Thursday, May 10, 2007

LEARN THE HISTORY

Tensions among the followers of the three major monotheistic religions are front and center in the news headlines. But history shows that these tensions are nothing new — Christians, Jews, and Muslims have been battling one another for centuries. Each tradition values peace, but generation after generation, hostility and resentment seem to overcome idealism and end in violence. Though the human picture holds little hope, these obstacles to harmony direct our attention to a more spiritual perspective. And it is in this spiritual realm that there is hope for lasting healing and peace.

The history of the Middle East is filled with ironies. First, it’s important to understand that these three religious traditions share a common ancestor: the patriarch Abraham. Bearing a name that some scholars interpret as “exalted father,” Abraham grew up about 4,000 years ago in Ur, a city in a section of southern Mesopotamia, later called Chaldea. Today this region is part of Iraq. Biblical tradition has Abraham receiving a covenant, or formal agreement, from God on behalf of Abraham’s descendants. In God’s covenant, He promised Abraham that his family would become a great people and would inherit land.

The concept of a covenant is central to Biblical theology. Borrowed from ancient contract law, covenant gives a framework and vocabulary to what entered human experience as pure revelation: a sense of God’s identity, nature, and care for His creation. This covenant articulated a bond between God and His children comparable to a contract—a binding agreement. Later, this covenant’s specific terms were set forth in the Ten Commandments. While some groups have interpreted the covenant as limited to a specific religion or culture, in its highest sense God’s covenant is one of love. And this love embraces all, in every place, and throughout all time.

Viewed from a human perspective, the covenant presented two serious problems.

Viewed, however, from a human perspective, the covenant presented two serious problems from the outset. First was the matter of who had a right to the land. Abraham, under divine direction, had left the prosperous city of Ur for Canaan, to settle there. Ger, meaning sojourner, was a term used to describe someone who settled for a time in a country not his own; such an individual had certain rights under the law, but was not a citizen of the community.

According to Biblical tradition, under the terms of Abraham’s covenant with God, Abraham and his family were entitled to lay claim to Canaan, the Promised Land. The Hebrews eventually settled in the land, but were expelled by subsequent conquest. Today, many centuries later, the ownership of that relatively tiny parcel of land is still in contention.

Such contention is fueled by the second problem inherent in a solely human interpretation of God’s covenant with Abraham—ancestry. Who, exactly, are his descendants? And does every descendent have equal claim to the ancestral estate?

In effect during Abraham’s era in the ancient Near East (and for centuries afterwards) was the law of primogeniture, where the majority (and sometimes all) of a father’s estate went to the firstborn son. Abraham had not one, but two, sons. The elder, Ishmael, was the son of Hagar, Abraham’s Egyptian slave. Yet both mother and child were eventually banished from the family at Abraham’s wife’s insistence.

Sarah wanted to be sure that her son, Isaac, received his father’s estate.

Sarah had been Abraham’s wife from the outset, and when it appeared she was not able to have children, she encouraged him to have a child with their servant, Hagar. But God later blessed Sarah with a child, even though she was far beyond childbearing years. So when Sarah’s son, Isaac, was born, she wanted to be sure he, and not Hagar’s son, Ishmael, received his father’s estate.

As the child of the legal wife, Isaac did inherit Abraham’s possessions, including—according to Biblical tradition—rights to the Promised Land of Canaan. It finally came into Hebrew hands some 700 years later, after the Hebrews went to Egypt at a time of famine, became enslaved there, and then were liberated under the leadership of Moses, as described in the book of Exodus.

Ancient Semitic tradition included a vibrant and enduring sense of family, whereby all family members, throughout every generation, are symbolically united in, and present with, their patriarch. So a promise made to Abraham is in effect made to everybody descended from him. That includes both Muslims and Jews, with Christians developing their religion from the foundation of Judaism.

When the concept of ancestry is spiritualized, each one of us can rightfully be regarded as a child of God.

Like the idea of a covenant, ancestry—when weighted down with long-standing traditional limits and viewed from a sense of ownership—leads to inevitable conflict. It can produce a sense of “win/lose” that turns individuals into adversaries instead of brethren. But when the concept of ancestry is spiritualized, each one of us—throughout human history—can rightfully be regarded as a child of God, a member of His family. Therefore, each one is a vital part of Abraham’s kindred and covenant.

The great division between Jews and Muslims on this specific issue arises from differing interpretations regarding the principle of primogeniture. Among Hebrews, primogeniture was repeatedly set aside in favor of the view that God specifically chose a leader from each generation, rather than leaving the matter to birth order.

However, Muslims, who are the descendants of the first-born son of Abraham, Ishmael, hold a strict interpretation of primogeniture in this instance, and claim that the descendants of Abraham through Ishmael are entitled to the land. Those descendants are Arabs, and the land that they claim includes the territory known today as Israel.

This land has been called by several names throughout history.

This land actually has been called by several names throughout history. Before the Hebrew conquest, it was Canaan. Then it was renamed in honor of Abraham’s grandson Jacob, who received the new name, Israel, after his struggle with an angel of God at Peniel. Then in Roman times, cartographers noted several Philistine cities near the coast, and so they renamed the territory Palestine, “the land of the Philistines.”

While technology has improved this land’s value for agricultural purposes in recent times, it nevertheless remains a stony, semiarid territory. And it is also rather small. Other far more promising territories surrounding this land are oil rich and flourishing.

The land of Israel symbolically represents a treasury of spiritual inspiration to all three religions.

But the land of Israel symbolically represents a treasury of spiritual inspiration and strength to all three religions. To the Jews, it is the land of Abraham, Moses, and David; to the Christians, it is the land where Jesus lived and preached; to the Muslims it is the land promised to Abraham and through primogeniture, to his first-born son, Ishmael.

Century after century, the issues of ancestry and entitlement have been the impetus for war. And from this brief overview, it’s clear that the pattern of human history offers little hope for a future reconciliation among age-old enemies. Solutions can only come from a radically different perspective—that is, from a God’s-eye view of His creation.

So long as the discussion begins with disparate groups who demand rights to various claims and convictions, the situation will never end in unity. The discussion must begin with God and what He has created—each individual in every nation and culture in His own image. Not, ultimately, as mortals, but as spiritual beings, as must be the case with whatever reflects God, Spirit.

In God’s creation there is but one Parent and one family.

In this creation there is but one Parent and one family, one power, and one Love that is truly infinite, blessing everyone, all the time. No one is cast out, put down, forgotten, or oppressed in God’s sight. Such human perspectives have no standing with Him, and must eventually be seen for the distortion that they are. In limitless God there is limitless good and a unique place for every one of His children.

Mary Baker Eddy gave a clear explanation of this idea: “One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself;’ annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.” That “one infinite God” tends to it all.

Now all of this could be just brave talk and little else, unless as individuals we actually govern our lives by these truths. Aligning ourselves with peace—being “peacemakers”—aligns us with divine strength for daily life. And our prayers for those directly involved in the conflicts around the world gain authority and practicality to move events and transform lives. We can begin at the beginning—with God—and move in accordance with His grace and love. One step at a time.

