Peace Protests?
The Diocese Report has a good collection of photos of peace protests from around the world that show the protestors to be anything but peaceful.
Monday, March 24, 2003
Fictitious Celebrities
Note to Michael Moore the fictitious president is Martin Sheen.
Leave it to an event in Hollywood for someone to lecture the country about fiction. Art imitates life. Sometimes those making the art forget that and get it back-wards--they think that they are the reality and that what is going on in the world is fiction. Sort of an eastern view of the world gone awry where everything that exists is an illusion.
But reality is different and in the real world Michael Moore is not a celebrity. In fact the average person waking up this morning and reading the newspapers account of Moore's comments last night at the Academy Awards won't even have a clue as to who the hell he is. In fact in most cases the actors who people do recognize are only known by the roles they play not their real selves. Like I said this is the world of fiction.
I am for peace but I am not for the spokespeople who carry the torch for peace in this country. Most of them make peace sound like one more partisan take on reality. I was against Clinton bombing medieval villages and I'm against Bush bombing the same. Unlike most I will not join a peace rally, but I will get down on my knees and pray both for those who have been sent to fight against the Iraqi's and for the innocents who stand in harm's way. I firmly believe that if people really believed in God and poured out their desire for peace in the world in prayer with the same passion that we hurdle hatred around that the world would be changed--miraculously.
But most of us are caught up in our own fiction of voicing peace but expressing it with anger and hatred in our hearts for each other. As Barry McQuire sang many years ago in "Eve of Destruction," "don't believe in war, ah what's that gun your toting?" The real fiction is that those who yell the loudest for peace are usually those who are most at war with their fellow human beings.
Note to Michael Moore the fictitious president is Martin Sheen.
Leave it to an event in Hollywood for someone to lecture the country about fiction. Art imitates life. Sometimes those making the art forget that and get it back-wards--they think that they are the reality and that what is going on in the world is fiction. Sort of an eastern view of the world gone awry where everything that exists is an illusion.
But reality is different and in the real world Michael Moore is not a celebrity. In fact the average person waking up this morning and reading the newspapers account of Moore's comments last night at the Academy Awards won't even have a clue as to who the hell he is. In fact in most cases the actors who people do recognize are only known by the roles they play not their real selves. Like I said this is the world of fiction.
I am for peace but I am not for the spokespeople who carry the torch for peace in this country. Most of them make peace sound like one more partisan take on reality. I was against Clinton bombing medieval villages and I'm against Bush bombing the same. Unlike most I will not join a peace rally, but I will get down on my knees and pray both for those who have been sent to fight against the Iraqi's and for the innocents who stand in harm's way. I firmly believe that if people really believed in God and poured out their desire for peace in the world in prayer with the same passion that we hurdle hatred around that the world would be changed--miraculously.
But most of us are caught up in our own fiction of voicing peace but expressing it with anger and hatred in our hearts for each other. As Barry McQuire sang many years ago in "Eve of Destruction," "don't believe in war, ah what's that gun your toting?" The real fiction is that those who yell the loudest for peace are usually those who are most at war with their fellow human beings.
Florida Gets Creamed by Michigan State
But thanks to Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel there is plenty to laugh about. Here is a snipet but go to the column for an example of great writing and it is even better if you are familiar with all the local Tampa references that he ties into it.
OrlandoSentinel.com: Sports Columnists Mike Bianchi:
Donovan actually said after the embarrassing loss that his Gators "overachieved" this season. That's a little like the captain of the Titanic sitting in the lifeboat afterward and saying, "Yeah, but what about that seafood buffet?"
The Gators may have overachieved during the regular season, but they have flamed out in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. The Gators are Pavarotti in the dress rehearsal, but they turn into Carrot Top when the lights go on. If Donovan keeps this up, we may have to start calling him Coach February.
Where was the fight in his team? Where was the grit? Florida was so concerned about being down by 10 points to the Spartans at halftime that they came out and reeled off four points in the first 11 minutes of the second half. Four lousy points.
But thanks to Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel there is plenty to laugh about. Here is a snipet but go to the column for an example of great writing and it is even better if you are familiar with all the local Tampa references that he ties into it.
OrlandoSentinel.com: Sports Columnists Mike Bianchi:
Donovan actually said after the embarrassing loss that his Gators "overachieved" this season. That's a little like the captain of the Titanic sitting in the lifeboat afterward and saying, "Yeah, but what about that seafood buffet?"
The Gators may have overachieved during the regular season, but they have flamed out in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. The Gators are Pavarotti in the dress rehearsal, but they turn into Carrot Top when the lights go on. If Donovan keeps this up, we may have to start calling him Coach February.
Where was the fight in his team? Where was the grit? Florida was so concerned about being down by 10 points to the Spartans at halftime that they came out and reeled off four points in the first 11 minutes of the second half. Four lousy points.
