tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40179427938187026512024-03-12T17:33:23.855-07:00unmitigatedgallUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-27059041403071990872009-09-08T19:45:00.000-07:002009-09-08T19:48:10.693-07:00Close, but No cigar<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been following the controversy over Mr. Obama’s speech today (9-8-2009) to the nation’s school children and decided to watch the speech myself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It appeared to be nothing more than a pep talk geared toward getting students to work hard, be respectful and stay in school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The general message to the children was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m more concerned with the message that was sent to parents. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why was the speech broadcast live during the school day instead of in the early evening when parents could have watched it with their children?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Educators, lawmakers, employers and well just about everyone talks about the importance of parental involvement in our children’s education.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here was an opportunity for parents and children to watch the speech together and discuss it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet Mr. Obama chose to bypass that opportunity in favor of speaking to a captive audience.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Did Mr. Obama not trust parents to be interested in his pep talk?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Was he afraid that his critics would find ammunition in the speech?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One has to wonder.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Do those who champion parental involvement in education really mean what they say?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Government run public schools are the norm in this country.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My own experience as a parent has shown me that taking the path of least resistance and sending my child to the local public school was not the best way to draw me into my child’s education.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let me explain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did check my daughter’s homework when she went to public school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I listened to her read from the reading books she brought home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I looked at her progress reports.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I helped with spelling words.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I went to conferences with her teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even with all of that, I realize now that I had a certain fatalistic attitude toward the whole situation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My daughter’s public school used a substandard math curriculum called Every Day Mathematics.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I researched it on the internet and found that it is thoroughly reviled by college level math instructors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I mentioned this to other parents.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I mentioned this to my daughter’s teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nobody seemed concerned about it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What did I do?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I thought about complaining to the principal, the school board or the superintendent, but I never did it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I felt it would be hopeless to buck the system, to be the lone voice crying in the wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At the end of the last school year, I found out that the main thing my daughter thought she learned in school that year was to not pollute the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sure, I knew that my daughter was being taught about the rain forest and to recycle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I didn’t realize just how ‘green’ her education really was.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My husband and I decided to put our daughter in a private, Christian school this year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is a difference in my attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Every night, my husband and I try to pull out of her what she learned at school that day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not only do we see the money coming from our bank account and want to be sure we are getting the most from out money.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is also about wanting to be responsible for the choice we have made.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We want to be sure we’ve made the right decision and change things if we haven’t.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With most public education, parents don’t really make a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They just go with the flow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I believe that the public school concept as it operates today is not the optimal solution for encouraging parents to be involved with their children’s education.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t have a solution.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I expect that someone a good deal smarter than I am will have to figure that out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What I do realize, though, is that having choices and making choices about a child’s education forces parents to pay more attention to what their children are learning in school.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vouchers which allow children in underperforming school districts to attend a private school are a good first step.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The problem is that the same people that dictate public school curricula are also measuring performance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Their standards of what is acceptable performance may not agree with mine or that of other parents.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The public school my daughter attended is considered to be one of the best in the county.