http://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2012/08/16/obama_roasts_cardinal_dolan.html
Saturday, 18 August 2012
Have we all become the Lumpenproletariat? The Politics of Identity
These people, described as rag-tags, a non-class of those who have no stake in a country's levels of material wealth. In a rude way, these were classed as of no interest to the communist agenda, as they would not care enough to change history or the class structure, as they were outside of it.
Hegel saw in The Philosophy of Right, that only those who owned property, had relationships in a society such as family and marriage, were involved in contracts whether political or economic and who has moral values would be interested in maintaining a society and establishing as well as continuing communities.
He was spot on. The lumpenproletariat would be those who did not own land, were even transients, and were considered, later by Trotsky, as useful in so far as they were disillusioned, depressed and ready for a revolt.
Marx did not think they would revolt, as it would not effect their sub-class. Marx knew that revolution was only possible for those who would actually engaged in political or revolutionary activities and those who liked and followed a "politics of identity".
We have lost this politics of identity in the Catholic Church. Unless we rediscover how to think as a Catholic, one cannot identify politics with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Marx understood that the lumpenproletariat were not helpful to anyone. At one time, he grouped them with anarchists, who only want to destroy without an ideology of government.
One of the biggest losses for identity politics is the loss of a basis in natural law philosophy.
We no longer speak the same language as the post-post moderns, who do not believe in natural law.
The lumpenproletariat have in their definition, no relationships, no moral code, no church-going habits.
These would be the Fagans and Bill Sykes of the world. These could be called the "missing people".
I am beginning to see that many post-Christian peoples fall into this category. One of the marks of the lumpenproletariat would be no desire for anything but self. In the South, the term for lumpenproletariat would be white trash. In England, it would be yob or yobbo.
The point is that relativism and individualism create a large under-class of lumpenproletariats.
I think we are there at this stage in the Post-Christian, post-Western world.
I think that Marx is correct in putting the lumpenproletariats in the same category as anarchists.
My next post on this will include Gramsci's idea of the subalternity and hegemony, again. To be continued...
Some of my criteria for publishing comments
On allowing commentators ideas to be published depends on criteria, which many bloggers hold dear:
1) No Anonymous comments are published.
2) Belligerent or purposefully nasty comments are not published.
3) Comments which are part of an agenda from website owner who are not only non-Catholic, but
anti-Catholic and unreasonable are not published: for example, being rude to the Pope or insisting
on sinful stands and worded in such ways as to not invite discussions.
4) Extremely personal, emotional or cries of the heart are not published--I pray for those people.
5) Comments with rude words are not published-obviously, people invited to my dinners at home
do not use street language.
6) Commentators who only want to advertise their products on my blog are not published if they sell
items or books or anything contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, someone
sent me a link containing yoga clothing. As yoga is condemned in Jesus Christ Bearer of the Water
Life, I rejected those comments.
7) Anti-American or anti-British prejudices or racial prejudices, (which are irrational), are not published.
8) Anything offensive to Our Lady is not published.
9) Ad hominems are not published.
10) Specific references to sexual things are not published.
I do not mind discussion, but it must be real and not for the sake of attack.
Another Great Post from JonathanCatholic: on the Al Smith Dinner
Forgotten
Truth and the Al Smith Dinner Scandal, a Commentary
His
Excellency, Cardinal Dolan’s article will appear in normal font,
and my
comments will appear in bold.
Last
week I was out in Anaheim for the annual Supreme Convention of the
Knights of Columbus. It was, as usual, a most uplifting and
inspirational event.
In
his rousing address to the thousands of delegates, representing 1.8
million knights, Dr. Carl Anderson, the Supreme Knight, exhorted us
to a renewed sense of faithful citizenship, encouraging us not to be
shy about bringing the values of faith to the public square. This
duty, he reminded us, came not just from the fact that we are
Catholic, but also from the fact that we are loyal Americans.
(Bringing
the values of faith into the public square is fantastic in terms of
defending religious liberty from state oppression, although I would
point out that it might be a mistake to focus too much on general
religion and general religious liberty in the public square as
opposed to Christendom and Her Truth being rebuilt in our nation and
in the West. This is just a small point since generic religious faith
as opposed to the Catholic Faith is not the main point of this
article from His Excellency, but I wanted to point out that our
loyalty within culture has to be to the building of a Catholic
Society, a society and a culture that are permeated with and informed
by true Christianity and Christian values. Everything we do, every
battle we fight, every goal we set, MUST be as the Church Militant
going about to establish the reign of Christ the Divine King in all
of society, as opposed to working, fighting, and establishing goals
to the end of protecting “freedom of religious expression,” also
known as religious liberty. This is something that is lost sight of
in the post-Vatican II days through an erroneous, hermeneutic of
rupture interpretation of Dignitatis Humanae. This is the difference
between seeing the contraception and abortion mandate as being
primarily a violation of religious liberty or primarily an intrinsic
evil that is witnessed to as evil by the Catholic Religion, which,
because it is the Revelation of the one true God, is the absolute
Truth.)
He
then went on to announce a promising initiative of the Knights of
Columbus to foster civility in politics. Quoting a very recent study,
he noted that over 80% of Americans are fed up with the negativity,
judgmentalism, name-calling, and mudslinging of our election-year
process, and eagerly want a campaign of respect, substance, amity —
civility!
(Note
very carefully, from this paragraph on, how His Excellency uses the
word “politics,” and what he applies it to. Keep in mind that
much of his focus in this article is on civility precisely because he
views the Al Smith Dinner very much in the light of politics. This is
why His Excellency trots out the political buzzwords of negativity,
judgmentalism, name-calling, and mudslinging in the context of “our
election-year process,” as well as his focus on the American people
wanting “a campaign of respect, substance, amity – civility.”
His Excellency’s language and manner here is reminiscent of a
commentary on political advertisements on television.)
For
seven decades, the Al Smith Dinner here in New York has been an
acclaimed example of such civility in political life. As you may
know, every four years, during the presidential election campaign,
the Al Smith Dinner is the venue of history, as it is the only time
outside of the presidential debates that the two presidential
candidates come together, at the invitation of the Al Smith
Foundation, through the archbishop of New York, for an evening of
positive, upbeat, patriotic, enjoyable civil discourse. This year,
both President Obama and Governor Romney have accepted our
invitation. I am grateful to them.
(“…an
acclaimed example of such civility in political life.” “The two
presidential candidates come together… for an evening of positive,
upbeat, patriotic, enjoyable civil discourse.” I’m afraid that
His Excellency may not be viewing this dinner in the correct light,
the light of a proper hierarchy of priority in the Church Militant.
What he is saying here would be a perfectly valid point if he were a
Republican politician who was inviting members of Congress from both
sides of the isle to a dinner, but he is not a politician of any
kind, or shouldn’t be. His Excellency is a Prince of the Catholic
Church, and the first and most important focus for him is the Divine
Faith. I will comment more on this in a later paragraph.)
