tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503592719277650262024-02-08T05:35:04.748-05:00Pastor Tony's BlogTonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.comBlogger755125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-63116424907887881832017-03-27T16:45:00.000-04:002017-03-27T16:45:51.092-04:00Science Rules?Many think that science provides the answer for everything. Should science rule when it comes to dealing with the many issues of our day? Let me put forward some thoughts on the subject of science so that you’ll have some perspective the next time you hear someone say something like this: “Well, it’s been scientifically proven that ______ (fill in the blank, such as, ‘global warming is real.’”) Let’s understand what’s behind such statements.<br />
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<b>What Is Science?</b><br />
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Let’s start by defining “science.” In its purest sense “science” consists of performing a series observable and controlled experiments, analyzing the results, and determining whether the results support a hypothesis or theory. If they don’t, that hypothesis or theory is discarded as unproven and new hypotheses and theories emerge to be tested. Or the theory or hypothesis is modified based on the data. That, very briefly, is a simplified definition of science (or the scientific method) from a non-scientist.<br />
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If repeated experiments can’t be conducted, then careful observations are made of existing evidence, analysis performed, and conclusions drawn. The results and conclusions from the experiments or observations can undergo peer review and may be published so other scientists can study and comment on the methodology and conclusions.<br />
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<b>Is Macroevolution Science?</b><br />
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A lot of data are put forth under the name of “science” but they don’t have repeated experiments to verify their status as a theory, or the conclusions don’t agree with the evidence (or lack thereof). A good example of that is the theory of macroevolution – the belief that one species can evolve into another. An example might be the belief that dolphins evolved from an earlier land-based animal. Teaching such beliefs is not really scientific (in its purest sense) for a number of reasons: <br />
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First, there can be no repeated observable experiments because we are dealing with historical events that took place over eons.<br />
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Second, in light of the inability to perform experiments, the scientist then observes the subject and draws conclusions from his observations and analysis. In the case of the dolphin, examination of the animal plus the lack of any transitional animals in the fossil record leads you to the obvious conclusion that it was designed to be an aquatic creature. It could never have been a land animal.<br />
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Third, drawing such an evolutionary conclusion from observations is not sustainable because the conclusions aren’t supported by the data per my second point above. This reveals an agenda rather than unbiased scientific inquiry. So the theory of macroevolution can’t be considered real science because scientists ignore the obvious attributes of animals and totally disregard the fact that no transitional species have been found in the fossil record. The observations don’t fit their agenda and preconceived notions, so they are ignored.<br />
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<b>The Big Hoax</b><br />
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Macroevolution is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on the human race since the beginning of time. Looking at the complexity of God’s creation (such as the human body), you can’t help but marvel at what a masterpiece of engineering it is. Yet scientists and academics continue to ignore the obvious evidence of an intelligent designer. When will they ever learn?<br />
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<b>Is the Big Bang Scientific?</b><br />
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The reasons outlined above regarding macroevolution apply to the Big Bang. The Big Bang starts with a dense bundle of matter that explodes and spreads throughout the universe. The big question is, where did that matter come from? Since a law of nature states that matter can neither be created or destroyed, that matter didn’t just magically appear. Hawking claims just that, totally ignoring the Law of Mass Conservation. Let’s remember that Hawking is a genius but he isn’t infallible and is an atheist. <br />
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The correct answer is that God created that matter and then set things into motion by way of the Big Bang or some other event. <br />
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<b>Can We Consider Anything Truly Scientifically Proven?</b><br />
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One thing about science is that new theories appear and then are later discarded as new discoveries are made through research. That’s what makes science so interesting – it’s always changing as more knowledge becomes available. But when people say something is “scientifically proven” you still need to have some degree of skepticism. Why? Because today’s scientific “fact” is tomorrow’s discredited theory.<br />
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Look at how science has handled the egg. When I was a kid, eggs were good for you. We should eat them frequently as a good source of protein. Later in my life I was told to limit my consumption of eggs because of cholesterol concerns. Eggs are bad for you. More recent studies have shown that eggs are once again good for you. So much for “scientifically proven.”<br />
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Another aspect of scientific research is the analysis of results. Erroneous conclusions can be drawn from otherwise sound research and good data. For example, the matching of certain data can result in scientists concluding a cause-effect relationship where, in fact, none exists. We are seeing some of that, I believe, with the climate change discussion. <br />
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<b>Science Has Become Our God</b><br />
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Because of all the advances in technology, science has become our god. We trust in science more than we do the Word of God, the Bible. We expect science to answer all our questions, solve all our problems, and make life better for all. In fact science and technology have answered some questions, solved some problems, and have made life better in many ways. But these are of the material world. Important as the material world may be to us, there’s another world that’s far more important and lasts forever. I’m referring to the spiritual realm. <br />
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Science should not become your substitute for God. Let’s not ignore the spiritual aspect of life but seek God and his grace. Science is limited in what it can do, and its conclusions are constantly changing as new research becomes available. We have to look beyond the material to the supernatural to be complete human beings.<br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
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Both science and the Bible have their places. The Bible isn’t a scientific text, yet does provide us with considerable insight concerning life and the universe that science isn’t equipped to do. Regarding the creation stories in the Bible, we don’t have to take them literally to believe they are communicating God’s truth. They very well may have been stories designed by God to pass on truths to primitive people who had minimal scientific knowledge. The main thing we should be taking away from this discussion is that God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and science is trying to figure out how he did it.<br />
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Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-73011981124677383722017-03-21T20:21:00.002-04:002017-03-21T20:21:36.072-04:00Be Responsible CitizensThe dysfunction in Washington has driven people to vote for Trump as the anti-establishment candidate who claims he will fix what is wrong with this country. We haven’t held our representatives accountable so we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Moreover, we as a society are turning our backs on our Judeo-Christian tradition, so what do you expect?<br />
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We’ve also forgotten that Democracy provides freedom, but requires responsibility as well. If we don’t vote responsibly, politicians are no longer accountable and government becomes corrupt, human rights suffer, and services to the most vulnerable in society are threatened. Particularly for those in authority and power, their decisions can have a significant impact on society.<br />
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There’s a Republican (sort of) in the White House and Republican majorities in both houses. If they can’t get things done then they should disband the party. If they can put an end to their dysfunction and put the people’s needs first for a change, then there’s hope.<br />
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Of course our real hope is in the Lord, not in politicians or government: <br />
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.<br />
(Psalms 20:7, NIV)<br />
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We as a country would be wise to remember these words from God: <br />
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“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV)<br />
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Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-84799416230347648802017-03-18T16:51:00.002-04:002017-03-18T16:51:18.960-04:00Bias Against ChristiansThe mainstream media doesn’t report on it, mainly because they are part of the problem. What I’m talking about is bias against Christians. You may ask, how can the majority be discriminated against? Christians may be in the majority, but the media and academia are powerful forces in this country. They can influence people’s thinking with their ridicule of Christianity and by other means. In addition, the courts have been using an erroneous interpretation of the First Amendment to limit religious activity by Christians. <br />
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Amazingly, those same people who are biased against Christianity are upset because President Trump appears to be discriminating against Muslims with his travel ban. Doesn’t it occur to these people that some Muslims present a threat to our security so that immigration must be controlled? It was Muslims who flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and who continue with terrorist attacks in the US, Europe, and even against their fellow Muslims. Of course these terrorists represent only a small number of Muslims, but even a small number can do tremendous damage, so we need to identify them and weed them out.<br />
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Those who are so upset because they feel Muslims are being unfairly targeted should remember that it was Muslims who conduct acts of terrorism, not Christians. They should also understand that our battle isn’t with Islam as a religion as much as it is against an Islamic culture that wants to take over the world. These fanatics use Islam the religion (and certain verses from the Qur’an) as their justification for their evil deeds. <br />
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Getting back to discrimination against Christians, let’s stop using the First Amendment in an attempt to marginalize Christians. The Muslim terrorists call on their god – shouldn’t we be looking to our God to help and protection?<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-36230053186955666802017-03-14T16:40:00.003-04:002017-03-14T16:40:42.995-04:00Is There a Right to Immigrate?I can’t stand it when people on TV proclaim that controlling immigration is “unconstitutional.” If we don’t take certain refugees in, we are somehow going against the Constitution.<br />
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I don’t see anything in the Constitution that mandates that we have to allow in the country anybody who wants to settle here. Moreover, the Constitution only applies to people living in the US, not to people who would like to live here.<br />
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As a practical matter we can’t absorb the large number of people who want to live here, whether from Mexico, Guatemala, Syria, or any other country. Our economy isn’t generating enough jobs, so many of these immigrants would have to go on welfare, straining an already overloaded system.<br />
