 16, 2009
This is the probable website for the school. Note the life-size cardboard cut-out of the President and the kid with Obama’s head on a stick.
Video Title: “obama”
Video Note: Music video for the Obama Song from the America SCORES New England winter program at the Hennigan Elementary School.
–
Transcript:
Barack Obama – Recorded:
“Because of what we did on this day, in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.”
Kids:
Obama is fresh. Obama is cool. He has two daughters that like to go to school. It’s hot outside, they jump in the pool. [unintelligible] to follow the rules. Obama is President and has a new residence. There’s people all around who questions all the evidence.
Michelle wants her daughters to think their own things. She doesn’t want their colors to do it instead. The 44th President of the USA because he beat Senator John McCain. Obama in charge of the oval office. He told Bush and his cabinet to get off this. A – a-a-a-aay. Obama is President of the USA-aaaay. Tomorrow’s a new day – ay – ay- ay- ay. And we’re living our life.
Barack Obama – Recorded:
“It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.”
Screen Text:
Great Job! Merilyn B.; Rachel C.; Radael D.; Edwin G.; Faith M.; Oscar M.; Rosemary M.; Elena R.; Janetlah V.
Special Thanks to the CityYear Corps at the Hennigan!
Barack Obama – Recorded:
“I know you didn’t do this to just win an election. I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead.”
*****
HARMONY LELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — 2-14-09
This is the school’s probable website, and these are kindergartners.
Video Title: “Barack Obama is Our New President”
Video Note:Ms. Susan Marsico’s Kindergarten music class sings about President Barack Obama. Performed: Friday, February 13, 2009 Harmony Leland Elementary School, Mableton, GA
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Transcript:
Barack Obama is our new President
Barack Obama is the leader of our land
On November 4, 2008
All the Americans voted
In each and every state
Barack Obama is our new President
Barack Obama is the leader of our land
He moved into the white house
With his wife, Michelle
His daughters, Malia and Sasha
And new dog as well
Barack Obama is our new President
Barack Obama is the leader of our land
He’ll bring us all together
And work hard every day
To make our nation better
And keep our people safe
Barack Obama is our new President
Barack Obama is the leader of our land
In the oval office
From sea to shining sea
He’ll represent our country
The land and the free
Barack Obama is our new President
Barack Obama is the leader of our land
*****
MARYMOUNT SCHOOL — 3-18-2009
Kindergartners sing what is the catchiest of the eleven songs. The school is Marymount. Couldn’t find a website.
Video Title: “No One’s as Irish as Barack Obama”
Video Note: Miss Maeve’s Kindergarten class performs!
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Transcript:
O’Leary, O’Reilly, O’Hare and O’Hara
There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama
You don’t believe me, I hear you say
But Barack’s as Irish, as was JFK
His granddaddy’s daddy came from Moneygall
A small Irish village, well known to you all
He’s in the white house, He took a chance
Now let’s see Barack do Riverdance
Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama
There’s no one as Irish As Barack O’Bama
He’s as Irish as bacon and cabbage and stew
He’s Hawaiian he’s Kenyan American too
He’s in the white house, He took his chance
Now let’s see Barack do Riverdance
Toor a loo, toor a lay, toor a loo, toor a lama
There’s no one as Irish As Barack O’Bama
From Kerry and cork to old Donegal
Let’s hear it for Barack from old moneygall
From the lakes if Killarney to old Connemara
There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama
*****
BARACK OBAMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — 1-31-2009
If you think the Nobel committee jumped the gun… Days after the 2008 presidential election Ludlum Elementary in Long Island petitioned and won the right to have the name of their school changed to Barack Obama Elementary. Watch this and ask yourself if the Nobel committee’s rationale couldn’t be that much different than the students questioned in the news report.
The video below isn’t of students singing but of a woman named Janelle Kirton performing the school song. The song doesn’t mention Obama, it just relies heavily on his platitudes, but pay special attention to the school decorations inter-cut throughout the video.
