Do The Right Thing

I’ve been busy – sorry for the lack of blogging – it’s not because there aren’t serious issues in the world… I will resume my normal blogging this coming weekend.

To let you know about me, who I am and why I believe the way I do, the title is not a question but a statement, because choosing to do right or wrong is never a question; I always try to do the right thing, it’s the forty-nine years of conditioning from my Scottish momma, my stubborn Celtic heritage, my Catholic upbringing, living abroad, my responsibilities as a manager, and purchasing my first home and mortgage during the Carter years, that determines for me what is right.

All of my childhood and adult experiences, whether they were karmic clashes, epiphanies, or moments of serendipity, formed my beliefs and reactions to life, its’ bumps and bridges, as well as my spiritual and political tenets.

Growing up in our family always seemed different for us – it was the 1950’s, the South, with the majority of churches Baptist, Presbyterian, and Church of God and the sizes of the families on our street were smaller. Our neighbors would eventually tell my mom years after we moved into the community that they were horrified that a Catholic family (with six children under the age of nine) was moving in and how relieved they were to find out how polite and well-behaved we were. My momma – one of thirteen children, the only one to emigrate to America through marriage – would entertain her six weans with books, fairy tales, children’s songs, and intriguing tales of growing up in war-time Scotland, our Irish and Scottish heritage, and “ken ye are descended frae kings, but ne’er forgit that yer offa guid peasant stock.”

My mother’s heartfelt words made a deep impression on me at four years old. Being good peasant stock, no chore was too much, or too lowly for us to do, such as standing on a chair at the sink and peeling “tatties” at 6 years old. She taught us how to cook meals for the family, the true meaning of “clean”, and how to be a loving mother. Even with six children, you could eat off her floors at any time – it wasn’t until I was 30 that I finally realized that you’re not supposed to eat off floors and eased up on my guilt of undone chores. Despite doctors’ admonitions, my mother had six caesarians in nine years – all because she loved us and obeyed the Church’s doctrines. She would remind us often that the years having her babies were the best years of her life. I loved hearing my momma’s words as well as living nearby, she was a source of comfort, someone I could tell anything to, someone who would tell me when I was doing wrong even if at the time I didn’t want to know it and as a result, I was the only child out of my six siblings who never moved very far from my mother.

I used to tell my children that if someone was being mean to you, remember how it feels and never do it to someone else. My mom would say that they were miserable buggers that would try to hurt someone. And it’s true. People that are snide, mistreat, abuse, or attack someone, especially online are cruel, miserable, pathetic souls. God bless them and the others who chime in on any form of mistreatment.

My mother’s socialist and compassionate beliefs, stemming from Catholicism and strong clan nationalism provided me years of debate regarding my passionate conservative opinions. She would pretend to spit when Ian Paisley’s name was said, truly felt that the wealthy (the Royal Family) and companies that employ a workforce (Protestants were hired, Catholics were not) were evil, and that nobody should ever face shame, unemployment, and poverty because of their religion or heritage. My stalwart capitalistic arguments usually were thwarted by my mother saying “Ach yer arse, Treesa”. I learned that you never know what you truly believe in until you have to argue for it, although the “arse” remark was the usually the end of the conversation with my mother.

From my birth to her death, her most loving and best lesson to me was learning not to be afraid to die. It was the end of my world, my greatest personal loss, yet it synchronistically set me on the successful path of where I am today.

As a manager, I realized the realities of various employee mentalities. I learned that in the South, you can live off welfare easier and better than being hired at minimum wage and working your way up through raises. For myself, I understood the values of “work hard enough, do more than what is asked of you, you will be promoted, and make more money”. It worked for me every time. Only working one long-term minimum wage job in my teens, and working on tips and $1.50 an hour waitressing, the better I was at providing what others needed, the more money I made. As an adult, no matter what job I had, I never stayed at my hire wage longer than the probationary period.

