"Halliburton Co. acknowledged that it skipped a critical test on the final formulation of cement used to seal BP's oil well before it blew out catastrophically in the Gulf of Mexico."
- Critical tests NOT done on cement before blowout
Halliburton said “it is premature and irresponsible to speculate on any specific causal issues.”...
...“Halliburton had completed the cementing of the final production casing string in accordance with the well design,” it said. “The cement slurry design was consistent with that utilized in other similar applications. In accordance with accepted industry practice … tests demonstrating the integrity of the production casing string were completed.”
Gulf Oil Spill Halliburton Connection
"Halliburton does not care if a few Gulf shrimpers go out of business. But low cost shrimp pouring out of polluted ponds?...why that is almost like...don't say it...Rigged?...Oil spill?"
- Halliburton Gulf Oil Spill Conspiracy
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Should Christians respect President Obama?
There is a piece of writing circulating on-line. I received it today. Most people spreading it refuse to answer any responses :-D Cowards, I say. Well... doesn't save them.
Firstly, it's not said nor written by David Barton. I wasn't aware that spreading rumors, urban legends and hoaxes is part of these "Judeo-Christian values of Founding Fathers", but... on the other hand... that's one part of what made Washington such a brilliant general :-D (I would like it if people removed the "Judeo" part of this, and spoke only about their own faith and values. The Jewish and Christians values are not the same.)
I read a lot about homeschooling yesterday, and one of the things that Christians wish to teach their children is respect of each other. They say:
Now, if this person calling him/herself Christian says s/he consciously chooses NOT to respect a man, simply because s/he disagrees with him, and about politics and money, of all issues, how do you think you COULD teach your children true respect of others. As far as I understand, these seven principles can be put simply thus:
we are to respect others because
a) God created everything, even President Obama,
b) what God created has a value and
c) that value is good, even if we cannot see it, We should trust and love God enough to not question Him.
I'm sorry, but if I was Christian, I would look at what this person says through the Bible and not through my political opinions, and realize that s/he is NOT saying things Christians should even listen to, and definitely not spread.
God has given the Christians brains and heart and the Bible. I wish they'd use those to for themselves decide what is good and what not, and don't just follow some populist orator. I am not asking anyone to agree with President Obama, but what ever he is, he IS your brother, your neighbor, your kin, God's creation and a human. As a Christian you should LOVE him for that, and that alone, and with love follows respect.
I don't think one really loves the person one calls "the embodiment of Evil!" :-D
Then about paying the taxes, what ever they are.
This is what JESUS says about that thing:
If you look at any American coin or bill it says "United States of America". It's not YOUR money, it's USA's money, so give it to USA, and you know as well as I do, that USA means the government. If your elected "emperor" wants to collect taxes, give him them.
If he wants your money, give it to him. Better to get rid of the damned thing anyway, so why not give it to someone you think is as damned... or do you really think your money is more worth than God created human being?
and
Sounds to me that who ever wrote this (and who ever is sending it on and spreading it) is trying to lure the Christian Republicans away from God, to Mammon. The whole writing reeks love of money, love of nation, country, land and love of political party... loving earthly things more than your neighbor/enemy/next of kin/another human being. I really don't think Jesus told you to do that...
Are you going to make the same choice?
Are you going to continue encouraging your fellow Christians to follow the person who wrote this and not Jesus?
Just think about it.
To give you just a little bit more to think about: Here's Brooke Taylor's thoughts on the matter:
I am sure. It doesn't.
P.S. Why do the Republicans have the need to put God's name everywhere except in their hearts? If it WAS in their hearts, they wouldn't need to force everyone else to look at it and listen to it :-D
I'll end this with Paul's words:
Firstly, it's not said nor written by David Barton. I wasn't aware that spreading rumors, urban legends and hoaxes is part of these "Judeo-Christian values of Founding Fathers", but... on the other hand... that's one part of what made Washington such a brilliant general :-D (I would like it if people removed the "Judeo" part of this, and spoke only about their own faith and values. The Jewish and Christians values are not the same.)
I read a lot about homeschooling yesterday, and one of the things that Christians wish to teach their children is respect of each other. They say:
"Teaching respect as a Christian trait requires at least seven facts.
1. Respect is owed God for Who He is
2. God created all things
3. God said His creations are good
4. Respect is owed to all God created
5. Everything God created has value
6. Respect recognizes value
7. Respect is exercised by conscious choice"
Now, if this person calling him/herself Christian says s/he consciously chooses NOT to respect a man, simply because s/he disagrees with him, and about politics and money, of all issues, how do you think you COULD teach your children true respect of others. As far as I understand, these seven principles can be put simply thus:
we are to respect others because
a) God created everything, even President Obama,
b) what God created has a value and
c) that value is good, even if we cannot see it, We should trust and love God enough to not question Him.
I'm sorry, but if I was Christian, I would look at what this person says through the Bible and not through my political opinions, and realize that s/he is NOT saying things Christians should even listen to, and definitely not spread.
God has given the Christians brains and heart and the Bible. I wish they'd use those to for themselves decide what is good and what not, and don't just follow some populist orator. I am not asking anyone to agree with President Obama, but what ever he is, he IS your brother, your neighbor, your kin, God's creation and a human. As a Christian you should LOVE him for that, and that alone, and with love follows respect.
I don't think one really loves the person one calls "the embodiment of Evil!" :-D
Then about paying the taxes, what ever they are.
This is what JESUS says about that thing:
"Tell us therefore, What think you? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why tempt you me, you hypocrites? Show me the tribute money." And they brought to him a penny.