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, their math curriculum did not meet my standards and their worldview did not agree with my own. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In our situation, there is no possibility of a voucher.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As a middle class family, we can manage tuition for one child, but when the second one goes to school things will be tight.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How many middle income families find themselves stuck in a neighborhood public school because they can’t afford a private school?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Because there are no charter schools nearby?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Because there are no alternative schools in their school district?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One way to increase the choices parents have for their children’s education would be to return tax dollars that are paid into the local school system to the parents of children attending private school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This wouldn’t mean that tax payers at large are paying for private education for some else’s children.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It would be a simple matter of parents being allowed to use their own tax money for the school of their choice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While Mr. Obama’s pep talk was all well and good, the parents and students of this nation would be better served by a dedication to school choice rather than a perpetuation of the government education monopoly. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-22253499334960235062009-09-02T08:05:00.000-07:002009-09-02T08:25:51.592-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; "><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A Muslim Cleric in Iran has this to say about raping prisoners..</span></div><div><br /></div><blockquote>(IsraelNN.com) A highly influential Shi'a religious leader, with whom Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regularly consults, apparently told followers last month that coercion by means of rape, torture and drugs is acceptable against all opponents of the Islamic regime. [...]<p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; background-position: initial initial; ">"Can an interrogator rape the prisoner in order to obtain a confession?" was the follow-up question posed to the Islamic cleric.</p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; background-position: initial initial; ">Mesbah-Yazdi answered: "The necessary precaution is for the interrogator to perform a ritual washing first and <b>say prayers while raping the prisoner</b>. If the prisoner is female, it is permissible to rape through the vagina or anus. It is better not to have a witness present. If it is a male prisoner, then it's acceptable for someone else to watch while the rape is committed."...</p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; background-position: initial initial; ">A related issue, in the eyes of the questioners, was the rape of virgin female prisoners. In this instance, Mesbah-Yazdi went beyond the permissibility issue and described the Allah-sanctioned rewards accorded the rapist-in-the-name-of-Islam:</p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; background-position: initial initial; ">"<b>If the judgment for the [female] prisoner is execution, then rape before execution brings the interrogator a spiritual reward equivalent to making the mandated Haj pilgrimage [to Mecca], but if there is no execution decreed, then the reward would be equivalent to making a pilgrimage to [the Shi'ite holy city of] Karbala</b>."</p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; background-position: initial initial; ">One aspect of these permitted rapes troubled certain questioners: "What if the female prisoner gets pregnant? Is the child considered illegitimate?"</p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; background-position: initial initial; ">Mesbah-Yazdi answered: "The child borne to any weakling [a denigrating term for women - ed.] who is against the Supreme Leader is considered illegitimate, be it a result of rape by her interrogator or through intercourse with her husband, <b>according to the written word in the Koran</b>. However, if the child is raised by the jailer, then the child is considered a legitimate Shi'a Muslim."</p></blockquote><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; background-position: initial initial; "></p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The man who lives in the White House has the unmitigated gall to say we should respect Islam ...</span></p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 14px; font-size: 11px; "></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><blockquote><b>"a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress."</b></blockquote><blockquote><b><br /></b></blockquote><blockquote><b><br /></b></blockquote></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"></span><p></p><p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-6162127229997560862009-04-18T19:42:00.000-07:002009-04-18T20:38:00.629-07:00Extreme Makeover: DHS Edition<div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal">The Department of Homeland Security has recently issued a report to law enforcement agencies regarding the dangers of ‘rightwing extremism’. Some of the beliefs considered to be extreme are “rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority’, fear of an ‘impending economic collapse’, ‘frustration over a perceived lack of government action on illegal immigration’, seeing ‘recent gun control legislation as a threat to their right to bear arms’. The DHS also fears ‘disgruntled’ military veterans might use their skills for nefarious purposes. Coincidentally (?), the DHS report was released just one week before the tax day tea parties.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The word extreme can be defined in various ways. Here are a few that I found:</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <i>Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree<br /></i><i> Extending far beyond the norm<br /></i><i> Exceptionally unusual<br /></i><i> Very great<br /> </i><i>Not ordinary</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">In 1776 the thirteen British colonies in North America had the unmitigated gall to tell the king of the most powerful nation on earth to take a flying leap. That is extreme. The Declaration of Independence was written to explain to the world why the colonies were separating from the mother country. There was no attempt to hide what they were doing. That is extreme. </p><p class="MsoNormal">In 1787 the nation that sprang from those thirteen colonies produced a constitution. A constitution that created a system of government that would be accountable to its citizens. That is extreme. This system of federal government did not aggregate all power to <span class="GramE">itself</span>, but rather allowed state and local governments to manage their own affairs. That is extreme. This constitution guarantees basic rights to its citizens. That is extreme.