Purchasing our first home as a young family during the Carter administration was an eye-opener to just how liberal government policies personally affected our finances, and eventually my belief system. With an interest rate of 23%, our $39,000 mortgage payment was almost $600, an exorbitant cost at that time but the only option we had of owning a home. Thankfully, my husband and I earned healthy incomes.

Combining the mortgage issue with double-digit inflation, outrageous gas prices, the cost of buying sweaters (in Florida) to conserve energy, and failed global policies, my political perspectives were being honed. I wanted to see logical solutions to obvious problems that affected not only me and my family, but the world. When Ronald Reagan ran for the presidency, I changed from being a well-intentioned Democrat to a Republican, but too ashamed to admit it – I voted Republican. It wasn’t until the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 that I finally came out of the political closet and registered as a Republican. Being a Democrat did not encourage people to do the right things: Work hard, obey the law, raise your living standards, have a better life, teach others to do the same, and you’ll be secure.

My mother’s exhortations and constant social reinforcement of protecting those who are smaller, weaker, and younger, along with the Catholic Church’s hypocritical preaching that the poor should only obey the Church’s laws, not the government’s, still hover in the back of my mind, although they are now tempered with my real experiences that have proven true that if you do the right things and implement the right policies, you will get ahead and you will be secure.

Now if I could only get my three, adult, “20-something”, hard working and good children to stop listening to their grandmother’s liberal genes, I’ll feel more comfortable. With the new Democratic majority in office, I guess I will have to be patient and wait till they buy their first home and experience mortgage shopping. Their epiphanies are coming.

I love these statements – but find it very hard to live by.

But it’s worth striving for.