If that doesn’t creep you out enough, check out this slide-show from the school’s website.
Video Title: “Barack Obama School Song, Do You Hear The Sound, Janelle Kirton, Barack Obama Song.”
Video Note:Barack Obama Elementary School Song, Written by Janelle Kirton, arranged by Alex Kirton…
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Transcript of “Do You Hear The Sound?”:
There’s a sound of Change
Blowing in the wind
It’s a sound that started long ago
By those who dare to dream
Fighting against the loss
With a passion of hope of better days
They had a dream
They had hope
for a friend to bring this nation together as one
The journey begins to education
Unlocking every door
Shaping a better tomorrow
We are sons and daughters
Of promise
Of school like a city upon a hill
Lights inside our hearts
And hope to [unintelligible]
To rise and conquer
[unintelligible]
To dream
To make a difference
Not just in our land
But in the world
Yes we can
Make a difference
If we unite
Together and take
I am the dream
I am the hope
I am the bridge that’ll bring this nation
Together as one
The journey begins to education
Unlocking every door
To shaping a better
Tomorrow
There’s [unintelligible]
If I teach you believe
My voice will count
My voice will be heard
Do you hear the sound
I am the dream
Do you hear the sound
I am the hope
Do you hear the sound
Yes we can.
The Barack Obama Elementary School
*****
“Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls upon them makes an impression.” — Dr. Haim Ginott (teacher, child psychologist)
A Massachusetts man has been fired from his sales position at the Logan Airport branch in Boston of Brookstone allegedly for telling a female manager that his Christian faith says homosexuality is wrong.
Peter Vadala was fired and the company says he violated a tolerance policy. But Vadala reports his dismissal came because he expressed his Christian view of homosexuality after a female manager made repeated references as she approached him four times during work hours to her plans to marry her lesbian partner.
"At the start of the day, she told me she was getting married. I told her 'Congratulations,' and asked, 'Where's he taking you on your honeymoon?'" Vadala said.
"She replied that her partner was a 'she,'" he continued, "So I immediately tried to change the subject.
"I think she knew I was uncomfortable talking about it," he continued. "But, she brought it up to me three more times during the day.
"After the fourth time she told me about her plan to marry her partner, I told her, 'I think homosexuality is bad stuff,'" Vadala said.
"That's what I said. I wasn't rude about it and I didn't act disrespectfully to her," he said. "All the woman said to me as she left the store was, 'Human Resources buddy. You keep your opinions to yourself!'"
Vadala said when he was hired he went through the company's training program, including a requirement to watch a video.
"In the video, there was a homosexual man who said he overheard two workers talking. One man in the outsourced video tells the other, 'If a homosexual man hits on me, he better watch out.'
“The homosexual man in the video said he was offended, but I'm not allowed to be offended by a homosexual ... I was told that since homosexual marriage is supposedly legal in Massachusetts, that I was wrong for being offended," Vadala said.
A Brookstone human resources staffer called a few days after the incident and Vadala said he told the caller he wanted to resolve the matter.
"I spoke to (the human resources staff member) and I wanted to resolve it. I said that for his sake, the matter needed be resolved because this manager will be around customers who, chances are, will be offended by the types of things she is saying," Vadala said
But during the course of the conversation Vadala said it became clear the call wasn't about resolving the issue.
It was a few days later Vadala received a termination letter from Brookstone.
The letter accused Vadala of "harassment" and described his comments as "inappropriate and unprofessional." Further, the letter charged, he was "imposing" his beliefs upon others.
Vadala said the letter from Brookstone, signed by Susan McGrath, contained numerous false accusations.
In a copy made available to WND, the letter reads, “You acknowledge that you then expressed to Ms. (name blacked out) that you disagreed strongly with her homosexual lifestyle and that [you] believe it is wrong. You describe it in your statement, as you did when speaking with me, as 'deviant.'"
But Vadala said he didn't use that word.