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Never in the history of the world have any people lived in such liberty and prosperity as have the citizens of the United States of America. From the Persian Empire to the iron fist of Rome, from the despotic Muslim caliphate to the rule of medieval European monarchs, from the absolute power of Chinese emperors to the blood lust of the Aztecs no nation has ever had the peace and freedom that have been found in the United States of America. This nation is an anomaly. This nation is extreme.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Is the DHS report on ‘rightwing extremism’ wrong? The report makes it clear that the extremists are people who want their states to have the rights guaranteed by the tenth amendment, people who want their second amendment right to bear arms, people who expect the federal government to do its constitutional duty in securing our borders, people who have sworn an oath to uphold the constitution. Given that our constitution and Declaration of Independence are extremist documents it is only logical that anyone who holds to the principles stated in those documents is in fact an extremist. For our own government to take exception to that kind of extremity can only tell us that our government no longer adheres to the ideals of the constitution and the Declaration of Independence. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Hold on to what is right. Do not bristle at being labeled an extremist. Wear the title with honor and dignity. Wear it like an American. </p><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-81660860537435870082008-01-04T09:02:00.001-08:002008-01-04T09:05:15.014-08:00How Much Time Do WE Have Left?This is an appalling <a href="http://lionheartuk.blogspot.com/">story</a> from Great Britain. A blogger has been threatened with arrest for telling the truth about Islam.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-33808804431628750192007-07-31T07:03:00.000-07:002007-07-31T08:18:44.723-07:00Count Me In! Tolerant That IsIt’s now a crime to put a Koran in a toilet. In America. New York City to be exact. Don’t we have the right to free speech? Don’t we have a right to think whatever we want? Don’t we have a constitution? We’ll have nothing but sharia if CAIR get’s its way.<br /><br />Last night on Hannity and Colmes, Alan Colmes actually seemed to think that putting a Koran in a toilet should not be a hate crime. Will wonders never cease? Alas, though, poor Alan could not shake his fear of losing his status as an intellectual. He had to make his offering to the PC gods by harping on the intolerance of the person who flushed the Koran. He presented intolerance as if it were Satan incarnate (Alan probably doesn’t believe in Satan, but you get the idea).<br /><br />According to Merriam-Webster, tolerate means “<em>to allow to be or to be done without hindrance</em>”. So by definition, if we are to never be intolerant then we must allow everything. We must allow murder, rape, and theft. We must allow wife beating and pedophilia. We must allow violence and intimidation. If we try to hinder such things we are intolerant.<br /><br />The idea that we must tolerate everything stems from the idea that there is no absolute truth. If there are no absolutes, everything has to be tolerated because there is no reason not to tolerate it. Western society continues to give up its Judea-Christian foundation. As that foundation erodes, so does any belief in absolute truth. The secularists will say that is as it should be.<br /><br />Secularists will argue that strongly held religious beliefs breed hatred of those who are different. That is total nonsense. The issue is not whether people believe in absolutes. The issue is what those absolutes are. Religions are not all created equal. Does the Christian ideal of loving one’s enemies produce the same kind of world that is produced by the Islamic ideal of subduing the infidels?<br /><br />The refusal to acknowledge the existence of absolute truth is nothing but intellectual laziness. If everyone tolerates everything, there is no need to think about what is really right and wrong. There is no need to take the risk of coming up with the wrong answer. This worship of tolerance is no different from the Islamic worship of intolerance. Anything un-Islamic must be irradicated. No thinking is required or desired. These are two sides of the same coin and the coin is totally counterfeit.<br /><br />Intolerance in and of itself is not wrong. Western culture cannot survive unless we muster up the moral courage to believe in absolutes. What we don’t tolerate does matter. Giving up our constitutional rights in order to tolerate Islamic sharia will doom us to nothing but death and slavery.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-85378532849412992292007-07-25T13:24:00.000-07:002007-07-25T13:32:43.407-07:00A Must Read: Jihad by Paul FregosiI have just finished reading <strong><em>Jihad</em></strong> by Paul Fregosi. For anyone who wants to know the history of Islamic Jihad, this is a good starting point. Fregosi covers the Jihad in Europe from the 7th century to the end of the 1990's. This is a non-fiction account of the violence and mayhem caused by Islam (and yes the violent reponses by non-Muslims as well). It presents in detail the imperialist aspect of Islam and its quest for power, riches and sex.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-33000618963258953462007-07-19T20:00:00.000-07:002007-07-19T20:13:56.018-07:00John Doe Ammendment Is Nearly DeadUpdate: Both the House and Senate have squashed the John Doe ammendment. This legislation would have privided protection from lawsuits for Americans who report suspicious (terrorist) behavior.<br /><br />Michelle Malkin has the Senate <a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2007/07/19/dont-let-the-dems-kill-the-john-doe-amendment/">roll call </a>on her site. She includes this comment:<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">"This fight is not over. There still is a final conference<br />report to be hashed out. Keep your phones lit. The Senate Dems need to hear from<br />you."