And he said to them, "Whose is this image and superscription?"
They say unto him, "Caesar's".
Then saith he unto them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
- Matthew 22:17-21
If you look at any American coin or bill it says "United States of America". It's not YOUR money, it's USA's money, so give it to USA, and you know as well as I do, that USA means the government. If your elected "emperor" wants to collect taxes, give him them.
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. "
- Matthew 5: 39-42
If he wants your money, give it to him. Better to get rid of the damned thing anyway, so why not give it to someone you think is as damned... or do you really think your money is more worth than God created human being?
Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
- Matthew 19: 21-24
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."And not your country and God, or your party and God, or your minister and God or... You have to choose.
-- Matthew 6:24
and
"And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body should be cast into hell."
- Matthew 5:30
Sounds to me that who ever wrote this (and who ever is sending it on and spreading it) is trying to lure the Christian Republicans away from God, to Mammon. The whole writing reeks love of money, love of nation, country, land and love of political party... loving earthly things more than your neighbor/enemy/next of kin/another human being. I really don't think Jesus told you to do that...
Are you going to make the same choice?
Are you going to continue encouraging your fellow Christians to follow the person who wrote this and not Jesus?
Just think about it.
To give you just a little bit more to think about: Here's Brooke Taylor's thoughts on the matter:
"I understand the frustration directed at our government. I am not pleased with the policies, decisions and directions of our president. But I have been convicted today as I read a statement that I probably used to say. A statement that made me feel (self) righteous. A statement that many Christians today are saying AMEN to. I am just not sure that it measures up to scripture."
I am sure. It doesn't.
P.S. Why do the Republicans have the need to put God's name everywhere except in their hearts? If it WAS in their hearts, they wouldn't need to force everyone else to look at it and listen to it :-D
"And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward."
- Matthew 6:5
I'll end this with Paul's words:
"But we urge you, brothers, to do this [to love one another] more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
- 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
USA DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT
Just because I like someone's books, doesn't mean this someone is a nice person...
Orson Scott Card wrote an essay about Israel, Iran and Obama. And it's like... OMG. F. Dang.
Orson, If you define "evil" as "willing to kill anyone to remake the world as they think it should be", then you are evil. You are just trying to get USA do your dirty work, and kill enough Iranians to make the world as you think it should be.
I'm sorry to say this, but
USA DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO BLACKMAIL ANY OTHER COUNTRY TO DO THEIR WILL,
HOW EVER PROBABLE IT IS THAT IT WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS, HOW EVER BIG PROBLEMS.
No-one has the right to "prevent" others from perhaps doing what we think is wrong. The legal system of a country shouldn't be working like in Minority Report.
We cannot and may not be punished for what we think or say, only for what we do.
No-one, not USA, not UN, not anyone, has the right to force Iran to do - or not do - anything. On the contrary, AS IT IS NOW, USA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANKIND WHO HAS USED NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN WAR AGAINST ANOTHER NATION. USA is the last country to tell anyone else not to do the same.
If - or when - Iran attacks Israel, THEN the rest of the world may react. Not before.
I can understand that it is horrible for someone just to sit on their hands and watch how other people go on with their plans that to us seem very risky, dangerous, even lunatic, but unfortunately, just as no-one had the right to stop the Texan idiot from burning Qurans, no-one has the right to stop the Tehran idiots from building nuclear power plants and bombs, or even from using them.
If you think it's your DUTY to violate other people's human rights to make their own choices, that it would be HONORABLE...? Then I have to say it is YOU who have no idea of what honor is.
Tel Aviv is just a city. It celebrated its 100 birthday last year. It can be built again, just as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will be built again.
The Germans managed to kill more than half of the world's Jewish population only some 70 years ago. The Jewish people still exists, and will exist.
Some say Israel only exists because of what happened during WWII, and that today there is no real threat against Israel. If Iran was to attack Israel with nuclear weapons, it would prove to the world that Israel does have a real threat against its existence. That all the Anti-Israelis were wrong, and the people defending Israel's right to exist were right. It would not wipe Israel off the world map. It would cement Israel on it.
It is better for everyone is Iran is allowed to build not only nuclear plants but nuclear weapons, because that is the only way the rest of the world will learn if they can use them too. USA obviously was mad enough to use theirs. Let's see who else is mad enough :-> I really don't think Iranians are that mad, or even willing to be written on the same list with USA... the only two countries ever having used nuclear weapons against another nation...
Also, don't you think Israel has nuclear weapons? Don't you think Tehran would stop existing the minute Tel Aviv stopped existing? I do. And... Tehran has no capacity what so ever to deal with that. Tel Aviv does, as Israel has been living under the very real threat against its existance since before it even existed. What if the Irani people are not as stupid as you seem to think they are? What if they are actually aware of such little things as nuclear fallout and their own poor capacity to deal with such things?
Also, don't you think the old Soviet nuclear weapons have already been sold to practically every Arabic countries? I do.
BTW, Israel hasn't only been "legally punishing" terrorists. With your twisted ideas of preventive punishments (hey, why not just kill off everyone, to be sure that no-one, ever, does anything illegal? It would work.) it's of course ok to punish the criminals' parents, siblings, cousins and friends, but it really is against the Human Rights. Of course Israel has the right to build any kind of walls around its borders, but... where do the borders go, actually? Israel has no right to go to Palestinian land to build walls, neither has Israel right to set up roadblocks in foreign countries. Of course Israel has the right to not allow anything to be transported on their land, but they have no right to tell Jordan or Egypt what they may or not may transport to their neighbors. It really isn't Israel's business, if who ever sells Palestine what ever. Of course people die in any armed conflict, even if it's "just" a gang war or police intervention. But what about the violations of people's civil and human rights? Why are the Negev Bedouins being harassed? The list goes on and on...