McGrath's letter further asserts that a sales associate "who was working with you at the time … provided a written statement indicating that while she did not witness the conversation … you did tell her later that you 'knew (she) is marrying another woman' and that you 'hate people like that.'"
Vadala reports he also did not say that.
McGrath refused WND's request to comment on the dispute. Instead she suggested Brookstone’s legal department be contacted. That department did not respond.
When contacted about the firing, store manager Katelyn Woodard said, "You need to speak to human resources about this and if you call this number again, I'll file harassment charges."
Vadala said it's clear to him he was fired for his faith.
Numerous religious and secular organizations are issuing statements, expressing concern and urging action as it becomes evident that the pending proposed health-care legislation contains provisions to fund and to mandate abortion. In its 1,991 pages - to date, lengthier tomorrow? - there, of course, also are many variations of other, wholly unrelated, trouble.
Among those many protesting entities is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which seldom takes a stand about pending Congressional legislation. A key paragraph of a letter from that organization reads as follows:
“No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion. It is essential that the legislation clearly apply to this new program longstanding and widely supported [F]ederal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience. No current bill meets this test . . .”
The following six-question quiz, of unknown origin, is apropos. Some personal disclosure: I was founding attorney, and for many years General Counsel of, American Life League, Inc; and performed similar legal work for other pro-life or anti-abortion organizations. The quiz very likely will sway nobody’s view on this delicate subject but it does offer some “might-have-been” history.
Q: A preacher and his wife were poor, with 14 children. The wife was pregnant. An abortion?
A: It would have been death to John Wesley.
Q: A father had syphilis, the mother tuberculosis. Of their three living children, a fourth having died, one was blind, one deaf, one with tuberculosis. Abortion?
A: Death to Ludwig van Beethoven.
Q: A baby was born crippled and a dwarf. Abortion?
A: Death to Alexander Pope.
Q: A White man raped and impregnated a young Black girl. Abortion?
A: Death to Ethel Waters, the Gospel singer.
Q: A poor teenage girl was unmarried and pregnant. Her father, a soldier, disowned mother and child.
A: Death to Father Joseph Mohr, lyricist and co-composer of Silent Night, Holy Night.
Q: An unmarried teenage girl was pregnant. According to Christian Doctrine her fiancé was not the father.
A: The Lord Jesus Christ.
As of today public opposition to sweeping and unprecedented Federal health-care legislation is mounting, affirmative votes are dwindling. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT, caucusing with the Democrats) has invoked what usually is termed the First Rule of Medical Practice in opposing the 1,991-page bill or any version of it: “First, do no harm.” Inside and outside Capitol Hill the prevailing prediction is there will be no bill in the 111th Congress, 1st Session, probably in the entire 111th Congress.
Marion Edwyn Harrison is President of, and Counsel to, the Free Congress Foundation.
These are exciting times if you’re a grassroots conservative activist. After years of being taken for granted by a Republican Party leadership that simply assumed that we’d keep on voting for whatever leftist RINO they handpicked for us, a new paradigm seems to be in the making. The assumption that the GOP has to “move to the center” to be electable appears, as we speak, as if it is being proven untrue. Doug Hoffman, the insurgent conservative candidate in the NY-23 special congressional election, has successfully driven off the RINO candidate and now appears poised for victory over his Democrat rival, if twopolls that came out on November 2nd can be believed (at the time I’m writing this, the election still has not taken place). Likewise, in Virginia, a slate of very conservative candidates are set to sweep the big three state races handily – each has led his respective race by double digits for weeks now – polling well even in northern Virginia, the place where we’ve always heard that solidly conservative candidates just can’t win anymore. Yet, Bob McDonnell, an unabashed socially and fiscally conservative Republican – who was even attacked for a very conservative religious thesis he wrote twenty years ago – is going to smash his Democrat opponent tomorrow, in what is now a purple state that voted for Obama in 2008. All in all, conservatism appears set to make a comeback tomorrow – the news reports of her demise were certainly premature.