</span></blockquote></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330000;">I don't understand all the ins and outs of Senate procedures, but I have emailed my Senator just the same to voice my displeasure at his 'nay' vote. So let these Senators know what you think. It may still do some good.</span><br /><span style="color:#330000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330000;">When you look at the role call, notice the fence-sitting of Senator Obama. Was he afraid to vote 'yes' and lose all those Muslim votes that his Muslim family will get him? Was he afraid to vote 'no' and lose the other votes he thinks he can get? This man is not to be trusted.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-55028280087369467232007-07-19T16:46:00.000-07:002007-07-19T20:45:51.902-07:00Action Item: Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning BoardOn July 11, 2007, FrontPageMagazine posted a very disturbing article regarding the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board. As part of his ‘Hometown Jihad” series, Patrick Poole’s article has brought to public attention the presence of Abukar Arman on the Criminal Justice Planning Board. Who is Mr. Arman and why would his membership on this board be a problem?<br /><br />It turns out that Mr. Arman, a Somalian immigrant, <a href="http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0612/S00148.htm">is quite a fan of the Islamic Courts Union </a>(ICU). The ICU attempted to take over Somalia last year and oust the UN backed government. As the name indicates, the ICU began as dispensers and enforcers of Islamic law (Sharia) in Somalia. During its time in power, the ICU was in the process of imposing strict Sharia on Somalia. Since the ICU has been forced from power it has been discovered that they were <a href="http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=463962&in_page_id=1811">fostering terrorist cells</a>. The US State Department believes that the ICU has been controlled by al-Qaeda.<br /><br />One of the responsibilities of the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board is Homeland Security for Central Ohio. Can we afford to have a board member who appears to approve of having terrorists run Somalia? <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/11/opinion/edarman.php">In other writings</a>, Mr. Arman has shown admiration for terrorists such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi. <a href="http://www.antiwar.com/orig/arman.php?articleid=10398">Mr. Arman’s writings </a>also indicate that he doesn’t think the threat of terrorist activity in the United States is very severe. It seems to me quite imprudent to have this man on a board that oversees Homeland Security.<br /><br />The Criminal Justice Planning Board is about more than Homeland Security. Part of the board’s responsibility is…. Criminal Justice. Criminal law in the United States of America is based on laws that have been created by duly elected representatives of the citizens of this country. Sharia is not a part of that. Mr. Arman approves of the ICU. The ICU wants to impose Sharia in Somalia. What are Mr. Arman’s thoughts concerning Sharia for the Somali community in central Ohio? Is there a conflict of interest?<br /><br />While I cannot answer all of the questions I have raised here, I think it is the duty of the Franklin County Commissioners to investigate Mr. Arman’s fitness for the position he holds on the Criminal Planning Justice Board.<br /><br />Write the commissioners to request an inquiry.<br /><br /><br />Commissioner Kilroy's Contact Info:<br />Amy Billerman,<br />Aide to Commissioner Kilroy<br />614.462.5589<br /><a href="mailto:aabiller@franklincountyohio.gov">aabiller@franklincountyohio.gov</a><br /><br /><br />Commissioner Brooks Contact Information:<br />RJ Sontag,<br />Aide to Commissioner Brooks<br />614.462.5729<br /><a href="mailto:rjsontag@franklincountyohio.gov">rjsontag@franklincountyohio.gov</a><br /><br /><br />Commissioner Brown's Contact Info:<br />Laura Stehle,<br />Aide to Commissioner Brown<br />614-462-3461<br /><a href="mailto:ljstehle@franklincountyohio.gov">mailto:ljstehle@franklincountyohio.gov</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-41068609086027388192007-07-19T15:01:00.000-07:002007-07-19T15:07:06.975-07:00The King amendmentHere is a followup to my previous post. The King amendment is part of H.R. 1401(Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007)<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">SEC. 137. IMMUNITY FOR REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES<br />AND MITIGATING TERRORIST THREATS RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY.<br />(a)<br />Immunity for Reporting Suspicious Behavior- Any person who makes or causes to be<br />made a voluntary disclosure of any suspicious transaction, activity or<br />occurrence indicating that an individual may be engaging or preparing to engage<br />in a matter described in subsection (b) to any employee or agent of the<br />Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, the<br />Department of Justice, any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer, any<br />transportation security officer, or to any employee or agent of a transportation<br />system shall be immune from civil liability to any person under any law or<br />regulation of the United States, any constitution, law, or regulation of any<br />State or political subdivision of any State, for such disclosure.<br />(b) Covered<br />Disclosures- The matter referred to in subsection (a) is a possible violation or<br />attempted violation of law or regulation relating--<br />(1) to a threat to<br />transportation systems or passenger safety or security; or<br />(2) to an act of<br />terrorism, as defined in section 3077 of title 18, United States Code, that<br />involves or is directed against transportation systems or passengers.<br />(c)<br />Immunity for Mitigation of Threats- Any person, including an owner, operator or<br />employee of a transportation system, who takes reasonable action to mitigate a<br />suspicious matter described in subsection (b) shall be immune from civil<br />liability to any person under any law or regulation of the United States, any<br />constitution, law, or regulation of any State or political subdivision of any<br />State, for such action.<br />(d) Limitation on Application- Subsection (a) shall<br />not apply to a statement or disclosure by a person that, at the time it is made,<br />is known by the person to be false.