From Mother Teresa’s wall in the children’s hospital in Calcutta

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

Wazooming In On The Presidents Iraq Speech

President Bush Addresses Nation on Iraq War
CQ Transcripts WireWednesday, January 10, 2007; 9:10 PM
SPEAKER: PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH
BUSH: Good evening.
We’ll see about that George
Tonight in Iraq, the armed forces of the United States are engaged in a struggle that will determine the direction of the global war on terror and our safety here at home.
The new strategy I outline tonight will change America’s course in Iraq and help us succeed in the fight against terror.
When I addressed you just over a year ago, nearly 12 million Iraqis had cast their ballots for a unified and democratic nation. The elections of 2005 were a stunning achievement.
And they elected a poor leader. Forgive them, they are out of practice.
We thought that these elections would bring the Iraqis together and, that as we trained Iraqi security forces, we could accomplish our mission with fewer American troops.
But in 2006, the opposite happened. The violence in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, overwhelmed the political gains the Iraqis had made. Al Qaida terrorists and Sunni insurgents recognized the mortal danger that Iraq’s elections posed for their cause. And they responded with outrageous acts of murder aimed at innocent Iraqis.
And no one in your brain trust anticipated this?
They blew up one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam — the Golden Mosque of Samarra — in a calculated effort to provoke Iraq’s Shia population to retaliate.
Their strategy worked. Radical Shia elements, some supported by Iran, formed death squads. And the result was a vicious cycle of sectarian violence that continues today.
The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people, and it is unacceptable to me. Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.
Duh, quit listening to the polls and the nightly news. Did you expect ANY war to be popular? You should have stayed the course instead of trying to appease the Libs and Molly-Coddling Maliki’s troops.
It is clear that we need to change our strategy in Iraq. So my national security team, military commanders and diplomats conducted a comprehensive review.
We consulted members of Congress from both parties, allies abroad, and distinguished outside experts.
And you had not done this before?
We benefited from the thoughtful recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. In our discussions, we all agreed that there is no magic formula for success in Iraq. And one message came through loud and clear: Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States.
Where have we failed? Saddam is gone, that was the objective. If we have any failure at all, it is in over estimating the Iraqi peoples resolve to acheive freedom, no matter the cost.
The consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions. Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the American people.
On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the other side of the world could bring to the streets of our own cities. For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq.
No, Iraq must suceed in Iraq.
The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq’s sectarian violence occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis. Only the Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people. And their government has put forward an aggressive plan to do it.
Not aggressive enough.
Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents, and there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have.
I’ll agree with you on that point.
Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes. They report that it does. They also report that this plan can work.
Let me explain the main elements of this effort.
The Iraqi government will appoint a military commander and two deputy commanders for their capital. The Iraqi government will deploy Iraqi Army and National Police brigades across Baghdad’s nine districts.
When these forces are fully deployed, there will be 18 Iraqi Army and National Police brigades committed to this effort, along with local police. These Iraqi forces will operate from local police stations; conducting patrols, setting up checkpoints, and going door- to-door to gain the trust of Baghdad residents.
This is a strong commitment. But for it to succeed, our commanders say the Iraqis will need our help. So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down sectarian violence and bring security to the people of Baghdad.
Now you’re talking, it’s their fight, let them make it.
This will require increasing American force levels. So I have committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. The vast majority of them — five brigades — will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will work alongside Iraqi units and be embedded in their formations.
Shades of Robt. McNamara
Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs.
Is this the same local population that sees IED’s being positioned and don’t report it?
Many listening tonight will ask why this effort will succeed when previous operations to secure Baghdad did not.
Here are the differences.
In earlier operations, Iraqi and American forces cleared many neighborhoods of terrorists and insurgents but, when our forces moved on to other targets, the killers returned.
This time, we will have the force levels we need to hold the areas that have been cleared.
In earlier operations, political and sectarian interference prevented Iraqi and American forces from going into neighborhoods that are home to those fueling the sectarian violence. This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter these neighborhoods. And Prime Minister Maliki has pledged that political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated.
I have made it clear to the prime minister and Iraq’s other leaders that America’s commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people. And it will lose the support of the Iraqi people.
Now is the time to act. The prime minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of sectarian or political affiliation.
This new strategy will not yield an immediate end to suicide bombings, assassinations or IED attacks. Our enemies in Iraq will make every effort to ensure that our television screens are filled with images of death and suffering.
Yet, over time, we can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad’s residents.
Shouldn’t this have been happening already?
When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas.
Most of Iraq’s Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace. And reducing the violence in Baghdad will help make reconciliation possible.
A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations. Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighborhoods and communities. So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.
To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq’s provinces by November.
To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the country’s economy, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all Iraqis.
How about passing some of that our way?
To show that it is committed to delivering a better life, the Iraqi government will spend 10 billion dollars of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs.
To empower local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year.
And to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation’s political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws and establish a fair process for considering amendments to Iraq’s constitution.
