Posts Tagged ‘reality’

Does John Cole know the internet exists?

Posted: April 25, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news, tea parties
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Apparently not because he makes the following statement:

They weren’t around protesting during the Bush years BECAUSE THE TEA PARTY IS REPUBLICANS. They don’t care about the deficit. They care that a Democrat (and a black “Muslim,” to boot), is in the White House. They don’t care about fiscal restraint, they care that a Democrat is in the White House.

Now I’ve attended a few tea parties and talked to people there. The trust level for republicans is not very high. If you had interviewed these people you would know this. As for the suggestion that people who support the tea parties care only that a Democrat is in the White House well, let me make the introductions…

John Cole…meet Glenn Reynolds. You might have heard of the man, he was writing about something you might recalled known as porkbusters. The earliest entry in the 3 pages of archives when you search for “Porkbusters” is May 16 2006. There is actually a blog entry from Sept 18th of 2005 as well available.

John Cole…Michelle Malkin. You might know the lady. (I’ve met her very gracious and did a kind deed for my older brother) I took the liberty of searching her archive for “porkbusters” and lo and behold it goes back to Sept 19th 2005.

Now I don’t claim to have a photographic memory but I seem to recall that there was no democrat, black or otherwise in the White House at the time nor was there a republican majority in the house where spending originates.

If you want to pretend that it’s all about President Obama’s pigmentation you go on ahead. It will earn you hits from the left and love from the media. Just don’t expect people who know how to use a search engine to take you seriously.

Update: Bad link, Thanks to Patrick for spotting it.

Update 2: Patrick does more than correct my bad link:

The reason I raised a stink about this, is because John Cole is doing two things; first of all, he is doing something that I feel is just wrong — but is what the liberal left is known for and that is collectivism. Blaming an entire group for the actions of a few. Which, I feel, is wrong. Secondly, Cole is playing fast and loose with the facts and with pinning blame, which I think he knows; but because he hopped the fence, because Bush did not do things, like he thought they ought to be done, he bailed on the right — he feels that he has to recite the talking points of the left, in order to remain in their good graces. Although, I could be wrong on that one.

Amazon Review: How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization

Posted: April 24, 2010 by datechguy in amazon reviews, catholic
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My old review from June 2008 of How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization is available at Amazon.com here.

This book should be required reading for the media before they write a single story on the church.

And in case you live under a rock here is the sketch in question from the review:

The list from the Church would likely be longer.

It’s more than a threat, it’s a temptation

Posted: April 22, 2010 by datechguy in catholic, internet/free speech, media, opinion/news
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When you look at the South Park situation, the reaction of comedy central and the sudden concern at offending religion that seems to pop up as long as that religion isn’t Christianity in general or Catholicism in particular, it tends to make the average Christian sick.

You have seen the Lord berated, your forms of worship mocked. You find yourself called every name in the book in movies and film, you endure the wrath of the mainstream media for your willingness to stand against sin and when like all men, you succumb to sin of any sort they pounce with glee.

For Catholics in particular, the religion that brought you hospitals, education of the non-noble classes, the preservation of some of the greatest knowledge of antiquity, t religion that feeds, clothes, and shelters more people worldwide than any other and has done so for centuries. The religion whose dedication to educating the poor is so great that even atheists donate to our schools. To see comedy central happily insult Christ and the Pope while bleeping out even the name of Islam’s prophet, its gotta be another twist of the knife.

But worse than that, it is a temptation. It comes from jealousy. It is a little voice that is saying: “Hey you know that Christ is worth defending, you see how the media and almost everyone in Hollywood cringe and bow all it takes is an ambiguous phase.” Just one little suggestion, you don’t even have to do anything, that sort of a “me too” thing, than maybe just maybe they will decide to leave you alone too. It’s not so bad, after all it will keep them from violating the second commandment, it will keep kids from getting the idea they can make fun of the Lord. Maybe even save a soul or two.”

It’s the same kind of voice that the kid who works at the local grocery store for minimum wage hears when he sees a neighbor who is dealing with a $500 iPhone. It’s the voice the girl working two jobs to pay student loan hears when she sees another working three days at the strip club or maybe turning a trick, with money in the bank.

But most important of all it’s the same kind of voice that whispered to Scott Roeder, telling him it was alright to murder.

That voice should not be unfamiliar to us. it whispered to Herod to remove the children who might be a threat to their rule, it told Peter that it was ok to deny Jesus to save his skin, that told Pilate that it was better to kill an innocent man than to risk rebellion and told Judas that he was doing the right thing to deliver Jesus to the High Priest.

For a Christian that is the real significance of the South Park incident. Not what has actually been done, Christ and the Church has been the subject of ridicule as long as there have been Christians, it is the attempt to tempt away from our church, our faith and our very identity.

What should our response be? Prayer for Parker and Stone, Prayer for the Islamic barbarians who want to kill them, and prayer for that same media that scorns us.

It is through that prayer that we will not only save ourselves and others because in the end that is the bottom line. It’s what’s at stake, if we look at it otherwise, then we commit the sin of pride. There is a reason why it leads the list of deadly sins. As Christ said:

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me also hates my Father. John 15:18-23

This is the way things are, and we’d best act like it.

The Four Wise men

Posted: April 19, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech
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They came from two different continents and four different countries. One had fled war, another left as a wall fell, and two of them via the visa lottery simply to make a better life for themselves.

The first was born in the old soviet union in the early 60’s and came to the country after the fall of the wall. He went to school and worked hard finally finding himself wearing a ranger’s badge on the Boston Common. He talked about saving his money and educating his children and the appreciation of life in America. He didn’t always agree with his adopted country but it made a better life for him and his family

The second came from Ghana. Driving an overnight shift he talked about how he was able to support his family and make a life for his kids. He drove long hours but felt the rewards and the possibilities were great as long as his children took the time to take advantage of them and stayed true to God.

The driver from Eritrea

The third came from Eritrea, he talked about coming here in 1992 and his wife following the next year. He was amazed at all that was possible in America. Two of his four children were in college and two more were growing up. He spoke with amazement at all that was possible for him and his family.

The fourth came from Ethiopia and eloquently told of his life, His two children were grown now one married and one not. He talked of the 16 hour days he worked both driving cab and in a small variety store he ran. He expressed his disgust as he

An amazing man from Ethiopia

would see people spend hundreds of dollars a week on lottery ticket machines daily just outside his place only to come inside and pay for staples with Food stamps.

Their stories all wound through different path that led to America but they shared so many traits, hard work, a desire to make their lives better, stressing education , responsibility and thrift to their children and simple amazement, particularly of young Americans who neither understood or appreciated the opportunity that is their birthright. They were determined that their children would know and understand the great gift granted them, to live a life in a land where they could even in bad times reach their full potential if only they were willing to do it.

They had one other thing in common. All of them expressed support for the tea party movement. None of them marched or held a sign or rallied, but their pursuit of the American Dream taught them those same values that millions were marching for. Every man and woman who spoke at a rally would have heard and approved of their stories, the details were different but the ending was the same. Their story is the story of America at its best.

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