The
evening has always had a special meaning, as it is named after
Governor Al Smith, the first Catholic nominated, in 1928, as a
candidate for president, who was viciously maligned because of his
own Catholic faith. Smith was known as The Happy Warrior, because
while he fought fiercely for what he believed was right, he never
sought to demonize those who opposed him. And, the dinner named in
his honor is truly life-affirming as it raises funds to help support
mothers in need and their babies (both born and unborn) of any faith,
or none at all.
The
Al Smith Dinner has never been without controversy, since, as Carl
Anderson reminded us, politics can inspire disdain and negativity as
well as patriotism and civility.
(This
is one of the most egregious and truly confusing statements in the
whole article. Am I reading this wrong, or is His Excellency saying
that the current controversy is of its essential nature a political
one? He seems to be saying exactly that, since is reminding his
readers that politics can inspire disdain and negativity. Your
Excellency, Catholics who are concerned about this dinner invitation
extended to Obama are not primarily concerned about politics. The
true Catholic in the United States should not be sold out to either
party, as both deviate from the Catholic Religion in some ways,
though the Democratic Party is by far the more horrendous party in
deviating from Truth and authentic morality. Thus the Catholic is not
dead set against Barack Obama because said Catholic is a partisan
purist on the Right who detests the current administration for being
Democrat. Nor can the Catholic Faith itself be primarily considered
to be a political stance; politics are merely the societal
playing-out of the Truth we hold. No, Your Excellency, Catholics who
oppose the invitation to Obama or who oppose Barack Obama himself are
not motivated to “negativity” by Right Wing politics. We truly
and deeply hold the Catholic Religion to be Truth, and we 1) Fight
with all our power any political force that supports or advances the
cause of intrinsic evil within society, and 2) Fight all the more
against a political force that has lied to us and repeatedly
marginalized us in the public sphere. The first reason is being a
true servant of Our Lord by holding Catholic Truth to a place of
primary importance in our worldview, and the second reason is just
being a man.)
This
year is surely no exception: I am receiving stacks of mail protesting
the invitation to President Obama (and by the way, even some
objecting to the invitation to Governor Romney).
(He
has simply confirmed my previous point by linking this year with the
past political controversies he referenced. If His Excellency
honestly believes that the stacks of mail he is receiving protesting
the invitation he extended to President Obama is politically
motivated, he doesn’t truly understand minds of the faithfully
Catholic men who are writing him.)
The
objections are somewhat heightened this year, since the Catholic
community in the United States has rightly expressed vigorous
criticism of the President’s support of the abortion license, and
his approval of mandates which radically intruded upon Freedom of
Religion. We bishops, including yours truly, have been unrelenting in
our opposition to these issues, and will continue to be.
(Your
Excellency, how can you be “unrelenting in your opposition”
against the President and his policies if you relent for a night to
laugh and joke on a positive, upbeat, enjoyable evening? Isn’t this
a self-contradiction? It is one thing to be politically opposed, as a
Republican is against a Democrat, and take a night off from political
divisions, but this is not politics we are dealing with. This is not
primarily about politics; this is about intrinsic evil against
natural law. Trust me when I say that this is not a political
statement: Barack Obama has the guilt of murder, persecution of the
Church, lying, and the promotion of contraceptive sex all involved in
his person. No-one can take a night off from decrying these evils as
if they were political talking points; we cannot act as if we are not
in a war for the soul of the West.)
So,
my correspondents ask, how can you justify inviting the President?
Let me try to explain.
For
one, an invitation to the Al Smith Dinner is not an award, or the
provision of a platform to expound views at odds with the Church. It
is an occasion of conversation; it is personal, not partisan.
(*Groan*
Why, Your Excellency, why do you insist on repeatedly referring to
matters of intrinsic evil as a partisan issue? Why, why do you
believe that enjoyable conversation is beneficial to the situation
the Church finds herself in, in the midst of a largely profane,
anti-Christian culture? And most confusing, why would a “personal”
event be any less damaging by any standard to the honor of Holy
Mother Church or to her witness to the Truth, since you are
“personally” a Prince of the Church?)
Two,
the purpose of the Al Smith Dinner is to show both our country and
our Church at their best: people of faith gathered in an evening of
friendship, civility, and patriotism, to help those in need, not to
endorse either candidate. Those who started the dinner sixty-seven
years ago believed that you can accomplish a lot more by inviting
folks of different political loyalties to an uplifting evening,
rather than in closing the door to them.
(“…our
country and our Church at their best: people of faith gathered in an
evening of friendship, civility, and patriotism, to help those in
need, not endorse either candidate.” This statement carries with it
the import of false ecumenism; the Church is not at Her best when she
unites with other ‘people of faith’ to help those in need, She is
at her best when She is absolutely faithful to and outspoken about
Her Lord, Jesus Christ, and offers His Sacrifice, together with Her
own, on behalf of all the world. Flowing from this Oblation of the
Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, undivided from our
Oblation, in prayer and thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity, comes
authentic help for the poor in the corporal and spiritual works of
mercy made possible by the working of the Holy Ghost, enkindling
charity in our hearts; lighting us on fire with His authentic love.
If it is possible, in a secondary sense, to cooperate in good will
with people in other communities and religions, great. But this is
not the substance of Who the Church is when She is at Her best, it is
merely a secondary behavior of the Church acting in good will toward
other men. If we are not primarily focused on Christ, His Person, His
Sacrifice, and His Truth, but rather on the gathering of “people of
faith… in… friendship, civility, and patriotism,” I’m afraid
we have missed the mark of what discipleship at Christ’s Feet
means. You will notice His Excellency also continues the
misunderstanding that the protest against this scandal is somehow
about politics.)
Three,
the teaching of the Church, so radiant in the Second Vatican Council,
is that the posture of the Church towards culture, society, and
government is that of engagement and dialogue. In other words, it’s
better to invite than to ignore, more effective to talk together than
to yell from a distance, more productive to open a door than to shut
one. Our recent popes have been examples of this principle, receiving
dozens of leaders with whom on some points they have serious
disagreements. Thus did our present Holy Father graciously receive
our current President of the United States. And, in the current
climate, we bishops have maintained that we are open to dialogue with
the administration to try and resolve our differences. What message
would I send if I refused to meet with the President?
(Culture,
society, and government are merely different facets of Western
culture in particular and the world in general. His Excellency seems
to be neglecting two very important things here, one that is known in
Faith, the other, in simple Reason. First of all, we know by Faith,
and it is a De Fide dogma according to Dr. Ludwig Ott’s famous and
wonderful work, “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma,” that “The
Devil posesses a certain dominion over mankind by reason of Adam's
sin.” If the devil possesses a certain dominion over mankind by
reason of original sin, then why ought we to be primarily concerned
with engagement and dialogue? Should not our primary focus be on the
fact that we are in a perpetual war against evil in this world, with
engagement and dialogue taking the level of secondary importance? The
dualities His Excellency attempts to construct between ignoring or
inviting, talking together and yelling from a distance, and opening a
door or shutting one are rather nonsensical, since warring against
evil and taking a primary stance of manly resistance toward it is not
ignoring it, nor is it yelling from a distance or shutting a door.
