Zogbys
It seems that in my zeal to expose Bush administration lying I have concluded that every Zogby on earth is the pollster John Zogby.
In yesterday's post I provided a link giving details of how the Bushies have spun Iraq poll data. The poll was conducted by John Zogby, the article I referenced is written by James Zogby. I apologize for the mix up, but not for pointing out manipulation used to justify war.
I have to thank my cyber pal Steve Bates for pulling my coat tail.
Black Commentator
In case you didn't know, Senator Orrin Hatch gave blackcommentator.com a starring role in yesterday's confirmation hearing for Judge Janice Brown. It is a great site. Check it out.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Thanks for Nothing George
We all look older than we did in 1997. But suppose you involved yourself in a war that most of the world opposed with a man most of the world despises or fears? I think you would age worse than the rest of us do. If you were recently diagnosed with an irregular heart beat it wouldn't be surprising either. Judge for yourself.
I Told You So
In my October 7th post I discussed the way the Bushies have lied about the results of polls conducted in Iraq. John Zogby, whose poll results were manipulated, gives more details.
On September 28th I discussed the dangers of Americans knowing so little about Iraqi culture. We Americans don't know a lot about our own culture after all. The New York Times give us the sad details. Maybe someone in the U.S. military might consider developing a crash course in Iraqi etiquette if not in the Arabic language.
How foolish of me to even think such a thing. I'm sorry. I must have been dreaming. The Freedom Rider is definitely too tired to write another word this evening. Good night.
We all look older than we did in 1997. But suppose you involved yourself in a war that most of the world opposed with a man most of the world despises or fears? I think you would age worse than the rest of us do. If you were recently diagnosed with an irregular heart beat it wouldn't be surprising either. Judge for yourself.
I Told You So
In my October 7th post I discussed the way the Bushies have lied about the results of polls conducted in Iraq. John Zogby, whose poll results were manipulated, gives more details.
On September 28th I discussed the dangers of Americans knowing so little about Iraqi culture. We Americans don't know a lot about our own culture after all. The New York Times give us the sad details. Maybe someone in the U.S. military might consider developing a crash course in Iraqi etiquette if not in the Arabic language.
How foolish of me to even think such a thing. I'm sorry. I must have been dreaming. The Freedom Rider is definitely too tired to write another word this evening. Good night.
Ronald Reagan and Elizabeth Smart
Some years ago America began a new and cruel tradition that takes place in February, May and November every year. This horror is known as television sweeps months.
Someone, whose identity is best left a mystery, thought it would be a great idea to determine advertising rates based on these months of the year. The results are television schedules that make no sense (reruns in December) and dopey made for television movies.
Well November is just around the corner and what are we anticipating? The parents of a kidnapped and no doubt sexually abused child making a buck off of her ordeal and soap suds about Ronald Reagan that have caused a collective conservative temper tantrum.
Why are conservatives whining? It seems that stealing a presidential election, the California governor's office and Texas redistricting isn't enough for them. Any depiction of Ronald Reagan has to show how he "won" the cold war. Get over it. It is not a documentary, it is a sweeps months flick. Of course it will be all about Nancy and the astrologer. If conservatives really want to show their concern for the way history is portrayed on television they should flex their considerable muscle and advocate for documentary production on network television. Once upon a time the networks produced documentaries.
I could take the conservatives seriously if they would aim their venom at a target perfectly ripe for villification, the Smart family. How in the world can a family whose child was kidnapped by a perverted religious fanatic make money off of her ordeal? I wonder if the upcoming made for television movie will tell the story of Richard Ricci. Richard Ricci was a neighbor of the Smarts who had a criminal record. The "experts" of tabloid cable shows decided he was guilty. The police were under pressure to solve the case and found a reason to put him in jail. He died in jail. He was innocent.
As for the Reagan biopic, I am incensed about another issue. It is obvious that Hollywood hates older women. Hates them so much in fact that they will not allow an older actress to portray an older woman. Judy Davis is too young to portray Nancy Reagan. This problem is especially obvious with First Lady portrayals. Was I the only one who thought that 30ish Joan Allen was oh, 30 years too young to play Pat Nixon in the crummy Oliver Stone Nixon film? HBO did Stone one better when Felicity Huffman portrayed Lady Bird Johnson in Path to War. That was not the only bad casting. Michael Gambon, who could not lose his British accent, portrayed LBJ. But I digress.
If Bill Bennett is going to huff and puff about sweeps months travesties he should get back to the business of preaching to the rest of us about something important. If he starts with Katie Couric interviewing a traumatized child I would lay off the right wing for a while. I might even praise them.
Some years ago America began a new and cruel tradition that takes place in February, May and November every year. This horror is known as television sweeps months.
Someone, whose identity is best left a mystery, thought it would be a great idea to determine advertising rates based on these months of the year. The results are television schedules that make no sense (reruns in December) and dopey made for television movies.
Well November is just around the corner and what are we anticipating? The parents of a kidnapped and no doubt sexually abused child making a buck off of her ordeal and soap suds about Ronald Reagan that have caused a collective conservative temper tantrum.
Why are conservatives whining? It seems that stealing a presidential election, the California governor's office and Texas redistricting isn't enough for them. Any depiction of Ronald Reagan has to show how he "won" the cold war. Get over it. It is not a documentary, it is a sweeps months flick. Of course it will be all about Nancy and the astrologer. If conservatives really want to show their concern for the way history is portrayed on television they should flex their considerable muscle and advocate for documentary production on network television. Once upon a time the networks produced documentaries.
I could take the conservatives seriously if they would aim their venom at a target perfectly ripe for villification, the Smart family. How in the world can a family whose child was kidnapped by a perverted religious fanatic make money off of her ordeal? I wonder if the upcoming made for television movie will tell the story of Richard Ricci. Richard Ricci was a neighbor of the Smarts who had a criminal record. The "experts" of tabloid cable shows decided he was guilty. The police were under pressure to solve the case and found a reason to put him in jail. He died in jail. He was innocent.