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Is it wrong to turn away refugees? I don’t think so, because we simply can’t take people from every country having problems. Syria is the worst one right now, but Central America, Somalia, and other parts of Africa are not safe places, particularly if you are a minority tribe or a Christian or the “wrong” kind of Muslim. <br />
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While we feel terrible for people suffering in these countries, we are forced to limit the number of refugees we allow into the country. A better solution would be for the United Nations to do something for a change. I’m not sure what the UN could do against the human rights violators in those troubled countries, but the UN should be doing something to mitigate these people’s suffering. Then they wouldn’t have to be uprooted from their homelands and migrate to other countries.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-82349509306387874982017-03-10T12:37:00.002-05:002017-03-10T12:37:31.576-05:00Explaining the Election IIThe Message of Trump’s Victory<br />
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How could somebody like Donald Trump become President? He managed to insult just about every group, yet he was elected. He’s been called xenophobic, misogynist, and every other thing you can think of, but still the people voted him in.<br />
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I believe Trump won the election for two reasons:<br />
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(1) First, the people are beginning to realize the liberal agenda (see last couple of posts) isn’t addressing the issues that affect them the most. The liberal agenda is all about LGBT, abortion, and inclusion. Other issues, such as the disappearing middle class, are mentioned but no action is taken by the liberals to remedy the situation. Who’s fighting for the “average Joe?” Certainly not the democrats.<br />
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(2) Second, Trump won because the people are sick of politicians working for the party and not for them They are also fed up with a do-nothing Congress that has failed time and time again to address critical issues, but instead pays political games.<br />
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In the next two elections, one of two things is going to happen:<br />
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(1) With majorities in the House and Senate, the Republicans have a golden opportunity to get important things done. If the Republicans and Trump effectively address the critical issues facing this nation (see earlier post), they might get even larger majorities because they have shown themselves willing to govern. They will be able to buck the trend of the party in power losing seats in the mid-term election.<br />
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If this happens, either the Democrats face the prospect of irrelevancy or they shape up and work with Republications to solve the problems still facing us.<br />
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(2) If the Republicans fail to work with Trump and don’t effectively address the critical issues, they will be voted out of power. The will lose their majorities and face the prospect of irrelevancy. Trump will be a one-term president and the democrats will be in power.<br />
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Rather than spending so much time fund-raising so they can get reelected, politicians should seek reelection based on being effective in solving the problems we face. <br />
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Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-53990758652229332982017-03-09T10:25:00.000-05:002017-03-09T10:25:08.471-05:00Explaining the Election IIn an earlier post I alluded to the fact that the liberal agenda and priorities don’t line up with mainstream America’s. I listed many of the liberals’ priorities to prove my point. But, you may ask, why did the Democrats’ candidate, the liberal Hillary Clinton, receive roughly half the popular vote. Doesn’t that demonstrate that the liberal agenda does resonate with at least half the American public?<br />
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That’s possible, but I think there are better explanations for Clinton receiving the votes she got.<br />
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(1) First, there are those who have voted democratic all their lives and couldn’t conceive of themselves voting republican. <br />
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(2) Second, there are those who still believe that the Democratic Party is the party of the working man, the average Joe, pro-union. They aren’t very familiar with the issues and don’t realize that the Democratic Party is no longer the party of the working man but of the LGBT community and special interests.<br />
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(3) More people would have voted for Trump if he had acted more presidential during the campaign. While not thrilled with Hillary, these voters were even more turned off by Trump’s ridiculous statements and insults to Latinos and women. <br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-24951148640571655112017-03-04T17:50:00.000-05:002017-03-04T17:50:03.729-05:00Liberal Agenda Items One of many problems I have with the liberals is that they don’t give serious issues (see my last post for list of serious issues) the attention they need, but instead focus on less critical areas (such transgender bathrooms), which I’ve listed below. By “liberal” I mean those at the far left of the political spectrum such as Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Most of academia, the entertainment industry and the mainstream media (NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC) fall into this category. <br />
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The other things that bother me about liberals are these:<br />
The rights of a few often take precedence over the rights of the many.<br />
Political correctness rules – it is another form of oppression. They want to force their views on everybody.<br />
They have their own definitions for such things as tolerance (they only “tolerate” those who agree with them) and inclusiveness (they include only those who agree with them or those groups who are politically correct).<br />
They keep fighting battles they’ve already won, such as LGBT rights and abortion. <br />
They are unwilling to compromise (although those on the far right also seem unwilling to compromise as well). It’s all or nothing with them.<br />
They have their own very strict orthodoxy: even within their own ranks that don’t allow for much variation in opinions. This reminds me of the novels “1984” and “Brave New World” with the “Thought Police” controlling your thinking.<br />
They are vicious and nasty when they lose or somebody disagrees with them. Just look at their behavior when Trump won the presidency.<br />
They are elitist, looking down on those who disagree with them as unworthy yokels. They refer to the center part of the US as “flyover country,” conjuring up the image of a wasteland inhabited by ignorant and uneducated know-nothings. The people on the east and west coasts are the enlightened ones, whom we should all follow if we want to be considered “progressive.”<br />
They are naïve. They seem to have this child-like belief in the innate goodness of humanity despite a world history of cruel dictators, wars, oppression, and deceit. They seem to think that if we just sat down and had a dialog with our enemies, we could work things out and everybody will be happy. Appeasement will break down resistance and we can all get along. Talk to Neville Chamberlain about the value of appeasement. <br />
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Below are the major issues that liberals feel are critical (as I understand it) with my comments on each one.<br />
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Diversity and Inclusion: these are notable goals but often discrimination results from actions taken in the name of inclusiveness and diversity. It should be understood that all people will benefit from solving some of the big problems mentioned in my last post.<br />
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LGBT and transgender rights (for example the bathroom issue): for liberals everything is viewed through the lens of LGBT.<br />
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Climate change: even though progress has been made regarding the environment, we still have more work to do. One problem in the liberals’ approach to climate change and the environment is that the US is asked to make significant changes while China and India continue to build fossil fuel electric generating plants, thus continuing to pollute the air. Rules and restrictions should be the same for everybody.<br />
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Protecting the right to an abortion: no right is absolute, so states should be allowed to place reasonable limitations on abortions.<br />
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Illegal immigrants’ rights: immigrants should go through the proper process, and should not be rewarded for breaking our laws by entering illegally. Nevertheless, there should be a path to legal residency for those already in the US.<br />
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Refugees: there’s nothing in the constitution that gives non-citizens free access to the US. We can not absorb hundreds of thousands of refugees.<br />
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Wealth inequality: Bernie Sanders had one answer to every question: tax the rich. Loopholes should be closed and very highly paid executives, sports figures, and entertainers should be taxed heavily, but not so much that it stifles the entrepreneurial spirit.<br />
Racism: see “racial tensions” in my last post.<br />
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Police brutality: see “the police” in my last post.<br />
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Gun Control: keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, children, domestic terrorists, and criminals should be the goal. Closing loopholes in our current gun control system is a good first step. Unfortunately some people who legally have guns don’t store them securely, so the wrong people may have easy access to weapons. New and stricter laws won’t change this, only, perhaps, better gun security education.<br />
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Palestinian demands at Israel’s expense: liberals favor Palestine and expect Israel to give up more land. Liberals don’t seem to understand that the Arabs want to eliminate Israel as a nation. They won’t be satisfied until they have all the land and Israel ceases to exist. <br />
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The Environment: (pipelines, nuclear plants, etc.): protecting the environment is important, but progress should not be hindered because of some relatively small risks. Regarding pipelines, fracking, and nuclear power plants, they should be engineered and built properly, with safety and the environment in mind. Workers should be well-trained and there should be regular inspections for the appropriate governmental agency.<br />
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Gender equality: liberals tend to try to raise up women by putting down men. See “equal pay for equal work” in my last post.<br />
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Enforcing political correctness: this is not a stated goal of the liberals but is behind much of what they do. Political Correctness tells people how they are to speak, what their priorities should be, which pronouns are acceptable when referring to God, what words are unacceptable when referring to women, and what your position should be regarding a host of social issues – no other opinions allowed! PC is a harsh taskmaster, unrelenting and unforgiving.<br />
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There is certainly some overlap between the major problems facing this country and the liberal agenda. Unfortunately that overlap is not as big as it used to be and should be. The liberals are wasting precious time, resources, and effort on problems that diminish in importance when you consider all the major issues of national security, the country’s debt, the economy, crime, violence, terrorism, etc. <br />
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Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-19065222791650244222017-02-27T12:07:00.001-05:002017-02-27T12:07:54.490-05:00Issues the President and Congress Should Be Dealing WithThe United States, and indeed the whole world, are facing serious problems. Many of these haven’t received the attention they deserve from Congress and the President. What I’d like to do in this post is review the major problems facing this country today. I hope to heighten your awareness of these issues, and help you to understand gravity of the situation this country is in. I hope this will encourage you to write your Senators and Representative if you believe these aren’t being addressed with the urgency they deserve. <br />