Israel is not a perfect country with snow-white human rights record, and everyone should have enough honor to acknowledge this.
Nevertheless, that is totally irrelevant. The question should not be if Israel DESERVES to exist or be destroyed. Israel has the right to exist - if not for anything else, then for the mere fact that Israel exists and has existed for over 50 years. I happen to believe in the right of Nations to self-determination; and that is why I believe Israel has the right to exist, and where it exists. In fact, as I do believe in the right to self-determination, I believe there SHOULD be an independent state of Palestine without Israel's interference, and I believe the Iranians should be free to decide whom they war with and with what means. USA, the least of all, has any right to try to limit this, as it has practically been at war with someone since 19th century. No wonder they are flying the wartime flag...
Uh. I could write about these things for hours, but I have a life.
Orson Scott Card wrote an essay about Israel, Iran and Obama. And it's like... OMG. F. Dang.
Orson, If you define "evil" as "willing to kill anyone to remake the world as they think it should be", then you are evil. You are just trying to get USA do your dirty work, and kill enough Iranians to make the world as you think it should be.
I'm sorry to say this, but
USA DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO BLACKMAIL ANY OTHER COUNTRY TO DO THEIR WILL,
HOW EVER PROBABLE IT IS THAT IT WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS, HOW EVER BIG PROBLEMS.
No-one has the right to "prevent" others from perhaps doing what we think is wrong. The legal system of a country shouldn't be working like in Minority Report.
We cannot and may not be punished for what we think or say, only for what we do.
No-one, not USA, not UN, not anyone, has the right to force Iran to do - or not do - anything. On the contrary, AS IT IS NOW, USA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANKIND WHO HAS USED NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN WAR AGAINST ANOTHER NATION. USA is the last country to tell anyone else not to do the same.
If - or when - Iran attacks Israel, THEN the rest of the world may react. Not before.
I can understand that it is horrible for someone just to sit on their hands and watch how other people go on with their plans that to us seem very risky, dangerous, even lunatic, but unfortunately, just as no-one had the right to stop the Texan idiot from burning Qurans, no-one has the right to stop the Tehran idiots from building nuclear power plants and bombs, or even from using them.
If you think it's your DUTY to violate other people's human rights to make their own choices, that it would be HONORABLE...? Then I have to say it is YOU who have no idea of what honor is.
Tel Aviv is just a city. It celebrated its 100 birthday last year. It can be built again, just as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will be built again.
The Germans managed to kill more than half of the world's Jewish population only some 70 years ago. The Jewish people still exists, and will exist.
Some say Israel only exists because of what happened during WWII, and that today there is no real threat against Israel. If Iran was to attack Israel with nuclear weapons, it would prove to the world that Israel does have a real threat against its existence. That all the Anti-Israelis were wrong, and the people defending Israel's right to exist were right. It would not wipe Israel off the world map. It would cement Israel on it.
It is better for everyone is Iran is allowed to build not only nuclear plants but nuclear weapons, because that is the only way the rest of the world will learn if they can use them too. USA obviously was mad enough to use theirs. Let's see who else is mad enough :-> I really don't think Iranians are that mad, or even willing to be written on the same list with USA... the only two countries ever having used nuclear weapons against another nation...
Also, don't you think Israel has nuclear weapons? Don't you think Tehran would stop existing the minute Tel Aviv stopped existing? I do. And... Tehran has no capacity what so ever to deal with that. Tel Aviv does, as Israel has been living under the very real threat against its existance since before it even existed. What if the Irani people are not as stupid as you seem to think they are? What if they are actually aware of such little things as nuclear fallout and their own poor capacity to deal with such things?
Also, don't you think the old Soviet nuclear weapons have already been sold to practically every Arabic countries? I do.
BTW, Israel hasn't only been "legally punishing" terrorists. With your twisted ideas of preventive punishments (hey, why not just kill off everyone, to be sure that no-one, ever, does anything illegal? It would work.) it's of course ok to punish the criminals' parents, siblings, cousins and friends, but it really is against the Human Rights. Of course Israel has the right to build any kind of walls around its borders, but... where do the borders go, actually? Israel has no right to go to Palestinian land to build walls, neither has Israel right to set up roadblocks in foreign countries. Of course Israel has the right to not allow anything to be transported on their land, but they have no right to tell Jordan or Egypt what they may or not may transport to their neighbors. It really isn't Israel's business, if who ever sells Palestine what ever. Of course people die in any armed conflict, even if it's "just" a gang war or police intervention. But what about the violations of people's civil and human rights? Why are the Negev Bedouins being harassed? The list goes on and on...
Israel is not a perfect country with snow-white human rights record, and everyone should have enough honor to acknowledge this.
Nevertheless, that is totally irrelevant. The question should not be if Israel DESERVES to exist or be destroyed. Israel has the right to exist - if not for anything else, then for the mere fact that Israel exists and has existed for over 50 years. I happen to believe in the right of Nations to self-determination; and that is why I believe Israel has the right to exist, and where it exists. In fact, as I do believe in the right to self-determination, I believe there SHOULD be an independent state of Palestine without Israel's interference, and I believe the Iranians should be free to decide whom they war with and with what means. USA, the least of all, has any right to try to limit this, as it has practically been at war with someone since 19th century. No wonder they are flying the wartime flag...