BY Elaine Follis
Reprinted from the November 2006 issue of The Christian Science Journal.

151 comments:

  1. Lydia,

    There are very few things to recommend the movie "Kingdom of Heaven," except this speech, which also explains why it was filmed...

    "It has fallen to us, to defend Jerusalem, and we have made our preparations as well as they can be made. None of us took this city from Muslims. No Muslim of the great army now coming against us was born when this city was lost. We fight over an offence we did not give, against those who were not alive to be offended.

    What is Jerusalem? Your holy palaces lie over the Jewish temple that the Romans pulled down. The Muslim places of worship lie over yours. Which is more holy? The wall? The Mosque? The Sepulchre? Who has claim? No one has claim. All have claim! "

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  2. BLOGNAZI WORFEUS said...
    So according to the right wing, its ok for actors to become republican Presidents, but not to voice their opinions that oppose republican presidents.


    The logical extension of this theory is that no one should vote, since none of us have ever run for office...

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  3. Looks like the idiot trolls will have a lot of distraction to do today;

    Breaking: House To Schedule Straight Up-Or-Down Vote On Withdrawal Today

    By Greg Sargent


    Here's the latest on the back-room negotiations over the Iraq short-term funding bill House Dems are to vote on today: It looks as if for the first time, the House is also going to hold a straight up-or-down vote on whether to end the war.

    Last night, Nancy Pelosi called a bunch of liberal members into a meeting and told them that she didn't have the votes to pass the bill, according to a source familiar with the meeting.

    So she told the liberal members that in hopes of getting enough votes for passage, she would also schedule a vote on a bill crafted by Dem Rep. James McGovern, the source said.

    McGovern's bill would mandate that within three months of passage, military withdrawal would have to commence, to be completed within six months of then. After that, the bill mandates, no Congressional money can be used for military operations -- though there's an allowance for certain types of special ops activities. McGovern's bill was introduced in the rules committee last night.

    Here's why this is important. While the chances of passage of the measure are virtually nonexistent, it's the first time that House liberals have been able to leverage a straight yes-or-know vote on withdrawal. "It's huge," said one legislative aide. "It changes the dynamic. It means there will be more and more votes on straight measures like this."

    Apparently there's some effort underway this morning to block this vote from coming to the floor, so it's still possible that it might not happen, but at any rate, it's a key development.

    Meanwhile, the vote on the short-term spending measure is also set for today.

    More to come...

    Update: The McGovern bill mandating withdrawal is here. Again, this will not pass today. But it's significant both because it's the first straight, yes-or-no vote on withdrawal in the House, which means there will be more votes like these to come.

    And it's also significant because it's the first time the liberal members have been able to use their clout to force a "vote on something they believe in," as one aide put it to me.

    Update II: I also should have made it clearer that Dems think they now do have the votes to pass the short-term funding bill.


    I bet the re-pubies HATE this because if they vote FOR more war they will have to defend it next year.......

    But if they don't vote for MORE war, KKKarl will try to destroy their careers.

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  4. I wonder if the 11 republican congressmen, who went to the white house, to tell the chimp in chief he is screwing up so bad, they can no longer parrot his stupidity or spew it to the majority of the american people, will vote to keep Bush's stupid strategy for Bush's illegal war.....

    especially since they just told Bush they couldn't defend him any more?

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  5. There's much to think about in there, and I think that this post does a lot towards explaining the danger of religion.

    Faith is one thing, and religion is almost always something else entirely. Like the post points out, religion is almost always infused with some other, more native tradition. This also means that religion is susceptible to the infusion of hatreds from whoever is interpreting it.

    What we've seen from our own home-grown "Jesusistanis" is the infusion of hate and faith. The hatemongers of Focus on the Family, the FRC, and other JEsusistan organizations have brought people together through mutual hatred-and those people are there largely because they need to hear someone saying that it's OK to hate other people. The FRC is the flip side of Al Qaeda.

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  6. Clif,

    I found it curious that Arlen Specter was the Senator who got Gates to make that rather startling admission that he did yesterday.

    Methinks there's a mutiny underway...

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  7. BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

    "Johnny MooMoo" is a Dungeons and Dragons geek!

    "Maybe if SoE actually listened to the high end guilds more often and instead of what Johnny MooMoo lvl 41 Wizzy complaining that Mid lvl lower sux we need more boosting, and then just focusing on that lvl area (LoY anyone?). If they would just listen to ppl who have been playing the game for years and understand it better then they do. cause they obviously dont play, they wouldnt have this mass loss of player base (they claim isnt happening)"

    Level 41, Widdle Wawwiow?

    BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH

    "I'm gonna cast a spell on you!"

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  8. Excellent article, Lydia. Having studied the holy land and its peoples at some length, the history (from a Scriptural perspective only) is accurate. The things that bind the people of that region together are greater than those that separate them. Would that they would realize that.

    Carl, wasn't that an excellent movie?

    JR, it is not religion that is the danger. It is the people that misuse it to increase their own power.

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  9. JR, it is not religion that is the danger. It is the people that misuse it to increase their own power.

    I wish I could agree with you, but religion and power are too fused for there to be any meaningful separation. Christ said the closet is where you can go to find Him. I'm inclined to believe that you're far better off heading for the closet than you are the church.

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  10. Hi Lydia, Carl, Clif, Tom and Jolly!

    So, are you ready for Impeachment?

    The White House lied! Gonzo's testimony contradicts the White House stories about the attorney firings! It was a big coverup!

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  11. It was a lie and cover up because Bush was involved in those attorney firings!

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  12. Jolly Roger said...

    Christ said the closet is where you can go to find Him


    You make the best points with regards to religion and Christianity JR.

    In fact, the "closet" referred to was actually a bathroom.

    The King James translators translated the word to closet (Water Closet) and today most people think it meant a closet where you keep clothes.

    But he really was talking about praying in the crapper.

    Jesus was making a point.

    When you do it, make do it in the most private of places.

    And the crappers as private a place as you can get.

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  13. Suzie-Q said...
    Hi Lydia, Carl, Clif, Tom and Jolly!

    So, are you ready for Impeachment


    I sure as hell am.

    Of course, if the Democrats can't get their acts together and show some spine, its going to be a slow road.

    At the end of the day, it might take the republicans to impeach their own president, so they can save their party.

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  14. As for the article Lydia posted, its interesting, but seems to have a religious axe to grind.

    It does have a good message, but once again it is someone else telling us what God is like.

    Which is the problem I believe with most religion.

    Who's seen God? Who's talked with him, face to face? Out of all the religions out there the Mormons are the only ones who claim to have done this, and even their story falls apart on close introspection.

    Mary Baker Eddy was a good women I am sure, and had great insight and spiritual conviction.

    But it was her conviction.

    Religion is to me the anti-thesis of spirituality. It calls people together to agree with one person on the nature and purpose of God.

    Until someone comes along and tells me they have met with God, and have his plans written down on a celestial harddrive, then I will put their views and opinions into the melting pot with the literally THOUSANDS of of religious views, doctrine and dogma.