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President Trump has many of these issues on his to-do list, but he’ll need the cooperation of Congress to get anything done. Encourage your Senators and Representative to put aside partisan politics and work for the common good.<br />
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Below is a list of the most serious problems and an explanation as to why I believe they must be addressed sooner rather than later. These are not “conservative” issues or “liberal” issues – they are simply issues that affect just about everyone no matter what your politics are. I don’t think anybody would deny these issues are serious and should have been dealt with years ago.<br />
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<b>National security and safety issues</b><br />
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ISIS: there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that ISIS is a threat to the security of the United States, as well as other countries. We need to build up our military to the point where it can be effective against all enemies and potential enemies.<br />
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Terrorism: unfortunately terrorism is an ongoing threat, so I believe we could be doing more to defeat ISIS. More cooperation with Islamic countries will help to uncover terrorists and their plots. Unfortunately government may have to become more intrusive as it tries to identify people who appear to be at risk of committing terrorist acts.<br />
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Cyber Defense: we are vulnerable to cyber warfare and must invest in efforts to protect ourselves. A cyber attack could cripple our economy, shut down our power grid, and seriously impact communications and transportation.<br />
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Military: we must build up the military intelligently. By that I mean don’t invest in weapons that would fight yesterday’s wars, but focus on state-of-the-art weapons for 21st century warfare (see “Cyber Defense” above).<br />
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Crime (especially murders): I consider the crime level in our cities to be a form of terrorism, Chicago being a good example. Law-abiding citizens get hit by stray bullets and are afraid to leave their houses or apartments. They live in constant fear. We need to give our police the tools to effectively deal with crime. This means working with the community so that you have law-abiding citizens helping the police to keep down the level of crime.<br />
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Gangs: much of the crime is caused by gangs. Sadly, innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire and are shot by gang members battling each other. Our country has to be committed to eliminating gangs so that they are no longer a threat to a peaceful society.<br />
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Drugs: drugs are another cause of crime. You have addicts robbing people to pay for their drug habit. You also have rival drug dealers fighting each other. Again, we as a society have to be committed to stopping the drug trade. This involves working with foreign countries from which these drugs come to stop them at their source. Lives are being ruined and even lost by addicts – stopping the flow of drugs into this country and shutting down the local manufacture of harmful drugs must be aggressively pursued.<br />
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The Police: it is unacceptable that police are being targeted for execution by criminals. Again, police should work with the local communities so that the police will be viewed as their friends and protectors, not as the enemy. Police should be specially trained in community relations. Cops with a history of abuse should be reassigned to positions where there is little interaction with civilians. The police must police themselves better.<br />
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Career criminals in revolving door justice system: It makes me angry when I hear in the news that somebody committed a murder and the reporter states that “he had a long rap sheet.” If he had a long rap sheet he shouldn’t be running around loose. He should be imprisoned for a long time. Somebody like that starts off with petty crimes and works his way up to the bigger ones. Before he can get to the bigger ones he should be locked up. Some version of “three strikes and you’re out” should be implemented to keep these career criminals off the streets.<br />
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Immigration: Porous borders allow all kinds of people to enter the US illegally, not to mention drugs and other contraband. This is a threat to national security, and tightening the border should reduce illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The issue is illegal immigration. Solutions must be found concerning illegals already here, and split families (some family members legal while others are illegal).<br />
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<b>Economic issues<br />
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Loss of jobs to other countries: for a number of years now we have been losing jobs to other countries. This happens because the cost of labor in many of these countries is much lower than in the US, cost of benefits is lower, and there are fewer regulations. These lower costs result in much more profit for the company selling the goods. What the President and Congress need to do is to develop incentives to keep jobs in the US. One that might help is to reduce the number of onerous regulations that are often overkill. The regulations at all levels, local, state, and federal, should be addressed and simplified. <br />
Another incentive to keep jobs in the U.S. is to tax goods developed here in the US but manufactured elsewhere. The tax would equalize costs so that the company receives little or no benefit from manufacturing overseas.<br />
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Job creation: One of the ways job creation takes place is innovation. However, the U.S. has sent most of its innovations abroad to be manufactured in Japan, China, and Korea. Anything we develop should be manufactured in the U.S. and not overseas. This can be enforced by penalties levied on goods developed here but manufactured elsewhere.<br />
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Balance of trade deficit: we import more than we export. This is because so much of what we buy comes from overseas, namely, China. We must get to a point where our exports equal, or come close to, the value of our imports. Having the current imbalance is not sustainable over the long run.<br />
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Huge national debt: the government spends more than it takes in through taxes and fees. It makes up the difference by incurring debt (such as bonds). We have trillions of dollars of debt, much of it with China. A large part of the federal budget goes to paying the interest on this debt. We must have a plan to work down this debt and to ultimately have a balanced budget.<br />
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Huge debt with China: as I mentioned above, much of our national debt is held by China. This, as I see it, is a dangerous situation in which China has a certain level of control over us.<br />
Huge consumer debt: right now our consumer debt is in the trillions of dollars. Should this debt become uncollectible, it would have to be written off by the banks and others that hold this debt, reducing their value considerably and probably precipitating an economic crisis. I believe much of this debt is in jeopardy because $1.4 trillion of it consists of student loans (which I think is particularly at risk).<br />
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Updating our infrastructure: with our aging infrastructure we are getting to be more and more like a Third World country. Our infrastructure must be updated and modernized if we are to compete in the world market. By infrastructure I mean our bridges, our power grid, our roads and highways, railroads, airports, the air traffic control system, dams, and our communications systems. This updating would provide jobs and make our country safer.<br />
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Energy policy: we should have developed an energy policy in the 1970s when we had the Arab oil embargoes. They were a message to us that we are vulnerable. We must develop an energy policy that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels. We should also develop a policy concerning nuclear generating plants for electricity. If the French can successfully have a large percentage of their electricity generated by nuclear plants without incident, we should be able to do so as well. All we need is the will to get it done.<br />
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Regarding nuclear power plants, they should be the cornerstone of any energy policy. Those who want to shut down existing nuclear plants and prevent new ones from being built should then be willing to shut off their air conditioners, TVs, microwave ovens, and computers. <br />
Regarding transportation, vehicles should be made more efficient and public transportation should be upgraded to be more appealing.<br />
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High local, state and federal taxes: high taxes are a problem at all levels of government. Moreover, there is double taxation of corporate dividends: the corporation pays taxes on its profit and stockholders pay taxes on the dividends they receive. The tax on dividends should be either eliminated or reduced to something like 15%.<br />
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Too Many Regulations: intrusive government has gotten into every aspect of life. While that may be a slight exaggeration, the truth is that we are getting to be over-regulated. Paperwork and bureaucracy make for inefficient businesses and hinders the entrepreneurial spirit. Government at all levels should review its regulations and make changes where appropriate. Having said that, most organizations (businesses, governments, professions and even the church) have demonstrated time and time again that they are incapable of policing themselves. Therefore some level of regulation is needed, particularly in the financial industry.<br />
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<b>Social issues</b><br />
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Wealth inequality and the decline of the middle class: the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. This used to happen in other countries but now it’s happening here. One of the solutions to this problem is to bring back well-paying jobs. Another solution is redistribution of income from ridiculously highly-paid executives and sports figures to the lower classes. This help to the lower classes could be in the form of subsidies and other kinds of financial help for such things as education and job training. The money would come from closing loopholes enjoyed by the rich.<br />
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Racial tensions: sadly, we still have racial tensions. I don’t know how to solve this problem, but it needs to be resolved in some way or another. The one thing I do know is that it will require a change of heart for both white people and black.<br />
<br />
Affordable quality health care for everybody: affordable healthcare is necessary, and so government should keep trying to come up with a good solution. The better parts of Obamacare should be kept, the bad parts discarded, and additional adjustments should be made so that it works as it was intended.<br />
<br />
Equal pay for equal work: I believe most large companies have narrowed the gender gap, but there’s still more work to be done.<br />
Veterans Affairs: Much work still needs to be done in this area, especially regarding the treatment of Gulf War Syndrome by the VA<br />
Education: we lag behind most industrialized nations in this area. We have failed inner city schools that do a disservice to their students.<br />
<br />
<b>International Issues</b><br />
<br />
Emergence of aggressive Russia (Crimea, Ukraine, Syria): the president needs to work with the Russians so that we are on the same page. We have to let them know there will be penalties to be paid for doing things they shouldn’t. If they behave themselves, there could be many benefits coming their way such as improved trade relations. Complicating this is the fact that just about all of Europe’s natural gas and much of its oil come from Russia. This puts Europe under the control of Russia.<br />
<br />