America will change our approach to help the Iraqi government as it works to meet these benchmarks. In keeping with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, we will increase the embedding of American advisers in Iraqi Army units and partner a coalition brigade with every Iraqi Army division.
We will help the Iraqis build a larger and better-equipped Army, and we will accelerate the training of Iraqi forces, which remains the essential U.S. security mission in Iraq.
It is? What about the plans for US bases in Iraq?
We will give our commanders and civilians greater flexibility to spend funds for economic assistance.
We will double the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities pursue reconciliation, strengthen moderates and speed the transition to Iraqi self-reliance
And maybe sit in a circle and sing “Kumbaya?
And Secretary Rice will soon appoint a reconstruction coordinator in Baghdad to ensure better results for economic assistance being spent in Iraq.
Why not have the Iraqis spend the oil revenues that you just promised them?
As we make these changes, we will continue to pursue Al Qaida and foreign fighters.
Translation: Next stop Africa
Al Qaida is still active in Iraq. Its home base is Anbar province. Al Qaida has helped make Anbar the most violent area of Iraq outside the capital.
A captured Al Qaida document describes the terrorists’ plan to infiltrate and seize control of the province. This would bring Al Qaida closer to its goals of taking down Iraq’s democracy, building a radical Islamic empire, and launching new attacks on the United States at home and abroad.
Our military forces in Anbar are killing and capturing Al Qaida leaders and protecting the local population. Recently, local tribal leaders have begun to show their willingness to take on Al Qaida. As a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the terrorists.
So I have given orders to increase American forces in Anbar province by 4,000 troops. These troops will work with Iraqi and tribal forces to step up the pressure on the terrorists. America’s men and women in uniform took away Al Qaida’s safe haven in Afghanistan, and we will not allow them to re-establish it in Iraq.
Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge.
Translation: We ain’t leaving
This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.
We are also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region.
We will expand intelligence sharing, and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region.
The “others” being Isreal? Good idea George, keep that pot stirred.
We will use America’s full diplomatic resources to rally support for Iraq from nations throughout the Middle East. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf States need to understand that an American defeat in Iraq would create a new sanctuary for extremists and a strategic threat to their survival.
A new sanctuary? Does this mean they are moving out of Dearborn?
These nations have a stake in a successful Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors, and they must step up their support for Iraq’s unity government.
We endorse the Iraqi government’s call to finalize an international compact that will bring new economic assistance in exchange for greater economic reform.
Economic assitance? Check the price of oil, they should assist themselves.
And, on Friday, Secretary Rice will leave for the region to build support for Iraq and continue the urgent diplomacy required to help bring peace to the Middle East.
And we all know what respect Muslims have for women.
The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life.
In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy, by advancing liberty across a troubled region. It is in the interests of the United States to stand with the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim their freedom, and help them as they work to raise up just and hopeful societies across the Middle East.
He brings up the troops like the Libs use “For the children”
From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian Territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the violence and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq.
They want to know: Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists, or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?
The Iraqis didn’t choose freedom, it was handed to them and therein lies much of the problem.
The changes I have outlined tonight are aimed at ensuring the survival of a young democracy that is fighting for its life in a part of the world of enormous importance to American security.
Let me be clear: The terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent. Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue. And we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties.
The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will.
Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship.
But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world: a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties, and answers to its people. A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them, and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and grandchildren.
Our new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq.
Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States and, therefore, our policy should focus on protecting Iraq’s borders and hunting down Al Qaida. Their solution is to scale back America’s efforts in Baghdad or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces.
We carefully considered these proposals. And we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear that country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale.
Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer, and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home.
In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If members have improvements that can be made, we will make them. If circumstances change, we will adjust.
Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.
Acting on the good advice of Senator Joe Lieberman and other key members of Congress, we will form a new, bipartisan working group that will help us come together across party lines to win the war on terror. This group will meet regularly with me and my Administration, and it will help strengthen our relationship with Congress.
We can begin by working together to increase the size of the active Army and Marine Corps, so that America has the armed forces we need for the 21st century. We also need to examine ways to mobilize talented American civilians to deploy overseas, where they can help build democratic institutions in communities and nations recovering from war and tyranny.
In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us. These young Americans understand that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary, and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time.
They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table. They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure our liberty.
We mourn the loss of every fallen American, and we owe it to them to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.
No, the Iraqis owe it to them. They must never be allowed to forget that.
Fellow citizens: The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom.
Yet times of testing reveal the character of a nation.
There’s nothing like a platitude to stir people up.
And, throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed. Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century. We can and we will prevail.
We go forward with trust that the author of liberty will guide us through these trying hours. Thank you and good night.
END