As for the Reagan biopic, I am incensed about another issue. It is obvious that Hollywood hates older women. Hates them so much in fact that they will not allow an older actress to portray an older woman. Judy Davis is too young to portray Nancy Reagan. This problem is especially obvious with First Lady portrayals. Was I the only one who thought that 30ish Joan Allen was oh, 30 years too young to play Pat Nixon in the crummy Oliver Stone Nixon film? HBO did Stone one better when Felicity Huffman portrayed Lady Bird Johnson in Path to War. That was not the only bad casting. Michael Gambon, who could not lose his British accent, portrayed LBJ. But I digress.
If Bill Bennett is going to huff and puff about sweeps months travesties he should get back to the business of preaching to the rest of us about something important. If he starts with Katie Couric interviewing a traumatized child I would lay off the right wing for a while. I might even praise them.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Short Takes
The Freedom Rider is having a very busy week so she is slacking off a little. She will never forget her loyal readers so she is taking the easy way out with a few short takes.
Rummy's morale problems.gif
According to this Washington Post story, Rummy has more than a hot foot to worry about. It seems that some soldiers on leave are "missing" flights back to Iraq. If you want to know why check out my October 19th post.
Turn the sound on for this cartoon. In 2004 Florida was stolen months before election day when Jeb Bush and friends took as many as 90,000 likely democratic voters off the rolls. They can't do that again but they have found something new.
The Freedom Rider is having a very busy week so she is slacking off a little. She will never forget her loyal readers so she is taking the easy way out with a few short takes.
Rummy's morale problems.gif
According to this Washington Post story, Rummy has more than a hot foot to worry about. It seems that some soldiers on leave are "missing" flights back to Iraq. If you want to know why check out my October 19th post.
Turn the sound on for this cartoon. In 2004 Florida was stolen months before election day when Jeb Bush and friends took as many as 90,000 likely democratic voters off the rolls. They can't do that again but they have found something new.
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Freedom Rider Update
Look for my weekly column in Black Commentator. This entry is a nice way to end, hopefully forever, Marriage Protection Week.
A Fool's Errand
In my October 17th post I questioned the wisdom of young people seeking to improve their lot in life through military service.
Now comes word that Army Reserve and National Guard troops at Fort Stewart, Georgia are being denied medical care. Some have untreated injuries while others are suffering neurological problems that may be connected to vaccines. The Army's response is to say that their conditions were pre-existing. That lets Uncle Sam off the hook for medical care. Be all that you can be, if they don't kill you first.
The variety of illnesses categorized as Gulf War Syndrome may also have been caused by vaccines that were meant to protect against chemical weapons attack. I have to add here that when Saddam Hussein was actually using chemical weapons in the 1980s he was America's friend.
The next time you watch the news and see Rumsfeld making the case for war, remember this picture of him and his then buddy Saddam Hussein.
If you want to read more about the suffering of U.S. troops in Iraq go here, here, and here.
No, Congressman Rangel, we don't need to reinstitute the draft. We need to say no to the madness of militarism. The armed forces should exist to protect our nation and to intercede when necessary to save lives. Neither scenario applied in Iraq.
Look for my weekly column in Black Commentator. This entry is a nice way to end, hopefully forever, Marriage Protection Week.
A Fool's Errand
In my October 17th post I questioned the wisdom of young people seeking to improve their lot in life through military service.
Now comes word that Army Reserve and National Guard troops at Fort Stewart, Georgia are being denied medical care. Some have untreated injuries while others are suffering neurological problems that may be connected to vaccines. The Army's response is to say that their conditions were pre-existing. That lets Uncle Sam off the hook for medical care. Be all that you can be, if they don't kill you first.
The variety of illnesses categorized as Gulf War Syndrome may also have been caused by vaccines that were meant to protect against chemical weapons attack. I have to add here that when Saddam Hussein was actually using chemical weapons in the 1980s he was America's friend.
The next time you watch the news and see Rumsfeld making the case for war, remember this picture of him and his then buddy Saddam Hussein.
If you want to read more about the suffering of U.S. troops in Iraq go here, here, and here.
No, Congressman Rangel, we don't need to reinstitute the draft. We need to say no to the madness of militarism. The armed forces should exist to protect our nation and to intercede when necessary to save lives. Neither scenario applied in Iraq.
A Yellow Dog
It may be hard to believe now, but there was a time when the south was solidly democratic. It was said that southerners would vote for a yellow dog before they would vote for republicans. Of course, this was before the civil rights movement became identified with democrats. Slowly but surely the electoral landscape became solidly republican for white southerners.
But there are always exceptions, even in the state of Bush and DeLay. One of the links on this site is for the The Yellow Doggerel Democrat. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You will learn that there are progressives all over the land, some of whom are working against the tide in the Lone Star State.
In his latest post Steve Bates, the yellow dog, give us updates on the Patriot Act, environmental racism, warnings about our savings and frightening news of a Christian supremacist zealot who is Rumsfeld's right hand man.
By the way, as the title of the site indicates, Steve is also a great poet.
It may be hard to believe now, but there was a time when the south was solidly democratic. It was said that southerners would vote for a yellow dog before they would vote for republicans. Of course, this was before the civil rights movement became identified with democrats. Slowly but surely the electoral landscape became solidly republican for white southerners.
But there are always exceptions, even in the state of Bush and DeLay. One of the links on this site is for the The Yellow Doggerel Democrat. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You will learn that there are progressives all over the land, some of whom are working against the tide in the Lone Star State.
In his latest post Steve Bates, the yellow dog, give us updates on the Patriot Act, environmental racism, warnings about our savings and frightening news of a Christian supremacist zealot who is Rumsfeld's right hand man.
By the way, as the title of the site indicates, Steve is also a great poet.
Friday, October 17, 2003
Taking It to the Streets
The purpose of the military is to make war. It is not a job training program, it is not a college scholarship program and we need to explain these facts to young people in the most emphatic way.
The army is using hip-hop culture and Source magazine to recruit black kids and the promise of citizenship to lure Latino immigrants.
It is time to tell young people not to join up. Charles Rangel and others concerned about the disproportionate numbers of recruits of color say we should reinstitute the draft. We had a draft during Vietnam and it didn't keep the George W. Bush's of the world from getting cushy National Guard assignments while the poor went off to 'Nam. Of course, Bush didn't really serve. He was AWOL for one year, but that is another story.