Emergence of aggressive China : China is getting more and more aggressive in pursuing relationships with various countries and using its economic power to bully other countries. The Chinese defense budget has grown by double digits for I don’t know how many years now. We need to meet strength with strength.<br />
<br />
Catastrophe in Syria: the United Nations should be the organization working to solve the Syrian problem. Unfortunately, the UN has shown itself to be useless in resolving international problems in the past 30 or 40 years. Under Obama the US has shown very little leadership as well. Given the power vacuum in the Middle East I believe we need to show leadership by getting our allies and hopefully Russia to work together to put an end to this terrible crisis in Syria.<br />
<br />
International terrorism: terrorism is not just local but is a worldwide global issue. Countries need to work together and with Muslim countries to destroy the terrorist networks. Sadly, there may be collateral damage as a result of military actions that we take. Our country’s main job is to protect its citizens, and we can’t lose our focus on that goal.<br />
<br />
North Korea possible aggression: again, we need to meet strength with strength and let North Korea know that they will pay a heavy price she’s a do something against the United States or South Korea.<br />
<br />
Iran possible aggression and nuclear program: the same thing as North Korea: we meet strength with strength and work with our allies in the Middle East and Europe to contain Iran.<br />
<br />
Support for Israel: support for Israel is nonnegotiable. As our only true ally in the region, it is our duty to support Israel diplomatically and militarily. We have to realize that the main goal of Hamas and other similar organizations is to totally wipe Israel off the map. This is been stated publicly that yet people don’t seem to understand it. Israel has not been the aggressor but has been the victim of rocket attacks and terrorist activities.<br />
<br />
Human Sex Trafficking: this isn’t discussed much but is a terrible problem. This isn’t just something that happens in other countries but right here in the USA. There should be a concerted effort by as many countries as possible to coordinate their efforts to stop this criminal activity.<br />
<br />
Climate change: climate change has been debated, with some people arguing that it is not an issue. However, if we cut through all the rhetoric, there are two main points that we should understand. First, there is some sort of global warming or climate change occurring based on all the statistics that have been gathered. We don’t know whether this is a short-term blip or long term trend, but we should do everything in our power to reduce carbon emissions and slow down any changes in climate. Second, the atmosphere is polluted and nobody was to breathe in that kind of air. So reducing carbon emissions and other poisons in the atmosphere is good for our health.<br />
<br />
I don’t think anybody could argue that these items aren’t critically important, and must be addressed before some calamity happens, such a collapse of the economy.<br />
<br />
More on critical problems in a future post.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-55163273557821015572016-03-23T15:56:00.000-04:002016-03-23T15:56:07.797-04:00What Can We Do against Terrorism?Islamic terrorists have struck again, this time in Belgium, killing many people and injuring many more. Is this how we are to live from now on? What can we do to put a stop to this madness?<br />
<br />
<b>Obstacles to Success<br />
</b><br />
There are significant obstacles to protecting our citizens and successfully defeating and neutralizing terrorism.<br />
<br />
First, the attacker has one enormous advantage: he knows where and when he will strike. The victim doesn’t know when or where, so is at a severe disadvantage. <br />
<br />
Second, there aren’t enough police and security forces to be everywhere. Therefore, reliable intelligence is needed to overcome the attacker’s advantage mentioned above.<br />
<br />
Third, privacy concerns hinder intelligence-gathering. While privacy is important, we are dealing with an insidious and ruthless enemy. Therefore, I believe intelligence-gathering abilities take precedence over privacy, with proper controls in place, of course. <br />
<br />
Fourth, concerns about profiling hinders intelligence-gathering. Most terrorist acts are committed by Middle Eastern men, yet our resources are being wasted because we can’t focus on the more likely perpetrators – that is “profiling.” For example, I’ve been pulled out of line two or three times at airports by customs officials for a more in-depth examination. Supposedly I was picked at random. So they wasted resources interviewing an older US citizen of northern European background.<br />
<br />
I’m not suggesting that people who fit the profile be harassed or intimidated by the authorities. We don’t want situations like African-Americans face where they get pulled over just because they are black (called DWB – driving while black). I’m saying that the authorities should focus their precious assets where they can be most effective and don’t waste time on elderly white guys in airports.<br />
<br />
<b>What Can We Do?</b><br />
<br />
First of all, we have to understand that each country is unique in terms of its terrorism situation. France has many Muslims, some of which are French citizens. Russia has an internal insurgency within certain segments of its Muslim population. Turkey is a secular state whose population is overwhelmingly Muslim but is being influenced by radical elements. Turkey, like other Islamic countries, is the target of terrorism.<br />
<br />
International cooperation is a necessity, even with the differences in each country’s situation. The European countries and the US should work more closely, share more intelligence, and form a military coalition to defeat ISIS. The US should not have to do all the fighting – every country must contribute.<br />
<br />
Russia should be included in this alliance, or at least be a partner in some way. The Cold War is over – we need Russia on the team. We also need to involve and work with Middle Eastern Islamic countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other countries which are targets themselves. Islamic terrorists think nothing of killing their own people. It is in the best interests of the moderate Islamic countries to cooperate with the West in defeating terrorism.<br />
<br />
Israel can be a big help to the coalition in intelligence sharing, and providing sound advice on strategy. Israel has had to deal with terrorist attacks from its inception in 1948. One thing we mustn’t forget is that Israel is constantly the target for all kinds of terrorism. Rockets are being fired all the time, for example. As part of the battle against terrorism I would suggest we make Hamas and other anti-Israel organizations an offer they can’t refuse, that is, stop firing rockets or face Armageddon. <br />
<br />
Other things the coalition needs to do is arm the Kurds, contain Iran, and destroy training camps and other ISIS facilities when they are discovered. Sadly, there is the risk of collateral civilian damage, and we should do all we can to minimize it. Nevertheless this is war and we have to do what we have to do.<br />
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The coalition must improve intelligence gathering capabilities in the Islamic communities within their countries – these can be major sources of information. For example, the Islamic communities can help keep track of those who have been to places where ISIS and others train terrorists.<br />
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The authorities must treat the Islamic communities within their borders with respect. Doing so will help gain their confidence and it’s the right thing to do. ISIS and other terrorist organizations are killing innocent civilians, so one would think the Islamic communities in western nations would understand that it is in their best interest to defeat and neutralize terrorist organizations.<br />
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The coalition must do all it can to stop the flow of money and weapons to the terrorist organizations. We choke off their money and weapons, destroy their facilities, and defeat them on the ground with a powerful coalition, and we have gone a long way towards significantly reducing their capability to carry out terrorist activities. Bu there needs to be a concerted and unified effort by a coalition.<br />
<br />
Finally there must be no appeasement, because it doesn’t work. These people are fanatics, and they can not be appeased. For them, there must be nothing less than total victory. Our way of life, our values, our culture and our freedom is at stake. Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, which Americans take for granted, would disappear under an Islamic caliphate. These terrorists know only the language of violence, so we have to meet them with violence, distasteful as it may be.<br />
<br />
Lastly this country should turn back to God and pray for protection. We’ve lost our way spiritually. Let us restore the faith that brought us through the Civil War, the Great Depression, and World War II. Without God who know what will happen to us. We have freedom of worship, so let’s use it.<br />
<br />
Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms:<br />
-Freedom of speech<br />
-Freedom of worship<br />
-Freedom from want<br />
-Freedom from fear<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-5441079706845886512016-03-15T16:57:00.000-04:002016-03-15T16:57:10.405-04:00Failure of GovernmentWhat is making Donald Trump so popular? Why are so many people voting for this obnoxious character in the primaries? Does he have a chance of being President? I would like to explore these questions with you today.<br />
<br />
<b>Why So Popular?<br />
</b><br />
In the Paul Newman movie “Cool Hand Luke” the head prison guard said this throughout the movie: “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” What we have in the United States today is a failure to govern. We have a Congress and President that aren’t working on behalf of the people, but on behalf of their party, their donors (special interests), and themselves. Moreover, Obama has shown himself to be a weak leader. Meanwhile the country is facing serious problems, including a multi-trillion dollar debt, increased threats from Islamic terrorist organizations (ISIS), jobs being shipped overseas, and a host of other challenges too numerous to mention. <br />
<br />
<b>Why are people voting for Trump?<br />
</b><br />
The people are crying out for Congress and the President to get back to work and stop playing politics. They must learn to compromise, because that’s the only way anything will get done. The people aren’t stupid – they see the mess we’re in and cry out for action. The votes for Trump are a clear message to The Establishment: get to work and begin to deal with the multiple problems and challenges we’re facing as a nation and a world.<br />
<br />
<b>Why Trump?</b><br />
<br />
Trump appeals to people because he tells it like it is, and then some. He’s saying he’ll get things done, that he’ll tackle the problems facing us. Talk is cheap – how’s he going to be effective if he still has a do-nothing Congress?<br />
<br />
There’s no question that Trump gets thing done – in the world of business. He has employees who jump when he tells them to do something. He can seriously influence the people he deals with, such as vendors and suppliers. He’s got clout and can get things done. He’s often dealing with motivated people who also want to get things done: a signed contract, a finalized union agreement, etc.<br />
<br />
But as President he’ll be working in a totally different milieu. He’ll have to deal with a Congress which has been pretty much useless for the past 30 years or so. Congress seems to have little motivation or incentive to accomplish anything. How will he handle them?<br />
<br />
<b>Can He Win over Hillary?</b><br />
<br />
Hillary has a lot of baggage: she’s part of The Establishment, she’s tied closely with Obama, and she’s viewed by some voters as untrustworthy. Trump could beat her, but it’s hard to tell. If he became president, I have some fears about the possibility of significant failures: he might alienate foreign leaders; he might not be able to work with Congress effectively; he might become somewhat of a dictator, refusing to work with Congress and compromise. How would he deal with Putin or North Korea, for example? Can he think strategically?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
<br />
While Trump is addressing the right issues, he’s been short on policy. How specifically would he solve these problems? Is he all talk but little action? It’s hard to tell. But the people might just vote for him with the attitude that things couldn’t get much worse, and – who knows – he might actually turn out to be a good president (like Ronald Reagan). So I believe he could very well be elected, and may actually do a good job. I would suggest that if you vote for Trump, vote for a Republican senator and a Republican representative. If he has a clear Republican majority in both houses, he might just be able to work with a more cooperative Congress and get something accomplished. If he doesn’t have those majorities then I think you can forget about anything being accomplished and we’ll just have more of the same gridlock, just with more bluster.<br />