Second, we know from Reason, just simple common sense, that you
cannot dialogue with someone or something that is unwilling to
cooperate. The devil will not ‘dialogue’ with us, and those who
repeatedly lie to the Catholic Church and persecute her relentlessly
have rendered service to the evil and have spoken quite loudly and
very clearly that they do not want a dialogue. Such is the person of
Barack Obama, and such is his administration. They have made it quite
clear that they are no longer interested in compromise. With all due
respect to His Excellency, now is the time for manful and serious
resistance, as soldiers of Our Lord, not pleasantries and dialogue.
You cannot dialogue with someone who refuses to compromise.)
Finally,
an invitation to the Al Smith Dinner in no way indicates a slackening
in our vigorous promotion of values we Catholic bishops believe to be
at the heart of both gospel and American values, particularly the
defense of human dignity, fragile life, and religious freedom. In
fact, one could make the case that anyone attending the dinner, even
the two candidates, would, by the vibrant solidarity of the evening,
be reminded that America is at her finest when people, free to
exercise their religion, assemble on behalf of poor women and their
babies, born and unborn, in a spirit of civility and respect.
(Again,
with all due respect to His Excellency, how can you have “vibrant
solidarity” with someone, Barack Obama, who supports intrinsic evil
and violation of natural law? That’s pure nonsense. How can you
dissolve the white and black of natural morality to an unholy, grey
pablum wherein we can all be ‘nice’ to one another and support
the same moral causes in solidarity? Does His Excellency honestly
believe that it is that simple, that we can band together as a nation
in support of women and infants regardless of that messy issue of
*how* we differ regarding what is support and what is harm? The
naïveté of thinking this way is beyond comprehension. That
paragraph stands out truly in the midst of the whole article as a
truly nauseating mush of ‘niceness’ and false solidarity,
considering the blood that is spilled and the millions of lives
contracepted or aborted out of existence every year with the full and
express approval and support of the President. No, we cannot have
solidarity with such a man; no, we cannot make nicey-nice and joke
and laugh with him as if nothing is wrong and take a night off from
the decidedly moral and not political fight.)
Some
have told me the invitation is a scandal. That charge weighs on me,
as it would on any person of faith, but especially a pastor, who
longs to give good example, never bad. So, I apologize if I have
given such scandal. I suppose it’s a case of prudential judgment:
would I give more scandal by inviting the two candidates, or by not
inviting them?
(Some?
Your Excellency, hundreds of thousands of Catholics feel this way, I
promise you. I take you at your word, Your Excellency, and I
appreciate your good will from the bottom of my heart, with
sincerity. What is painful to me, and what weighs on me, however, is
that you demonstrate that you still do not understand why the Al
Smith dinner is a scandal in the first place. If you had not invited
the President, you might have given scandal to non-Catholics, but you
know that by inviting him you give scandal to Catholics. Is this of
equal weight in your eyes?)
No
matter what you might think of this particular decision, might I ask
your prayers for me and my brother bishops and priests who are faced
with making these decisions, so that we will be wise and faithful
shepherds as God calls us to be?
(You
have my prayers, and the prayers of all faithful Catholics, Your
Excellency. We want nothing more than to get behind you and support
you with Rosary Crusades and Chaplets of Divine Mercy, Novenas to the
Sacred Heart and Litanies of the Holy Name of Jesus. Consider us your
prayer warriors and your army of support; we only beg that you make
the hermeneutic of continuity your guide and remember that we are the
Church Militant, and balance your worldview from one of dialogue and
pleasantries and politics to one of militancy against intrinsic evil
and one of zealous Faith above politics.)
In
the end, I’m encouraged by the example of Jesus, who was blistered
by his critics for dining with those some considered sinners; and by
the recognition that, if I only sat down with people who agreed with
me, and I with them, or with those who were saints, I’d be taking
all my meals alone.
(They
were sinners, Your Excellency. Christ dined with them, but He did not
make light of sin in the process. He never once treated evil as
politics or neglected hard truth and blunt or even offensive language
when charity demanded it. His Sacred Heart burned with the fire of
infinite charity such that He was willing to die for us, and flowing
from that charity He was offensive when He had to be to call out evil
and those who promote it.)
I
will continue to pray for His Excellency, Cardinal-Archbishop Dolan
of New York. Please join me, and pray for a restoration of Sacred
Tradition and a return of faithfulness, among the elderly and the
youthful, the clerical and the lay, to Catholic principles and
Catholic loyalties, to putting the sacred Faith first and not
dialoguing incessantly or acting like religion is politics and
politics is religion.
On the single life again..by popular demand..mental preparation for marriage.
Two points for my single sisters and brothers today. As you wait for Mr. or Mrs. Right, please recall that only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, can fill the empty spaces of your hearts. Loneliness or lack of vision are individual crosses one must deal with in or out of marriage. Marriage is not a band-aid for serious wounds of the past, not is it a sacrament to end all sufferings.
What many men do not understand, is that women who are really traditional Catholics, want babies, want children. This is natural and a God-given drive. Men who are single sometimes look for a women who will meet all their needs, not wanting to share life with children, not realizing that God has called all, male and female, to die to self and to live in and with Christ as fully as possible.
The second point is that one must choose a vocation which is conducive to the married state if one is really called to that vocation. For example, as a teacher in the past, teaching was something I could do in home schooling and then, at least part-time, continue after the nest was empty. Some careers are simply too demanding for a woman who wants children and a husband, both motherhood and being a wife are full-time jobs.
Likewise, if a man is considering marriage as his vocation, he must enter into a calling which will support a family. Catholic families are counter-cultural by definition, and the stay-at-home mom is the paradigm.
Some of the problems have to do with two generations of women and men who have been brainwashed by the world. They want it all: a high standard of living, comfort, climbing the ladder of success, even having the so-called necessary two or three weeks of vacation yearly.
The Catholic marriage model has been set aside for convenience and selfish pursuits.
All vocations are hard, but if one is called to marriage, the joys and graces of the sacrament may be found in abundance. But, one must plan and not merely fall into a state of torpor or insensitivity.
May I add one more item. Look at my earlier posts on the Pope's encyclical on love.
Look at your politics. There is no doubt that socialism destroys the family and the primary husband and wife relationship. It destroys caritas.
What many men do not understand, is that women who are really traditional Catholics, want babies, want children. This is natural and a God-given drive. Men who are single sometimes look for a women who will meet all their needs, not wanting to share life with children, not realizing that God has called all, male and female, to die to self and to live in and with Christ as fully as possible.
The second point is that one must choose a vocation which is conducive to the married state if one is really called to that vocation. For example, as a teacher in the past, teaching was something I could do in home schooling and then, at least part-time, continue after the nest was empty. Some careers are simply too demanding for a woman who wants children and a husband, both motherhood and being a wife are full-time jobs.
Likewise, if a man is considering marriage as his vocation, he must enter into a calling which will support a family. Catholic families are counter-cultural by definition, and the stay-at-home mom is the paradigm.