Uh. I could write about these things for hours, but I have a life.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Oi, the ignorance!
"Obama Trashes Founding Fathers as "Men of Property and Wealth" Who Failed Until Lincoln"
"Not so much you arrogant ..... Learn your AMERICAN History, it's understandable you DON'T KNOW US HISTORY BEING RAISED IN INDONESIA!!!"
LEARN YOUR ENGLISH, you ignorant .....! And find out the facts before you start claiming stupid things.
President Obama wasn't raised in Indonesia. He lived there for LESS THAN 5 YEARS. He was raised in USA. His first 5 years in life he lived in Hawai'i and was at school there from the time he was 10 to when he graduated from High School at the age of 18. Then he moved to Los Angeles for 3 years and finally finished his education in New York, at the age of 24.
President Obama said "This is the day when we celebrate the very essence of America and the spirit that has defined us as a people and as a nation for more than two centuries. We celebrate the principles that are timeless, tenets first declared by men of property and wealth but which gave rise to what Lincoln called a new birth of freedom in America—civil rights and voting rights, workers' rights and women's rights, and the rights of every American, and on this day that is uniquely American we are reminded that our Declaration, our example, made us a beacon to the world."
"We celebrate the principles, the tenets declared by the Founding Fathers" he said.
The Founding Fathers WERE men of property and wealth, all white men, all had status in the current society, and still they defined the principles according to which USA is to live, so that they gave rise to civil rights for all Americans, even the poor, colored and women. There is no trashing in his words, only in your prejudiced, hateful mind.
HE didn't say all the leaders of USA failed before Lincoln. That's just your uneducated interpretation, colored by your illwill towards president Obama.
This idiot also says things like "We are one notch above Venesualia in Obama declaring himself life-time President (dictator)."
It's VENEZUELA you moron!
In VENEZUELA the president is elected every 6th year and they too have the presidency limited for two terms.
President Obama wouldn't declare himself life-time president and USA wouldn't accept that either. What ever you think, the President doesn't have unlimited power and cannot decide anything he likes. It's understandable you have no understanding of Venezuelan politics, but you obviously have no understanding of the USonian politics either!
"Obama, himself is a muslim"
No, he's not. President Obama is a Christian. Barack Obama was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents, "non-practicing Methodists and Baptists", and he was baptized at the Trinity United Church of Christ in 1988, and has attended Church regularly since then.
He is named after his father, who was Muslim, so he has a Muslim name.
She quotes things like: "Obama is a cultural Muslim"
Oy vey! A LOT of people agree with him, and no-one calls them "cultural Muslims". Call it being credulous, being brainwashed, not understanding Middle East and Anti-Orientalism and a lot of other things, but not being a "cultural Muslim". That's just stupid and manipulating.
Uh. Hate ignoramuses like that.
"Not so much you arrogant ..... Learn your AMERICAN History, it's understandable you DON'T KNOW US HISTORY BEING RAISED IN INDONESIA!!!"
LEARN YOUR ENGLISH, you ignorant .....! And find out the facts before you start claiming stupid things.
President Obama wasn't raised in Indonesia. He lived there for LESS THAN 5 YEARS. He was raised in USA. His first 5 years in life he lived in Hawai'i and was at school there from the time he was 10 to when he graduated from High School at the age of 18. Then he moved to Los Angeles for 3 years and finally finished his education in New York, at the age of 24.
President Obama said "This is the day when we celebrate the very essence of America and the spirit that has defined us as a people and as a nation for more than two centuries. We celebrate the principles that are timeless, tenets first declared by men of property and wealth but which gave rise to what Lincoln called a new birth of freedom in America—civil rights and voting rights, workers' rights and women's rights, and the rights of every American, and on this day that is uniquely American we are reminded that our Declaration, our example, made us a beacon to the world."
"We celebrate the principles, the tenets declared by the Founding Fathers" he said.
The Founding Fathers WERE men of property and wealth, all white men, all had status in the current society, and still they defined the principles according to which USA is to live, so that they gave rise to civil rights for all Americans, even the poor, colored and women. There is no trashing in his words, only in your prejudiced, hateful mind.
HE didn't say all the leaders of USA failed before Lincoln. That's just your uneducated interpretation, colored by your illwill towards president Obama.
This idiot also says things like "We are one notch above Venesualia in Obama declaring himself life-time President (dictator)."
It's VENEZUELA you moron!
In VENEZUELA the president is elected every 6th year and they too have the presidency limited for two terms.
President Obama wouldn't declare himself life-time president and USA wouldn't accept that either. What ever you think, the President doesn't have unlimited power and cannot decide anything he likes. It's understandable you have no understanding of Venezuelan politics, but you obviously have no understanding of the USonian politics either!
"Obama, himself is a muslim"
No, he's not. President Obama is a Christian. Barack Obama was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents, "non-practicing Methodists and Baptists", and he was baptized at the Trinity United Church of Christ in 1988, and has attended Church regularly since then.
He is named after his father, who was Muslim, so he has a Muslim name.
She quotes things like: "Obama is a cultural Muslim"
Oy vey! A LOT of people agree with him, and no-one calls them "cultural Muslims". Call it being credulous, being brainwashed, not understanding Middle East and Anti-Orientalism and a lot of other things, but not being a "cultural Muslim". That's just stupid and manipulating.