Of course, this only surprises those David Frum-style “moderates” who have spent the last four years trying to foist off the narrative that the Republican Party needs to become more liberal to stay competitive. So far, that has only led to two straight drubbings in the national elections – 2006 and 2008 – as the Republican Party drove off its own base while failing to replace them with an adequate number of “moderates.” This is unsurprising, since this nation is fundamentally centre-right. An estimated 40% of Americans identify themselves as conservatives, making us the dominant plurality. It should only seem to be common sense that if the GOP drives away 40% while trying to plug into the 30% or so that claims to be “moderate,” that it would find itself electorally hampered. Conservatives are the base of the GOP – we are the ones who do the groundwork, who work the phones, who put up the yard signs, who donate the money. If we’re not happy, as the old saying goes, ain’t nobody happy.
And it looks like our hard work is paying off. With conservative Republican candidates winning, with a successful elimination of at least one RINO already, we appear to be taking our rightful place once again. We should, of course, realize that the county-clubbers who run the GOP won’t let go without a fight, but we are in the process of successfully proving that this is a fight we can bring to them and win. We are the barbarians coming out of the rough, and messing up their neatly manicured putting green – and we’re having fun while doing it!
As with any group flush from a dazzling array of initial victories, we need to be careful with where we proceed, however. Raw emotion, enthusiasm, can only carry us so far. We need to consolidate our gains, and strategize intelligently about where we go from here. As I ponder this necessity, I’d like to make a few suggestions.
First, conservatives need to understand that, ironically, the victory of Doug Hoffman over Dede Scozzafava and the Washington D.C. establishment, and likely over Democrat Bill Owens, hammers home the message that third partyism is not the direction conservatives need to take. “How can you say that,” you might be tempted to ask, “when the guy running on a third party ticket just took out the establishment Republican candidate?” Well, as Rush Limbaugh pointed out the other day, the Hoffman/Scozzafava divide was really the GOP primary that should have occurred to decide who the GOP nominee would be in the first place. If there had been a primary and rank-and-file Republicans had been allowed a voice in the process, Hoffman, by all evidence, would have been the nominee going into this race. Hoffman himself still identifies himself as a Republican. The ones who largely will be giving him victory in this election by voting for him are Republicans. The big names whose support brought this race to national attention and helped to hand it to Hoffman were mostly people like Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, Tim Pawlenty, and others – in other words, Republicans. If Hoffman had had to rely solely upon those inclined to vote third party, he would not even be in the running. Hoffman will be a winner because conservative Republicans in this district and across the country revolted against the politics-as-usual and went for the guy who was more ideologically in line with them.
I want to be up front with folks – I completely understand the frustration that many have with the Republican Party, or more properly, with the spineless “leadership” of the GOP. Last week, I wrote up my own scathing harangue aimed at the elitist GOP county-club caste. I completely understand why people would want to wash their hands of it all and go third party. That being said, I think that is the wrong direction for conservatives to take, at least at this point. A good argument can be made, in fact, that a lot of the reason for the leftward drift in the GOP is because conservatives have been leaving it over the years. As conservatives leave, the moderates grow disproportionately more powerful in the party, and the ugly cycle starts all over again. In essence, conservatives have been acting to eliminate their own options. What the events surrounding the NY-23 special election show is that conservatives, both inside and outside the GOP, when we get together and start acting in one accord, can get things done within the Republican Party. Because let’s face it – Doug Hoffman most likely will not remain a Conservative Partyist only. When it comes time for him to be re-elected next year, he will be back to running on both the CP and GOP lines, unless the district-level GOP leadership up there is just completely insane and vindictive. When all is said and done, what we conservatives have accomplished is to win this seat for a conservative Republican.