Some of the problems have to do with two generations of women and men who have been brainwashed by the world. They want it all: a high standard of living, comfort, climbing the ladder of success, even having the so-called necessary two or three weeks of vacation yearly.
The Catholic marriage model has been set aside for convenience and selfish pursuits.
All vocations are hard, but if one is called to marriage, the joys and graces of the sacrament may be found in abundance. But, one must plan and not merely fall into a state of torpor or insensitivity.
May I add one more item. Look at my earlier posts on the Pope's encyclical on love.
Look at your politics. There is no doubt that socialism destroys the family and the primary husband and wife relationship. It destroys caritas.
Friday, 17 August 2012
Christ After the Flagellation Contemplated by the Christian Soul
This painting by Diego Velazquez, painted between 1626 and 1628, has been hanging in my bedroom since I arrived in London in June. The baroque masterpiece depicts Christ, ennobled and yet suffering, being sought and looked at by the soul, depicted as a little child. In that sense, the painting reminds me of the icons, which show the soul as small and innocent. An angel, strong, bold, large, imposing, gender-less, handsome, teacher-like, in red and black, points to the injured Christ. I like to think this angel is my Guardian Angel, the guardian of my soul and every soul of a human who is a child of God.
We are made children of God in baptism and not before. This soul has been given an angel as a child of God and the angel, rightly so, indicates that Christ died for this soul's innocence and salvation.
The instruments of torture lie in the foreground of the painting. Christ is strained, still bound to the pillar. But, He is in control, the Master of His Suffering. He looks at the soul with great love and longing. Love Me and Honor Me, the look seems to state. Christ seems to be asking the soul to think of why He has been brought to this state. But, there is not reproach, only love.
There are no accidents with God and this is not my picture, not my room, only a summer dwelling. One of the oddest things about the painting is that the Christ looks like a member of my family, bringing an intimacy to the portraiture through the gene-pool and the imagination of the artist.
That God wants me to contemplate His Suffering is true and good. He calls me and you to contemplation in the busy world.
May I respond always in obedience to my angel and in the attitude of honor and love of this soul in the painting.
Besides an icon which I brought with me of the Vladimir Madonna, which I carry everywhere, the only other picture in the room is a print of St. Etheldreda's entitled, "Chapel, Ely Place". I am content with the art in my little room.
Read this article
Here is a snippet:
It was President Franklin Roosevelt who said: “Continued dependence on [government support] induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit.”
Read more on Newsmax.com: Charles Koch: Why We Fight for Economic Freedom
It was President Franklin Roosevelt who said: “Continued dependence on [government support] induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit.”
Read more on Newsmax.com: Charles Koch: Why We Fight for Economic Freedom
Special Guest Post from JonathanCatholic
Spouse
of God, Continued
In
my post in the past week, I discussed the humility that God the Son truly
assumed to Himself in becoming man, and examined the extraordinary
fact of His obedience to the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph, in the
context of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori’s great work, “The Glories
of Mary,” and a passage from the second chapter of the Gospel
according to Saint Luke. This week I would like to complete the
meditation by focusing on the implications this has for the teaching
of the Church in other areas, most notably the Priesthood and the
Sacrifice of the Mass.
When
our God humbled Himself to become subject to the Blessed Virgin Mary
in obedience during His life here on earth, it was part of the larger
context of His entire intention of becoming man, a purpose of pure
charity, born from all eternity in the infinite fire of charity that
is the Most Holy Trinity. In the deepest intention of the Holy
Trinity for God the Son to become man, at the heart of this intention
was that God the Son joined Himself so intimately to mankind that He
made Himself truly vulnerable to humanity, in the person of Mary, and
through Mary, the Church. In this vulnerability, He became subject to
her throughout His life as an expression of how fully He had joined
Himself to mankind.
At
the moment of the Annunciation of Saint Gabriel the Archangel, He
awaited her fiat before He willed to be conceived in her womb. As
soon as the ‘Let it be done’ fell from her lips, the eternal and
majestic Almighty came down as simply and sweetly as a Divine Spouse;
at the moment of her assent, God descended both to compass her and be
compassed by her; to both surround and be surrounded.
Throughout
Our Lord’s life, God Himself willed to be cared for by Mary and
willed to need her. It was within His power to be utterly
self-sufficient; He could have appeared on earth and commanded
obedience immediately from every nation, with the glory of the
Godhead shining from His Face. Yet, where does He appear, but in the
arms of the Virgin? To whom does He cling, now, as a Toddler, but to
her leg? When He studies the art of carpentry, what does He eat, but
food from her table? As He matures in His humanity, growing in grace
in the sight of the Father and of men, to whom does He look, to see
the charity she has for Him and how proud of Him she is?
When
the time of His Passion came, who followed Him silently? Who gave Him
strength to endure the bitter trial of the flogging? In the injustice
of the false council and governor that condemned Him, who was in His
memories as the one who offered Him consolation? As He carried the
rough Cross, who followed the drops of Divine Blood, silently
weeping? As He was dying on the Cross, who stood under Him, the
Immaculate New Ark of the Covenant, face red with His Blood, eyes
stained with tears, and Heart torn in two? Who stood there, having a
Mother’s Right to her Son, freely offering Him to the Father for
the salvation of the world and giving Him up even as was prophesied
afore in the person of Abraham offering Isaac in submission to the
Will of God, or in the person of the great Matriarch Hannah, who
offered her only son to God in equally perfect obedience?
In
the relationship between Jesus and Mary, the Church finds Her
innermost being and constitution. All of Her doctrines flow from this
bond, all of Her strength is found in their Hearts, all the Truth of
Her practices is found in their Sacred Lives; for Christ is the
fullness of all Revelation, and He is found nowhere but in and
through Mary, and not without her. When the Priest offers the
Sacrifice of the Mass, who does he emulate but the one who stood
there at Calvary, offering her Son and releasing her right to Him on
our behalf? In his relationship to the Blessed Sacrament, which he is
the Sacred Guardian and Protector of, and in which he calls at his
word Our Lord Jesus Christ into this world, who do we see, but the
son who takes after his Mother? When he calls upon the Holy Ghost to
sanctify and change the gifts of bread and wine, does not he and the
Spirit call with one voice, just as Mary did with her fiat in the
Holy Ghost at the Incarnation? For in both cases the Spirit and the
Bride say, “Come,” and our Eucharistic Lord comes into this world
at that word. For the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of the
Priesthood of Christ, and she is the Mother of His Priests; they are
fruit from her Vine, and they emulate their Mother in all things
relating to her relationship with God her Son.
In
the Church as a whole, spread throughout the world, God is truly
mediated through Her; in Her and through Her, by His design, is only
where He is to be found. For in the Eucharist the Lord is truly born
of Her into the world, and in the Tabernacle She is ever pregnant
with Him. Sacred Revelation, Scripture and Tradition, are born of the
Church and are protected by Her, and in them Christ the eternal Word
is present. Just as Mary relates to God, so the Church relates to
God; in Mary as a Son, and in a similar way in the Church. When you
look at the Church, see the Blessed Virgin Mary; when you look at the
Blessed Virgin Mary, see the Church. In this sacred relationship
between Mary/the Church and God, we find the Catholic Truth regarding
where God is to be found: in the womb of Holy Mother Church, in the
Eucharist and in Revelation, through the protection and guardianship
of the Church Herself, which models after the Blessed Virgin.