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  15. All Christianity, including Christian Science, was an offshoot of the original Catholic church at Rome.

    At one time, there was a group of followers of Jesus who may have had direct ties to Christ, his gospel and teachings. They were called literally, "The Good Men", and they travelled about teaching of Christ, with no church, no fancy clothes,(usually dressed in black) no heirarchal structure other than the parfaits (priests) and few ordinances or rituals other than sacrament and baptism, both taught by Christ.

    They simply taught the message of Christ, that is, to love God, you must love each other.

    The "Good Men", or the Cathars were probably as close to the original travelling apostles as anyone since.

    And the Catholic Church made sure they were all slaughtered.

    In fact, they were one of the prime factors that led to the Suppression of Heresy as issued by Papal Bulla via Gregory the 9th, which led to the Holy Inquisitions.

    The Catholic church made sure that no view, and no scriptures, other than the ones they selected or offered, would survive their bloody crusade. And none did.

    The protestent religions of today, even the Mormons and the Christian Scientists, all built their relgions based on the handful of scriptures sanctioned and edited by the Catholic church.

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  16. I do not however disrespect peoples religions. (other than ragging on the Catholic Church) People gravitate to religions that support their own views and concepts.

    I think it can be good, because it helps and comforts people, and who knows, maybe "one" of them is right.

    Maybe one of them have it down.

    But if I ever join a church, it will be one that has few answers, and LOTS of questions.

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  17. Unity, Unitarian, Agape are more true to Christ's teaching of God as Love, with less ritual...

    Christian Science is metaphysics, and actually is light years ahead of its time as it teaches Christ's lost healing miracles.

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  18. Just read Genesis 1. It's all Good. That's all you need to know about "God."

    Not Genesis 2, when man fell under the mist of mortal illusion. That's an allegory which shows

    All I can say is, I've experienced mind-boggling healing miracles, directly -- and the place I "found God" was in 12-step meetings, where two or more are gathered... all praying for the same thing.

    Now Christian Science is just the scientific laws of "goodness" provable in the universe, based on Christ's teachings. It's the simplest yet most profound thing.

    Until you've read it, don't knock it. It is not "religious." I also love Emmet Fox, the Unitarian minister who wrote th emost profound book I've ever read on Christ's Sermon on the mount.

    The key is spiritual, not material.

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  19. Tensions among the followers of the three major monotheistic religions are front and center in the news headlines. But history shows that these tensions are nothing new — Christians, Jews, and Muslims have been battling one another for centuries. Each tradition values peace...
    -Elaine Follis

    LOL. If Ms. Follis believes that a vicious land-pirate name Muhammad was all about "peace", then obviously she needs to LEARN THE HISTORY.

    On the contrary, Muslims must ignore the quran and the imams in order to be peaceful.

    Might I helpfully suggest Understanding Islam and the Muslim Mind, by Ali Sina, a former Muslim from Iran.

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  20. The Adam and Eve allegory with the serpent and man made from dust, etc, completely negates Genesis 1, where man is made in God's image.

    The allegory talks about the "tree of knowledge of good and evil."

    Don't you see it's not that Eve bit the apple and learned she was naked. It's that man suddenly started to believe in fear, death, danger, sickness and sin -- material laws, not spiritual laws.

    The spiritual truth is above the material "false evidence appearing real."

    All healing happens when you focus on the spiritual not the material. The spiritual truth of a situation, the goodness of a person (beneath the exterior terror or ugliness)... when you "let go and let God", when you put your eyes on God, not on "matter."

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  21. Even Einstein said "goodness, truth and beauty are laws of the universe."

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  22. What I'm trying to say is that no healing happens at its own level. You can't fight fire with fire.

    You can't stop alcoholism with more alcohol or with some drug or medicine. It's a spiritual malady. There is a spiritual solution and healing happens when you look away from the problem and trust a "higher power."

    People who have trouble believing in God, often get sober in 12-step programs because the fellowship is so loving. No matter how far down the scale one has gone, there is this forgiving love and power.

    It works for every difficulty in life. Money, career, ego, cancer...

    Absolutely everything can be healed when we are humble enough to stop controlling everything.

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  23. Lydia said...

    Until you've read it, don't knock it. It is not "religious."

    Well I have read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Lydia, and I found it to be like any other religious doctrine I've read.

    One person expounding on the nature of God for the rest of mankind.

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  24. The Christian Science faith meets regularly on Sunday (don't they know the Sabbath was on Saturday?) and while their services tend to me more humble and lay clergy oriented, they still have services, and some rituals, like bi annual sacrament and the elections or removal of the Board of Directors who run the church. They have money, wealth and power, and they operate from a 14 acre estate in Boston, full of fine buildings and ornate pools and symbolism.

    I'm sorry Lydia, I am not "condemning" Christian science. In fact, it is one of the least offensive of the religious breakoffs from Catholicism that exists today.

    But at the end of the day, they're still just another religion to me.

    I don't buy the healing powers stuff. If it worked, then the members wouldn't get sick and die. In fact, I well remember back in the late 80's when I was investigating this religion along with many others, that there were criminal cases involving Christian Science members, who LET THEIR KIDS DIE, instead of getting them proper medical treatment.

    All because someone told them that God would heal them.

    And then the members blame the kids deaths on the lack of faith of the children and their parents.

    Thats REAL Lydia.

    And that happened.


    Sorry, but to me, the closer we move to someone ELSES idea of God, the further we move from him.

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  25. If someone is telling a member of my family to not seek medical treatment, but instead let a bunch of people pray for them, and use their natural healing efforts to save them, I'm gonna tell that person to get the hell out of my house, and away from my family.

    The fact that those children died, because of a "belief system", should be enough to steer the thinking person away from embracing it too closely.

    When kids die because of mom and dads church, then its time to get a new church.

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  26. BLOGNAZI WORFEUS said...
    I do not however disrespect peoples religions. (other than ragging on the Catholic Church) People gravitate to religions that support their own views and concepts."

    Or that give them a sense of purpose and make them feel like cogs in the machine...........its really the same reason all the sheep feel the need to rush into marriage before they are ready...............because they "SOMEHOW" feel that is what they are "SUPPOSED" to do........thats why the divorce rate has been rising steadily

    Far more evil is done in the name of Organized religion than good in my opinion!

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  27. clif said...
    I wonder if the 11 republican congressmen, who went to the white house, to tell the chimp in chief he is screwing up so bad, they can no longer parrot his stupidity or spew it to the majority of the american people, will vote to keep Bush's stupid strategy for Bush's illegal war.....

    especially since they just told Bush they couldn't defend him any more?"

    Lets hope GWB and Rove didnt threaten or blackmail them to get them to fall back in line..........that always seems to happen whenever ANY repugs speak out against Bush or Rove!

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  28. Jolly Roger said...
    There's much to think about in there, and I think that this post does a lot towards explaining the danger of religion.

    Faith is one thing, and religion is almost always something else entirely. Like the post points out, religion is almost always infused with some other, more native tradition. This also means that religion is susceptible to the infusion of hatreds from whoever is interpreting it."