How ‘Bout Dem Gators?

For the second time in 100 years, the University of Florida are the 2007 National Champions. From Ohio State’s first touchdown in the first five minutes, the Buckeyes didn’t have a chance! Gators spanked the Buckeyes offense with a final score of 41 – 14!

US Strikes Al-Qaeda – In Somalia

It’s about time! Allowing Somalia to suffer Islamic terrorism while we are fighting the Irani trained and armed Muslim-wannabe extremists in Iraq. Terrorists should not be allowed haven in any corner of the world.

A U.S. Air Force gunship has conducted a strike against suspected members of al Qaeda in Somalia, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports exclusively. The targets included the senior al Qaeda leader in East Africa and an al Qaeda operative wanted for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in Africa, Martin reports. Those terror attacks killed more than 200 people.

The AC-130 gunship is capable of firing thousands of rounds per second, and sources say a lot of bodies were seen on the ground after the strike, but there is as yet, no confirmation of the identities.

The gunship flew from its base in Dijibouti down to the southern tip of Somalia, Martin reports, where the al Qaeda operatives had fled after being chased out of the capital of Mogadishu by Ethiopian troops backed by the United States. Once they started moving, the al Qaeda operatives became easier to track, and the U.S. military started preparing for an air strike, using unmanned aerial drones to keep them under surveillance and moving the aircraft carrier Eisenhower out of the Persian Gulf toward Somalia. But when the order was given, the mission was assigned to the AC-130 gunship operated by the U.S. Special Operations command.

If the attack got the operatives it was aimed at, reports Martin, it would deal a major blow to al Qaeda in East Africa.

Source of Smell In New York Discovered

The source of gaseous smells wafting all over New York has been found. It seems that somehow Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell bumped into each other this weekend and went at it, tooth and nail. It is thought that both losers succumbed to their injuries and their bodies are now rotting away in some back alley. Anyone coming across bloated, hairy bodies should contact authorities right away.

Mythical War Between Science And Religion

A new anti-religion book is out called “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins. A better title would be “The Dawkins Delusion” or “Why I Am So Angry, I Have To Write A Book.” Take a look at Dawkins’ description of God:

There are many words that could be used to describe Richard Dawkins. Subtle is not one of them. “[The God of the Old Testament] is a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully,” wrote the Oxford University evolutionist…

In case that didn’t make his thoughts on God clear enough, in recent months Dawkins also compared God to a small child’s imaginary friend – a little purple man with a tinkling bell to be exact – and religious education to “brainwashing.”

It’s not a war between scientists and the faithful, but atheists and the faithful.

Unlike scientists such as Kurtz who fear that religious faith will undermine scientific truth, the Catholic Church doesn’t fear that scientific truth will undermine religious faith. In fact, experience has shown just the opposite.

“Modern science – especially physics and cosmology – have shown us how deep the beauty and orderliness of the universe are,” said Barr.

From ecclesiastics such as St. Albert the Great, Jesuit Father Angelo Secci (the founder of modern astrophysics) and the Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel (the father of genetics) to devout Catholic laymen like Copernicus, Blaise Paschal and Louis Pasteur, centuries of Catholics have demonstrated the compatibility of faith and science. And the church sees no reason for that to change anytime soon.

“Whatever is true ultimately finds its source in God,” Father Weinandy said. “So there can’t be a conflict between what is scientifically true and what is revealed as true in revelation.”
For now, with Dawkins’ book still climbing the best-seller list, and Kurtz’s public-policy group lobbying hard in Washington, the mythical war between science and religion will more than likely continue to make headlines. But in the end, Barr expects the most lasting damage caused by Dawkins and company’s war will be damage to the reputations of those waging it.

“In the long run,” he said, “fanatics always hurt their own cause.”

From the Catholic Online website, it’s a great article on science, the Church, and God. Check it out.

Polish Archbishop Expels Nuns From Convent

After firing their Mother Superior for having ‘visions’ of the Holy Spirit, Archbishop Zycinski has evicted 10 nuns loyal to their former head who refused to listen and resolve issues with the archdiocese.

Polish archbishop told a group of nuns to leave their convent after the Vatican expelled them from their order for refusing to accept a new mother superior.

“There are no private religious orders in the Catholic Church where everyone can set their own rules,” Archbishop Jozef Zycinski of Lublin told Poland’s Catholic information agency, KAI, in early December. “We should pray for these lacerated, lost and highly strung sisters.”

Father Mieczyslaw Puzewicz, a spokesman for the Lublin Archdiocese, told KAI tensions had surfaced after Sister Jadwiga Ligocka, the former mother superior of the Sisters of the Family of Bethany, claimed to have “private inspirations from the Holy Spirit.”

A Vatican delegate dismissed the mother superior from her position at the Kazimierz convent in 2005, but Sister Jadwiga continued to occupy the convent with 10 nuns and an unknown number of novices.