If we we are going to fight against the use of our young people as cannon fooder we need to fight American militarism. We need to keep our country from intervening military and we need to tell our young people that it isn't worth it to join up.
The purpose of the military is to make war. It is not a job training program, it is not a college scholarship program and we need to explain these facts to young people in the most emphatic way.
The army is using hip-hop culture and Source magazine to recruit black kids and the promise of citizenship to lure Latino immigrants.
It is time to tell young people not to join up. Charles Rangel and others concerned about the disproportionate numbers of recruits of color say we should reinstitute the draft. We had a draft during Vietnam and it didn't keep the George W. Bush's of the world from getting cushy National Guard assignments while the poor went off to 'Nam. Of course, Bush didn't really serve. He was AWOL for one year, but that is another story.
If we we are going to fight against the use of our young people as cannon fooder we need to fight American militarism. We need to keep our country from intervening military and we need to tell our young people that it isn't worth it to join up.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and the Boondocks
As every reader of this blog knows, the Freedom Rider is no fan of any Bush administration official. In one of my first posts, on September 14th, I spoke of the lies told on Dubya's behalf by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Suffice it to say that I don't like her, her boss, or her colleagues because of what they have wrought in the world. So it came as some surprise to me that I wound up defending her yesterday. Who was the instigator of this 180 degree turn? Of course it could only be Aaron McGruder, creater of the Boondocks comic strip. He had this to say about Rice.
The Freedom Rider is single, and like all single women has had to withstand the slings and arrows of both men and women who use female singleness to explain any and all negative character traits. I once had a female boss who I complained about quite a bit. Invariably I was asked, "Is she married? Does she have a man?" When I said she did not the inquisitor would usually say that living the solo life was the cause of her unpleasantness. As everyone knows women without men are hateful, bitter shrews. Mind you I have known married women who are hateful, bitter shrews, but no one uses marital status to explain their personalities.
So I fussed and fumed at Mr. McGruder on behalf of single women every where. However, I was forced to do another 180 when I read today's Boondocks. The Freedom Rider had to castigate herself. Had she missed obvious satire in the first Boondocks? I like to think I am very, very smart so I was and am deeply troubled by the Boondocks incident.
All of this brings me to another issue. As I said in an earlier post today, Greg Thielmann, a former aide to Colin Powell, has confirmed that Powell told a series of huge, wopping lies on February 5th in a United Nations speech used to justify an invasion of Iraq. Despite the fact that Powell has consistently lied in order to justify the war he is still admired by a majority of black Americans and by white liberals as well. I always hear that Powell is really "the spook who sat by the door," that he is going to resign, that he isn't really a Republican, that he restrains the conservatives, etc.
It is time to face the facts. Colin Powell has worked for the last three Republican presidents. He worked for Reagan as National Security Adviser, then as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs under Bush the elder, and now as Secretary of State for Shrub. May I ask why we should doubt that someone who has served as a top aide in three Republican administrations is in fact a Republican? Why does anyone think he is going to resign? He hasn't resigned because he likes what he does. He is a militarist who is comfortable with the foreign policy goals of this administration.
Most black people still speak highly of Powell, however. It really isn't hard to understand the reasons. At this late date in history most black people will defend those in the group who have done well. We keep voting for Democrats but even the beloved Bill Clinton never gave the most prominent White House jobs to blacks. Along comes Colin Powell in one of the highest level cabinet positions. The likelihood that black people will speak ill of him is slim.
But what of Condi? I never hear the same level of support expressed for her. Part of the explanation is sexism. Because she is a woman she doesn't get the pass from black people that Powell gets. I have also heard more than one person ask why she has never married. Is she a lesbian? What is really wrong with her?
Personality may play a role too. Powell seems to be a down to earth, congenial person. Rice quite frankly comes across as being prissy, which doesn't mesh well with comments like, "We don't want a mushroom cloud to be the smoking gun." Her hawkish remarks only make her look like the kid who always sucked up to the teacher. Powell manages to come across as being his own guy, one most people would like. His demeanor helps to insulate him from the liberal animus reserved for the rest of the Bush team. His skin color doesn't hurt either. Even in the age of Clarence Thomas and Armstrong Williams we don't want to think there are any black conservatives. Any black person who wants to be a conservative should be just that. But the vast majority of us who are anything but political conservatives must not be fooled when people who look like us don't hold the same views. If I had to choose between having Thomas or a white liberal on the bench, I would choose the white liberal.
I don't like Rice or Powell. Neither is more worthy of my respect than Rumsfeld or Cheney. I am afraid that Iraq is the harbinger of some terrible things to come for this country, so I leave racial identitfy aside when judging this administration.
I wish that more people were ready to judge other blacks, yes even prominent ones, by their actions. It makes no sense to dislike the President but love his Secretary of State. The President is the boss after all. The Secretary of State, like everyone else, follows the boss's orders or quits. If Powell quits I will reconsider. But it would still be hard to think of him and not remember the lies he told to get us into an unnecessary and dangerous war.
As every reader of this blog knows, the Freedom Rider is no fan of any Bush administration official. In one of my first posts, on September 14th, I spoke of the lies told on Dubya's behalf by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Suffice it to say that I don't like her, her boss, or her colleagues because of what they have wrought in the world. So it came as some surprise to me that I wound up defending her yesterday. Who was the instigator of this 180 degree turn? Of course it could only be Aaron McGruder, creater of the Boondocks comic strip. He had this to say about Rice.
The Freedom Rider is single, and like all single women has had to withstand the slings and arrows of both men and women who use female singleness to explain any and all negative character traits. I once had a female boss who I complained about quite a bit. Invariably I was asked, "Is she married? Does she have a man?" When I said she did not the inquisitor would usually say that living the solo life was the cause of her unpleasantness. As everyone knows women without men are hateful, bitter shrews. Mind you I have known married women who are hateful, bitter shrews, but no one uses marital status to explain their personalities.
So I fussed and fumed at Mr. McGruder on behalf of single women every where. However, I was forced to do another 180 when I read today's Boondocks. The Freedom Rider had to castigate herself. Had she missed obvious satire in the first Boondocks? I like to think I am very, very smart so I was and am deeply troubled by the Boondocks incident.