<br />(e) Attorney Fees and Costs- If a person<br />is named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit for making voluntary disclosures of<br />any suspicious transaction or taking actions to mitigate a suspicious matter<br />described in subsection (b), and the person is found to be immune from civil<br />liability under this section, the person shall be entitled to recover from the<br />plaintiff all reasonable costs and attorney's fees as allowed by the<br />court.<br />(f) Retroactive Application- This section shall apply to activities<br />and claims occurring on or after November 20, 2006.</span><br /></blockquote></span><span style="color:#993399;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Note that this is retroactive to November 20, 2006 in order to protect the passengers who have been sued by the flying imams and their handlers from CAIR.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-60805649928809291422007-07-19T09:01:00.000-07:002007-07-19T09:30:55.989-07:00Action Item: The King AmendmentThere are some members of Congress who are attempting to get rid of what is know as the "King amendment" or the "John Doe amendement". The amendment is very likey to pass if it comes to a vote in either the house or Senate. However, there are those who want to kill it in committee before it can come to a vote.<br /><br />To refresh your memory: Several months ago a group of imams (hence know as the flying imams) behaved in a manner on on a U.S. Ariways flight that other passsengers thought was suspicious. The behavior was reported and the flying imams were eventually removed from the plane. The flying imams later decided to sue the airline and the 'John Doe' passengers who reported them. The essence of the King amendment (so named because it was proposed by Rep. Peter King of New York) is to protect citizens who in good-faith report suspicious behavior.<br /><br />For more information see <a href="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzU1NjliMGI4NTJiYzcwYTRlOWJhYTI5NDI1ZDU4NjQ=">Andy McArthy's article</a>. Also <a href="http://michellemalkin.com/">Michelle Malkin's blog</a>.<br /><br />We need to <a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/">contact our representatives </a>now to make sure this amendment is passed.<br />Contact <a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=447">Nancy Pelosi</a>, too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-87606432900506585002007-07-04T05:42:00.000-07:002007-07-04T05:46:05.435-07:00Who Is In Your Mirror?<blockquote><em><span style="color:#993399;">“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”</span></em></blockquote><p align="center"><br />John Adams </p><p align="left">I sometimes feel that I am neglecting my children. I spend a considerable amount of time watching the news, reading the news, listening to the news and reading blogs. I spend time discussing all this information with my husband and I write for my own blog. I also read books to get background on the events of times we live in. When I’m really vexed, I write my Senators and Congressman.<br /><br />So sometimes my girls watch a little too much television. Sometimes they fight with each other without my intervention. Sometimes the little one gets left in her highchair a bit longer than she needs to be.<br /><br />The immigration situation is out of control in this country and all that our Senate can do is try to ram their (and the President’s) agenda down our throats. We are faced with creeping Sharia and the threat of Islamic violence. Free speech is under attack. (Can you say Fairness Doctrine? Sure, I knew you could.) Public education has turned into PC indoctrination.<br /><br />What is a mother to do? As I look at the long term I feel the need to become more and more of an activist. A big part of that is to urge my fellow Americans to take the same approach. While I don’t want to advocate neglecting our children in the short term, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. If we want our children to have the opportunity to be good parents some day, we may have to be less than ideal parents now.<br /><br />We can make a difference. Learn a lesson from the Senate immigration bill. When we talk loudly enough, even our Imperial Senators listen. We need to educate ourselves so we can fight for our country, and fight for our freedoms. Then we need to be persistent in spreading the information we gain. Our elected officials at all levels need to know what we think.<br /><br />Take a look in the mirror this Fourth of July. Who do you see? Is it a person who is going to kick back, eat a burger, watch a parade and let everything we have slip away? Or is it someone who is going to be inspired to help keep this country strong and turn the wolf away from the door? Today is the day to decide who you really want to be.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-84271673347484029982007-06-22T20:15:00.000-07:002007-06-22T20:25:28.566-07:00The Freedom SeasonJune 23 is the anniversary of the Battle Bannockburn. While (hopefully all) Americans understand the significance of the 4th of July, probably very few are familiar with June 23 and its great battle. In 1314, at Bannockburn, an outnumbered army of Scots led by King Robert Bruce routed the English. After years of guerilla warfare, King Robert and his troops gained a decisive victory in their battle for independence from English control.<br /><br />After the death of King Alexander III in 1286, Scotland was left with no firm hand to rule the country. Alexander’s heir was his three year old grand daughter, Margaret, who lived in Norway. In 1290, little Queen Margaret made the journey to Scotland to take her throne. She died upon reaching Orkney. Scotland was to endure years of conflict to determine who would succeed her.<br /><br />Several families traced their lineage back to King David I. Each was convinced of the superiority of its claim. On the surface this looks like just a family squabble, a medieval version of Dallas with a nation instead of an oil company as the prize. So it might have been had it not been for the conniving of England’s King Edward I. Edward wanted the Scots to acknowledge him as their overlord. Edward was accustomed to getting what he wanted.<br /><br />Edward played the various Scottish factions against each other. It came down to John Comyn and Robert Bruce. Comyn appeared to be willing to bow to Edward I in order to gain his help in securing Scotland’s throne. Bruce, though somewhat of a waffler in his younger days, had decided that he would not be a puppet king.