My argument is that going third party is something of a cop out. It’s an easy way for some conservatives to prove their ideological purity without having to do any heavy lifting. Face it, taking the Republican Party away from the country club RINO elite and delivering it back into the hands of the conservative rank-and-file where it belongs will be a battle. It won’t be easy. It’s not something that we’re just going to snap our fingers and see happen. But it can be done. We’ve already seen it at work in NY-23, and there no reason that we can’t see it happen all across this country – if we’re willing to man up and do it. There’s no reason why we should fritter away our strength among dozens of third parties, each vying to prove its self to be the One True Conservative Party. Why build a national organization from the ground up, when there’s no need and one is already in place, ripe for the taking? While painting the GOP with a broad brush and accusing all Republicans of being RINOs (ironic, that) and condemning the GOP across the board may be emotionally satisfying to some, it is ultimately destructive to the conservative movement. Think of it this way – you don’t shoot a wild horse that’s bucking you. You saddle it, break it, and make it do what you want it to. That should be our attitude towards the GOP and its current crop of “leaders.”
This being said, we conservatives need to do more than just plan political strategy. We need to re-establish our ideological foundation. We need to agree upon a foundational set of beliefs and positions that we want our candidates to hold to – be they Republican or be they the occasional Independent or Third Partyist in case we have another NY-23. As such, I’d like to submit the following as an outline of what we ought to look for that will distinguish us from the RINOs, the moderates, and others. Who knows, maybe somebody out there more policy-detail oriented than I would like to run with it and develop the next Contract for America? Of course, these should apply equally at the local and state levels as well, and while I may touch on a few examples, there are many specific and individual policy decisions that, when approached under these general guidelines, would readily be agreed upon by most conservatives. At any rate, I believe we can probably agree that our candidates should:
Support Liberty: Liberty is something that all politicians talk about, but which has widely various meanings, depending on who is using the word. What I mean by “support liberty” is this: we should seek out candidates who hold to the overarching view that the fewer laws we have, the better; the less money our government takes and spends, the better; the fewer intrusions into the everyday lives of American citizens, the better. I want to see candidates who will go up to Washington and who will go through the U.S. Code and see what can be removed, rather than what can be added. There are laws on the books that make you a criminal for growing a certain kind of flower in your landscaping. There are any number of laws on the books that people unknowingly violate any day of the week. Laws like these that serve no real public utility, and only serve to make criminals out of law-abiding citizens, and which unduly hinder us from living how we want to live, need to go. I want to see candidates who will seek to remove from the federal budget the spending and the waste that aren’t necessary for the constitutional functions of this government. I want candidates who don’t just mouth platitudes about tax and spending cuts, but who have an ideological commitment to lessening the burden that the government places on the people – all across the board.
Support Capitalism and Private Property: We need candidates who are committed to the truth that economic freedom is the necessary corollary to political freedom. I don’t want people who will support capitalism until a bank says it needs bailed out with public funds. I want people who will stand up and say that we’re not going to assault the underpinnings of our economic prosperity, regardless of what “crisis” occurs. We need candidates who will resist the urge to expropriate the property of hard-working citizens so that they can give it to yet another big box store promising to generate more tax revenues for the locality. We need candidates who support tax cuts for other reasons besides just the supply-side argument of maximizing tax revenues. We need leaders who will support small business and the middle class, rather than undermining and destroying them.
Support the Constitution: We need candidates whose first instinct, upon seeing a bill set before them on their desk, will be to ask “Is this thing constitutional?” instead of “will this thing buy me some votes with a special interest group?” We need candidates who won’t laugh when somebody asks them about the constitutionality of a bill. Subsumed under this would be candidates who clearly and unequivocally support our 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms, our 1st amendment right to political and religious speech, and our 4th amendment right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. At the same time, we need candidates who understand that the Constitution does allow for the federal government to operate in some spheres of activity, and who will not hinder it from doing so, such as in the pursuit of foreign policy and military action deemed necessary by our duly elected leaders.
Support the Rule of Law: Concomitant with a respect for the Constitution, we need candidates who will also have a respect for legitimate laws that are framed under and in line with that document. We need candidates who understand the difference between justice and anarchy. We need candidates who understand that the sovereignty and integrity of our borders is a necessary part of the rule of law, and that it is detrimental to reward lawbreaking that helps to undermine the very foundations of our sovereignty as a nation to make and enforce our own laws and our own borders.