All of this brings me to another issue. As I said in an earlier post today, Greg Thielmann, a former aide to Colin Powell, has confirmed that Powell told a series of huge, wopping lies on February 5th in a United Nations speech used to justify an invasion of Iraq. Despite the fact that Powell has consistently lied in order to justify the war he is still admired by a majority of black Americans and by white liberals as well. I always hear that Powell is really "the spook who sat by the door," that he is going to resign, that he isn't really a Republican, that he restrains the conservatives, etc.
It is time to face the facts. Colin Powell has worked for the last three Republican presidents. He worked for Reagan as National Security Adviser, then as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs under Bush the elder, and now as Secretary of State for Shrub. May I ask why we should doubt that someone who has served as a top aide in three Republican administrations is in fact a Republican? Why does anyone think he is going to resign? He hasn't resigned because he likes what he does. He is a militarist who is comfortable with the foreign policy goals of this administration.
Most black people still speak highly of Powell, however. It really isn't hard to understand the reasons. At this late date in history most black people will defend those in the group who have done well. We keep voting for Democrats but even the beloved Bill Clinton never gave the most prominent White House jobs to blacks. Along comes Colin Powell in one of the highest level cabinet positions. The likelihood that black people will speak ill of him is slim.
But what of Condi? I never hear the same level of support expressed for her. Part of the explanation is sexism. Because she is a woman she doesn't get the pass from black people that Powell gets. I have also heard more than one person ask why she has never married. Is she a lesbian? What is really wrong with her?
Personality may play a role too. Powell seems to be a down to earth, congenial person. Rice quite frankly comes across as being prissy, which doesn't mesh well with comments like, "We don't want a mushroom cloud to be the smoking gun." Her hawkish remarks only make her look like the kid who always sucked up to the teacher. Powell manages to come across as being his own guy, one most people would like. His demeanor helps to insulate him from the liberal animus reserved for the rest of the Bush team. His skin color doesn't hurt either. Even in the age of Clarence Thomas and Armstrong Williams we don't want to think there are any black conservatives. Any black person who wants to be a conservative should be just that. But the vast majority of us who are anything but political conservatives must not be fooled when people who look like us don't hold the same views. If I had to choose between having Thomas or a white liberal on the bench, I would choose the white liberal.
I don't like Rice or Powell. Neither is more worthy of my respect than Rumsfeld or Cheney. I am afraid that Iraq is the harbinger of some terrible things to come for this country, so I leave racial identitfy aside when judging this administration.
I wish that more people were ready to judge other blacks, yes even prominent ones, by their actions. It makes no sense to dislike the President but love his Secretary of State. The President is the boss after all. The Secretary of State, like everyone else, follows the boss's orders or quits. If Powell quits I will reconsider. But it would still be hard to think of him and not remember the lies he told to get us into an unnecessary and dangerous war.
Yes, Limbaugh Is an Addict
Leave it to Bill Maher to cut to the chase. Regular readers of Freedom Rider notice that I quote Maher often. He is cynical but I think that is necessary in discussing American society. Sometimes he is mean and I find that infuriating, but he hits one out of the park (it is that time of year) in discussing Limbaugh.
Leave it to Bill Maher to cut to the chase. Regular readers of Freedom Rider notice that I quote Maher often. He is cynical but I think that is necessary in discussing American society. Sometimes he is mean and I find that infuriating, but he hits one out of the park (it is that time of year) in discussing Limbaugh.
Colin Powell is a Liar
I always knew that the Bush administration was filled with liars. Unlike most black people I don't make excuses for Colin Powell. He is as big a liar as Cheney, Rummy, Condi and the rest of the gang. When I have more time I will explore why Powell continues to have credibility with most black Americans while Condi does not. The Freedom Rider is a wage slave with a personal life as well. If I could just get rid of the wage slave part I would write to my hearts content.
Fortunately a former Powell aide has spoken out about the UN speech back in February that made the case for war. He confirms what those of us in the anti-war community have long known. The administration was determined to go to war and made up the "facts" as they went along.
I think these comments are pretty devastating. Let's see what the liberal media makes of them.
I always knew that the Bush administration was filled with liars. Unlike most black people I don't make excuses for Colin Powell. He is as big a liar as Cheney, Rummy, Condi and the rest of the gang. When I have more time I will explore why Powell continues to have credibility with most black Americans while Condi does not. The Freedom Rider is a wage slave with a personal life as well. If I could just get rid of the wage slave part I would write to my hearts content.
Fortunately a former Powell aide has spoken out about the UN speech back in February that made the case for war. He confirms what those of us in the anti-war community have long known. The administration was determined to go to war and made up the "facts" as they went along.
I think these comments are pretty devastating. Let's see what the liberal media makes of them.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Right Wing Radio
Last night the Newshour with Jim Lehrer broadcast a story about right wing dominance of talk radio. I felt the reporting was very biased in favor of conservatives. Sean Hannity states with a perfectly straight face that the network news has a liberal bias. Any rebuttal? Nope. Then there is the canard of the Cuomo and Hightower failures which we are told prove the unpopularity of liberal thought. Near the end they finally mention the Reagan era ending of the Fairness Doctrine. Oprah and Leno can shill for Arnold and not face any repurcussions.
In any case read the transcript and listen if you have a media player. You should also tell them what you think at onlinenewshour@newshour.org.
Last night the Newshour with Jim Lehrer broadcast a story about right wing dominance of talk radio. I felt the reporting was very biased in favor of conservatives. Sean Hannity states with a perfectly straight face that the network news has a liberal bias. Any rebuttal? Nope. Then there is the canard of the Cuomo and Hightower failures which we are told prove the unpopularity of liberal thought. Near the end they finally mention the Reagan era ending of the Fairness Doctrine. Oprah and Leno can shill for Arnold and not face any repurcussions.
In any case read the transcript and listen if you have a media player. You should also tell them what you think at onlinenewshour@newshour.org.