<br />
Pray for this country, pray for the election, pray that this country will once again look to God and not politicians for their salvation. Pray the following verse when you pray:<br />
<br />
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” NRSV<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-10011675736657821852016-03-15T15:59:00.000-04:002016-03-15T15:59:28.542-04:00The Immigration DebateOne of the main issues in the current presidential election is “immigration.” We need to understand this issue because there have been some misleading statements made on the subject. I’ve written on immigration before but it deserves another post since it is so prominent in this election.<br />
<br />
<b>Defining “Immigration”</b><br />
<br />
As with most issues, there is a significant difference between conservatives and liberals. Liberals define the issue in terms of all immigration, not making the important distinction between legal and illegal entry into the country. In their rhetoric they imply that conservatives want to stop all immigration into the US. Conservatives say they have no problem with legal immigration (those who go through the process) but believe illegal (undocumented) immigration must be stopped. They are not anti-immigrant, just against people sneaking across our borders.<br />
<br />
<b>A Place of Refuge</b><br />
<br />
Most immigrants, both legal and undocumented, come to the US for a better life. Some come to the US so their children will have a better life, even if theirs isn’t so good. Others come to the US to escape violence, persecution, and crime. We’ve seen that happening in Europe, where thousands of refugees are streaming into Europe from war-torn Syria.<br />
<br />
Certainly you feel sorry for those escaping tyranny, yet you have to ask, “How many more people can this country accommodate?” We can’t take in everybody who is at risk, much as we’d like to help them. We already have underemployment. With jobs being sent overseas, where are these immigrants going to work?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Security Concerns</b><br />
<br />
Having such porous borders is a security issue as well. With terrorists wanting to do us harm, shouldn’t we cut off any paths through which the bad guys can enter the country? We think primarily of Mexicans and Central Americans entering the country illegally, but other nationalities enter as well. Another aspect of the security concern is the cross-border drug trade. Drug cartels are flooding the US with drugs. Unfortunately there’s a big demand for these drugs, but if they weren’t so readily available, demand might diminish considerably.<br />
<br />
<b>Medical, Schooling, Other Services</b><br />
<br />
Waves of illegal immigrants can put a strain on social services, such as health care and schooling. Since some of these illegals are paid “under the table” they pay no taxes while still using social services. As a civilized society we can’t deny these services to anybody living within our borders, but we can reduce the number of people entering the country.<br />
<br />
<b>Path to Citizenship</b><br />
<br />
Since there are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living within the US, we should do something for them so they are no longer living as fugitives. For the most part they are hard- working, responsible people who often do jobs nobody else wants to do: farm workers, day laborers, etc. We aren’t rewarding bad behavior if we provide a path to citizenship, just dealing with the reality of the situation and trying to do the humane thing.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-6501345408381325902016-01-27T15:29:00.000-05:002016-01-27T15:29:19.477-05:00Understanding the CrusadesThe Crusades are a poorly understood historical event. They are dragged out and used by anti-Christian bigots as an example of how corrupt Christianity is. Muslims point to the Crusades as an example of Christian persecution of innocent Muslims. Let me explain a few things about the Crusades so you can get a better understanding of what they really were all about.<br />
<br />
Shortly after Islam was established, Muslim armies grew in numbers, and broke out of Arabia to conquer vast tracts of land that generally were Christian. Islam spread in North Africa, Spain and Portugal, and the Middle East by military conquest, not by peaceful missionaries building hospitals and orphanages.<br />
<br />
The Western Roman Empire had collapsed and former parts of it in North Africa fell like dominoes before the Islamic armies. The Byzantine Empire (the eastern portion of the Roman Empire) was weakening, and had lost much of its territory to the Islamic armies. Although conquering Muslims at first allowed Christians to practice their religion, they became more repressive as time went on. After the conquest of mostly Christian lands, they gradually restricted non-Muslim religious observances and humiliated non-Muslims. They made non-Muslims pay a poll tax and wear a special symbol on their clothes or they had to wear distinctive clothes (similar to Nazi Germany with the Jews). <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Christianity had been weakened by heresies, division between East and West, politics, and other problems. Because Christianity was weak, most Christians in the conquered lands eventually converted to Islam rather than deal with the repression. After the Crusades, Turks continued to spread Islam into Asia Minor (now Turkey) and The Balkans (former Yugoslavia) by military conquest. The Turks eventually made it into Eastern Europe before being defeated in a decisive battle called the Battle of Vienna. The siege itself began in July 14, 1683, and the decisive battle took place on September 12, 1683. The battle marked the turning point in the 300-year struggle between the forces of the Central European kingdoms, and the Ottoman Empire. The legacy of the Turkish conquest of the Balkans is the Muslim population still living in that part of Europe. Eventually Muslims (“The Moors”) were driven out of Spain and Portugal, leaving behind some beautiful architecture.<br />
<br />
Aside from the founding of Islam by the Prophet, the defining moment for Islam seems to be the Crusades. Apparently in the Middle East, stories of the Crusades are still told as if they had just happened (according to TV program I saw on the History Channel). The Crusades have had a tremendous impact on Islam, even though they occurred 900 years ago. The Islamic view of the Crusades is that the barbarian Europeans invaded peaceful Islamic lands for no good reason except religious imperialism.<br />
<br />
<b>A Geo-Political War<br />
</b><br />
We learned in school that the Crusades were launched to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims, who conquered Jerusalem in 638. That’s not the whole story. There were really four reasons Europeans conducted the Crusades, with the most important reason being Geo-Political.<br />
<br />
In 1095, Byzantine Emperor Alexius asked Pope Urban II for help in stopping Islamic expansion. Many Christian lands had been conquered by Muslims over the centuries, and the Byzantine Empire was continuing to lose territory to the Islamic armies (especially to the Turks). The Byzantine Empire (the eastern remnant of the Roman Empire) had been reduced to a shadow of its former glory, and was still losing ground to the Turks. The Europeans believed that if Constantinople fell, the door would be open for the Islamic armies to conquer Europe. In fact, these fears were realized when Constantinople finally fell to the Turks in 1453. The Muslim armies did invade Eastern Europe and made it all the way to the gates of Vienna.<br />
<br />
Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire were barriers to the expansionist Turks, so it was in Europe’s best interests to keep them from falling into Turkish hands. The Pope, at that time the most powerful ruler in Europe and very much involved in politics, agreed to help the Byzantine Emperor beat back the Turks. The plan was for the Crusaders to not only stop the Turks, but to retake much of the land the Byzantine Empire had lost to them.<br />
<br />
An additional benefit is that the Crusaders would take back lands that were sacred to Christians, especially Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. In addition to protecting Europe and taking back the Holy Land, the Pope hoped to exert more influence on Eastern Christianity, which had split from Western Christianity. So to summarize, below are the four major reasons for launching the Crusades:<br />
<br />
1. Maintain Constantinople and what remained of the Byzantine Empire as a barrier to a Turkish invasion of Europe. This was the geo-political reason – protect Europe.<br />
<br />
2. Take back some strategic cities and other lands that had been taken by force by the Turks. This was the strategic reason.<br />
<br />
3. Take back Jerusalem and other places sacred to Christians. This was the religious reason.<br />
<br />
4. Provide an opportunity for the Pope to exert influence in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It had separated itself from western (Roman Catholic) Christianity over theological differences and the pope’s attempt to exert authority over all Christendom. This was the political reason for the Crusades.<br />
<br />
To give an incentive for people to join, the Pope declared the Crusades to be a Holy War, and anybody who participated in it would go to heaven, guaranteed (sounds a lot like jihad). While the Crusades did seem to have valid geopolitical purposes, Muslims and others don’t see it that way. Moreover, any valid reasons for the Crusades are overshadowed by the atrocities committed by the Crusaders. There were atrocities on both sides, but the Crusaders had launched the invasion in the name of God and should not have harmed civilians.<br />
<br />
Today many feel it was inappropriate for a major leader of a religion that preaches “peace on earth and goodwill towards men” and “turn the other cheek” to launch an invasion of sovereign lands. We have to remember, however, that at that time the pope was not only a religious leader but a political leader. As such, he was involved in secular affairs. He controlled much of Italy via the Papal States.<br />
<br />
<b>Religious Conflict<br />
</b><br />
The Crusades are viewed by Muslims as a religious conflict between Christianity and Islam. Today, Muslims still view Christianity as its enemy, which has a Crusader mentality by wanting to overrun Muslim lands if given the opportunity. The most severe persecution against Christians, even indigenous Christians, takes place in Islamic lands. Free practice of any non-Muslim religion is forbidden in many Islamic countries, and there are ongoing atrocities against Christians in such countries as Indonesia and Sudan. <br />
<br />
While Westerners might view any struggles with the Islamic world in terms of clash of cultures, Muslims don’t make any such distinction. State, culture, and religion and all mixed together to them: there is no separation. So to the Muslims, this is a war of religions, even if the West doesn’t see it that way. Europe is in the post-Christian era, but the Muslims still see Europe as fundamentally Christian (in heritage, if not practice).<br />
<br />
As we continue to export our culture, which many Muslims find offensive, the Muslims see that as an invasion no less frightening than the physical invasion by the Crusaders. They see our culture as a corrupting influence on young Muslims.<br />
<br />
Now that we have troops in the Middle East, many Muslims see that as an invasion of their sovereign territory by armed force not unlike the Crusades. They believe that once the camel gets his nose into the tent, the whole animal is sure to follow. They also view corrupt regimes in Islamic countries as an affront (especially those who are friendly to the West – traitors to Islam). The extremists are fighting to overthrow those governments and establish Islamic caliphates in their place.<br />
<br />
Finally, most Muslims (at least in the Middle East) view the establishment of Israel as an outrage, but that is relatively minor compared to the other factors I just mentioned. The West could do away with Israel tomorrow, and nothing would change, so certain experts have claimed. The terrorists are fanatics not following the more peaceful commands of their religion. The Qur’an calls for moderation in war, following certain rules of engagement and to not harm civilians. The terrorists ignore those commands, and focus on the more violent Qur’anic verses. We must never abandon Israel, and must never appease the terrorists. <br />
<br />
