An article today in the New York Times (among other papers) notes that two arrests were made in the nine cases of rural church burning in Alabama.
The college administrators where the suspects attended school felt horrible. Quoting the article: "I almost have a sense of grief about this and about Birmingham-Southern's association with it," said Martin Landry, a junior from Pell City, Ala. "The bottom line is that this is a great school. I'm still extremely proud of it, and I do think we have an obligation to help make this right."
Church members, however, angry at the suspects for setting fire to their sacred, holy places, formed up in large numbers in front of the University steps, marching to loud yelling, angrily calling for the two suspects to be brought forward to answer for their crimes. Several church members were seen throwing stones through the University windows while covering their faces with bandanas, and running from police. The church pastor denounced the suspects, calling them abominations before God, and demanded that the University hand them over, threatening that if the University refused, then his followers would have no choice but to declare a holy war and destroy the University chapel and clock tower.
Wait.... I'm sorry. That's not right. What was I thinking?
These are Christian churches in America, not Islamic mosques in Iraq. 9 churches burned.... nine! (The Christian Science Monitor notes that 200-300 cases of church arson occur each year - the vast majority go unsolved.) Not one rock thrown in anger that I've heard. Not one angry demand for justice that I've heard. Not one fatwa issued. No church pastors giving fiery speeches on the evils of University life and how it must be overcome with the help of Gaw-awd! Not even a photo of a wailing women wearing black, half-crumpled over in grief.
What's that? Oh, what WAS the response?
Offers of help.
After the arrests, the president of the college, David Pollick, promised to help rebuild the churches. "We have people contacting each of these churches right now," Dr. Pollick said on Thursday. "The important thing is to be helpful, not cumbersome."
Dr. Pollick said the effort would probably make use of student volunteers. "Or it may be that alumni want to do labor, to drive nails," he said. In order to receive donations, the college said that it had established the "Alabama Churches Rebuilding and Restoration Fund."
No, the fundamental cultural and religious differences between Christianity and Islam - between The West, and The Middle East - cannot be stated or observed any clearer than how we react to indignity and affliction.
Christianity teaches grace and mercy in the face of adversity. If someone forces you to walk a mile, walk another mile freely. If someone strikes you on the cheek, turn the other as well. If someone takes from you your cloak, give him your shirt as well. Do kind to those that hate you. Pray for those that persecute you.
Islam teaches retribution and revenge. If someone denigrates Mohammed (by drawing a picture of him, no less), then riot and kill people (some 40 people have died due to rioting and violence directly related to the protests over the European editorial cartoons). If someone destroys a Mosque, then riot in the streets and plunge your country to the brink of civil war. Fight those that don't believe in Allah. Kill those that blaspheme the Prophet and his followers.
I'm fascinated by the apologists who say Islam is just misunderstood, and it's truly a peaceful religion, teaching love and understanding to all. It's only loving and understanding to those that strictly follow its teaching and tenants. If you do not, then you are infidel, and must be dealt with harshly, because Allah is Great and His will must be done. Opposition cannot be allowed.
People say Christians are just as bad with their "Turn or Burn" evangelism, or their "If you don't accept Christ, then you are destined to burn in Hell!"
The difference is most Christians won't try to convert you at the tip of a sword. They might annoy you and beg you, but if you don't want to accept Jesus, then you are free to go your way; the First Baptist Church generally won't run you out of town or kidnap and kill your family for being infidel and opposing the local Imam. The worst thing the Christians might lay on you is a guilt trip.
I could go on and on. Anyone have a comment, difference of opinion?
Friday, March 10, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
MySpace and Music
I'm up way to late tonight, working on my blog and my MySpace page. MySpace is horribly addicting.... way worse than Blogger, folks. However, I do find a redeeming feature over at MySpace to be the availability of perfectly legal, top-notch music, to add to your MySpace page. Through the magic of HTML and cut&paste, I was able to load the music here, as well.
If you don't like it, just press the pause button. It'll shut up.
One other feature of MySpace that I really appreciate is the capability to keep in close contact with family. Since joining over there, I'm able to keep up with my daughter and her friends (as in, what are they up to!), my brother in Utah, several nephews and nieces, a few co-workers, as well as a dispatcher profession discussion group. All very cool, and in one nice neat place.
Make no mistake, I'm not abandoning Blogger, since this is my first love as far as journaling goes, but I'll be dual-posting these entries over at MySpace as well, on my blog page there.
MySpace isn't for everyone, but it's certainly doesn't deserve the bad-rap it's been getting in the press.
If you don't like it, just press the pause button. It'll shut up.