In late October, a decree from the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life expelled the nuns from the order.

Archbishop Franc Rode, prefect of the congregation, said in a letter to Sister Barbara Rodek, the official mother superior, that he saw “no readiness for dialogue or signs of good will” from the nuns.

Sister Barbara has been staying in Lublin with other nuns from the order while waiting for a resolution.

Father Puzewicz said: “Unfortunately the sisters in Kazimierz did not wish to acknowledge the resolutions of responsible church authorities, nor did talks with archdiocese representatives and local parish priests help.”

The Polish Press Agency reported Dec. 1 the nuns refused to accept the ruling and hired bodyguards.

Americans Spend Nearly Half Their Lives With Media

“I bet you read that on the Internet.” That’s the snide comment in debates or conversations when you’re winning against liberals. Well, obviously it must be since more people are spending more time on the computer, multi-tasking, reading the Internet with television on in the background than reading newspapers and magazines. Will reading a book or newspaper become a lost art?

Americans love their media — so much that next year they’ll spend nearly half their lives watching TV, going online, listening to the radio (or music) and reading. That’s what the U.S. Census Bureau is predicting in its “Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007,” out Friday.

The annual report uses data from several sources, including private industry and non-profits. It has statistics on everything from elections to transportation to finances.

In 2000, Americans spent 3,333 hours consuming media — and most of that time (1,467 hours) was spent in front of the TV, according to Veronis Suhler Stevenson, a media-oriented money management company that supplied much of the media data used in the report.

Next year, Americans will spend 3,518 hours with their beloved media, including 1,555 in front of the TV, says Veronis Suhler Stevenson. That means the average American will spend roughly 146 days, or five months, consuming media.

“It’s the activity we do more than anything else,” said Leo Kivijarv, vice president of research at PQ Media, which collaborated with Veronis Suhler Stevenson. However, the numbers don’t mean we’re just sitting in front of our machines; we’re multitasking.

“I know people who use television as wallpaper,” said Paul Saffo, a technology forecaster based in Silicon Valley. But, he added, “The news means that America is making a smooth transition from a couch potato to a mouse potato. Put another way, I suspect the only exercise Americans are getting is walking between their TVs and their computers.”

The numbers mean that “people want to have — and almost need to have — information and entertainment at their fingertips now, 24 hours a day,” Kivijarv says.

Next year, Americans are projected to spend an average of 3,518 hours using the media. That’s up from 3,333 at the start of the decade.The number of hours projected for next year in different categories:1,555 hours watching television, up from 1,467 in 2000. The estimate includes 678 hours watching broadcast TV and 877 watching cable and satellite.

• 974 hours listening to the radio, up from 942 in 2000.
• 195 hours using the Internet, up from 104.
• 175 hours reading daily newspapers, down from 201.
• 122 hours reading magazines, down from 135.
• 106 hours reading books, down an hour.
• 86 hours playing video games, up from 64.

  They also mean that technology tools are continuing to shift our “social, political and economic lives,” said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which also supplied data for the report. “In the past decade, the Internet and cellphones have changed the way people interact with each other, the way they work, the way they spend their leisure time,” Rainie said. Also changed: “The way they maintain and grow their social networks, and the way they share their stories with others through blogs (and) social networking sites.”

  The Census report, available in book form (bookstore.gpo.gov), also contains other nuggets of data:

  •Nearly half (47%) of college freshmen enrolled in 2005 had an A average in high school, compared with 20% in 1970.

  •The majority (79%) of freshmen in 1970 had a personal objective of “developing a meaningful philosophy of life.” By 2005, 75% said their primary objective was “being very well off financially.”

  •In 2005, there were nearly 1.4 million men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces; in 1970 there were more than 3 million.

Parents Defend Surgery To Keep Girl From Growing Up

Is it ethical to keep a tube-fed disabled child small, preventing puberty by hormone treatment, removal of all feminine anatomy, her uterus and nipple buds? In a very troubling case, surgeons allowed the parents of a young mentally and physically disabled child to never grow up. Ashley will always weigh about 70 pounds. She will never turn into a woman.