Support for an America First Foreign Policy: I want to see conservatives fielding candidates who will take into account the benefit and advancement of the United States of America first, over and above the concerns of foreign nations or extra-governmental bodies. We need candidates who will refuse to support or enter into any agreement – such as the Copenhagen climate agreement or the Law of the Sea Treaty – that will harm the well being of our nation. We need leaders who will refuse to surrender even an ounce of American sovereignty to any foreign power, from the United Nations on down.
Support the Family: When I say “pro-family,” I don’t just mean adhering to the right position on a litany of socially conservative positions on a few hot button issues. I mean that we need to find and support candidates who will work to restore the traditional nuclear family to its position of prominence as the pillar of our social stability. Without the foundation of a father and a mother raising the children to be law-abiding good citizens, we have seen our country descend further and further into crime, anarchy, and corruption. As it currently stands, there are a number of things on the books – no-fault divorce, the organization of our welfare system, the marriage penalty in our tax code, and much more – that serve to undermine the stability of the family as the driving social force in America. We need candidates and leaders who will support the family, since strong families where good values are taught and where support is received from other family members will remove much of the demand for the government to act like a father and a nanny to the people of this nation.
Support Life: One of the fundamental liberties that are affirmed in our Declaration of Independence is the right to life. Opposition to abortion is implicit in this. We need to support candidates who understand that life IS a liberty issue – when abortion is allowed to take place, the liberty of an individual, in this case one who is unborn, is destroyed irrevocably. We must support leaders who will affirm the fact that the rights afforded by our Creator belong to ALL people, not just those who have passed through a birth canal.
These are probably just scratching the surface of what could be said on the subject of who conservatives should support. I readily acknowledge that there is much more that could be said than what I have done here. These are meant to be guidelines to stimulate discussion among conservatives about our fundamental values, and how we are to flesh them out, taking them from the realm of ideology to the realm of public policy. The last thing we need to do right now is rest on our laurels. There is a lot of hard work to be done between now and November 2010, and a lot of that will involve articulating our core convictions to the voters at large, cultivating conservative candidates who share those convictions, and capturing as much of the Republican party apparatus as possible to provide a ready-made vehicle for the advancement of those convictions.
Cleveland, OH – Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs with both Liberty Counsel and Liberty Alliance Action issued the following statement on News that the left-wing United Church of Christ (UCC) and other quasi-Christian liberal groups are calling for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to officially investigate talk radio and other conservative media outlets in an effort to “put an end” to “hate speech” and so-called “media violence:”
“One man’s principled conviction is another man’s ‘hate speech,’” said Barber. “For this reason – to protect the free exchange of ideas – our Founding Fathers gave us the First Amendment. The election of President Obama and the recent passage of so-called ‘hate crimes’ legislation has galvanized the radical homosexual lobby, the pro-amnesty crowd, the quasi-Christian left and other fringe factions. Now, more than ever, they are emboldened to silence all dissent.
“We knew it was merely a matter of time until liberals – to include the Obama administration – would begin using the euphemistic terms ‘hate crimes’ and ‘hate speech’ interchangeably. None of us thought it would happen this fast. Those of us who opposed the new ‘hate crimes’ law have charged for years that the bill’s true objective was to silence any opposition to liberal views, including principled opposition to the homosexual lifestyle and illegal immigration. Before the ink on Obama’s ‘hate crimes’ signature is even dry, we have our smoking gun. The verdict? Guilty as charged.
“Unfortunately, the UCC’s leadership is cut from the same counter-biblical, anti-American cloth as President Obama’s racist pastor Jeremiah Wright. The religious-left movement fervently pushes the doctrines of postmodern secularism – all dolled-up and tagged ‘Christian.’ They want to have their religion cake and eat it too. In order to achieve their extreme left-wing goals, they are willing to stand by – strike that – they are willing to advocate the trampling of our beloved First Amendment under jackbooted government heel.