War Updates
Amy provided me with this one that does seem to be timely and complete: The Agonist--by Sean Paul Kelley
Amy provided me with this one that does seem to be timely and complete: The Agonist--by Sean Paul Kelley
Interesting Tale of About the Pope
Peter Vere relates an incident that he heard while attending a prolife conference in Canada some years ago that relates to the Pope and gives him a good reason to feel confident in trusting the Holy Father's view of things.
From the Envoy Magazine Blog:
One of the speakers worked in the Vatican, and he told us the following story of an incident he witnessed between the Holy Father and a bishop from East Germany. Basically, the bishop snuck through the iron curtain on a semi-regular basis to update the Holy Father on what was going on back in East Germany while still under communist rule. As the Holy Father listened to this bishop's report, his fingers were making their way through the mysteries of the Rosary.
As soon as the East German bishop finished his report, the Holy Father paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, then informed the bishop he was being named the new bishop of a see in West Germany.
"But Your Holiness," the bishop protested, "I could never take this appointment. I have spent my entire priesthood strengthening the faith of my flock in the face of communist persecution, encouraging them to persevere despite the dangerous conditions. To accept this transfer now would only bring more discouragement, as my people would feel that I abandonned them."
"Do not worry," the Holy Father replied, "it is all coming down."
"What is?" the bishop asked.
"All of it," Pope John Paul II answered.
"How do you know? Who told you?"
The Holy Father paused for a second, lifted his Rosary toward the sky, the said: "She told me."
Less than six months later, the Berlin wall fell.
Peter Vere relates an incident that he heard while attending a prolife conference in Canada some years ago that relates to the Pope and gives him a good reason to feel confident in trusting the Holy Father's view of things.
From the Envoy Magazine Blog:
One of the speakers worked in the Vatican, and he told us the following story of an incident he witnessed between the Holy Father and a bishop from East Germany. Basically, the bishop snuck through the iron curtain on a semi-regular basis to update the Holy Father on what was going on back in East Germany while still under communist rule. As the Holy Father listened to this bishop's report, his fingers were making their way through the mysteries of the Rosary.
As soon as the East German bishop finished his report, the Holy Father paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, then informed the bishop he was being named the new bishop of a see in West Germany.
"But Your Holiness," the bishop protested, "I could never take this appointment. I have spent my entire priesthood strengthening the faith of my flock in the face of communist persecution, encouraging them to persevere despite the dangerous conditions. To accept this transfer now would only bring more discouragement, as my people would feel that I abandonned them."
"Do not worry," the Holy Father replied, "it is all coming down."
"What is?" the bishop asked.
"All of it," Pope John Paul II answered.
"How do you know? Who told you?"
The Holy Father paused for a second, lifted his Rosary toward the sky, the said: "She told me."
Less than six months later, the Berlin wall fell.
Sunday, March 23, 2003
First Casualty of War--Truth
Surveying the major news networks one is struck with how inaccurate and varied the news can be reported during a war. Add to that an international news channel (thanks to satelite television) and you really get the picture. What is even more distressful though is that most of the news networks seem to have scripted around the clock guest experts and often these "experts" just get in the way of real news being reported. One network reports that Donald Rumsfeld has said something, the other says that the military has denied such a claim and the international news network presents the Iraqi news coference that refers to reports by the "Zionist Rumsfield."
All in all it is a reminder that the first casualty of war is the truth. One recalls the initial news reports of the Oklahoma City bombing as the work of Arab terrorists, and the initial planes crashing into the World Trade Centers as some problem with air traffic control in New York. The current glut of news coverage is filled with misreports and untruths. In the end who will remember what really has happened?
Surveying the major news networks one is struck with how inaccurate and varied the news can be reported during a war. Add to that an international news channel (thanks to satelite television) and you really get the picture. What is even more distressful though is that most of the news networks seem to have scripted around the clock guest experts and often these "experts" just get in the way of real news being reported. One network reports that Donald Rumsfeld has said something, the other says that the military has denied such a claim and the international news network presents the Iraqi news coference that refers to reports by the "Zionist Rumsfield."
All in all it is a reminder that the first casualty of war is the truth. One recalls the initial news reports of the Oklahoma City bombing as the work of Arab terrorists, and the initial planes crashing into the World Trade Centers as some problem with air traffic control in New York. The current glut of news coverage is filled with misreports and untruths. In the end who will remember what really has happened?
British Paper Reports Saddam is Still Alive
From the UK Telegraph:
A British official said: "Saddam Hussein was badly injured. He was so badly injured he needed a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, he was not critically injured. We think he is still alive. We also think his son Uday was killed or badly injured."
From the UK Telegraph:
A British official said: "Saddam Hussein was badly injured. He was so badly injured he needed a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, he was not critically injured. We think he is still alive. We also think his son Uday was killed or badly injured."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)