<br /><br />Bruce and Comyn met at the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries on February 10, 1306. There is no way of knowing what passed between them at that final meeting. Did they argue over Comyn’s treacherous alliance with Edward? Did each plan to seize the opportunity to rid himself of his arch rival? The only certainty is that Comyn did not survive their encounter that day.<br /><br />Did Bruce kill Comyn in an outraged fit of patriotism? Or did he become a patriot that day to save his own skin? Whatever the motivation, Robert Bruce had himself crowned king shortly after the murder of John Comyn. He spent the next eight years working to gain the trust, respect and loyalty of the people of Scotland. Despite having been excommunicated, he won the support of the people from all levels of society. The people of Scotland were willing to support his cause and endure the censure of the pope. In June of 1314 at the Battle of Bannockburn, the army of Robert Bruce, by God’s grace King of Scots struck the blow that would give Scotland its independence.<br /><br />So why should we care? That was nearly eight hundred years ago. Does it matter to 21st century Americans or even to 21st century Scots? I think it should.<br /><br />I think that Robert Bruce figured out something very important about the building and maintaining of an independent nation. It can’t be done by the nobility alone. Nor can it be achieved solely by the ‘small folk’. Every socio-economic level must be willing to not only acknowledge the other’s right to exist, but must be willing to work for everyone’s good. The Scots’ determination to create a government to suit the needs of the people should be an inspiration to us. We owe a debt to their persistence and willingness to die in the cause of freedom. Read their own words.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">“Yet if he [King Robert] should give up what he has begun, and agree to make us<br />or our kingdom subject to the King of England or the English, we should exert<br />ourselves at once to drive him out as our enemy and a subverter of his own<br />rights and ours, and make some other man who was well able to defend us our<br />King; for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any<br />conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor<br />riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom -- for that alone,<br />which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”<br /></span></blockquote><div align="right"><br /><em><span style="color:#993399;">Declaration of Arbroath, April 1320</span></em></div><br /><br />In the Scottish Wars of Independence, we also see the seeds of the Reformation. The Scots rallied to the king of their choosing whether the pope liked it or not. The Scots asked the pope for his blessing of their king and country in the Declaration of Arbroath. There is no indication, though, in its words that they would have given up their king had the pope not heeded them.<br /><br />The American Revolution built upon all of this. The brilliance of the men who wrote the Constitution of the United States is astounding. They created a system that can work for all the people no matter what their place in society. They created a government that all citizens can take part in. No one religion is to be deferred to at the expense of the rights of others.<br /><br />In 1789, France began its road to “liberte, eqalite, fraternite” with the storming of the Bastille prison. Though the French Revolution was a bloody mess and did not produce the kind of stability that the American Revolution did, it still is an event to remember. It’s ideals of liberty and equality should resonate with us all.<br /><br />I propose that we institute a ‘Freedom Season”. Just as we have a ‘Christmas Season’. Let us open our season on June 23 by remembering the Battle of Bannockburn and the struggle for Scottish independence. Let us end at Bastille Day on July 14 by remembering French freedom fighters. In between should be the high point of our season. Celebrate the 4th of July, our American Independence and the Constitution it produced.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that<br />they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among<br />these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these<br />rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from<br />the consent of the governed.”<br /></span></blockquote><div align="right"><br /><em><span style="color:#993399;">Declaration of Independence July 4th, 1776<br /></span></em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-29744500724616095242007-06-21T20:39:00.000-07:002007-06-21T20:51:46.115-07:00Action Item: Oppose the Senate Immigration BillWrite to your Senators now. Tell them in no uncertain terms that you oppose amnesty and rewards for law breakers. We want border security and we want it now!<br /><br />We need immigration reform, but this bill isn't the way to do it. Tell your senators to kill this bill before it gets back to the Senate floor. They need to start over and give us something useful.<br /><br />These people work for YOU! <a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/">Tell them what you want.</a><br /><br />President Bush and his minions have had the unmitigated gall to call opponents of this bill racists. This is not about race, it's about doing things decently and in order. This not about bigotry, it's about the rule of law. If we give up the enforcement of our laws, then we give up our country, we give up our civilization, we very likely will give up our lives.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-53806861092340547262007-06-20T16:21:00.000-07:002007-06-20T16:56:32.849-07:00Action Item: Governor Strickland and CAIROhio Governor Ted Strickland has decided to consort with CAIR (unindicted co-conspirator in a case involving terror-mongers, HAMAS). This past Sunday, the governor spoke at a banquet held by the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Part of his speech:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">“On behalf of all Ohioans, [my wife and I] appreciate your vision to promote<br />justice and mutual understanding. We gather under CAIR-Ohio’s theme this year,<br />‘American Muslims: Connecting and Sharing,’ to do just that, to connect and<br />share and get to know each other better.”