Even if it means violating some of the moral commands in the Qur’an, they believe they are beating back the modern-day Crusaders and protecting Islam from the corrupting influence of “infidel” religions and cultures. To them, the ends justify the means if it will result in the defeat of the evil Western societies, the fall of corrupt regimes in Muslim countries, and the establishment of Islamic caliphates throughout the world. <br />
<br />
<b>Fundamentalists<br />
</b><br />
Often the terrorists are mislabeled as “fundamentalists.” From what I’ve read, the terrorists are not fundamentalists in the sense of being devout followers of Islam, following a more conservative theology. I believe, rather, that the terrorists are cultural and religious imperialists, not because of any theological reasons, but because they feel their way is superior (religion, culture, law) to Christianity and Judaism, and to forms of Islam different from theirs. The terrorists who hijacked the airplanes in 9/11 are said to have broken many of the rules of Islam during their stay in the US. That doesn’t sound like fundamentalism to me.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
<br />
It is important to know your enemy. Sad to say, the radical Muslims view us (the West) as the enemy, and will settle for nothing less than Islamic control over Western nations. Typically Westerners are naïve when it comes to enemies they don’t know or understand. “If we just dialog with them…” or “if we just give them what they want…” (like offering up Israel to placate them) Chamberlain took an appeasement approach with Hitler, and it led to the conquest of most of Europe by the Nazis. Appeasement doesn’t work, especially when you are dealing with fanatics whose sole reason for being is terrorism, conquest, violence, and power. Simplistic and naïve solutions won’t work because you are dealing with fanatics:<br />
-whose lives are devoted to destruction of the western way of life,<br />
-who are coming from a position that God is on their side,<br />
-who keep looking back to history to justify their aggression, and<br />
-who are convinced their way is far superior.<br />
<br />
That is a dangerous combination. Hopefully this overview helped you gain some kind of understanding of the Crusades and why they were fought. I hope this brief overview gives you some insight as to where Muslims are coming from. If they are viewing this as a religious struggle, then doesn’t it make sense for us in the West to repent and turn to God for help? 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us:<br />
<br />
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” NRSV<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-39887814876747995462016-01-26T16:21:00.000-05:002016-01-26T16:21:41.677-05:00Understanding IslamSince we in the West are one of the targets for terrorist acts perpetrated by Muslims, we should understand these adversaries. Moreover, there are a lot of statements made about Islam that are questionable. I’m not an expert in Islam but I do know some things about it. Let me share with you some thoughts that might help you separate fact from fiction.<br />
<br />
<b>Nature of Islam<br />
</b><br />
We should understand the nature of Islam in that it is both a religion and a culture. In predominantly Muslim countries the religion and the culture are so intertwined that they are inseparable. Of course the culture is heavily influenced by the religion. The terrorists aren’t particularly devout or religious in that they break a number of commands in the Qur’an by their terrorist activities. The goal of the terrorists is to establish an Islamic caliphate that would have an Islamic culture and be governed by harsh Sharia law, with the Islamic religion at its core.<br />
<br />
What do we make of those who say we aren’t at war with Islam? My response to that statement is that we may not be at war with the religion, but we are certainly at war with those who are dedicated to imposing their culture and religion on the rest of us, replacing western culture and religions with their own repressive and often cruel brand of Islam. <br />
<br />
<b>Support and Approval</b><br />
<br />
How many Muslims really support or approve of Islamic terrorist activities? I think we can answer that question by looking at the different segments of Islamic society:<br />
<br />
(1) The Terrorists. These are the hard-core radicals who plan and carry out violent acts of terrorism. They do these acts against non-Muslims (mostly Christians and countries with a Christian heritage) and even against their fellow Muslims who are of a different sect (Shia vs. Sunni) or who practice their religion differently from the terrorists.<br />
<br />
Terrorists are relatively small in number but are fanatical and willing to die for their cause.<br />
<br />
(2) Those Who Approve. There are those Muslims who do not carry out acts of terrorism but approve of those who do, believing the terrorists are doing the will of Allah. Some of these sympathizers, mostly young men, become radicalized after listening to terrorist propaganda and may idolize ISIS or some other group of radicals. Many of these come from Europe and the U.S. where they have enjoyed the freedoms they are now trying to take away from the rest of us. For the life of me I can’t understand why these people, who have experienced such freedom, want to install repressive regimes.<br />
<br />
(3) The Silent Majority. The vast majority of Muslims do not support terrorist activities, I suspect. Most of the radicals come out of the Middle East. Meanwhile, large numbers of Muslims live peaceably (for the most part) in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Turkey, and parts of Africa. The Silent Majority doesn’t speak up either because of fear, apathy, or they’re neutral on the subject of Islamic terrorism.<br />
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As long as the Muslim Silent Majority remains silent and Muslim countries tolerate terrorist acts, the terrorists will continue to kill Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Moderate Muslim countries must take action to put an end to terrorism or they will eventually fall. They can’t rely on the US or NATO to do their job.<br />
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<b>What Does The Qur’an Say?</b><br />
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The Qur’an, their holy scriptures, says that Christians and Jews should be treated with respect. Why aren’t we seeing this respect? Unfortunately the Qur’an is somewhat double-minded in its treatment of Jews and Christians. On one hand, it portrays Jews and Christians as “People of the Book” who are to be respected, and on the other hand they are evil infidels to be conquered and even done away with. The Quran distinguishes between People of the Book and “pagans.” It considers People of the Book to be people of God, as opposed to the pagans, who worship idols.<br />
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“Behold! Those who have faith, and those who are Jews, and Christians and Sabians – those who trust in God and the Last Day, and do what is righteous, they shall have their reward; no fear shall come upon them, neither shall they grieve.” (Sura 2:62; 5:69)<br />
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In another part of the Qur’an, Judaism and Christianity are shown as corrupted. Mohammad said:<br />
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“Had the followers of the scriptures accepted Islam, it would surely have been better for them… Ignominy shall attend them wherever they are found, unless they make a covenant with Allah or with man. They have incurred the wrath of Allah and have been utterly humbled: because they disbelieved his revelations and slew his prophets unjustly; and because they were rebels and transgressors. Yet they are not all alike. There are among the followers of the scriptures some upright men who all night long recite the revelations of Allah and worship him…” (Sura 3:106 ff)<br />
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Despite what the Quran says about Jews and Christians in one part of the book, it condemns them as “unbelievers” in another part:<br />
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For the Unbelievers are unto you open enemies. (Sura 4:101)<br />
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Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. (Sura 5:51)<br />
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Fight those who believe not in God nor the last day, nor hold that forbidden by God and his apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the (poll tax) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (Sura 5:29)<br />
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Terrorists and their supporters use passages which command them to fight “unbelievers” to justify their violent actions, even though they go against more peaceful commands in the Qur’an.<br />
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Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you… and slay them wherever you catch them... and fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah. (Sura 2:190-193)<br />
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And if ye are slain or die in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass. (Sura 3:157)<br />
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Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war). (Sura 9:5)<br />
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Hopefully this post will give you some insight into the world of Islam.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-8833721614903436072015-11-25T13:57:00.002-05:002015-11-25T13:57:04.769-05:00Middle Eastern Refugee DilemmaThousands of people are fleeing Syria and other Middle Eastern countries because of the fighting and bombing taking place. They aren’t migrating to Europe for economic reasons, but to save their lives. Most of these refugees are Muslim.<br />
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At the same time, Islamic terrorists are attacking Europe and planning more attacks if their propaganda is to be believed. This creates a dilemma for European countries and the U.S. From a practical point of view, we should ask these questions:<br />
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-How can we expect a country absorb so many people so quickly, people who don’t speak the language, and are culturally different?<br />
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-How can we find jobs for so many people?<br />
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-How will medical facilities and social services cope with such an influx?<br />
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While these are important considerations, the main sticking point is that Western countries will be welcoming people who are affiliated with a religion and culture that are hostile to Western culture and the Christian religion. What might happen if we let these people in?<br />
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-Terrorists may sneak into a country posing as refugees.<br />
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-Some of the refugees may become radicalized as has happened to other Muslims in the West.<br />
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-It’s impossible to check the backgrounds of these refugees because the countries they are leaving are in chaos.<br />
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So the dilemma is: do we show our compassion for these people who are fleeing for their lives, or do we make safety and security our main concern and don’t risk problems by letting the refugees into our countries?<br />
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The Western countries are generally compassionate as a result of our Judeo-Christian ethic. On the other hand, the first priority of any government is the safety and security of its citizens. <br />
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Another consideration is this: why don’t the oil-rich Middle Eastern countries take in many of these refugees? Language is the same, culture is the same, religion is the same. The refugees could be more easily absorbed into those societies than into the West. Where’s Saudi Arabia in all this? They have billions of dollars from oil revenue and they can’t take care of their fellow Muslims?! They leave it up to us.<br />
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Write your governor, senator, and congressman with your position on the matter so they can make decisions based on the will of the people. Pray that they’ll make the right decision, whatever that may be. Pray for the safety of the people, and pray that Western intelligence services uncover and thwart all planned terrorist plans. Finally, pray for President Obama and Congress, that they will act firmly and decisively to defeat those groups who want to harm us.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-89302725765604696532015-11-18T17:25:00.001-05:002015-11-18T17:25:33.541-05:00More Thoughts on Terrorism<b>We Are at War</b><br />