Uh. Hate ignoramuses like that.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
I have been watching Penn and Teller
I love the guys :-)
But - I couldn't watch the 12 steps program. It's not fair to call it a cult, because no-one is forced in to the program, no-one is forced to stay and it doesn't cost anything. Sure, there are rules and certain amount of religiosity involved, and it doesn't work for everyone, but the world is full of people whose lives have been saved by 12 steps. I haven't heard of anyone whose life was harmed or lost to 12 steps movement. Perhaps they presented these people in the show, but I doubt that. I won't watch it.
Gun control... to me it's obvious the 2nd amendment is helplessly outdated. But, sure, let the USonians play with their guns and shoot each other.
What I don't understand is that most of the gun-toters are also Christian - and the kind of Christian who think they are the only RIGHT kind of Christians, who take the Bible as literary truth, demand "intelligent design" is taught in schools and other such crap, but if you quote them some Bible, they will tell you you're evil. :-> "Thou shall not kill", "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil" and I'm pretty sure it says something about it being better for you to loose your hand than soul and something about rich men getting to heaven, but - I'm not Christian. I've just read the book. Unlike many Christians. ;-) Nevertheless, my point is, that according to how I understand the Greek Scriptures, it would be better for me to get mugged, raped and killed, than loose my soul by trying to kill another human being, how ever bad I judge that human being to be. I will survive any bodily harm and any loss of property, and if I die, I will meet my maker a bit earlier than I expected, but as not a bird falls from sky without God knowing it, why would I die without God's knowledge and acceptance of that? Isn't God the Lord of Life and Death? Isn't life God's gift? There are thousands of miraculous survival stories, people have survived shootings, beatings and stabbings that SHOULD have killed them... So, no, I find the gun-toting Christians to be weak in faith, and trusting more in gun than God, how ever they justify that. Gun might save your life and property, but it won't save your soul. (The fact that I am not Christian doesn't matter at all. You know I'm right. :-D)
I have lived my whole life in countries with very strict gun control laws, and I don't have any need to carry a gun with me. I have been wishing to have a gun so that I could shoot some of these antisemitic idiots around here though. I think it's a good thing I don't have a gun, because even though I don't think the world would loose anything if there was fewer idiots, but because I don't want to go to jail because of idiots. Also, I cannot know if one of these idiots is going to be the forefather of next Mozart :-D I love Mozart :-) (On the other hand, I'm also 100% sure of that even if the supposed forefather dies before he manages to breed, God will find someone else to forefather the next Mozart. I am not fatalist. God has a backup plan for every possible occasion.)
Then comes the endangered species act... We are presented to poor Lindy Mongiove, handicapped woman, who wanted to build herself a home, near her mother, church and community, but - alas - there was a bird living on her property and she isn't allowed to build her a house! O ve! She is currently living with a friend, showers in the backyard, poor woman. All because of a bird and ESA. Now, I have compassion to her, it cannot be easy to live in other's corners, when the only obstacle to own living is a bird, but - even though I think human rights trump the animal rights at any time, that it is more important to save the human species before any other species, that I would save a human in need before an animal in need, I don't think one human's discomfort due to her obstinacy is more important that trying to save endangered species. I also don't think 7 billion people have right to push all the other species off this planet, or say "I am a human so I have the right to live where you are living, because you are just an animal". People really don't need to turn any more wilderness into human habitat.
Why cannot she live with her mother? In the program she was saying she wanted to live near her mother, not her family, so I assume her mother lives alone in a house. Lindy is probably never going to marry and get children, she would be living alone - or with her personal assistant - all her life. She would end with two houses when her mother dies.
I'm sorry, Lindy, but I cannot see how your life was destroyed by ESA. Looks to me it was destroyed by your irrational wish to live in your own house, your stubbornness not to change the plan after it has turned out to be difficult or impossible to follow, and stupidity of not finding out if you may build on the property before purchasing it. I'm sure ESA isn't doing much good, I trust Penn and Teller (in spite of it all), but Lindy isn't a good example of a person whose life was destroyed by ESA.
Laughing at witches, new-age people, tarot readers, feng shui and alternative therapy methods like homeopathy or reflexology is all fine by me, even though I am one of the people they would be laughing at. I believe there is more in the life than what can be observed, measured and tested, but I have no problems with other people believing differently. I start getting "problems", when people find my beliefs "offensive", try to limit my right to believe any BS I want to believe in, try to force me to believe their beliefs, and punish me if I refuse, by getting verbally abusive and so on.
But - I couldn't watch the 12 steps program. It's not fair to call it a cult, because no-one is forced in to the program, no-one is forced to stay and it doesn't cost anything. Sure, there are rules and certain amount of religiosity involved, and it doesn't work for everyone, but the world is full of people whose lives have been saved by 12 steps. I haven't heard of anyone whose life was harmed or lost to 12 steps movement. Perhaps they presented these people in the show, but I doubt that. I won't watch it.
Gun control... to me it's obvious the 2nd amendment is helplessly outdated. But, sure, let the USonians play with their guns and shoot each other.