Monday, October 13, 2003
Thou Shalt Think for Thyself
The Freedom Rider is a Baptist who sits in a church pew nearly every Sunday morning. I obviously feel that religious belief plays a beneficial role in my life. When I think of the power of faith I think of people like Martin Luther King, Archbishop Oscar Romero and the Dalai Lama. This is but a small list of those whose search for the means of enlightened living have revolutionized our world. My image of the role that faith plays in our lives is one of furthering the cause of the human condition by challenging us to live lives of righteousness, addressing the needs of the poor and powerless, sharing ideas that are enobling and uplifting, and finding common ground for people of all faiths.
This past week has been a tough one as far as religious enlightenment is concerned. I knew that the Catholic Church, like most others, disapproves of sex unless it is between a man and a woman who are married to one another. It also forbids the use of any contraceptive devices, including condoms. So I am not surprised nor do I condemn the Vatican for speaking out against condom use. However, I was surprised to hear the Catholic Church telling people in countries with high rates of HIV that condoms increase the risk of infection. Needless to say, the World Health Organization and others were startled and angry that people at risk would be told not to use condoms. Vatican officials replied to the criticism by repeating the same statement. They insist, against all scientific evidence, that latex condoms are not impermeable to the AIDS virus. Strike one against organized religion. Lest I be accused of harboring anti-Catholic bias I will now move my lens to Protestants.
If the pastor of my church moved to another city I would wish him well, pray for his success and welcome the new pastor. I would also look askance at him if he asked anyone to move lock, stock and barrel to join him in a new city. Apparently there are those who disagree with me. Rev. Dana Carson, established a church in Austin, Texas and then moved on to Alvin, Texas, nearly 200 miles away. About 300 of 5,000 members of his congregation moved with him. The Rev. Carson had a good explanation for the willingness of people to quit jobs, sell homes, change their children's schools and move to another town.
"It's a cultural thing," Carson said. "African-Americans are more relationship-based. Whites are more analytical. When African-Americans have a relationship with a preacher, they stick with him."
I will bluntly say that this story scared the living daylights out of me. The commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is apropos in situations such as Rev. Carson's. Are congregants worshipping God, or Dana Carson? I would also ask him to speak for himself. Whites are no more analytical than blacks, thank you very much. There are equally foolish white people who would relocate in order to stay with the same preacher.
Who's up next? The Episcopalians have not been doing too well lately. Ever since an openly gay man was confirmed as a bishop the Anglican Church has been at risk of dividing. It is not surprising that the confirmation of a gay bishop would be controversial, but would you believe that far right ring millionaires are funding the effort to split Anglicans? The same people who funded the effort to bring down the Clinton presidency are working to break up the Episcopal church. It isn't difficult to understand why Bishop Robinson's confirmation has generated so much debate, but I don't understand Christians aligning themselves with people who cynically use religion to fight political battles.
I always defend believers when I hear religion referred to as the opiate of the people. Well, there are a lot of drugged, sleepy Christians these days. I don't know how to reclaim the higher ideals of faith. Perhaps it is simple enough to say loudly that they need to be reclaimed.
I don't think that God would have given us powerful and complex brains if he didn't want us to think. So please think. Think a lot. Think long and hard. Ask questions. God is big enough to handle any questions or comments you may have.
Fight the good fight of faith.
St. George
Does the Associated Press think that the president is an angel?
The Freedom Rider is a Baptist who sits in a church pew nearly every Sunday morning. I obviously feel that religious belief plays a beneficial role in my life. When I think of the power of faith I think of people like Martin Luther King, Archbishop Oscar Romero and the Dalai Lama. This is but a small list of those whose search for the means of enlightened living have revolutionized our world. My image of the role that faith plays in our lives is one of furthering the cause of the human condition by challenging us to live lives of righteousness, addressing the needs of the poor and powerless, sharing ideas that are enobling and uplifting, and finding common ground for people of all faiths.
This past week has been a tough one as far as religious enlightenment is concerned. I knew that the Catholic Church, like most others, disapproves of sex unless it is between a man and a woman who are married to one another. It also forbids the use of any contraceptive devices, including condoms. So I am not surprised nor do I condemn the Vatican for speaking out against condom use. However, I was surprised to hear the Catholic Church telling people in countries with high rates of HIV that condoms increase the risk of infection. Needless to say, the World Health Organization and others were startled and angry that people at risk would be told not to use condoms. Vatican officials replied to the criticism by repeating the same statement. They insist, against all scientific evidence, that latex condoms are not impermeable to the AIDS virus. Strike one against organized religion. Lest I be accused of harboring anti-Catholic bias I will now move my lens to Protestants.
If the pastor of my church moved to another city I would wish him well, pray for his success and welcome the new pastor. I would also look askance at him if he asked anyone to move lock, stock and barrel to join him in a new city. Apparently there are those who disagree with me. Rev. Dana Carson, established a church in Austin, Texas and then moved on to Alvin, Texas, nearly 200 miles away. About 300 of 5,000 members of his congregation moved with him. The Rev. Carson had a good explanation for the willingness of people to quit jobs, sell homes, change their children's schools and move to another town.
"It's a cultural thing," Carson said. "African-Americans are more relationship-based. Whites are more analytical. When African-Americans have a relationship with a preacher, they stick with him."
I will bluntly say that this story scared the living daylights out of me. The commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is apropos in situations such as Rev. Carson's. Are congregants worshipping God, or Dana Carson? I would also ask him to speak for himself. Whites are no more analytical than blacks, thank you very much. There are equally foolish white people who would relocate in order to stay with the same preacher.
Who's up next? The Episcopalians have not been doing too well lately. Ever since an openly gay man was confirmed as a bishop the Anglican Church has been at risk of dividing. It is not surprising that the confirmation of a gay bishop would be controversial, but would you believe that far right ring millionaires are funding the effort to split Anglicans? The same people who funded the effort to bring down the Clinton presidency are working to break up the Episcopal church. It isn't difficult to understand why Bishop Robinson's confirmation has generated so much debate, but I don't understand Christians aligning themselves with people who cynically use religion to fight political battles.
I always defend believers when I hear religion referred to as the opiate of the people. Well, there are a lot of drugged, sleepy Christians these days. I don't know how to reclaim the higher ideals of faith. Perhaps it is simple enough to say loudly that they need to be reclaimed.