The bedridden 9-year-old girl had her uterus and breast tissue removed at a Seattle hospital and received large doses of hormones to halt her growth. She is now 4-foot-5; her parents say she would otherwise probably reach a normal 5-foot-6.

The case has captured attention nationwide and abroad via the Internet, with some decrying the parents’ actions as perverse and akin to eugenics. Some ethicists question the parents’ claim that the drastic treatment will benefit their daughter and allow them to continue caring for her at home.

University of Pennsylvania ethicist Art Caplan said the case is troubling and reflects “slippery slope” thinking among parents who believe “the way to deal with my kid with permanent behavioral problems is to put them into permanent childhood.”

Right or wrong, the couple’s decision highlights a dilemma thousands of parents face in struggling to care for severely disabled children as they grow up.

“This particular treatment, even if it’s OK in this situation, and I think it probably is, is not a widespread solution and ignores the large social issues about caring for people with disabilities,” Dr. Joel Frader, a medical ethicist at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital, said Thursday. “As a society, we do a pretty rotten job of helping caregivers provide what’s necessary for these patients.”

Shortly after birth, Ashley had feeding problems and showed severe developmental delays. Her doctors diagnosed static encephalopathy, which means severe brain damage. They do not know what caused it.

Her condition has left her in an infant state, unable to sit up, roll over, hold a toy or walk or talk. Her parents say she will never get better. She is alert, startles easily, and smiles, but does not maintain eye contact, according to her parents, who call the brown- haired little girl their “pillow angel.”

At least her parents want to keep her alive. Keeping her petite will make it “easier” for her parents to take care of her. And of course, that’s the most important thing: What’s good for the parents.

If Michael Schiavo was her father, he probably would just have starved her to death.

Edward Peters, Roman Catholic canon lawyer’s opinion.

Those Daft Brits

I’m still laughing five minutes after I read these phone call enquiries in the Mirror. The question is how do these eejits even know how to use the phone?

A HILARIOUS collection of the stupidest customers to ring Britain’s call centres has become a cult hit.

Many callers were recorded as they went through some of the silliest inquiries ever received by exasperated operators.

The loony exchanges are rapidly flying around the web in a chain email. Here are some of the best…

• Customer: “I’ve been ringing 0700 2300 for two days and can’t get through to enquiries, can you help?”
  Operator: “Where did you get that number from, sir?”
  Customer: “It was on the door to the travel centre”.
  Operator: “They’re our opening hours”.
• Caller: “Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?”
  Operator: I’m sorry, sir, I don’t understand who you are talking about”.
  Caller: “In the user guide it clearly states I need to unplug the fax machine from the wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning. Can you give me his number?”
  Operator: “I think you mean the telephone point on the wall”.
• Caller: Does your European Breakdown Policy cover me when I am travelling in Australia?”
  Operator: ” Doesn’t the name of the product give you a clue?”
• Caller: “If I register my car in France, do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?”
  Caller: “I”d like the number of the Argoed Fish Bar in Cardiff please”.
  Operator: “I’m sorry, there’s no listing. Is the spelling correct?”
  Caller: “Well, it used to be called the Bargoed Fish Bar but the ‘B fell off”.
• Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
  Operator: “Woven? Are you sure?”
  Caller: “Yes. That”s what it says on the label: Woven in Scotland”.
• On another occasion, a man making heavy breathing sounds from a phone box told a worried operator: “I haven’t got a pen, so I”m steaming up the window to write the number on”.”
  Tech Support: “I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop”.
  Customer: “OK” .
  Tech Support: “Did you get a pop-up menu?”
  Customer: “No” .
  Tech Support: “OK. Right-Click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?”
  Customer: “No” .
  Tech Support: “OK. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?”
  Customer: “Sure. You told me to write ‘click’ and I wrote ‘click'”.
  Tech Support: “OK. In the bottom left hand side of the screen, can you see the ‘OK’ button displayed?”
  Customer: “Wow. How can you see my screen from there?”