    That is true, religion as interpretted by men "IS" always subject to the infusion of hate and therein lies the problem for all the sheeple who blindly follow orders or are told what to think by others!

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  29. BLOGNAZI WORFEUS said...
    Suzie-Q said...
    Hi Lydia, Carl, Clif, Tom and Jolly!

    So, are you ready for Impeachment


    I sure as hell am.

    Of course, if the Democrats can't get their acts together and show some spine, its going to be a slow road.

    At the end of the day, it might take the republicans to impeach their own president, so they can save their party."

    Disapointing isnt it.......what was the interogation of Gonzalez supposed to be for if they DIDNT ask him to resign or impeach him.........several weals ago 99% of the repugs were asking for Gonzalez's resignation or impeachment...........NOW the Democrats just back off and waste all that political capital and allow an incompetent partsisan criminal to REMAIN in office...........its insane!

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  30. Mike said...


    Far more evil is done in the name of Organized religion than good in my opinion



    I don't know about whether the evil outweighs the good, thats a hard inventory to gauge.

    But we're on the same page, cause one things for sure.

    More evil has been done because of organized religion than any other single cause in the history of mankind.

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  31. Lydia!

    Don't freak out on me now, lol.

    I am not condemning your religion, its just you know if you're going to post religious writings, I'm probably going to toss my two cents worth in.

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  32. You're missing the whole point Worf. For people who know the spiritual key it REALLY works. Most of us aren't ready for it yet. I am so tired of hearing about how they dont' believe in doctors, etc. That's an old story. There are no laws. Just degrees of understanding.

    And flawed surgeries or bad medicine has killed countless people. I use both. I think God sometimes works through doctors. C.S. is not about any rules or regulations, just amazing grace and teachings of Christ about HOW he healed. You have never studied it or you wouldn't say these things. Just get the Journal and read a few of the testimonies. It's light-years ahead of "mortal, primitive" thought.

    But it has been the most miraculous, very private, very internal and most natural kind of prayer imaginable.

    There's no way you are ready for that leap of faith, nor are most people able to comprehend it.

    But Jesus was and commanded us to. And I have over 40 miracles in my own life, that have no other explanation. It's actually wrong to call them miracles, they are God's (good's) natural laws.

    You can't use your intellect to understand. Just like the 12-steps. You must leave your intellect at the door.

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  33. I follow Christ, who did not like any religiosity.

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  34. Lydia said...

    There's no way you are ready for that leap of faith,

    Thats right.

    I'm just a poor dumb heathen.

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  35. Lydia said...

    You have never studied it or you wouldn't say these things.


    Well I guess I'm now just not a poor dumb heathen, but a liar too?

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  36. Lydia said....

    But Jesus was and commanded us to.


    He did?

    Religious interpretation sold as absolutism doesn't cut it with me Lydia.

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  37. Lydia said...

    You can't use your intellect to understand.

    Just like the 12-steps.

    You must leave your intellect at the door.


    And there it is.

    The one single ingredient, necessary in ALL religious conversion.

    It is the CRUX of all dogma.

    Leave your intellect, at the door.

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  38. Sorry, mine was attached to my head at birth.

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  39. Breaking news.

    Coling Powells former Cheif of Staff is CALLING FOR IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT!!!

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  40. That's a good reminder. Unfortunately, all it takes is a significant minority of Jews, Muslims, and Christians who see God as "their Man" entitling them to dictate terms rather than confer as members of one family, to keep the Mideast in turmoil.

    And of course now we've got the helping hand of the Cheney-Bush administration stirring the pot.

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  41. Sorry Lydia but a persons INTELLECT is deeply tied to the 12 steps and anybody who tries to say different is just plain wrong.

    In fact the twelve steps won't work until a persons intellect can recognize just how bad they have fallen, and that they have NO control what ever over their situation as long as they continue down their path of personal self destruction.

    In fact before a person ACCEPTS the first step, they are being anti intellect, believing they CAN control their world,

    it is the loss of faith in their delusion which is the spark which allows the first step to work.

    And REALITY to break through.

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  42. See Lydia, its like this.

    I believe (thats right, I said believe, we all have beliefs) that God gave us our "intellect".

    Religion has been teaching for thousands of years that our intellect is evil, and not of God.

    Religion teaches man to fear his own ability to think, reason and examine.

    Christian "Science", if it suggest you must leave your intellect at the door, should change its name. Because science is the anti-thesis of religion.

    Science teaches us to learn, and use the logic and reason God gave us. And when we do, we walk on the moon and cure disease.

    When we don't, ignorance I believe creeps in, and leaves us at the mercy of happenstance, coincidence and random luck.

    Any religion (or belief system if you prefer) that teaches a person to "leave their intellect at the door", should itself be left at the door.

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  43. God gave mankind intellect.

    And I think its a sin not to use it. Of course I know you DO use your intellect, but I worry sometimes when I hear you say such things. I believe you've had miracles in your life, however many people do.

    Look at the "Parable of the Talents" again, only this time, think of the magnificant brain God endowed on mankind while you're reading it.

    It will open a whole new door.

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  44. I don't mean that kind of intellect, I mean the kind that gets in the way of the heart.

    One thing about 12-step meetings: it is the great leveler. I see an MIT professor in there who couldn't reason his way out of drinking, but when he gave up reasoning and fighting, the solution came.

    What I'm saying is, trust your heart. The kingdom is within you, and each person can decide for himself whether to be ruled by love or fear.

    The power of love really does heal everything.

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  45. Sorry Lydia but it is NOT intellect which gets in the way of the 12 steps,

    BUT Pride.....

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  46. or EGO if you will

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  47. Fundamentalists, moonies and cults ask that you believe in another human's ideas about "God."

    Often I will sit and worry and manipulate and stew about how to get out of a problem, or argue endlessly with someone when I know I'm right. But the answer always comes when I stop pushing my self-will on others, stop arguing, and just be very quiet. Then solutions come from deep within.

    In other words, it's not human nature and doesn't make intellectual sense to "love your enemies or not fight your enemies."

    If there was ever a divine concept, this is it. It comes from love, which is not exactly an intellectual concept.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Any person who seeks out help from a 12 step program is by definition being self destructive which is ANTI-RATIONAL.

    which means they are refusing to use their intellect as God intended if you will.....

    ReplyDelete
  49. Religion has for thousands of years taught us that the mind is evil.

    Religion silenced great men like Galileo, Capernicus and Darwin.

    In our own country today religion is tearing at the very fabric of our scientific community, trying to stifle research and the spread of knowledege while convincing people that scientific fact like evolution, or global warming are not real.

    I know you don't close your mind, and I know you are not brainwashed so don't take offense at these things I've written here today.

    I think that you do good, and I think you use your head more than most. You're not afraid to ask questions, and you're not afraid to look at new data, and you're not afraid to "change your mind" on issues, which is the KEY to all true knowledge.

    Sometimes we just disagree. This is one of them.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Lydia said...