“But I’m encouraged. Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the rest of their like-minded cohorts continue to over play their hand. Despite open attempts to “remake” America, we are not an Eastern Bloc country. We’ve defeated the cancer of Marxism before and we’ll do it again. As I believe today’s election will prove; the tide is turning. Liberty will prevail.”
The October 25 episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO featured a segment showing a man in a bathroom of a Catholic home mistakenly splattering urine on a picture of Jesus. After he fails to clean it off, a woman enters the restroom and thinks Jesus is weeping. She and her mother gather in the bathroom and pray over the weeping Jesus.
The ridicule of Christians is clearly the objective in this episode. Christians will protest against this attack, but actor Larry David doesn't need to worry about having his head chopped off for ridiculing Christians.
Perhaps, in a new episode, David should have an actor urinate on a copy of the Muslim Qu'ran to see how Islamists react to televised ridicule of their faith.
A major shift in American politics apparently has occurred, perhaps marking the greatest change from liberalism to conservatism since the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Some 16 Gallup polls conducted from January to September 2009 show 40 % of U.S. citizens now describe their political ideology as conservative, a shift from 2005 to 2008, when moderates weighed in as nearly even with conservatives. Today's figures show conservatives at 40 %, moderates at 36 % and liberals at 20 %.
With conservatives and moderates taken together at 76 %, slightly over three-quarters of the Nation identifies itself as an electorate that has made a major move to the right, leaving liberals at 20 % of the voting public - indicating liberals also may be tiring of giving away other people's money.
These Gallup polls surveyed a larger than normal number, with a margin of error said to be one percentage point.
Pollsters, political pundits and disappointed liberals search for answers to the political problems of the day. Some Americans are becoming more introspective. As they search within themselves for answers, it becomes more obvious every day that government does not provide all the answers for the culture and the economy.
This was the great lesson learned during the James E. (Jimmy) Carter Presidency: More government was not the be-all, end-all, for the needs of the Nation. Carter’s Administration left the nation in a malaise, a vague feeling of uneasiness, showing Americans once again more government was not the answer. In retrospect, the Carter Administration was necessary. It brought the Nation to the realization that it was adrift and that it needed an abrupt change in direction if it were to continue on the time-honored course of the American Dream. President Ronald W. Reagan brought back that American Dream by gifting America with his philosophy describing America as "the Shining City on the Hill." President Carter was very necessary at the time. His misguided administration led the nation to elect Reagan as President.
America finds itself at such a juncture today. The electorate has mistaken charisma for character in electing President Barack H. Obama. In addition, the Federal Government is completely controlled today by one party. A 60-vote majority in the Senate gives the Democrats a veto-proof national legislature. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Harry M. Reid (D-NV) have a firm grip on Congress and President Obama controls the Executive Branch. While the situation may seem dire for American conservatives, it is essentially where America was during the Carter Administration.
The Administration is overplaying its hand and citizens are beginning to realize this. It becomes more and more obvious the U.S. economy is slipping into a deeper recession and that the excessive debt the Administration is accumulating through massive deficit spending added to the massive debt created by various stimulus plans have failed to stimulate job growth as promised.
The present economic downturn and massive unemployment may well turn for the better with this sudden surge of conservatism in America. Just as Carter brought us Reagan, Obama may well bring the Nation a conservative president in the Reagan mold. In the 1980s Reagan solidified conservative strength in the Nation as American morals were breaking down and the economy faced a serious downturn. He brought the Nation back to the "Shining City on the Hill," helped create 11 million new jobs and established the Reagan model, which has become the conservative standard of today.
The Obama Administration has over three years to run. There will be many discouraging days for conservatism but in the final analysis the true and strong American character, as it has since the Nation's earliest Colonial days, will prevail. Keep looking for that "Shining City on the Hill." It is still there, though it may be clouded by the fog of too much government today.
E. Ralph Hostetter, a prominent businessman and publisher, also is an award-winning columnist and Vice Chairman of the Free Congress Foundation Board of Directors.