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The western nations were rightfully outraged when the terrorists struck Paris in January 2015. They were even more outraged by this most recent attack, on November 13, 2015.The President of France called this aggression “war”, and that’s what it is. Unfortunately some western leaders, most notably President Obama, refuse to accept that reality. ISIS and other Islamic fanatics know they are at war with the West, but despite numerous attacks on innocent civilians, the West doesn’t get it. Don’t these leaders know they are putting their people at severe risk? Have we lost the will to fight for our survival as a nation and for security for future generations? Do we really want to live under Sharia law?<br />
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<b>What about Israel?</b><br />
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While everyone is rightfully outraged by these latest attacks in France, where’s the outrage when Israel is attacked? With Islamic militants shooting 11,000 rockets from Gaza into Israel since 2005 and 4,000 rockets from Lebanon in 2006 alone, where’s the outrage? With the Arab militants constantly breaking the cease-fire agreement they signed with Israel, where’s the outrage?<br />
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The outrage comes when Israel eventually retaliates and bombs Palestinian strongholds in an attempt to stop the rockets and protect its citizens. All of a sudden the world jumps all over Israel for bombing poor, innocent Gaza. How many countries would tolerate continuous rocket attacks like Israel has had to endure? Yet the Europeans and U.S. liberals are quick to condemn Israel for doing what any country would do: try to protect its citizens. Talking doesn’t do any good, treaties are useless, so Israel must resort to military options. Can you blame them?<br />
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When Israel does retaliate, the liberal press condemns Israel for killing civilians. Meanwhile, where are the Palestinian rockets aimed? At population centers, in an attempt to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible. If the press criticizes Israel for killing Palestinian civilians, they should criticize the Palestinians for using human shields, and for using hospitals and schools for their operations, guaranteeing there will be civilian casualties.<br />
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To show how naïve Obama is, he’s signed a terrible treaty with Iran that benefits them and we get very little. You can be sure Iran will break the treaty as soon as it’s convenient for them to do so. <br />
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In the U.S. next November, we will have to opportunity to vote in a new President and various senators and representatives. We must pick a President who is a leader, isn’t naïve, is willing to stand up to ISIS, and is a strategic thinker. Too bad Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t available.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-33499622483912192292015-11-14T15:07:00.001-05:002015-11-14T15:07:49.177-05:00Another AttackOnce again there has been a major terrorist attack, this time in Paris again. It appears that ISIS is responsible. As ISIS gains strength and other terrorist groups get bolder, the world must stand up and seriously deal with this ongoing threat. <br />
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What can we do? Plenty. I’m no expert but I believe western countries could do the following at a minimum to defeat those who seek to destroy us.<br />
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<b>Commit<b></b></b><br />
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The Allies defeated the Axis powers in World War II because they were fully committed. The U.S. was on a war footing, with much of our resources devoted to the war effort. Failure was not an option.<br />
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While the nature of today’s war is different from WWII, there is no less need for total commitment. The weapons of today can be very destructive. Think of cyber warfare as an example. The allies must use all weapons at their disposal, including propaganda, cyber, and military.<br />
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<b>Unite</b><br />
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The Allies defeated the Axis powers in World War II because they were united in their resolve to defeat the enemy. The U.S. provided supplies and equipment to its allies. For example, Studebaker trucks by the thousands were sent to Russia, which made huge difference in its ability to transport goods and troops to the front. It’s said that those trucks were a significant factor in defeating the Nazis. With Russia as an ally, both the U.S. and Russia can redirect resources to fighting the war on terrorism.<br />
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If we are to win the war against Islamic terrorism, Russia must become our ally, similar to what happened in WWII. I don’t know what it will take to do that, but I would hope that Putin would realize that it’s in his best interest to share intelligence data with other countries for the good of Russia as well as the whole alliance. Russia must get over its historic mistrust of the West.<br />
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<b>Destroy</b><br />
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The Allies defeated the Axis powers in World War II because there were no restraints put on the military. In Vietnam, for example, the military was forbidden to go certain places and do certain things, and I’ve read where there were similar restrictions put in place in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you’re going to fight a war, do it right.<br />
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In the case of Islamic terrorism, the allies must fight to win, meaning the total destruction of ISIS and other terrorist organizations, including destruction of training camps. Why these training camps aren’t bombed is a mystery to me. We must know where they are. Why can’t we destroy them?<br />
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People suspected of terrorist ties or for whom there is evidence of radicalization, should be deported and never allowed back into the country. This includes those who have traveled to certain countries where terrorist training takes place. International borders must be made more secure. It might be a good idea to restrict the free flow of people across borders in the European Community for the time being.<br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
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As long as there are Hitlers in the world and there are movements like Islamic jihad there will be conflict. Distasteful and repugnant as war is, our survival as a free country is at stake. Israel’s enemies want to totally destroy it (“push it into the sea”). Now the west is faced with a similar threat: destruction of our way of life, living instead in a harsh caliphate sunder sharia law.<br />
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Unconventional wars such as the war against terrorism are difficult to fight in a free society. Moreover, many of our enemies are within, even citizens of our country (such as France and England especially) Our freedom and openness make us vulnerable. So does our compassionate nature. Look at what the Europeans are doing: letting in thousands of refugees from Syria and other Islamic countries. Once those refugees get settled, sleeper cells will be established and they will carry out terrorist attacks. But the west’s Judeo-Christian ethic dictates that we show compassion and help these refugees, many of them fleeing for their lives.<br />
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We hear talk of “the war on terrorism” but are we really fighting against those who seek to dominate us? Have we become so complacent that we no longer have the will to fight, and will we, like ancient Rome, fall to the barbarians at our door? <br />
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Not only should we do what I wrote above, but most importantly we must turn back to the God who has blessed us as a nation. The jihadists are fighting us in the name of their god, so shouldn’t we seek the help of our God? If we don’t return to the faith of our fathers, then I don’t know what will become of us. One thing I do know, and that is, it won’t be pretty.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-40702165436117247692015-10-10T12:51:00.000-04:002015-10-10T12:51:22.445-04:00Armageddon?<i>Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon</i>. Revelation 16:16 (NIV)<br />
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There’s always been an interest in the End Times, especially when there are movies and popular books available that contain fictionalized portrayals of those events. Just like we want to know how we got here, we also have a desire to know how it all will end. I remember back in the 1970s and 1980s that whenever there was trouble in the Middle East, people would say, “Armageddon.” It was sort of a knee-jerk reaction.<br />
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Today, I’m beginning to think that Armageddon may not be too far in the future. Obviously a number of things must happen first according to the Book of Revelation and other apocryphal books of the Bible. Nevertheless, with Russia now involved militarily in Syria, and ISIS a factor, an Armageddon-like battle doesn’t seem so remote any more. We could see the End Times play out in our lifetime. Are you prepared?<br />
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My advice is to grow closer to God by weekly worship, daily prayer, reading your Bible and maybe even attending a Bible study. If you are interested in the End Times, get a book on the subject by a reputable Christian author. Those who have a personal relationship with God have nothing to fear from the End Times. Indeed the End Times will usher in a whole new era, with a new heaven and a new earth. I’m looking forward to it. Are you? Read this description from the Book of Revelation:<br />
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<i>Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,<br />
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“See, the home of God is among mortals.<br />
He will dwell with them;<br />
they will be his peoples, <br />
and God himself will be with them; <br />
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.<br />
Death will be no more;<br />
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,<br />
for the first things have passed away.”</i><br />
Revelation 21:1-4 (NRSV)<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-27765609335475985312015-10-09T17:41:00.001-04:002015-10-09T17:41:22.738-04:00Head for the Hills!There are people who plan for catastrophes by keeping stocks of food and water. They are called survivalists, because they plan to survive any disaster that may result in disruption of the supply chain. There are any number of possible disasters of that nature, such as trucker strikes, massive crop failures, widespread power outages, communications systems shut down, oil shortages, and a host of other calamities. These can be man-made (such as strikes) or natural (such as solar flares disrupting communications and frying electronics over a wide area).<br />
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These risks have been with us for a long time, but there’s a new risk which is difficult to defend against. I’m talking about a cyberattack. As I understand it, the technology exists to disrupt electronic communications, bring down the power grid, and shut down much of the electronic activity of a country. When Russia attacked Georgia a few years back, they shut down Georgia’s electronic communications in a cyberattack.<br />
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I’m not an alarmist, but I think these are real threats. I’m especially worried about North Korea and ISIS. The leadership of North Korea is unstable, and ISIS consists of fanatics. Moreover ISIS is well-funded and is sophisticated when it comes to communications. From what the experts say, the U.S. is woefully unprepared to weather a cyberattack. The world is a dangerous place, with technology allowing countries or movements to do all kinds of damage that was unheard of just a few years ago. <br />
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So what can we do? We can and should pray for our country to be protected from such devastating attacks. Rather than turning our backs on God we should be seeking his protection and drawing closer to him. We should also stock up on non-perishable foods like MREs, freeze dried foods, and canned goods. Rotate your stock because these items only last for a limited time (MREs last about 5 years).<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-6554962499439046152015-09-17T17:21:00.001-04:002015-09-17T17:21:20.056-04:00Greed is not goodIn the 1987 movie “Wall Street” Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas, says in a speech, “The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good.” He goes on to say how greed is a key motivator in business and in life.<br />