    In other words, it's not human nature and doesn't make intellectual sense to "love your enemies or not fight your enemies."

    If there was ever a divine concept, this is it. It comes from love, which is not exactly an intellectual concept


    Mee thinks you make a strong point.

    In fact, thats an excellent point.

    Of course, if you look closer, you'll see that it DOES often make sense to love your enemies, and work with them, instead of trying to fight every minor advance in your direction.

    To me, it IS logical. And to me, I see REASON in Jesus's words there.

    But I do see your point. At times, and to many people, there is no logic in this scripture.

    But to a reasoning person, there is.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Yes, EGO: "Edging God Out"

    Worf, I'm not saying what you think I'm saying. I am not judging you, just telling the truth, and if you'll note I said I am not ready all the way either. It's amazing to open these doors and it takes a leap of open-mindedness.

    I am positive you don't believe in The Secret either, as we've spoken before about metaphysics and you've always been very closed to it, very set in your ways.

    That's fine. But I love Herbert Spencer's quote: "There is nothing that will keep a man in everlasting ignorance so much as contempt prior to investigation."

    If you really read and study this "new thought" then you can comment. It's like me condemning something I heard gossip about without unbiased research on my own.

    By the way, Christ did command us to do all these things he did.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Lydia Cornell said...

    It comes from love, which is not exactly an intellectual concept.


    Thats another really good point.

    Love certainly cannot be likened to logic in many cases, or reason.

    And I will concede that point.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Lydia Cornell said...

    Worf, I'm not saying what you think I'm saying. I am not judging you


    Hmmmmm.... I'd have an easier time accepting that if you hadn't said this next.

    you've always been very closed to it, very set in your ways.

    That's fine. But I love Herbert Spencer's quote: "There is nothing that will keep a man in everlasting ignorance so much as contempt prior to investigation."


    :D

    ReplyDelete
  54. By the way, none of this made sense to me either until I went back to it after getting sober and staying sober for 10 years. Then I started to wonder why the religions of Christianity had so many flaws and lost the healing miracles.

    I took a class and it has been moving me foreward through obstacles that used to seem very real -- in amazing ways.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I have told you now several times that I investigated Christian Science back in my 20's, when I investigated MANY religions, including Mormonism, Judaism and the Mennonites.

    I studied it. I even prayed about it.

    Yet because you are so convinced that I must not have studied it in order to say the things that I say, you conclude that I must not have studied it, ignoring my repeated statements to the contrary.

    In that respect, you've closed your mind to my words.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Lydia Cornell said...
    By the way, none of this made sense to me either until I went back to it after getting sober and staying sober for 10 years.


    Well I'm sober.


    Maybe it would make more sense if I got drunk?

    ReplyDelete
  57. Well I never understood it until I took a 12 day class and boy were my eyes opened.

    When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

    ReplyDelete
  58. By sober I mean spiritually sober. There is a magic energy in 12-step meetings that I've never found in church or anywhere else. There is so much joy in these rooms because of the humanity and democratic aspect.

    There are no dues, fees or leaders either.

    Just one drunk talking to another.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Lydia Cornell said...
    Well I never understood it until I took a 12 day class and boy were my eyes opened.



    Well, I refuse to believe that anyone needs a class to find God.

    As for studying it, as I said, I didn't just study it, I 'investigated' it. That means more than reading, it means being "taught" by the elders, and attending services.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Or one "sinner" talking to another.

    I don't believe in the word "sinner" the way fundamentalists do.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Lydia Cornell said...


    When the student is ready, the teacher appears.


    Well THAT might freak me out.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Come on Lydia, I'm giving you my best stuff here.

    Try to laugh a little.

    :D

    ReplyDelete
  63. Lydia the EGO is NOT rational nor does it exist in the rational intellect of US,

    in fact the ego is almost the antithesis of rational or intellectual thought.

    In fact most "egotistical" people are out of their minds, which is a way of saying they ain't thinking none too straight.

    ReplyDelete
  64. You know what the biggest problem I have with organized religion Lyd?

    The fact that everyone outside of their religion, is somehow less close to God, or even damned.

    That doesn't say much for God, now does it?

    ReplyDelete
  65. We are so mired in duality, it is hard to grasp metaphysics. But the discussion of these ideas was the most amazing thing I've ever been through.

    The idea that all is good and there is no opposing force.

    I already "found" God (love is already here, we just have to uncover it)

    It was a new view and a way to conquer human problems that unfolded in this class.

    ReplyDelete
  66. But I would be remiss if I did not point out that if this were a right wing blog, like Coulters, we'd never get away with questioning or debating the Blog author on her religion (oops, belief system).

    Thats why I came here in the first place. Because no matter what, you keep an open mind, and allow all voices to be heard. Which is a true Christian virtue.

    ReplyDelete
  67. It's so simple: love one another.

    Clif - you're right about the ego!

    And Worf, I am laughing at the jokes, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Thanks Worf!! I always love your mind, and love our religious discussions.

    I don't have any rigid beliefs actually; life is a wonderful mystery and I'm a work in progress.

    But one thing I know for sure now... the force of love is the most powerful force and it is creative not destructive

    ReplyDelete
  69. Clif, that was very interesting way of putting it: SELF-DESTRUCTIVE, or destructive of self.

    Actually, like the analogy to electricity, when plugging into an electric socket you can read at night, once you get your ego out of the way (the ego that says "I am all powerful," and humble yourself enough to believe there might be a power greater than yourself out there, and depend on a higher power, you are able to be MORE of an individual. More of your true gifts come out, and you can do more things because you are in the flow of harmony in the universe.

    Unlike George Bush who is operating against the flow of nature.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Lydia Cornell said...

    But one thing I know for sure now... the force of love is the most powerful force and it is creative not destructive


    You gotta love love.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Hey, what happened with Gonzales?

    Did I miss something?

    ReplyDelete
  72. Hey, what happened with Gonzales?

    Yes he LIED to congress again, under oath.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Lydia dies one day, and wakes up at the pearly gates.

    She is greeted by God, who invites her into the kingdom of heaven with him. She goes in and God and her proceed to have a fantastic discussion about her life, the mysteries of the universe, etc.

    Eventually Lydia gets a little hungry, and asks God if theres anything to eat. God replies he'll fix her something, and heads off into the kitchen.

    Lydia is naturally excited to see what sumptuous and lavish spread will be served to her in heaven and her mind wanders with thoughts of cavier, swordfish and other delicious foods.

    Finally God returns with a paper plate, and hands Lydia a bologna and cheese sandwich and a glass of milk.

    Lydia takes the sandwich looking somewhat confused. "Is this it she says? I don't mean to complain but I was sort of expecting more".

    God looks at her and replies "well, I didn't feel like cooking for just the two of us".

    ReplyDelete
  74. The house just passed another bill to fund the troops which the gutless wonder in the White House says he will veto;

    I wonder why Bush doesn't want to fund the troops?

    After all, two times they have given him the money he asked for.....