What I don't understand is that most of the gun-toters are also Christian - and the kind of Christian who think they are the only RIGHT kind of Christians, who take the Bible as literary truth, demand "intelligent design" is taught in schools and other such crap, but if you quote them some Bible, they will tell you you're evil. :-> "Thou shall not kill", "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil" and I'm pretty sure it says something about it being better for you to loose your hand than soul and something about rich men getting to heaven, but - I'm not Christian. I've just read the book. Unlike many Christians. ;-) Nevertheless, my point is, that according to how I understand the Greek Scriptures, it would be better for me to get mugged, raped and killed, than loose my soul by trying to kill another human being, how ever bad I judge that human being to be. I will survive any bodily harm and any loss of property, and if I die, I will meet my maker a bit earlier than I expected, but as not a bird falls from sky without God knowing it, why would I die without God's knowledge and acceptance of that? Isn't God the Lord of Life and Death? Isn't life God's gift? There are thousands of miraculous survival stories, people have survived shootings, beatings and stabbings that SHOULD have killed them... So, no, I find the gun-toting Christians to be weak in faith, and trusting more in gun than God, how ever they justify that. Gun might save your life and property, but it won't save your soul. (The fact that I am not Christian doesn't matter at all. You know I'm right. :-D)
I have lived my whole life in countries with very strict gun control laws, and I don't have any need to carry a gun with me. I have been wishing to have a gun so that I could shoot some of these antisemitic idiots around here though. I think it's a good thing I don't have a gun, because even though I don't think the world would loose anything if there was fewer idiots, but because I don't want to go to jail because of idiots. Also, I cannot know if one of these idiots is going to be the forefather of next Mozart :-D I love Mozart :-) (On the other hand, I'm also 100% sure of that even if the supposed forefather dies before he manages to breed, God will find someone else to forefather the next Mozart. I am not fatalist. God has a backup plan for every possible occasion.)
Then comes the endangered species act... We are presented to poor Lindy Mongiove, handicapped woman, who wanted to build herself a home, near her mother, church and community, but - alas - there was a bird living on her property and she isn't allowed to build her a house! O ve! She is currently living with a friend, showers in the backyard, poor woman. All because of a bird and ESA. Now, I have compassion to her, it cannot be easy to live in other's corners, when the only obstacle to own living is a bird, but - even though I think human rights trump the animal rights at any time, that it is more important to save the human species before any other species, that I would save a human in need before an animal in need, I don't think one human's discomfort due to her obstinacy is more important that trying to save endangered species. I also don't think 7 billion people have right to push all the other species off this planet, or say "I am a human so I have the right to live where you are living, because you are just an animal". People really don't need to turn any more wilderness into human habitat.
Why cannot she live with her mother? In the program she was saying she wanted to live near her mother, not her family, so I assume her mother lives alone in a house. Lindy is probably never going to marry and get children, she would be living alone - or with her personal assistant - all her life. She would end with two houses when her mother dies.
I'm sorry, Lindy, but I cannot see how your life was destroyed by ESA. Looks to me it was destroyed by your irrational wish to live in your own house, your stubbornness not to change the plan after it has turned out to be difficult or impossible to follow, and stupidity of not finding out if you may build on the property before purchasing it. I'm sure ESA isn't doing much good, I trust Penn and Teller (in spite of it all), but Lindy isn't a good example of a person whose life was destroyed by ESA.
Laughing at witches, new-age people, tarot readers, feng shui and alternative therapy methods like homeopathy or reflexology is all fine by me, even though I am one of the people they would be laughing at. I believe there is more in the life than what can be observed, measured and tested, but I have no problems with other people believing differently. I start getting "problems", when people find my beliefs "offensive", try to limit my right to believe any BS I want to believe in, try to force me to believe their beliefs, and punish me if I refuse, by getting verbally abusive and so on.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Thoughts about human rights
When I started hosting Human Rights Network at Care2 2004 I was very hopeful. I have always loved UN and the first thing I posted as a host was an effort to create discussion about the UN Declaration of Human Rights. I posted each article, and sat down to wait for responses. I thought every member of HRN was just as enthusiastic about human rights as I was, and I was expecting to be informed and educated about how the human rights are being violated all over the world, what can be done about it, what good is already being done - and no-one was interested in having the discussion.
During the following 4 years I tried to engage the members in different issues, but it just didn't work. If people wanted to talk, they would talk about
a) their own personal problems, or the problems their cousins, friends, family members had.
b) USA
c) their own personal pet peeves, like Tibet or Israel-Palestine. ESPECIALLY Israel-Palestine
d) animal rights
People just are not interested in human rights in general. What happens in Rwanda or Sudan is rather uninteresting. What happens in Israel, how ever small it is, is very interesting and people are ready to walk over corpses to scream at Israel. I have never understood this mentality.
The so-called Pro-Palestinians don't care one bit about Palestinians.
They are not the least interested on whether the aid from "Ships to Gaza" ever got to Palestine. The main interest is whether the ships got to Gaza. They could just as well send empty ships with the intention to break the blockade. It would cost less, and if Israel sank the ships they could invent hundreds of names of people on board who were "brutally murdered by Israeli pirates" or something. Frankly, they could sink the ship themselves, if it doesn't reach Gaza and THEN scream about the hundreds of INNOCENT CIVILIANS BRUTALLY MURDERED BY THE EVIL EUROPEAN COLONIAL POWER. That way they would reach the exact goal they want to reach.
It is tragicomic to watch how these so-called Pro-Palestinians make criminals of European politicians and peace prize winners, who don't even understand what is happening...
If two entities are at war with each other, it is the international law of wartime that counts.
According to this law, it is fully legal for Israel to put Gaza under blockade and stop every ship on its way to Gaza to go through the cargo. If they find nothing suspect and IF THEY ARE NOT RESISTED IN THIS, they must let the ship pass. If the ships won't stop and let the Israelis in for the inspection, if the Israelis are attacked in any way on the ship or from the ship, (yes, water cannons count), if they are obstructed, disturbed, hindered, stopped or refused to check the cargo in any way, the people on ship has turned from "civilian aid workers" to "unlawful combatants", and they may be detained by Israel and prosecuted under Israeli laws. Oops...