Thursday, 16 August 2012
My Home Town Makes DrudgeReport
I know East Davenport like the back of my hand. My son organized his international cricket games in the park there. We used to eat at the local Mexican restaurant, Rudy's, right there. The views of the Mississippi River are great from the hills and politics is the local sport. If you were in a local restaurant, you would see people reading (yes, they read) and talking about politics intelligently, with facts. That is the Iowa way. Soybean, Black Angus and corn prices, gay marriage, the GOP governor and all types of interesting topics would be overheard.
There is also an ice cream and locally made chocolate shop to die for called Largomarcino's. If you go there, get a hot-fudge Sunday and a Green River drink.
POTUS was there on Thursday. I hope other people are as fed up as Mr. Murty. Love the tee-shirt.
I used to live just down the road in downtown Davenport, in a great loft apartment. It is not a Catholic city, but it is a political one.
Iowa deli co-owner caters for Obama visit, but his T-shirt tells another story
By Amy Gardner,
DAVENPORT, Iowa — Ross Murty likes business, but he doesn’t like President Obama.And so the co-owner of the Village Corner Deli here agreed to cater Obama’s visit Wednesday — but not before donning a T-shirt blaring the message: “Government didn’t build my business. I did.”
It was a reference to a remark Obama made several weeks ago that his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, has seized upon to portray Obama as anti-business. Obama, referring to the help government provides to businesses by building roads and providing education and other services, said, “If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that."
“No one from the government was there when we were sweating it, when we were building this business,” Murty said. Before him was a bank of chafing dishes filled with smoked beef brisket, pulled pork, vegetable parmesan bake and cheesy hash brown casserole provided to the White House press corps covering the president’s three-day swing across Iowa this week.
But that’s not why he got the contract.
“One of Obama’s lead people came into the deli Saturday morning,” Dalton said. “I didn’t even know it was for Obama until that night.”
When he found out, though, Dalton had some fun. He called up Murty, who was driving back from Chicago, and asked: “Guess who’s coming to town this week?”
“He was a little stunned,” Dalton recalled. But the two take their political disagreements in stride, and the conversation was all in good fun, both said.
“I would never say no to anybody for any reason,” Murty said. “My partner and I have different views in politics, but business is business.”
The White House performs background checks on contractors for security reasons, but it does not vet them for their political views. Also, the caterers are hired to provide food for the White House press corps, which pays for the food, even though the White House makes the arrangements.
The Obama campaign had no comment on Murty's T-shirt.
An Advertisement from St. Louis--Modest Wedding Dresses-TAC Ladies, For YOU!
This is from one of my readers. I thank tech_pilgrim for this link. My mom is from St. Louis and I love the city. Here is another good reason to go there, besides the Cardinals....Brides, take heart....
A repeated post ...for my fellow bloggers
Saturday, 3 March 2012
By the “now”, I do not mean the ephemeral or the trendy. I mean what is important for
the corporate life of the Faithful. Sometimes the now means sharing a prayer, or being a
prophet, or a teacher. Sometimes the now means answering questions, or communicating
important local and international Catholic events, both good and not so good.
One can imagine examples in the last three months where the Catholic blogging
community has worked more hours than usual on the question of Catholic freedom of conscience
in America. And, that is not the only issue.
A Catholic Carpe Diem
A Catholic Carpe Diem, this post is for bloggers.
And, I claim Fulton J. Sheen as one of my patrons on the Net.
A day in the life of a blogger depends on the person's real job.
Now, for most bloggers, a vocation to the priesthood, married life,
motherhood and fatherhood may be part of the blogging day.
A job or profession most likely marks most Catholic bloggers,
who can be Canon lawyers, secular lawyers, university professors,
artists, journalists, writers, students, computer “guys”, or home schooling moms.
Blogging is an addition to the busy schedule of most.
The quality of the blog depends upon the time and technological skills of the bloggers.
For example, for one blogger, a posting may take 20 minutes.
For another, 30 minutes, and for some bright sparks, 10 minutes.
But, the real mark of every blogger is passion.
And, I claim Fulton J. Sheen as one of my patrons on the Net.
A day in the life of a blogger depends on the person's real job.
Now, for most bloggers, a vocation to the priesthood, married life,
motherhood and fatherhood may be part of the blogging day.
A job or profession most likely marks most Catholic bloggers,
who can be Canon lawyers, secular lawyers, university professors,
artists, journalists, writers, students, computer “guys”, or home schooling moms.
Blogging is an addition to the busy schedule of most.
The quality of the blog depends upon the time and technological skills of the bloggers.
For example, for one blogger, a posting may take 20 minutes.
For another, 30 minutes, and for some bright sparks, 10 minutes.
But, the real mark of every blogger is passion.
The passion of the Catholic blogger is to communicate the beautiful Faith of
our Catholic Church, and give of the five loaves and two fishes
which have been given to that writer, especially in a busy schedule.
A blog may be what is left over in the baskets at the end of the day, or even the week.
Or, the blog could be one of the five loaves.
our Catholic Church, and give of the five loaves and two fishes
which have been given to that writer, especially in a busy schedule.
A blog may be what is left over in the baskets at the end of the day, or even the week.
Or, the blog could be one of the five loaves.
For most Catholic and traditional bloggers, a blog is a means of evangelizing, i
n the “new evangelization” of Blessed John Paul II. The Internet may very
well not always be a place of truly free speech. I am not writing this out of paranoia,
but have already shown below in some articles, the coming United Nations effort to
bow to less than free cultures regarding electronic communication.
We in the West expect to be able to stand on our virtual soap-box
and say what we will, without being harassed. This may not always be the case.
And, so, the passion of the blogger is to get across as much real Truth,
real Catholic information as possible in a short period of time. Hence,
the needed passion to communicate falls within a framework of the “now”.
What is important “now” for Catholics?
n the “new evangelization” of Blessed John Paul II. The Internet may very
well not always be a place of truly free speech. I am not writing this out of paranoia,
but have already shown below in some articles, the coming United Nations effort to
bow to less than free cultures regarding electronic communication.
We in the West expect to be able to stand on our virtual soap-box
and say what we will, without being harassed. This may not always be the case.
And, so, the passion of the blogger is to get across as much real Truth,
real Catholic information as possible in a short period of time. Hence,
the needed passion to communicate falls within a framework of the “now”.
What is important “now” for Catholics?
By the “now”, I do not mean the ephemeral or the trendy. I mean what is important for
the corporate life of the Faithful. Sometimes the now means sharing a prayer, or being a
prophet, or a teacher. Sometimes the now means answering questions, or communicating
important local and international Catholic events, both good and not so good.