    ReplyDelete
  75. I wonder why Bush is such a big baby about trying to get HIS way on His total failure in Iraq, you'd think after more than four years of abject failure and incompetence the widdle id-jet would get a clue and come out of his self imposed bubble and LISTEN to the american people he is supposed to WORK for.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Lydia dies one day, and wakes up at the pearly gates.

    She is greeted by God, who invites her into the kingdom of heaven with him and proceeds to give her a tour. They go to rooms where they can see the earth, other worlds etc.

    Then they come to one room, thats filled with clocks. There are literally trillions of clocks. Under each clock is a persons name. "whats with all the clocks" asks Lydia.

    God says, "well, thats how we record peoples sins. Each time someone sins, the hands on their clock move one notch".

    "ohhhh, I see" says Lydia.

    "yes, I see Clifs, and theres Mikes, and theres Larry's, and mine, ... hey wait...

    Wheres Worfeus's clock?"
    she asks.

    God turns to her and says, "oh we keep that one in the kitchen...we're using it for a fan".

    ReplyDelete
  77. Worfues mine would be called a turbo in heaven...

    they could hold it over their heads and fly with it.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Hi Lydia!

    Great article you posted today and of course, love is everything in this world, isn't it? People who spew hate are miserable individuals. Misery loves company..

    We need more love in this world! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  79. Hi Clif and Worf!

    Funny jokes guys!

    LOL

    ReplyDelete
  80. Olberman just PUNKED Gonzo, with a side by side duet of Gonzo in April and today before congress,

    interesting he repeated the very same learned LIES word for word.

    Very surreal clip which will make U tube at least.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Thanks Clif! I'll have to look for that in youtube. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  82. Worf:

    Is that the REAL you in your avatar?

    LOL

    ReplyDelete
  83. Clif:

    Gonzo rehearsed all of those lies over and over... he probably believes them now!

    ReplyDelete
  84. Thanks Clif! I'll have to look for that in you Thanks Clif! I'll have to look for that in youtube. ;)tube. ;)

    S-Q, countdown replays at midnight eastern, which wouild be 10PM your time, on MSNBC (mountain time)

    It is worth the watch to see just how practiced he was both times.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Honestly guys I don't know how Gonzales is getting away with it. He is lying openly and demonstrably live on camera, in front of the US Congress.

    If this was 1975 he'd be gone already.

    What the hell are the democrats doing?????

    ReplyDelete
  86. I think they are using Gonzo to set him self up so he will be willing to throw Rove under the bus to keep himself out of Jail and an impeachment hearing.

    Because as even TINY the LIAR admits Bush can NOT interfere with a congressional impeachment hearing.

    ReplyDelete
  87. I'm mean I'm glad they're holding hearings.

    I'm glad they're investigating things.

    I'm glad they're exploring ways to end the war.

    But so far, they've got NONE OF IT done!

    ReplyDelete
  88. I thought that last week Clif, but honestly, after stating he couldn't recall 76 times, impeachment hearings for him should have begun by now.

    And thats not all.

    He's LIED under oath. Several times. His testimony has been refuted by all of his staff, not to mention he stated under oath that there were only 8 attorneys push out, now we find there was a ninth!

    What the hell are the democrats waiting for?

    ReplyDelete
  89. Worfeus, I think the congress,is stringing this out until more congressional re-pubies are willing to cut ties from Bush and they have the votes to impeach and convict Gonzo, while piling up the evidence against him.

    Right now I think Gonzo would survive a senate vote, but in late August or early Sept maybe not.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Ok. I guess I am just getting sick of being treated by these clowns like we're so stupid.

    His entire staff refuted his testimony. He can't recall any questions that may get him in trouble, and he is now busted lying under oath.

    Enough is enough.

    But ok. You're probably right.

    Dammit.

    ReplyDelete
  91. The Repugs said 3 weeks ago they want Gonzo GONE........so Obviously unless the repugs are chrronic liars they HAD the votes to oust Gonzalez weeks ago and did nothing.............WHY???????

    They should have struck while the Iron was hot and held the repugs to their word to IMPEACH GONZALEZ

    Now they have to restoke the embers of outrage and make sure they have enough support to Oust him.........a sign of weakness............They HAD the support last monthy and did NOTHING with it!

    ReplyDelete
  92. No dem would get away with it thats for sure Mike.

    A dem would have been gone by now, because the republicans would have blitzed him and many dems, being honest and decent men and women, willing to see corruption on their own side as well as the oppositions, would have voted to impeach him along with their republican counterparts.

    The republicans however tow the party line, and toss their consciences out the window.

    ReplyDelete
  93. worfeus adding to your point, the re-pubie congressmen who went to the White House for MSM sponsored spin cycle of;

    confronting Bush

    reversed course and VOTED with bush today, but the MSM is playing their "independence " up not their lemming votes.

    ReplyDelete
  94. BTW a very real problem is flying under the RADAR of the US MSM....

    Australian Drought

    In Australia they are experiencing what is being called a 1000 year drought. It is getting so bad they have to decide whether to send water to farms for crops or into cities for human consumption.


    No water will be allocated to irrigators in the Murray-Darling basin for the coming year unless there is substantial rain in the next six weeks, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

    Mr Howard today described the situation as "unprecedentedly dangerous", following a report of state and federal officials that examined water availability in the Murray-Darling system.

    "Unless there are very substantial inflows - and for that read heavy rain leading to run-off into the catchment areas - prior to mid-May 2007, there will be insufficient water available to allow any allocation at the commencement of the 2007-08 water year for irrigation, the environment or for any purposes other than critical urban supplies," he said.

    "If it doesn't rain in sufficient volume over the next six to eight weeks, there will be no water allocations for irrigation purposes in the basin."


    This is incredible to think the Australians are having to decide between drinking water and washing clothes and their bodies or growing food, but that is what is happening there. This is having a very terrible toll on the farms and the people who run them.

    Suicide rates have rose to one farmer every four days;

    Australian Divisions of General Practice chairman Tony Hobbs says high suicide rates among farmers are linked to the worsening drought.

    "On average, one male Australian farmer is taking their lives every four days or so," he said.

    "Now that's actually based on some research that was done in 2003, and we anticipate that with this drought that is affecting a lot of rural Australia that the figures could possibly get worse, and that's why we want to intervene early."


    The long term effects are ever more perilous for the Farmers.

    Destruction of the trees and plant stock upon which they base their food production, which would take years to replace.


    IF IT DOES NOT RAIN

    Grapes, citrus, stone fruit and apple industries will be devastated.

    Next year's wine vintage will be crippled.

    Prices of milk, meat and vegetables will soar.

    A jump in food prices might push up inflation.

    Heavy job losses predicted.

    But the problem is not just limited to drinking water and crop production. Electricity shortages are also likely if the Snowy Mountains Scheme is forced to shut down its hydroelectric generators. This would further compound the crisis, by removing some of the energy resources which they might have used to alleviate this problem.

    The real out come of this rising catastrophe is very important to us here in the US because of the political implications of this crisis. To wit, how fast every politician in Australia is changing their stance on Global Warming and how it can affect an entire continent.