</span></blockquote><br /><br />No, Mr Strickland, you don't speak for me. Your unmitigated gall in attending this event, much less claiming to speak for all Ohioans is very disturbing. Unfortunately, a great many of the people of this state will be unaware of your support for CAIR (did I mention they are an unindicted co-conspirator in a case regarding funding for the terrorist organization HAMAS?) do to the fact that <a href="http://newsbusters.org/node/13568">no major newspaper in this state </a>has bothered to report on your little love-fest with these people.<br /><br />For those of you who haven't been paying attention, CAIR (don't forget, they support HAMAS) claims to be a Muslim civil rights organization. In reality, their goal is to Islamize the United States of America.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="color:#000000;">From</span> <a href="http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16353">FrontPage Magazine:</a></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"></span><br /><blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">" “Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith but to become<br />dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest<br />authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”<br /><br />This was the </span><a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32341"><span style="color:#993399;">sentiment<br />of Omar M. Ahmad</span></a><span style="color:#993399;">, the Chairman of the Board of the Council on<br />American-Islamic Relations or CAIR, as told at an Islamic conference held in<br />Freemont, California, in July of 1998. "<br /></span></blockquote><br /><br />I suppose in their eyes that qualifies as Muslim civil rights. After all, they think that Muslim civil rights should always trump the rights of infidels.<br /><br />Ohioans, if you believe in the constitution of the United States, if you believe in government of the people, by the people and for the people, write to Governor Strickland and express your displeasure with the company he keeps.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-6394699674326273592007-06-05T14:04:00.001-07:002007-06-05T14:07:48.573-07:00"You never write, you never call....."On April 25th, 2007, I became aware of an opportunity for members of Congress to view the documentary “Islam vs. the Islamists” that evening. This is a film that was funded with taxpayer money. PBS then refused to air the film because certain Islamic groups had pressured them not to. I sent an email to my congressman as well as my senators urging them to view the film. I received the typical automated email reply from all three.<br /><br />Yesterday, June 4, 2007, I received an email from a member of my congressman’s staff. The staff person asked me to call and discuss the email and so I did exactly that today. It turns out that I am the only one who wrote to the congressman about viewing the film. The congressman and his staff seemed to be completely oblivious about the whole situation. I explained it as best I could. I have since sent an email to the staff person with links to articles that describe the film and what has been done with it.<br /><br />What should we all learn from this? Our representatives are busy people. They really can’t keep up with everything that goes on in the world. If you think an issue is important, then you have to let them know. This may have been just a fluke incident, but I’m trying to take it as a hopeful sign that our voices can be heard. <br /><br />Our federal government is a behemoth. It is very easy to get discouraged by its unresponsiveness. I have voted every year since 1979. Many times I wonder why I bother. However, I have seldom taken the time to write letters to congress. It’s time for we the people to participate in <strong>our</strong> government. I look around and sometimes think that this country is out of control and can do nothing but go into its final death spiral. Maybe that’s true, but maybe not. Either way, the United States of America is our country and we can’t let it go without a fight.<br /><br />Get involved. Whatever your pet issue is, fight for it. Do something to make <strong>your</strong> country better. Whether it is local, state or federal, do something to make your opinions known.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-80279705346113774292007-05-27T05:19:00.000-07:002007-05-27T05:21:46.683-07:00Thought for the Day:<blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."</span></blockquote><p align="center"><br /><br />Galatians 3:28 </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-76767744371789362102007-05-20T05:26:00.000-07:002007-05-20T05:30:21.124-07:00Thought for the Day:<blockquote><p align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."</span><br /><br /></p></blockquote><p align="center">John 8:36<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-9326417968479406592007-05-13T05:37:00.000-07:002007-05-13T05:39:51.092-07:00Thought for the Day:<blockquote><p><span style="color:#993399;">"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,<br />that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that<br />among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "<br /></span></p><p><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="color:#000000;">Declaration of Independence<br />July4, 1776</span></p></span></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-5923332433666566372007-05-06T06:45:00.000-07:002007-05-06T06:47:49.631-07:00Thought for the Day:<blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."</span><br /> John 8:32<br /></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-65046604621692912412007-04-29T06:58:00.000-07:002007-04-29T07:04:34.798-07:00Thought for the Day:<blockquote><p><span style="color:#993399;">"We fight not for glory nor for wealth nor honours; but only and alone we fight<br />for freedom, which no good man surrenders but with his life."</span></p><blockquote><p align="center">Declaration of Arbroath<br />April 6, 1320 </p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><p></p></blockquote></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-59571569907073117082007-04-28T10:16:00.000-07:002007-04-28T14:01:48.497-07:00"When You Wish upon a Star"Today I have read some excerpts from Christopher Hitchens' new book, <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2165033/entry/2165035/"><strong><em>God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything</em></strong></a><strong><em>. </em></strong>So much to comment on, so little time. For this post, I'll concentrate on one little gem.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="color:#993399;">“There are four irreducible objections to religious faith:… and that it is<br />ultimately grounded on wish-thinking.”