One can imagine examples in the last three months where the Catholic blogging
community has worked more hours than usual on the question of Catholic freedom of conscience
in America. And, that is not the only issue.
I am convinced that I am part of a growing number of bloggers who try to make up what
has been missing in the catechesis of two, maybe three, generations. One person here in
Ireland, four years older than myself, was never taught Catechism in school. The lack of
education for some has created the Catholic Traditional Blog,
which attempts to fill in the gap for adult education for those who are on the computer
and on the Internet. I have read that sixty-percent of the Irish public have
Internet access at home. This is not my personal experience, quite the contrary.
Or, if there is access, only the very young, or under thirties use it regularly and not those older.
Access is limited elsewhere, as I have already noted on this blog.
has been missing in the catechesis of two, maybe three, generations. One person here in
Ireland, four years older than myself, was never taught Catechism in school. The lack of
education for some has created the Catholic Traditional Blog,
which attempts to fill in the gap for adult education for those who are on the computer
and on the Internet. I have read that sixty-percent of the Irish public have
Internet access at home. This is not my personal experience, quite the contrary.
Or, if there is access, only the very young, or under thirties use it regularly and not those older.
Access is limited elsewhere, as I have already noted on this blog.
Was is appalling are the numbers of adults who are not on the computer and not on the Internet,
who do not have access to the real teaching of the Catholic Church, or simply,
do not know where to find the resources. Such adults will remain as children and
even may be endangering their salvation by remaining in ignorance. Any adult who remains in
ignorance of the teachings of the Church in 2012 is guilty of sloth or disinterestedness.
The second is a serious sin of neglect.
who do not have access to the real teaching of the Catholic Church, or simply,
do not know where to find the resources. Such adults will remain as children and
even may be endangering their salvation by remaining in ignorance. Any adult who remains in
ignorance of the teachings of the Church in 2012 is guilty of sloth or disinterestedness.
The second is a serious sin of neglect.
I have been told over and over again in England and in Ireland that adults
“do not have time for religious learning”. The pursuit of mortgages, cars,
careers and even a developed social life have pushed the responsibility to learn
and appropriate the Faith to the back-burner.
“do not have time for religious learning”. The pursuit of mortgages, cars,
careers and even a developed social life have pushed the responsibility to learn
and appropriate the Faith to the back-burner.
I have written on this before, almost two months ago. We shall be judged on
our own merits, or lack thereof, and not on the merits of Father ABC, who did not teach us the Faith.
our own merits, or lack thereof, and not on the merits of Father ABC, who did not teach us the Faith.
The blogging community wants to share the Faith, Hope and Love given to us by
Christ with the whole world. If some Catholics are not interested or are too busy to
pursue learning the Truth of the Teaching Magisterium of the Church, we can only
hope that some day soon, the little light of realization will show them that now is the time
to grow in Faith and Reason, knowledge and grace. We may not have the leisure or the means “later”.
Christ with the whole world. If some Catholics are not interested or are too busy to
pursue learning the Truth of the Teaching Magisterium of the Church, we can only
hope that some day soon, the little light of realization will show them that now is the time
to grow in Faith and Reason, knowledge and grace. We may not have the leisure or the means “later”.
I compare blogging with missionary work. In my home town, the oldest existing
Church was founded by an Italian missionary priest, who traveled on horseback along
the Mississippi River spreading the Gospel and setting up parishes. He moved with
whatever was available at the time-a horse, backpack, Bible, Missal, Mass kit, vestments,
food and water. He may have traveled with others, like a tracker, or guide, or a
few lay assistants. But, he moved, from Italy to Iowa and then up and down the edges of the Great River.
Church was founded by an Italian missionary priest, who traveled on horseback along
the Mississippi River spreading the Gospel and setting up parishes. He moved with
whatever was available at the time-a horse, backpack, Bible, Missal, Mass kit, vestments,
food and water. He may have traveled with others, like a tracker, or guide, or a
few lay assistants. But, he moved, from Italy to Iowa and then up and down the edges of the Great River.
If he had not done this, many families would have died in the Faith. We are the
missionaries of the world of the Internet. I would like to think that in any little way, we encourage the Faith.
missionaries of the world of the Internet. I would like to think that in any little way, we encourage the Faith.
The missionary priests, and my great-uncle was one who came to help the
Czech community in northern Iowa, faced horrible dangers and inconveniences--weather,
unfriendly natives, unfriendly Protestants, lack of provisions, lack of books,
even lack of housing and clothing. We, who sit in our dens, classrooms, living rooms,
or Internet cafes, face no problems except perhaps not enough change for a second cup of coffee,
or the temporary loss of electricity, or travelling through a “dead zone”. But,
this may not always be the case. Blog away, fellow bloggers, while you can.
The days of freedom may be shorter than one would hope.
Czech community in northern Iowa, faced horrible dangers and inconveniences--weather,
unfriendly natives, unfriendly Protestants, lack of provisions, lack of books,
even lack of housing and clothing. We, who sit in our dens, classrooms, living rooms,
or Internet cafes, face no problems except perhaps not enough change for a second cup of coffee,
or the temporary loss of electricity, or travelling through a “dead zone”. But,
this may not always be the case. Blog away, fellow bloggers, while you can.
The days of freedom may be shorter than one would hope.
The Catholic Church under siege in France---Yesterday's prayer hit a nerve
Yesterday, pro-gay groups came out against the Catholic Church on this matter. Here is one article from France 24, which I use here frequently.
Gay rights groups in France have reacted angrily to the Catholic Church after it issued a call to prayer to protect the sacriment of marriage from same-sex couples.
The controversial “Prayer for France” has been sent out to churches across the country to be read out on August 15 to mark the feast of the Assumption.
The prayer’s subject matter is designed to mobilise Catholics against François Hollande’s Socialist Party government, which recently affirmed plans to open up marriage and adoption to gay couples.
In a thinly veiled reference to the proposed gay marriage bill, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois asked churchgoers to pray for “newly elected officials” to put their “sense of common good over the pressure to meet special demands”.
These words have angered gay rights groups across France, who have slammed the church for "homophobia" and for interfering in poltics.
“François Hollande is committed to these reforms and they have been reaffirmed by his government,” Nicolas Gougain of the Inter LGBT activist group told FRANCE 24.
“We can count on getting a majority in parliament and no prayer will be able to block this necessary legisation. Religion has no place in politics,” he added.
'No prayer can stop legislation'
The annual “Prayer for France” was a centuries-old custom that died out after World War II. It was first uttered in the seventeenth century after King Louis XIII decreed all churches would pray on August 15 for the good of the country.
Church spokesman Monsignor Bernard Podvin said its revival was timed to “raise the consciouness of public opinion about grave social choices”.
Minister for Families Dominique Bertinotti told French media this week that a bill legalising gay marriage will be voted on in parliament in early 2013.
As well as opposing gay marriage, the prayer also makes clear the Catholic Church’s resistance to gay adoption.
The cardinal invites congregations to pray that “children cease to be objects of the desires and conflicts of adults and fully benefit from the love of a father and a mother”.