I don't think that God would have given us powerful and complex brains if he didn't want us to think. So please think. Think a lot. Think long and hard. Ask questions. God is big enough to handle any questions or comments you may have.
Fight the good fight of faith.
St. George
Does the Associated Press think that the president is an angel?
Happy Columbus Day
Today in 1492 Christopher Columbus found himself in the Caribbean. He was looking for a new route to India. Men will just not ask for directions.
The arrival of the Europeans had horrific consequences for millions of people. The native populations of every nation in this hemisphere were devastated by disease and conquest. Every nation in this hemisphere participated in the evil enslavement of Africans. I sure hope that whole karma idea is bogus. If it isn't we are in very big trouble.
Viet, um Iraq
Take a look at this story. Having learned absolutely nothing from our experience in Vietnam, some genius in the U.S. military had the bright idea of punishing Iraqi farmers for not informing on guerrillas. Do you think the people whose livelihoods have been destroyed will be pro or anti-American? Just asking. Also, check the archives for my September 28th post.
Unfortunately, the information glut wrought by the internet is wasted on our president. You see he doesn't read the newspaper. Don't reread the previous sentence. There is nothing wrong with your eyes or my writing. The president does not read the paper. He said so himself. Check out this exchange with Brit Hume of Fox News.
HUME: How do you get your news?
BUSH: I get briefed by Andy Card and Condi in the morning. They come in and tell me. In all due respect, you've got a beautiful face and everything.
I glance at the headlines just to kind of a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves. But like Condoleezza, in her case, the national security adviser is getting her news directly from the participants on the world stage.
HUME: Has that been your practice since day one, or is that a practice that you've...
BUSH: Practice since day one.
HUME: Really?
BUSH: Yes. You know, look, I have great respect for the media. I mean, our society is a good, solid democracy because of a good, solid media. But I also understand that a lot of times there's opinions mixed in with news. And I...
HUME: I won't disagree with that, sir.
BUSH: I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more interested in news. And the best way to get the news is from objective sources. And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world.
HUME: Mr. President, thank you very much.
BUSH: Thank you, sir.
Despite the fact that the president doesn't read the paper, he is worried about the media "filter" regarding Iraq. That means he needs a new PR offensive. We can now look forward to more strange statements from Condi Rice. Also see my September 14th post.
I only looked for the interview to get the newspaper quote, but the rest was equally revealing and scary. Check it out but be warned. It is not for the faint of heart. But sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
Today in 1492 Christopher Columbus found himself in the Caribbean. He was looking for a new route to India. Men will just not ask for directions.
The arrival of the Europeans had horrific consequences for millions of people. The native populations of every nation in this hemisphere were devastated by disease and conquest. Every nation in this hemisphere participated in the evil enslavement of Africans. I sure hope that whole karma idea is bogus. If it isn't we are in very big trouble.
Viet, um Iraq
Take a look at this story. Having learned absolutely nothing from our experience in Vietnam, some genius in the U.S. military had the bright idea of punishing Iraqi farmers for not informing on guerrillas. Do you think the people whose livelihoods have been destroyed will be pro or anti-American? Just asking. Also, check the archives for my September 28th post.
Unfortunately, the information glut wrought by the internet is wasted on our president. You see he doesn't read the newspaper. Don't reread the previous sentence. There is nothing wrong with your eyes or my writing. The president does not read the paper. He said so himself. Check out this exchange with Brit Hume of Fox News.
HUME: How do you get your news?
BUSH: I get briefed by Andy Card and Condi in the morning. They come in and tell me. In all due respect, you've got a beautiful face and everything.
I glance at the headlines just to kind of a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves. But like Condoleezza, in her case, the national security adviser is getting her news directly from the participants on the world stage.
HUME: Has that been your practice since day one, or is that a practice that you've...
BUSH: Practice since day one.
HUME: Really?
BUSH: Yes. You know, look, I have great respect for the media. I mean, our society is a good, solid democracy because of a good, solid media. But I also understand that a lot of times there's opinions mixed in with news. And I...
HUME: I won't disagree with that, sir.
BUSH: I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more interested in news. And the best way to get the news is from objective sources. And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world.
HUME: Mr. President, thank you very much.
BUSH: Thank you, sir.
Despite the fact that the president doesn't read the paper, he is worried about the media "filter" regarding Iraq. That means he needs a new PR offensive. We can now look forward to more strange statements from Condi Rice. Also see my September 14th post.
I only looked for the interview to get the newspaper quote, but the rest was equally revealing and scary. Check it out but be warned. It is not for the faint of heart. But sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
Saturday, October 11, 2003
No Rush to judgment
It took Limbaugh's admission of drug addiction to get the New York Times to pay attention. Prior to his confession the story was not deemed worthy.
Limbaugh is a nationally known political commentator who is now part of a criminal investigation. I would have thought there was a story here for the "paper of record." Apparently if the story shows conservatives in a negative light it isn't fit to print.
It took Limbaugh's admission of drug addiction to get the New York Times to pay attention. Prior to his confession the story was not deemed worthy.
Limbaugh is a nationally known political commentator who is now part of a criminal investigation. I would have thought there was a story here for the "paper of record." Apparently if the story shows conservatives in a negative light it isn't fit to print.
Republican Shame
I am not sure if I should begin this post by criticizing the New York Times or Republican New York Governor George Pataki. Governor Pataki is embarking on one of the most shameful plans in American political history and the New York Times, having succumbed to right wing pressure not to seem even a little bit liberal, is complicit.
Larry Silverstein, the lease holder for the World Trade Center, is embroiled in a dispute with insurers to determine whether the 9/11 terror attacks are one or two separate incidents. What is the difference? The difference is worth $3.5 billion.
The Times headline for this story is Pataki Wants Insurance Settled So Trade Center Work Can Begin. It sounds pretty innocuous. But there is a sentence you would miss if you skimmed the article too quickly. "Mr. Pataki has said he wants the cornerstone for the first building at the trade center to be laid next August."
Why next August? Thanks to the shrewdness of the republicans their convention will take place in New York City in August of 2004. Republican Mayor Bloomberg was prepared to welcome the democrats as well, but thanks to that party's incompetence (that means you McAuliffe) only the republicans will have a convention in the media capital of the world two weeks before the 9/11 anniversary. It was reported earlier this year that the governor wanted the cornerstone laid during the convention, but the governor's office demanded and got corrections from the Times and other media.