</span></blockquote><br /><br />Okay Mr. Hitchens, I'll take the bait on this one. If I could design life my own way, here's how I'd do it.<br /><br /><strong>Item # 1 on the Wish List Hit Parade:</strong> I'm am an inherently good and nice person. Any shortcomings I have are the result of bad nurturing. I can overcome those shortcomings by working hard to be good. What exactly is goodness, though? That brings me to...<br /><strong>Item #2 on the Wish List Hit Parade:</strong> I will create my own moral code. I will be able to live by the rules I have created. If anyone does not like my moral code, it's too bad, so sad for them.<br /><strong>Item #3 on the Wish List Hit Parade:</strong>I'll do lots of good works (according to my standards) and everyone will love me.<br /><strong>Item #4 on the Wish List Hit Parade:</strong> I am autonomous. I can control myself and my life.<br /><strong>Item #5 on the Wish List Hit Parade:</strong> When I die, I'll have eternal peace. I'll either totally evaporate into nothingness or I'll go to some great collective human consciousness that is shared by everyone. I haven't decided which. I'l let you know when I figure it out.<br /><br />Let's take a look at the reality list in Christianity:<br /><br /><strong>#1 Christian Reality:</strong>I 'm a sinner. I was born that way and I can't blame anyone else for it.<br /><strong>#2 Christian Reality:</strong> I have to follow God's moral code.<br /><strong>#3 Christian Reality:</strong> Working really hard to follow God's moral code doesn't get me anything. I already broke the law and He doesn't like that.<br /><strong>#4 Christian Reality: </strong>God is sovereign. He doesn't let people do any old thing they want. I have to depend totally on the work of someone else ( i.e. Jesus Christ) or things will get really toasty for me.<br /><strong>#5 Christian Reality:</strong> When I die I'll be held accountable. If I don't have anything other than my own goodness to present to God, then it's off to the lake of fire I go.<br /><br />Christopher Hitchens, come on down, you win today's award for unmitigated gall!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-30517515398907550192007-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:002007-04-27T20:28:12.265-07:00Allah who?<div align="left">Pakistan has banned a play that makes fun of burqas. Comments from a Pakistani lawmaker courtesy of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/04/26/pakistan.burqa.reut/index.html?section=cnn_latest">Reuters</a>:<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">"They have committed <strong>blasphemy against the Prophet (Mohammad)</strong>," Razia Aziz, a female lawmaker from the Islamist opposition alliance, told the National Assembly.</span> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Blasphemy according my dictionary sources is:</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br />'A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God '</span>(<a href="hthttp://www.thefreedictionary.com/blasphemytp://">FreeDictionary.com</a>)<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">'The act of expressing lack of reverence for God '</span>(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff0000;">'Impious or profane speaking of God'</span> (The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary)</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff0000;">'Impious utterance or action concerning God'</span>(<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blasphemy">Dictionary.com</a>)</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Yet Muslims have the unmitigated gall to say that Christians are polytheists.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017942793818702651.post-79865614295802398692007-04-25T06:57:00.000-07:002007-04-27T08:31:00.479-07:00Is Christianity Deficient?<div align="center"><strong> </strong></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993399;">"Perhaps Christianity, despite its many great qualities, needs to be balanced out by other more worldly elements, such as attachment to nation states."</span><br /><br />This was the parting shot by the blogger Fjordman at the end of an essay titled <a href="http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2007/04/christian-background-for-political.html">A Christian Background for Political Correctness?</a><br /><br />While I found most of Fjordman’s essay to be very well done, I have to comment on his final statement quoted above. Biblically based Christianity is not an impediment to loyalty to one’s nation. Christ himself said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” This tells us that the civil government is a legitimate institution sanctioned by God. The Bible states very clearly that governing authorities are instituted by God and should be respected (Romans 13:1, 6).<br /><br />This, however, is not to take the form of a grudging recognition of the government’s power over us. Instead, we are to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Praying for others is an active form of love. Not a touchy feely warm fuzzy love, but a form of love in action. I believe there is nothing unchristian about the concept of identifying oneself with a nation state and having a love for that nation.<br /><br />So are Christians to do what ever their government says? Of course not. The Bible shows us the example of Daniel and others who would not bow to false gods. If the laws of our nation are in opposition to God’s laws we have an obligation to stand against them. However, if we do live under a system that grants us freedom of religion do we have a right to defend that system from those who would have us worship false gods? I would say that it is more than a right. It is a duty.<br /><br />Contrast all of this with the Islamic notion that only the laws of Islam are valid. Muslims are taught that only Islamic law should be followed in all matters, religious or civil. They say that they ought not to follow the laws of men but of God only. Christianity, on the other hand makes it clear that the governments instituted by men are done so within God’s sovereign power. It would seem that the Islamic god is too small to control the world unless every person on the planet adheres to Islam. The God of Christianity has no such problem and is quite able to use the governments of men for His own purposes.<br /><br />There is no need for additions, deletions or corrections to Christianity. It is perfect as it is. The fault lies in our sinful selves and our propensity for twisting Christian doctrine to suit our own agendas. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0