    Australia's 'big dry' prompts changes in political coalitions

    In just 12 months, climate change has gone from being a nonissue here to being one that could tip the vote.

    In the process, Howard, a conservative now in his 11th year in office, has moved from being a climate skeptic to what he calls a "climate realist," who knows that he must offer programs to reduce global-warming greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, but wants to do it without economic pain or imposed targets, like Kyoto's. He is proposing emissions trading and nuclear power.


    Interesting once Global warming rear’s it’s ugly side people really notice and politicians change their stripes quick. Hope this is not what it takes here for people to wake up and change before it is too late.

    ReplyDelete
  95. Oops this looks not good;

    Wal-Mart posts worst sales ever as US retail figures slump

    Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, yesterday posted its worst monthly sales figures since its records began in 1980.

    The company said same store sales fell 3.5% in April on the same month a year ago. Same store sales measure the performance of stores that have been open for at least 12 months.

    But Wal-Mart was not the only US retailer turning in a poor performance in April, triggering fears that the US housing slump might be spilling over into consumer spending and that the economy might be taking a turn for the worse.

    Federated Department Stores, the company behind Macy's and Bloomingdale's, reported a 2.2% fall in April sales. The Gap continued to underperform, posting a 16% drop in sales - the retailer's long-running difficulties led to the departure of its chief executive in January. Abercrombie & Fitch, the clothing brand that recently opened in London, said April sales were down by 15%. The discounter Target, Wal-Mart's biggest rival, reported a 6.1% decline in same store April sales.

    The UBS International Council of Shopping Centres tallies the results of more than 50 of the leading retailers in the US and said combined sales in April had declined by 2.3%, the biggest drop since the index was first started in 1970. "The slowdown is at hand," said chief economist at the council Michael Niemira. The retail slowdown unnerved Wall Street and the Dow Jones industrial average closed down 147 points, or more than 1%, at 13,215 points. America's widening trade deficit also contributed to economic worries.


    Looks like the sheeple have cashed a little too much out of their McMansions, and with the sub-prime melt down their prices ain't rising so they have lost that avenue to easy credit.

    Too bad they still have mortgages which quite a few will see a rise in interest rates while no real increase in wages is looming in their futures.

    And since quite a bit of the "new" economy is based on others discretionary spending wally world ain't the only one who will be feeling the pinch soon.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Did anyone see Keith Olberman's thing where he showed the Gonzales testimony from last week and played it about 1 second before todays speech.

    It made an ECHO.

    ReplyDelete
  97. It was incredible to actually see it like that.

    ReplyDelete
  98. It just made a perfect echo.


    Word for word, right down to the pauses.

    ReplyDelete
  99. He just played them together, one about a second behind the other, and they made a perfect echo.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Gonzalez needs to go to Jail!

    ReplyDelete
  101. Can you beleive it Mike?

    He literally came back and read his answers from last time.


    At one point he said that he didn't know who ordered one individual attorney fired, but then claimed it was not Bush or Rove. How could he know who DIDN'T order it, if he didn't know who DID order it?

    Its gone beyond hubris.

    They're pissing right in congres and the American peoples faces, and telling us its rain.

    ReplyDelete
  102. Yes Worfeus, my 5:37 post was about just that Olbermann segment

    ReplyDelete
  103. Holy crap I missed that Clif.

    Sorry.

    You're right though it was surreal.

    It sounded like an echo.

    ReplyDelete
  104. Well, I think its going to take a large massive protest rally.

    They need about a 100,000 people to march on the capital (in a legal march of course) carrying banners reading IMPEACH.

    Congress will get the message when that happens.

    ReplyDelete
  105. BLOGNAZI WORFEUS said...
    But he really was talking about praying in the crapper.


    Goodness knows, after a meal of scotch bonnet peppers and tequila, that's usually where I do most of my praying...

    ReplyDelete
  106. Clif,

    It wasn't just WalMart...Target reports a 6.5% decline in sales.

    This is now four consecutive months that retail sales have declined year-to-year.

    Two more, and we can safely call it a recession.

    ReplyDelete
  107. I'm sure Widdle Wizard is putting all his "cwients" into retail stocks, however...*snark*

    ReplyDelete
  108. The scum who hang onto Chimpy deserve whatever fates they earn for themselves.

    It's a crying shame the rest of us have to go along for the ride.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Rog,

    That's why I want to make them as irrelevant as possible, so the rest of us can move forward into the future.

    ReplyDelete
  110. Suzie-Q said Hi Lydia, Carl, Clif, Tom and Jolly!

    So, are you ready for Impeachment?

    The White House lied! Gonzo's testimony contradicts the White House stories about the attorney firings! It was a big cover-up!


    Hi Suzie. I sure am. There is more than sufficient evidence to impeach with even more revealed almost daily.

    Worf Said I sure as hell am.

    Of course, if the Democrats can't get their acts together and show some spine, its going to be a slow road.

    At the end of the day, it might take the republicans to impeach their own president, so they can save their party.


    Hi Worf. The sad thing is that you might just be right. The Dems seem to be putting all their eggs in the 2008 basket. While I agree in principle, they are pursuing the worst strategy to accomplish that end.

    Mike said Disapointing isn't it.......what was the interogation of Gonzalez supposed to be for if they DIDNT ask him to resign or impeach him.........several weals ago 99% of the repugs were asking for Gonzalez's resignation or impeachment...........NOW the Democrats just back off and waste all that political capital and allow an incompetent partsisan criminal to REMAIN in office...........its insane!

    Mike you sure have that right. Bush won't fire Gonzo because he would need to get Gonzo's replacement confirmed in the Senate, and all Bush's crimes are held in abeyance because of DOJ opinions that Bush's spying, torture, signing statements, etc. are legal. The Democrats will not confirm another extreme neocon sycophant as AG.

    ReplyDelete
  111. Tomcat said...

    Hi Worf. The sad thing is that you might just be right. The Dems seem to be putting all their eggs in the 2008 basket.

    Anyone who really starts standing up to Bush is going to win.

    Pelosi and Reid think voters gave the Dems the win because they want them to just make a "show" of it.

    They think that "token" jestures showing that they are opposing him are enough.

    But its not enough.

    They were given the congress to take back our democracy and end the war that the President is using as a mandate to circumvent the constitution.

    ReplyDelete
  112. The Dems have NO killer instinct...........they have GWB, Gonzalez, Cheney etc......hurt and on the ropes and instead of going for the knockout they quietly walk back to their corner 30 seconds before the bell even rings........its actually painful to watch.

    They are playing NOT TO LOSE for 2008 instead of playing to win..........They were elected to take down a tyrant, restore the Constitution and end an illegal war and so far they have achieved NOTHING NADA, Zilch.

    ReplyDelete
  113. THe DEms Need to do what they were ELECTED to do in 2006, not just go through the motions and make it look like the oppose GWB as long as they actually dont have to challenge him openly!

    ReplyDelete
  114. Amen Mike.

    Now is NOT the time for "playing nice" or trying to seem "reasonable", or worrying about their careers in congress.