These words provoked the wrath of Inter LGBT.
“He is implying that it is dangerous for a child to be brought up by same-sex parents," Gougain said. "The text of the prayer is homophobic. The church’s definition of family is far from the reality of the diverse families we see today – same-sex, mixed or single parents."
“We are asking that all different types of families are recognised, in the interests of both child and parent.”
Love thy neighbour
The Prayer for France follows the hardline stance taken by the leader of the Catholic Chuch, Pope Benedict XVI, who in January said gay marriage threatened “the future of humanity itself”.
Gay Christian groups have also reacted angrily to the Cardinal’s prayer.
“Most of our members are really upset by this terrible prayer, which reinforces the fears certain Catholics have towards homosexuals,” Elisabeth Saint-Guily of gay Christian group David and Jonathan told Europe1 radio.
“France’s bishops, and above them the Vatican, are using homophobic language. The Bible says, 'Love thy neighbour as yourself'. We would like the bishops to apply this maxim. They should love all their neighbours, including homosexuals,” she said.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon defended the church’s positon, saying marriage, defined at the start of the Bible, was created by God to join man and woman.
“Nobody should be surprised if we Catholics think that the first page of the Bible is right, even more so than a parliament,” he told Europe1.
The controversial “Prayer for France” has been sent out to churches across the country to be read out on August 15 to mark the feast of the Assumption.
The prayer’s subject matter is designed to mobilise Catholics against François Hollande’s Socialist Party government, which recently affirmed plans to open up marriage and adoption to gay couples.
In a thinly veiled reference to the proposed gay marriage bill, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois asked churchgoers to pray for “newly elected officials” to put their “sense of common good over the pressure to meet special demands”.
These words have angered gay rights groups across France, who have slammed the church for "homophobia" and for interfering in poltics.
“François Hollande is committed to these reforms and they have been reaffirmed by his government,” Nicolas Gougain of the Inter LGBT activist group told FRANCE 24.
“We can count on getting a majority in parliament and no prayer will be able to block this necessary legisation. Religion has no place in politics,” he added.
'No prayer can stop legislation'
The annual “Prayer for France” was a centuries-old custom that died out after World War II. It was first uttered in the seventeenth century after King Louis XIII decreed all churches would pray on August 15 for the good of the country.
Church spokesman Monsignor Bernard Podvin said its revival was timed to “raise the consciouness of public opinion about grave social choices”.
Minister for Families Dominique Bertinotti told French media this week that a bill legalising gay marriage will be voted on in parliament in early 2013.
As well as opposing gay marriage, the prayer also makes clear the Catholic Church’s resistance to gay adoption.
The cardinal invites congregations to pray that “children cease to be objects of the desires and conflicts of adults and fully benefit from the love of a father and a mother”.
These words provoked the wrath of Inter LGBT.
“He is implying that it is dangerous for a child to be brought up by same-sex parents," Gougain said. "The text of the prayer is homophobic. The church’s definition of family is far from the reality of the diverse families we see today – same-sex, mixed or single parents."
“We are asking that all different types of families are recognised, in the interests of both child and parent.”
Love thy neighbour
The Prayer for France follows the hardline stance taken by the leader of the Catholic Chuch, Pope Benedict XVI, who in January said gay marriage threatened “the future of humanity itself”.
Gay Christian groups have also reacted angrily to the Cardinal’s prayer.
“Most of our members are really upset by this terrible prayer, which reinforces the fears certain Catholics have towards homosexuals,” Elisabeth Saint-Guily of gay Christian group David and Jonathan told Europe1 radio.
“France’s bishops, and above them the Vatican, are using homophobic language. The Bible says, 'Love thy neighbour as yourself'. We would like the bishops to apply this maxim. They should love all their neighbours, including homosexuals,” she said.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon defended the church’s positon, saying marriage, defined at the start of the Bible, was created by God to join man and woman.
“Nobody should be surprised if we Catholics think that the first page of the Bible is right, even more so than a parliament,” he told Europe1.
Prayers Needed
This blogger is begging for prayers. I have a serious situation which has come up. Thanks, please, for remembering me in your prayers.
On Gender Distinctions and the Catholic Church
The EU is pushing laws which would make teaching or cultivating distinctions of gender illegal. I have written about this and I am becoming more and more concerned for catechesis in the future. The Church's age old teaching on male and female differences would be under threat.
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/sin-leads-to-insanity-god-created-us.html
http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/on-girls-dolls-real-men-and-women.html
I have written many times on the dangers of androgyny. Now, it is possible that the teaching of Christians regarding man and woman, "male and female He created them" as being God-given identities would become underground teaching.
The Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testament provide clarity as to the differences of male and female. St. Paul outlines sins connected to "effeminacy". But, of course, he was writing to the Greco-Roman cultures which had already seen the dangers of the blurring of the genders. In The Republic by Plato, there are references to weak, effeminate men. Aristotle warns of the dangers of soft, weak men and goes further in stating that effeminacy is linked to too much luxury. One can see that in our highly materialistic, hedonistic society.
Gender blurrings are part of the lgtb agenda to change the culture. St. Paul helps us under stand how serious these blurrings can be. Notice that this is a separate category of serious sin. Sodomites are separated form the effeminate. I give three translations.1 Cor 6:9-10
"Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor sodomites, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." King James Version
Do you not know that unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers, nor boy prostitutes, nor sodomites...." New American Version
Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, not idolators, nor adulterers. Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall posses the kingdom of God. Douay Rheims
Some Scripture scholars and theologians do not like the new translation of effeminate as boy prostitutes. One can argue about this. But the point is that God's natural law is being violated even in law.
Without a culture based on Revelation and natural law, there is only barbarism.
The Road
Recently, I forced myself to watch The Road. This is not for kids and even for some adults as it is R. Before I watched it, I knew it was brutal. Viggo Mortensen is an under-rated actor. He is truly talented but obviously chooses his films for his own reasons. The film, as most of you know, as it is not new, takes place in the post nuclear war world. How people react to the world of cannibalism and violence creates part of the story. The father tries to teach his son, after the mother leaves to die, about good and bad. The ending is hopeful, thank goodness, and there is a, I think, reference to The Lord of the Rings at the very end which I do not want to spoil. There is nothing beautiful in the film except the love of the father for his boy and the boy's growth into "a good guy".
But, it is an important film. The movies shows that in the end, nothing counts but character and love.
Evil persists and grows worse, which means that good must become heroic.
I went down and helped after Katrina and the landscape, especially the dead trees, reminded me of Mississippi. The reactions of the people were somewhat similar. Many men committed suicide. Some youth began to live pagan lives, completely hating God, life and themselves in a pursuit of pleasure to numb pain and fight the ordinary. Some began to practice the occult, especially voodoo. Some people, the majority, were kind and good and helpful to each other. I learned a lot about people and myself.
I was reminded of the Israelites in the wilderness, trying to get to the Promised Land after years of punishment owing to sin. One of the simplest scenes included the Man and the Boy walking into a city where the expensive jewelry shop had been. They were literally walking on money, pearls and other precious stones. Nothing mattered but food and water.