I posted "2010 crimes against humanity watch list"
Israel-Palestine doesn't even get to the list. You see, how ever black the so-called pro-Palestinians paint the situation, the situation is much worse in many other places here on earth. 2009 one Swedish idiot said Gaza war was "the genocide of the year". It's not even a genocide. At the same time, in Darfur millions of people have lost their homes, hundreds of thousands have been killed, people are being raped, mamed and tortured right and left, no-one is safe... but that about 1500 Palestinians were killed IN A WAR, that's much, much worse.
Really - the main factor of genocide is "aim to exterminate a group of people".
Now, Israel is one of the strongest military powers in the world. The so-called pro-Palestinians claim that Israel is ruthless, hateful, cruel and inhumane, only after to humiliate and kill Palestinians. Why haven't they done it already? If their goal would be to kill all Palestinians on earth, why don't they? What are they waiting for?
They could have done it in the 60's and 70's and no-one would have cared one bit.
They could do it now, and then have the country revolt against their leaders and leave the leaders to Hague to be condemned for crimes against humanity and genocide of the Palestinian people. That would leave the rest of Israel free from the "Palestinian problem".
They haven't done this, and there are no signs of that they would even consider this.
Apartheid, yes, inhumane treatment of people, yes, illegal actions, violating the international laws, failure to acceptably provide proper living conditions, food, water, shelter, protection, and so on and so forth - yes. Quite enough to prosecute Israel's leaders for crimes against humanity. But genocide? No.
Was what happened on Mavi Marmara a massacre? No. A massacre is "the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder." At Mavi Marmara 10 men, who were involved in armed fighting, died. (Yes, armed - knives, slingshots and iron pipes count as arms. You can kill a person with those things.) Not "indiscriminate" killing of "unarmed people".
Was it an act of piracy? No. Piracy is "illegal violence at sea". Israel's violence was legal.
One can discuss if it was proportionate, but we know the Israeli soldiers had a reason to fear for their lives, so self-defense is a credible explanation.
One thing is sure - as we cannot accept Israel's investigation, because Israel is involved in the incident, we cannot accept the "eye witness reports" either, as they too were involved in the incident, and I'm sure one can find enough evidence of their negative attitude towards Israel. They would interpret anything they see to be negative for Israel, and, frankly, after having discussed with dozens if not hundreds of the so-called Pro-Palestinians, I haven't so far met more than one or two who actually CAN have a DISCUSSION - I'm sure they would lie, exaggerate the bad things, not mention the good things, cheat and deceive as much as they can, just to make Israel look bad. We have already seen this happen - "piracy", "massacre", "illegal attack", "innocent civilians", "unarmed aid workers" and what not.
Nevertheless, the Swedish newspapers had the Ships to Gaza as front page news FOR A WEEK.
During the same week following things happened:
They found a mass grave in Mexico
Six Turkish soldiers are killed in a rocket attack by assumably Kurdish rebels
A Christian bishop is murdered in his own garden by his driver in Turkey.
Gunmen storm a hospital in Pakistan and kill 5
At least 12 are killed and 25 injured in Cumbria shootings.
18 people were executed in Libya
15 die in a minibus accident in the Philippines
14 people die when a house collapses in Bangladesh. A couple of days later 109 people dies in a fire, at least 50 are injured.
3 people are killed and 6 wounded when a WWII bomb explodes in Germany
Hundreds of people are killed in a heatwave in South Asia.
A national peace conference opens in Kabul and is attacked by rockets, shootings and a suicide bomber.
At least 20 are killed and 60 injured in fighting between government forces and islamist militants in Somalia.
Third phase of MARS-500 project started.
Dozens die in landslides and flooding in china
163 people die from lead poisoning in Nigeria
Not one of these news was considered more important or interesting than bickering about Ships to Gaza. Of course it's more important to hear how a Swedish religion professor whines about how he lost his suitcase in the incident.
And then people tell me that *I* have weird values :-D
During the following 4 years I tried to engage the members in different issues, but it just didn't work. If people wanted to talk, they would talk about
a) their own personal problems, or the problems their cousins, friends, family members had.
b) USA
c) their own personal pet peeves, like Tibet or Israel-Palestine. ESPECIALLY Israel-Palestine
d) animal rights
People just are not interested in human rights in general. What happens in Rwanda or Sudan is rather uninteresting. What happens in Israel, how ever small it is, is very interesting and people are ready to walk over corpses to scream at Israel. I have never understood this mentality.
The so-called Pro-Palestinians don't care one bit about Palestinians.
They are not the least interested on whether the aid from "Ships to Gaza" ever got to Palestine. The main interest is whether the ships got to Gaza. They could just as well send empty ships with the intention to break the blockade. It would cost less, and if Israel sank the ships they could invent hundreds of names of people on board who were "brutally murdered by Israeli pirates" or something. Frankly, they could sink the ship themselves, if it doesn't reach Gaza and THEN scream about the hundreds of INNOCENT CIVILIANS BRUTALLY MURDERED BY THE EVIL EUROPEAN COLONIAL POWER. That way they would reach the exact goal they want to reach.
It is tragicomic to watch how these so-called Pro-Palestinians make criminals of European politicians and peace prize winners, who don't even understand what is happening...
If two entities are at war with each other, it is the international law of wartime that counts.
According to this law, it is fully legal for Israel to put Gaza under blockade and stop every ship on its way to Gaza to go through the cargo. If they find nothing suspect and IF THEY ARE NOT RESISTED IN THIS, they must let the ship pass. If the ships won't stop and let the Israelis in for the inspection, if the Israelis are attacked in any way on the ship or from the ship, (yes, water cannons count), if they are obstructed, disturbed, hindered, stopped or refused to check the cargo in any way, the people on ship has turned from "civilian aid workers" to "unlawful combatants", and they may be detained by Israel and prosecuted under Israeli laws. Oops...