    Now is the time for Damn the Torpedos and full speed ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  115. The Democrats can END the war by NOT knuckling in and giving BUSH the money he needs to continue it...................Think about that for a minute they dont need to kiss the ass of the slimy blindly loyal partisan repugs to support them, they dont need to worry about Beating GWB's veto, all they need to do is hang tough and not fund the stupid war and its GAME OVER!

    ReplyDelete
  116. Respectfully, gentlemen, I disagree.

    ReplyDelete
  117. Worf said They were given the congress to take back our democracy and end the war that the President is using as a mandate to circumvent the constitution.

    I fully agree. 2006 was a mandate for change. Voters are losing patience after six years of Bush reich. If that mandate is not used, it will not last forever.

    ReplyDelete
  118. Good Afternoon Lydia, Carl, TomCat, Mike, Clif, Worf, Jolly, Paul, et al

    I think Darth Cheney will be Impeached soon. ;) But, Impeachment is too good for that evildoer! He should be shipped to Iraq...after all, that Chickenhawk got 5 deferments.

    ReplyDelete
  119. Yea. And he can wear one of those shirts that say "I'm Harry".

    ReplyDelete
  120. Hey Lydia and Doug,

    I'm gonna try to call your talk show again tomorrow morning.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  121. Hi Worf!

    Do you have a pic of that shirt? :)

    ReplyDelete
  122. I'm messing with ya Worf!

    LOLMAO

    ReplyDelete
  123. I've gotten a request to write something about why people should abandon the Goppers "as if you were sitting in your living room talking to a Republican."

    I'm going to have to jettison my normal terms of endearment. I don't know if I'm up to this :(

    ReplyDelete
  124. No Suzy, lol. Its a shirt that members of the British military assigned to Prince Harry's division had printed up to f##$k with the enemy.

    Since Harry is a target for kidnapping or execution once he gets there they are all going to wear the shirts.

    ReplyDelete
  125. Thanks Worf! I wasn't sure what the Harry shirt was! LOL

    So, what will be the reason for Impeachment?

    Attorneygate?

    Voter Fraud?

    False Intelligence used for Iraq war?

    Illegal wiretaps (w/o warrant)?

    ReplyDelete
  126. I don't know if its an impeachable offense or not but my money's on being a dick.

    ReplyDelete
  127. Suzie asked,

    So, what will be the reason for Impeachment?


    Chimpy pulled the security clearances of investigators looking into his warrantless wiretapping program. He appears to have done this to protect the smirking punk, "Electrode Al" Gonzales.

    That's obstruction of justice-precisely what Nixon was impeached for. If the dems would grow spines and start pushing, I'm pretty sure they'd sway a few Goppers. The Goppers realize what Chimpy has done to their prospects for the next decade or so.

    ReplyDelete
  128. Real Time with Bill Mahers on for those of you with HBO.

    ReplyDelete
  129. Nice to see Coulterguist has her own personal FBI agent.....

    who runs interference for her felonies and crimes.....

    ON the tax payers dime.

    BTW Lydia's tangle with the coulterguist is mentioned also....

    ReplyDelete
  130. Bill Maher is saying that one of Dick Cheney's undisclosed locations may have been discovered written down in the Pamela Martin escort service client list.

    I couldn't tell if he was joking or serious.

    Wouldn't it be funny if it were true?

    ReplyDelete
  131. Thanks Clif! I'm going to post that on my blog! :)

    ReplyDelete
  132. Arriana Huffington was SO on her game tonight.


    She kicked ass.

    ReplyDelete
  133. Members of Congress from both parties succeeded on Friday in passing legislation that restricts the wiretapping of US citizens by the National Security Agency without warrants.

    ReplyDelete
  134. The fusion of religion and politics in today's Republican Party is reminiscent of nothing so much as Stalinist Soviet Communism.

    I'll be doing a little talking about Stalinism (and its end) later today. I think you'll agree with a lot of my conclusions.

    ReplyDelete
  135. Suzie-Q said...
    Members of Congress from both parties succeeded on Friday in passing legislation that restricts the wiretapping of US citizens by the National Security Agency without warrants."

    Well its about time!!!!!!!!

    I COULD say better late than never............but in this regard I think this is LONG overdue................Bush should NOT be allowed to spy on ordinary Americans without a warrant!

    ReplyDelete
  136. Jolly Roger, I agree with you about Stalinism.

    CHecking out your blog after our radio show tomorrow.

    We're having Media Matters on and a surprise guest!!

    www.bashamandcornell.com

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  137. Carl, here's what recommends the movie KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: Orlando Bloom!

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  138. Carl, that fight you had with FF is really funny. I just watched you kick ass.

    Very funny!

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  139. Lydia,

    I'm not crazy about his acting style. He plays the same character in nearly every film, just different make up.

    But I get the cuteness factor...

    Have a good show today. I'm afraid I won't be able to tune in. Have to run some errands. I think I know who the surprise guest is, but I'll keep my tongue in my mouth...

    Oh...and happy Mom's day, if I don't "see" you before then! *kiss*

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  140. Jolly Roger said...
    I've gotten a request to write something about why people should abandon the Goppers "as if you were sitting in your living room talking to a Republican."


    Scan the room. Point out all the lovely things they own: their vacation photos, their antiques purchased on the weekend at flea markets, the television.

    Remind them that they wouldn't own them if not for the work of progressives and Democrats who supported them: unions gave us weekends, and vacations and decent wages that purchase us leisure time and leisure toys.

    Then remind them of what Harry S said: If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic.

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  141. Sorry Lydia, but Orlando Bloom is not an actor that men like.

    He's just another efeminate pretty boy to most guys.

    I can barely tolerate him.

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  142. With regards to Coulter being cleared of Voter fraud, theres something going on there.

    At first I assumed that she just voted in the wrong district out of stupidity or something. After all, what possible difference could her one single vote matter? I figured she did it out of hubris, or some stupid reason.

    But then I saw today that Republican Congressmen Patrick McHenry's campaign field coordinator has now been indicted on voter fraud in North Carolina.

    He was indicted for voting "in a district he was not eligble to vote in".

    Just like Ann Coulter.


    And what is peculiar about this case, is that McHenry won by only 86 votes!

    86.

    I wonder how many of his campaign staff likewise voted where they were not eligible? Seeing a pattern here?

    In these small districts where a handful of votes matter, the RNC coordinating efforts to bring voters into weaker districts in tight races would be invaluable in winning or retaining congressional seats.

    Micheal Aaron Lay, was the McHenry campaign field coordinator, which means he most likely "coordinated" more of these illegal votes.

    And the fact that someone as high up as Ann Coulter has been discovered to have done it as well, indicates that we are barely skimming the surface.

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  143. Also the fact that this character was busted right after Coulter had her investigation squashed by her ex FBI boyfriend, opens an interesting connundrum.

    How can the District Attorney prosecute Lay, when Coulter has been proven guilty of doing the exact same thing?

    If Lay is found guilty, I'd be looking for the Coulter case to be reopened, and the FBI agent who squashed it, likewise investigated.

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