Human eggs and sperm have been grown in the laboratory in research which could change the face of parenthood.
It paves the way for a cure for infertility and could help those left sterile by cancer treatment to have children who are biologically their own.
But it raises a number of moral and ethical concerns. These include the possibility of children being born through entirely artificial means, and men and women being sidelined from the process of making babies.
Forever fertile? Infertile men and women could have their own biological children using the breakthrough sperm and eggs
Opponents argue that it is wrong to meddle with the building blocks of life and warn that the advances taking place to tackle infertility risk distorting and damaging relations between family members.
The U.S. government-funded research also offers the prospect of a 'miracle pill' which staves off the menopause, allowing women to wait longer to have a child.
It centres on stem cells, widely seen as a repair kit for the body.
Scientists at Stanford University in California found the right cocktail of chemicals and vitamins to coax the cells into becoming eggs and sperm.
Controversial: Britain's oldest mother Elizabeth Adeney, 67, who went abroad for IVF, is pictured here with her newborn son in June this year
The sperm had heads and short tails and are thought to have been mature enough to fertilise an egg.
The eggs were at a much earlier stage but were still much more developed than any created so far by other scientists.
The double success, published in the journal Nature, raises the prospect of men and women one day 'growing' their own sperm and eggs for use in IVF treatments.
The American team used stem cells taken from embryos in the first days of life but
hope to repeat the process with slivers of skin.
The skin cells would first be exposed to a mixture which wound back their biological clocks to embryonic stem cell state, before being transformed into sperm or eggs.
Starting with a person's own skin would also mean the lab-grown sperm or eggs would not be rejected by the body.
The science also raises the possibility of 'male eggs' made from men's skin and 'female sperm' from women's skin.
This would allow gay couples to have children genetically their own, although many scientists are sceptical about whether it is possible to create sperm from female cells, which lack the male Y chromosome.
The U.S. breakthrough could unlock many of the secrets of egg and sperm production, leading to new drug treatments for infertility.
Defects in sperm and egg development are the biggest cause of infertility but, because many of the key stages occur in the womb, scientists have struggled to study the process in detail.
Researcher Rita Reijo Pera, of Stanford's Centre for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, believes new fertility drugs are just five years away.
However, safety and ethical concerns mean that artificial sperm and eggs are much further away from use.
Dr Reijo Pera said any future use of artificial eggs and sperm would have to be subject to guidelines.
'Whether one builds the boundaries on religion or just on an internal sense or of right and wrong, these are important. In this field, it is not "anything goes".'
Scientists at Newcastle University claimed to have made sperm from embryonic stem cells earlier this year but the research paper has been retracted.
Dr Allan Pacey, a Sheffield University expert in male fertility said: 'Ultimately this may help us find a cure for male infertility. Not necessarily by making sperm in the laboratory, I personally think that is unlikely, but by identifying new targets for drugs or genes that may stimulate sperm production to occur naturally.
'This is a long way off, but it is a laudable dream.'
Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said that IVF should be the preserve of married couples.
'The question is, why are we creating artificial gametes (eggs and sperm) and aborting 200,000 babies a year when there are many, many couples willing to adopt?'
Josephine Quintavalle, of the campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, warned that any flaws in the artificial sperm or eggs could be passed on to future generations.
Anthony Ozimic, of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: 'The use of artificial gametes in reproduction would distort and damage relations between family members.
'There are no instances of any major medical advance achieved by abandoning basic ethical principles such as safeguarding the right to life.'
Bill O’Reilly was the first to bring up Pat Robertson’s statement on the Haitian pact with the devil to rid them of French rule. Bill said he didn’t agree with Pat but Dawkins says in an article posted online that at least Robertson is true to his own theology.
The American team used stem cells taken from embryos in the first days of life but
hope to repeat the process with slivers of skin.
Dr Reijo Pera said any future use of artificial eggs and sperm would have to be subject to guidelines.