One other feature of MySpace that I really appreciate is the capability to keep in close contact with family. Since joining over there, I'm able to keep up with my daughter and her friends (as in, what are they up to!), my brother in Utah, several nephews and nieces, a few co-workers, as well as a dispatcher profession discussion group. All very cool, and in one nice neat place.
Make no mistake, I'm not abandoning Blogger, since this is my first love as far as journaling goes, but I'll be dual-posting these entries over at MySpace as well, on my blog page there.
MySpace isn't for everyone, but it's certainly doesn't deserve the bad-rap it's been getting in the press.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Supreme Court Smack-Down
Hurray for the US Supreme Court.
If you thinks top US colleges don't have an agenda, and aren't actively indoctrinating young people into a certain way of thinking, the recent Court ruling has got to wake up call.
"In an 8-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the federal government could force colleges that accept federal money to allow military recruiters on campus.
Justices rejected a free-speech challenge from law schools and professors who claimed they should not have to associate with military recruiters or promote their campus appearances."
At the heart of the issue was the law school's opposition to the "don't ask, don't tell'' policy on gays and lesbians in the armed forces, which, in and of itself, is fine. People have opinions, and are free to express them.
But what I love, and what I hope people see, is that these top law schools, including Golden Gate University and law teachers at Stanford University and the University of San Francisco, all got it wrong.
The Supreme Court was unanimous in their opinion - a supreme rarity. Call it a resounding slap-down, if you will.
The colleges didn't want recruiters on campus because most college administrators and professors are ideologic liberals. At their heart they hate the military, and everything it represents, especially in this time of conservative power in the US. The objection to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was just an attempt at a legal excuse to keep the military and recruiters off campuses.
They used the arguement that it was a violation of their free speech to have to allow the recruiters, because they'd appear to be endorsing something they truly do not endorse.
WTF?
College is supposed to be a place of learning not just about academics, but about life, too. If we shelter our young people from the realities of life, we're doing a great disservice to future generations.
This is a tough, hostile, dangerous world we live in. In the U.S., recent generations have carved out a nice, reasonably safe society for ourselves, where we can blissfully ignore the greater truths of life on earth, due in large part to the sacrifice of the millions who have served in the U.S. military - the very military most liberals despise.
But the world at large is still a freakin' dangerous place. College men and women (not children folks, they are young Men and Women, old enough to make choices for themselves) should be given all the facts on which to make decisions, not be sheltered and indoctrinated at our Universities.
I think the Supreme Court took a huge step in the right direction. The fact that THE LAWS SCHOOLS got it wrong on the merits of THE LAW tells me a lot about the law schools, ya know?
If you thinks top US colleges don't have an agenda, and aren't actively indoctrinating young people into a certain way of thinking, the recent Court ruling has got to wake up call.
"In an 8-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the federal government could force colleges that accept federal money to allow military recruiters on campus.
Justices rejected a free-speech challenge from law schools and professors who claimed they should not have to associate with military recruiters or promote their campus appearances."
At the heart of the issue was the law school's opposition to the "don't ask, don't tell'' policy on gays and lesbians in the armed forces, which, in and of itself, is fine. People have opinions, and are free to express them.
But what I love, and what I hope people see, is that these top law schools, including Golden Gate University and law teachers at Stanford University and the University of San Francisco, all got it wrong.
The Supreme Court was unanimous in their opinion - a supreme rarity. Call it a resounding slap-down, if you will.
The colleges didn't want recruiters on campus because most college administrators and professors are ideologic liberals. At their heart they hate the military, and everything it represents, especially in this time of conservative power in the US. The objection to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was just an attempt at a legal excuse to keep the military and recruiters off campuses.
They used the arguement that it was a violation of their free speech to have to allow the recruiters, because they'd appear to be endorsing something they truly do not endorse.
WTF?
College is supposed to be a place of learning not just about academics, but about life, too. If we shelter our young people from the realities of life, we're doing a great disservice to future generations.
This is a tough, hostile, dangerous world we live in. In the U.S., recent generations have carved out a nice, reasonably safe society for ourselves, where we can blissfully ignore the greater truths of life on earth, due in large part to the sacrifice of the millions who have served in the U.S. military - the very military most liberals despise.
But the world at large is still a freakin' dangerous place. College men and women (not children folks, they are young Men and Women, old enough to make choices for themselves) should be given all the facts on which to make decisions, not be sheltered and indoctrinated at our Universities.
I think the Supreme Court took a huge step in the right direction. The fact that THE LAWS SCHOOLS got it wrong on the merits of THE LAW tells me a lot about the law schools, ya know?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)