If there is a nuclear holocaust, it will be a direct result of sin. If there are any survivors who do not see people merely as prey, but as humans in need, responding in love, it will be because of grace.
We need to prepare our souls now. We need to build character and learn what real love is all about.
Sacrifice and courage. May I add real community is a necessity.
But, it is an important film. The movies shows that in the end, nothing counts but character and love.
Evil persists and grows worse, which means that good must become heroic.
I went down and helped after Katrina and the landscape, especially the dead trees, reminded me of Mississippi. The reactions of the people were somewhat similar. Many men committed suicide. Some youth began to live pagan lives, completely hating God, life and themselves in a pursuit of pleasure to numb pain and fight the ordinary. Some began to practice the occult, especially voodoo. Some people, the majority, were kind and good and helpful to each other. I learned a lot about people and myself.
I was reminded of the Israelites in the wilderness, trying to get to the Promised Land after years of punishment owing to sin. One of the simplest scenes included the Man and the Boy walking into a city where the expensive jewelry shop had been. They were literally walking on money, pearls and other precious stones. Nothing mattered but food and water.
If there is a nuclear holocaust, it will be a direct result of sin. If there are any survivors who do not see people merely as prey, but as humans in need, responding in love, it will be because of grace.
We need to prepare our souls now. We need to build character and learn what real love is all about.
Sacrifice and courage. May I add real community is a necessity.
More on Ryan
taken from The Weekly Standard Blog
Mitt Romney, the cautious candidate, wary of being specific, and counting on the bad economy to defeat President Obama – forget all that! The Romney who picked Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate is an entirely different person. He’s prepared to take the fight to Obama on the biggest bundle of issues – spending, debt, the deficit, taxes, entitlements, and the reversing of America’s accelerating decline under Obama. Specifics? There will be plenty.
Romney the fighter? Anyone who has read about the 1948 presidential campaign has noticed a likeness between Romney and Tom Dewey, the Republican candidate against President Truman. Dewey was anything but a fighter. His campaign had no purpose other than winning. He figured Truman’s unpopularity would provide for that.
It didn’t work in 1948. Nor has Romney’s message that the economy is in terrible shape and he’s a businessman who can deal with it – few specifics, no special plan, just a man with an experience. In 2012, that’s not a winning strategy.
Romney understands that. Otherwise he wouldn’t have chosen Ryan, whose budget is the plan Romney lacks. Sure, Democrats will attack it furiously, especially its reform of Medicare. But where’s their plan? Obama doesn’t have one; instead, he pretends the country isn’t facing a fiscal and economic crisis.
So, first and foremost, what the selection of Ryan tells us about Romney is that he’s not passive. He’s not Dewey without the mustache. Ryan is hardly a cautious choice of a running mate. He’s the boldest. Now Romney must actively promote and defend the Ryan plan. As of today, it’s the Romney plan.
Romney’s solution is to “get someone who can,” notes Washington consultant David Smick, a friend of Ryan. No one in America is better than Ryan in spelling out, with figures and facts, the crisis America faces.
Third, Romney turns out to be a political heavyweight with a smaller than usual ego. Ryan is bound to steal more of the limelight than normal for a vice presidential candidate. He is the leading policy thinker in the Republican party. His budget, which all but a handful of congressional Republicans have voted for, is now the campaign’s platform.
Fourth, by picking Ryan, Romney turns out to be his own chief strategist. He’s ready to adopt a campaign scheme that some, if not most, of his advisers would surely not have preferred. Nor was Ryan their first choice.
Fifth, Romney now wants to wage an exciting campaign – a tutorial. That’s an important change of mind on his part. From what we’ve seen of his campaign pre-Ryan, this was the farthest thing from his mind.
Stirring America to believe drastic action is required to avert a calamity won’t be easy. The crisis is still largely an abstraction. But Ryan can make it real in voters’ minds. And that alone makes his selection by Romney a very smart one.
And, I add a quotation from Buchanan on his website: Obama believes government is the engine of prosperity. Romney and Ryan believe people, private institutions, entrepreneurs and businesses are the creative and energizing forces in society.
And, I add a quotation from Buchanan on his website: Obama believes government is the engine of prosperity. Romney and Ryan believe people, private institutions, entrepreneurs and businesses are the creative and energizing forces in society.
A strange solution
I am sorry, but this is weird. Apartheid rules in Saudi Arabia. I print almost the entire article, as it is so unbelievable.
WORLD OPINION
Coming to Saudi Arabia: The world's first women-only city
The super-patriarchal Gulf kingdom is creating a female-only city to finally allow a huge percentage of its educated population to work freely
POSTED ON AUGUST 15, 2012, AT 8:03 AM
How will this all-female city work? Saudi Arabia has a problem: The Persian Gulf kingdom has an increasingly educated, increasingly unemployed female population and ultraconservative laws and customs that forbid women from mingling, much less working, with men. The Saudis are fashioning an unusual solution, building an industrial city that will allow only women. The female-only zone is scheduled to open in the Eastern Province city of Hofuf next year, with more ladies-only areas to come in Riyadh, the capital. How do these cities-inside-a-city work, and are they good for women? Here's a guide to the first-ever city of women:
The inaugural one in Hofuf is essentially a female-only industrial zone that's expected to employ about 5,000 Saudi women in the textile, pharmaceutical, and food-processing industries. Women will run the companies and factories. "I'm sure that women can demonstrate their efficiency in many aspects and clarify the industries that best suit their interests, nature, and ability," says Saleh al-Rasheed, deputy director general of the Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon), which is in charge of the project. The women will live in adjacent neighborhoods.
Who came up with the idea?A group of Saudi businesswomen, according to the business newspaper Al Eqtisadiah. But Saudi Arabia's ruling monarchy embraced the concept as a way to lower female unemployment while staying "consistent with the privacy of women according to Islamic guidelines and regulations," Modon said in a statement. The government had little choice, says Sarah Goodyear at The Atlantic. "Restrictions on women's lives and productivity there are so extreme — Saudi women need a male guardian's permission to travel, seek employment, or marry — that the country is in effect letting a potentially huge sector of the productive economy sit idle." About 60 percent of college graduates in the country are women, and 78 percent of them are unemployed, according to recent surveys; only 15 percent of the Saudi workforce is female.
Will this city work as intended?
Some women who work in these new cities "will no doubt distinguish themselves, but they will still be laboring in segregation," says The Atlantic's Goodyear...For one thing, "as an industrial town with no men in it, it will presumably contain none of those mini-impediments to productivity known as 'children.'" In a few years, these Saudi women will be South Korea to their male counterparts' North. These cities will either fail or they'll succeed in further segregating women from the public sphere,says Homa Khaleeli at The Guardian. Maybe women should "flock to them, close the doors, and refuse to leave until the kingdom's rulers understand just what it is like to live without women."
Is this a step forward for women?That's a tough question, says The Guardian's Williams. It's not really "a move forward in women's liberation, not unless you think apartheid was a good system for black people because they got their own swimming pools,..."
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