How much longer can the republicans squeeze political benefit from the death of 3,000 people? Unless democrats and the media grow new spines they can get away with it through next year's presidential campaign. What will the press say if the governor succeeds in brokering a deal and the cornerstone is laid during the convention? Will they press the governor about the corrections and retractions they were forced to print?
I am not holding my breath.
I am not sure if I should begin this post by criticizing the New York Times or Republican New York Governor George Pataki. Governor Pataki is embarking on one of the most shameful plans in American political history and the New York Times, having succumbed to right wing pressure not to seem even a little bit liberal, is complicit.
Larry Silverstein, the lease holder for the World Trade Center, is embroiled in a dispute with insurers to determine whether the 9/11 terror attacks are one or two separate incidents. What is the difference? The difference is worth $3.5 billion.
The Times headline for this story is Pataki Wants Insurance Settled So Trade Center Work Can Begin. It sounds pretty innocuous. But there is a sentence you would miss if you skimmed the article too quickly. "Mr. Pataki has said he wants the cornerstone for the first building at the trade center to be laid next August."
Why next August? Thanks to the shrewdness of the republicans their convention will take place in New York City in August of 2004. Republican Mayor Bloomberg was prepared to welcome the democrats as well, but thanks to that party's incompetence (that means you McAuliffe) only the republicans will have a convention in the media capital of the world two weeks before the 9/11 anniversary. It was reported earlier this year that the governor wanted the cornerstone laid during the convention, but the governor's office demanded and got corrections from the Times and other media.
How much longer can the republicans squeeze political benefit from the death of 3,000 people? Unless democrats and the media grow new spines they can get away with it through next year's presidential campaign. What will the press say if the governor succeeds in brokering a deal and the cornerstone is laid during the convention? Will they press the governor about the corrections and retractions they were forced to print?
I am not holding my breath.
Friday, October 10, 2003
Speak Up
The right wing succeed in large part because they complain constantly. Progressive views are ignored or distorted by the media, yet conservatives whine about media bias.
NBC thinks it is OK if Leno shills for Schwarzenegger. Tell them you disagree.
tonightshow@nbc.com
The right wing succeed in large part because they complain constantly. Progressive views are ignored or distorted by the media, yet conservatives whine about media bias.
NBC thinks it is OK if Leno shills for Schwarzenegger. Tell them you disagree.
tonightshow@nbc.com
Thursday, October 09, 2003
Pat Robertson
It is after 11 p.m. and I am tired. I was on my way to bed when I made the mistake of checking just one more website. It was a bad mistake.
In my October 5th post I mentioned that Pat Robertson joined the "let's question a black person's credentials" onslaught with a criticism of Morgan Freeman. Freeman had the unmitigated gall to portray the Almighty in a film. What nerve.
Robertson is at it again. He thinks we should "get a nuclear device inside Foggy Bottomt" and blow it up. I know that conservatives don't like the State Department but this is getting to be ridiculous. First Ann Coulter wants to blow up the New York Times. Then Clarence Thomas wants to blow up his alma mater, Yale Law School. Now Robertson wants to blow up part of our own government. I have yet to hear of any liberals wanting to blow up anything. We just complain among ourselves and cry in our beer over the latest butt kicking by the people who want to blow things up.
Now I am going to bed.
It is after 11 p.m. and I am tired. I was on my way to bed when I made the mistake of checking just one more website. It was a bad mistake.
In my October 5th post I mentioned that Pat Robertson joined the "let's question a black person's credentials" onslaught with a criticism of Morgan Freeman. Freeman had the unmitigated gall to portray the Almighty in a film. What nerve.
Robertson is at it again. He thinks we should "get a nuclear device inside Foggy Bottomt" and blow it up. I know that conservatives don't like the State Department but this is getting to be ridiculous. First Ann Coulter wants to blow up the New York Times. Then Clarence Thomas wants to blow up his alma mater, Yale Law School. Now Robertson wants to blow up part of our own government. I have yet to hear of any liberals wanting to blow up anything. We just complain among ourselves and cry in our beer over the latest butt kicking by the people who want to blow things up.
Now I am going to bed.
More Freedom Rider
Check out my new column in Black Commentator. Black Commentator is published every Thursday.
Check out my new column in Black Commentator. Black Commentator is published every Thursday.
The NYPD is Boss
For many years Bruce Springsteen has been seen as a spokesperson for the struggling working class in America. His album, yes album, Born in the USA, with its red, white and blue motif was used by democrats and republicans alike to establish their credentials with the common man. Springsteen refused requests to run for public office and steadfastly maintained his political independence. He was wise to do so. Those who identified with his music in the past have gotten a bit more selective lately.
In a series of concerts at Shea Stadium Bruce opined that Bush should be impeached because of the unnecessary war in Iraq. Not everyone was pleased with that statement. Conservative pundit Laura Ingraham has recently written a book entitled, Shut Up and Sing, which attacks liberal entertainers for expressing their political views. I wonder how she feels about republican Governor Adolf, sorry, Arnold Schwarzenegger? Should he shut up and act?
Springsteen wrote a song, American Skin, which tells the story of Amadou Diallo, an immigrant from the West African nation of Guinea killed in a hale of 41 police bullets in 1999. He was struck by a total of 19 shots when he was mistaken for a rape suspect under mysterious circumstances. Actually the circumstances were not so mysterious. The cops said he went for his wallet and they thought it was a gun. Diallo isn't here to talk so I don't know if he did anything at all. The trial was moved from the Bronx to Albany in upstate New York and the four policemen were acquitted of the most serious charges. Why does Simi Valley come to mind when I think of this case?
Apparently it is not good enough that their colleagues were acquitted. The NYPD feels that the case can never be mentioned again. When Springsteen sang American Skin at Shea the NYPD withdrew his courtesy escort. It was returned the following night when Bruce was a good boy and didn't sing the offending song.