I posted "2010 crimes against humanity watch list"
Israel-Palestine doesn't even get to the list. You see, how ever black the so-called pro-Palestinians paint the situation, the situation is much worse in many other places here on earth. 2009 one Swedish idiot said Gaza war was "the genocide of the year". It's not even a genocide. At the same time, in Darfur millions of people have lost their homes, hundreds of thousands have been killed, people are being raped, mamed and tortured right and left, no-one is safe... but that about 1500 Palestinians were killed IN A WAR, that's much, much worse.
Really - the main factor of genocide is "aim to exterminate a group of people".
Now, Israel is one of the strongest military powers in the world. The so-called pro-Palestinians claim that Israel is ruthless, hateful, cruel and inhumane, only after to humiliate and kill Palestinians. Why haven't they done it already? If their goal would be to kill all Palestinians on earth, why don't they? What are they waiting for?
They could have done it in the 60's and 70's and no-one would have cared one bit.
They could do it now, and then have the country revolt against their leaders and leave the leaders to Hague to be condemned for crimes against humanity and genocide of the Palestinian people. That would leave the rest of Israel free from the "Palestinian problem".
They haven't done this, and there are no signs of that they would even consider this.
Apartheid, yes, inhumane treatment of people, yes, illegal actions, violating the international laws, failure to acceptably provide proper living conditions, food, water, shelter, protection, and so on and so forth - yes. Quite enough to prosecute Israel's leaders for crimes against humanity. But genocide? No.
Was what happened on Mavi Marmara a massacre? No. A massacre is "the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder." At Mavi Marmara 10 men, who were involved in armed fighting, died. (Yes, armed - knives, slingshots and iron pipes count as arms. You can kill a person with those things.) Not "indiscriminate" killing of "unarmed people".
Was it an act of piracy? No. Piracy is "illegal violence at sea". Israel's violence was legal.
One can discuss if it was proportionate, but we know the Israeli soldiers had a reason to fear for their lives, so self-defense is a credible explanation.
One thing is sure - as we cannot accept Israel's investigation, because Israel is involved in the incident, we cannot accept the "eye witness reports" either, as they too were involved in the incident, and I'm sure one can find enough evidence of their negative attitude towards Israel. They would interpret anything they see to be negative for Israel, and, frankly, after having discussed with dozens if not hundreds of the so-called Pro-Palestinians, I haven't so far met more than one or two who actually CAN have a DISCUSSION - I'm sure they would lie, exaggerate the bad things, not mention the good things, cheat and deceive as much as they can, just to make Israel look bad. We have already seen this happen - "piracy", "massacre", "illegal attack", "innocent civilians", "unarmed aid workers" and what not.
Nevertheless, the Swedish newspapers had the Ships to Gaza as front page news FOR A WEEK.
During the same week following things happened:
They found a mass grave in Mexico
Six Turkish soldiers are killed in a rocket attack by assumably Kurdish rebels
A Christian bishop is murdered in his own garden by his driver in Turkey.
Gunmen storm a hospital in Pakistan and kill 5
At least 12 are killed and 25 injured in Cumbria shootings.
18 people were executed in Libya
15 die in a minibus accident in the Philippines
14 people die when a house collapses in Bangladesh. A couple of days later 109 people dies in a fire, at least 50 are injured.
3 people are killed and 6 wounded when a WWII bomb explodes in Germany
Hundreds of people are killed in a heatwave in South Asia.
A national peace conference opens in Kabul and is attacked by rockets, shootings and a suicide bomber.
At least 20 are killed and 60 injured in fighting between government forces and islamist militants in Somalia.
Third phase of MARS-500 project started.
Dozens die in landslides and flooding in china
163 people die from lead poisoning in Nigeria
Not one of these news was considered more important or interesting than bickering about Ships to Gaza. Of course it's more important to hear how a Swedish religion professor whines about how he lost his suitcase in the incident.
And then people tell me that *I* have weird values :-D
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
They want the rest of it, too...
The Palestinian people are Arabs, living on the "Fertile Crescent". The "Fertile Crescent" is about 635000 square kilometres. Of this everything but about 22.000 belongs to the Arabs. In the area lives 40 million people, of whom 17% (7 million) are Jewish, some 75% Arabs and the rest different minorities. That makes 75% of the population to controll 93% of the land - and they want the rest of it, too...
Imagine that the European invaders would have taken the Native North American nations to Europe. During the time of your absense the Native South American nations invaded your country. After some 2000 years you are "graciously given" Maryland, which you should be sharing with the descendants of the invaders, because they and their families have been living there for 2000 years.
Whose land is it, really?
Should you really need to share Maryland with the invaders?
Would you be European or Native American?
THAT is the situation in Middle East we are talking about.
So the people of Lakota has suffered about 3 times as long as the people of Palestine... but you have still 1750 years to go to reach the record set by the Jewish people. They were forced from their homeland and forced to live in servitude in foreign lands for 1900 years, forced to live in concentration camps called ghettos - or REAL concentration camps - experiencing wanton massacres and extrajudicial killings, abduction of their children and women, their beliefs, practices and culture outlawed, their rights heavily restricted, their holy artefacts burned, their ancestral holy places desecrated and destroyed, and when they finally after 1900 years were allowed to return to their ancestral home, they are called "greedy occupiers, invaders, thiefs of land" by the invaders...
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