This story sums up why I am no fan of the police. Yes, I would dial 911 in an emergency but I would do so with trepidation. As Al Sharpton says, black people fear both the cops and the robbers. The officers who killed Amadou Diallo were looking for a rape suspect, which is a good thing. But they were trigger happy when they saw a black face and that makes me afraid of them.
I don't need lectures about crime in black neighborhoods and the need for police protection. Of course we need police protection. But it is difficult to trust armed men who are petty enough to take their marbles and go home because they are in a snit.
For many years Bruce Springsteen has been seen as a spokesperson for the struggling working class in America. His album, yes album, Born in the USA, with its red, white and blue motif was used by democrats and republicans alike to establish their credentials with the common man. Springsteen refused requests to run for public office and steadfastly maintained his political independence. He was wise to do so. Those who identified with his music in the past have gotten a bit more selective lately.
In a series of concerts at Shea Stadium Bruce opined that Bush should be impeached because of the unnecessary war in Iraq. Not everyone was pleased with that statement. Conservative pundit Laura Ingraham has recently written a book entitled, Shut Up and Sing, which attacks liberal entertainers for expressing their political views. I wonder how she feels about republican Governor Adolf, sorry, Arnold Schwarzenegger? Should he shut up and act?
Springsteen wrote a song, American Skin, which tells the story of Amadou Diallo, an immigrant from the West African nation of Guinea killed in a hale of 41 police bullets in 1999. He was struck by a total of 19 shots when he was mistaken for a rape suspect under mysterious circumstances. Actually the circumstances were not so mysterious. The cops said he went for his wallet and they thought it was a gun. Diallo isn't here to talk so I don't know if he did anything at all. The trial was moved from the Bronx to Albany in upstate New York and the four policemen were acquitted of the most serious charges. Why does Simi Valley come to mind when I think of this case?
Apparently it is not good enough that their colleagues were acquitted. The NYPD feels that the case can never be mentioned again. When Springsteen sang American Skin at Shea the NYPD withdrew his courtesy escort. It was returned the following night when Bruce was a good boy and didn't sing the offending song.
This story sums up why I am no fan of the police. Yes, I would dial 911 in an emergency but I would do so with trepidation. As Al Sharpton says, black people fear both the cops and the robbers. The officers who killed Amadou Diallo were looking for a rape suspect, which is a good thing. But they were trigger happy when they saw a black face and that makes me afraid of them.
I don't need lectures about crime in black neighborhoods and the need for police protection. Of course we need police protection. But it is difficult to trust armed men who are petty enough to take their marbles and go home because they are in a snit.
Nitwits?
Yesterday I referred to some of my co-religionists as "nitwits." It is indeed true that you shouldn't write when you are angry. Not only was I overly harsh but I was also a little redundant in my ranting. One of the problems with discourse today is that we use name calling instead of rigorous thought to win arguments. I don't want to be guilty of that so I will give it another try now that I have calmed down.
Too many people paint a faith based life in simplistic terms. However, the truth is exactly the opposite. It can be difficult to live in ways that are in keeping with the beliefs we profess.
Political issues are especially sticky when merged with religious belief. Christians and followers of other faiths want to be involved politically as much as anyone else, perhaps even more so because we feel so strongly about issues. But we make serious mistakes when we forget what the bible says about our relation to the state.
One of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Yet it was with great sadness that I observed devout Christians praying before a monument in an Alabama courtroom as though it were an idol. The display of this sacred text among the secular is disrespectful to Judeo-Christian tradition, not affirming.
The prayer given on prayforbush.com also smacks of idol worship. God does not give us politicians. Anyone who reads Freedom Rider knows I am no fan of President Bush. But I never prayed for Bill Clinton or any democrat to win an election. As much as I want to see a democratic victory in 2004 I won't do it now. We shouldn't cheapen God by saying he favors one political party over another.
I suppose that I used the word "nitwit" because this all seems so obvious to me. I am frightened when I see people of faith allowing themselves to be used by the politically powerful. We should all speak out on the issues that concern us. That will sometimes mean working within the political system. But we should never succumb to making ourselves servants of the state.
Dr. King made his most courageous statement when he broke with the Johnson administration in denouncing the Vietnam war. King lost friends and supporters when he spoke against his former benefactors. I believe that this decision also cost him his life.
How many of us are willing to risk so much? Christians fall every where on the political spectrum and we shouldn't hesitate to be politically active. However, we should never be so closely allied with the secular that we compromise our spiritual beliefs.
Yesterday I referred to some of my co-religionists as "nitwits." It is indeed true that you shouldn't write when you are angry. Not only was I overly harsh but I was also a little redundant in my ranting. One of the problems with discourse today is that we use name calling instead of rigorous thought to win arguments. I don't want to be guilty of that so I will give it another try now that I have calmed down.
Too many people paint a faith based life in simplistic terms. However, the truth is exactly the opposite. It can be difficult to live in ways that are in keeping with the beliefs we profess.
Political issues are especially sticky when merged with religious belief. Christians and followers of other faiths want to be involved politically as much as anyone else, perhaps even more so because we feel so strongly about issues. But we make serious mistakes when we forget what the bible says about our relation to the state.
One of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Yet it was with great sadness that I observed devout Christians praying before a monument in an Alabama courtroom as though it were an idol. The display of this sacred text among the secular is disrespectful to Judeo-Christian tradition, not affirming.
The prayer given on prayforbush.com also smacks of idol worship. God does not give us politicians. Anyone who reads Freedom Rider knows I am no fan of President Bush. But I never prayed for Bill Clinton or any democrat to win an election. As much as I want to see a democratic victory in 2004 I won't do it now. We shouldn't cheapen God by saying he favors one political party over another.
I suppose that I used the word "nitwit" because this all seems so obvious to me. I am frightened when I see people of faith allowing themselves to be used by the politically powerful. We should all speak out on the issues that concern us. That will sometimes mean working within the political system. But we should never succumb to making ourselves servants of the state.
Dr. King made his most courageous statement when he broke with the Johnson administration in denouncing the Vietnam war. King lost friends and supporters when he spoke against his former benefactors. I believe that this decision also cost him his life.
How many of us are willing to risk so much? Christians fall every where on the political spectrum and we shouldn't hesitate to be politically active. However, we should never be so closely allied with the secular that we compromise our spiritual beliefs.
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