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Sorry Gordon, greed is not good. The word “greed” implies excessive desire for money, and often the motivation to accumulate wealth by less than honest means. It implies you gain at the expense of others. <br />
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Greed has been with us since the beginning of time. When it’s mentioned in the Bible, it is usually among a list of sinful behaviors. For example, Jesus says in Mark 7:21-23:<br />
“For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’” (NIV)<br />
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Jesus suggests we get our priorities straight in Luke 12:15:<br />
Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (NIV)<br />
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We are seeing greed today with the increasing gap between the income of management and the income of the workers. The workers are facing increasing costs of benefits (if they even get any) with minimal (if any) increases in their income. Meanwhile, CEOs and other top management get huge bonuses (in addition to obscene salaries and perks) for saving the company money. Such a growing disparity between “rich and poor” is dangerous, meaning it could result in social unrest. Just as bad treatment of the workers led to the union movement over a century ago, there could be some sort of movement resulting from today’s situation.<br />
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I just read an article that stated that companies aren’t doing all they could to prevent data from being stolen by hackers. Why? It costs companies less to clean up after a hack than to invest in better systems and encryption. They don’t care that the costs to the public – economic and emotional – is large and somewhat preventable. Companies are too focused on the bottom line and not being responsible citizens.<br />
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Another big area where greed is at work is in the pharmaceutical industry. Recently the drug companies have been raising prices on many medicines, including ones that have been around for a while, with no apparent justification. Even the generic drug manufacturers are raising their prices. These are no small increases, but very large ones. <br />
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Cost of manufacturing hasn’t grown, so why are these companies raising prices? What is motivating them is nothing more than greed as far as I can tell. What’s infuriating is that these huge increases impact the elderly and those with chronic conditions, the most vulnerable in society. So what happens to these people as a result of the pharmaceutical industry’s greed? They do without drugs they need, the skip doses, they don’t have a good quality of life because they can’t afford decent food, housing, or entertainment. <br />
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What’s going to happen as a result of these price increases? Eventually people are going to rebel and Congress will have to act. The result might be price controls or some other government plan to bring prices more in line with reality. I would hate to see this happen, because government interference could stifle research. But what’s the alternative?<br />
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If the pharmaceutical executives are smart (which is questionable), they’ll roll back prices to more reasonable levels before the government makes them do it. These ridiculously high prices, even by generic manufacturers, are immoral, unethical, and socially unacceptable. Things must change to make them accountable for their pricing and less greedy. <br />
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This goes for other industries, governmental agencies, and quasi-governmental agencies. I’m thinking of the MTA and the Port Authority of NY & NJ (which controls the bridges and tunnels in NYC) I’m thinking of colleges and universities, whose cost increases are beyond obscene. If we want to avoid a marketplace that is loaded with governmental controls, industries had better reduce prices and look out for the benefit of their employees and their customers.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-50366886338413564702015-08-11T15:02:00.002-04:002015-08-11T15:02:30.783-04:00Trump’s AppealWith 16 reasonably qualified candidates vying for the Republican nomination, why is Donald Trump leading in the polls? What is his appeal? What’s going on here?<br />
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I think that the American public is absolutely positively fed up with the politicians in Washington. They have accomplished very little and are more interested in partisan politics than conducting the people’s business. The political system is broken and needs to be fixed. Trump, with all his rhetoric and bluster, claims he’s going to fix the mess. Will he?<br />
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Some of what he’s been saying resonates with people. However, demagogues like Trump can be dangerous. Germany was in bad shape in the 1920s and early 1930s. There was hyperinflation and all kinds of other problems. The Nazi party promised better times ahead if they were elected. In desperation, the electorate gave the Nazi party enough seats in Parliament so that Hitler was made Chancellor.<br />
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We all know what happened, and I don’t think anything like that would happen here – but you never know! We don’t want to elect someone who’s all bluster and no action. On the other hand, we don’t want the same old, tired, and ineffective politicians. Something has to be done to fix our political system, but I don’t think Trump is the answer. So what is the answer?<br />
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I think the answer is, throw the bums out! Why reward is ineffective politicians with two or six more years in power? It’s like rewarding bad behavior with a child. If we turn over Congress enough times hopefully they’ll get the message. We are critical time in our history, with multiple threats from within and without. We need strong leadership bipartisan cooperation, or we might end up going the way of the Roman Empire. The barbarians are the door!<br />
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Donald Trump will end up being a sideshow in this election and will eventually fade away. As it gets closer to the primaries and eventually the election in next November, people will get serious about whom they vote for. I pray we get true leadership, both with the new president and a mostly new Congress.<br />
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I also suggest that we all pray for our country, especially its leaders at all levels of government. Prayer is especially important as we drift away from our Judeo Christian tradition and our culture becomes more and more trashy.<br />
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God bless America!<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-13485449190515752862015-06-23T14:35:00.001-04:002015-06-23T14:35:31.716-04:00Where We Fall ShortThere are a number of areas where the US falls short. I want to focus on two areas which we as a country aren’t doing very well, with the result of higher crime and lower quality of life. Those two areas are, care for the mentally ill and not getting career criminals off the streets for good. <br />
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<b>Lack of Care for the Mentally Ill</b><br />
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Some years ago, I believe in the 1960s, someone decided that the mentally ill have certain “rights,” and they should be allowed to make choices and shouldn’t be put into mental hospitals. As a result, the mental hospitals were emptied, and these people were let loose, often to fend for themselves. Many ended up homeless, some commit crimes like pushing people off subway platforms or stabbing someone randomly, and some end up in group homes. Sadly, some get themselves a gun and shoot up a school, movie theater, church, or synagogue.<br />
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While the mentally ill should not be mistreated, the question becomes what “rights” should they have. Many of the mentally ill are incapable for making rational decisions, so it is not appropriate to give them certain decision-making rights. I don’t think they should have the right to refuse to take the medications prescribed for them if that medication calms them down or relieves their symptoms, or makes them less prone to violence. I believe they should have a right to proper care and treatment, which means bringing back the mental hospitals, but with proper oversight so abuse does not occur. A compassionate society not only takes care of its mentally ill but protects its citizens from violent acts by the deranged.<br />
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There should be a national database of mentally ill people made available to gun shops so they won’t sell a gun to someone who is mentally unstable. Some may say this is an invasion of privacy and a violation of HIPAA, yet we need to protect our citizens from acts of violence done by deranged people. Unfortunately some mentally ill people manage to get a gun from a careless gun owner, like a father who doesn’t secure his guns properly. Or a mother who goes to the firing range with her mentally ill son and teaches him how to shoot.<br />
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<b>Career Criminals Roaming the Streets</b><br />
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We have revolving door justice system in which repeat offenders get arrested, cop a plea, do some jail time, and are released back to the streets where they will commit more crimes. Eventually some of them kill someone or cause serious bodily harm. I see on the news a report of a serious crime, and it’s reported that the perpetrator has a long “rap sheet.” What’s he still doing on the streets? Don’t law-abiding citizens have a right to be safe and not put in danger by career criminals?<br />
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It’s obvious that these career criminals aren’t going to change their ways. Their times in jail haven’t rehabilitated them, and they are a menace to society. They should be locked up for an extended period of time because I believe our citizens have a right to be safe from criminals wandering the streets looking for their next victim.<br />
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This may necessitate the building of more prisons, which is costly, yet the cost to society of the crimes these guys commit is even higher. It would be nice if the states would teach these inmates a skill, and perhaps they could then receive an early release if they show a willingness to go straight and get a job. Again, there would be a cost to train these inmates, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. How about some restorative justice for those who show a willingness to turn their lives around?<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-24852319725255159792015-06-22T19:56:00.000-04:002015-06-22T19:56:15.439-04:00Thoughts After the Shooting in CharlestonAfter the shooting in Charleston, some are saying we haven’t made much progress in the area of race relations. Have we made progress? Let’s take a look at some facts and see where they lead us. Let’s also look are areas where we could be doing better.<br />
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I believe we have made significant progress in the area of race relations since the 1960s. There are many more opportunities open to minorities than back in the 1960s. Also the younger generations mix white and black in their circle of friends and think nothing of it.<br />
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<b>If there are so many opportunities, why is the unemployment rate so high for young black males?</b><br />
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The unemployment rate is so high because some black males drop out of school, some don’t receive training for marketable skills. What education they do get is often inferior. Some opt to make a living selling drugs, and some are drug users and aren’t interested in getting a job.<br />
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<b>What can the black community do?</b><br />
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The black community must do a better job bringing up its children. Children need an involved father, involved uncles, etc. Moreover attitudes must change. Successful blacks are sometimes referred to derisively as an Oreo (black on the outside, white on the inside). No more Oreos! Success should be rewarded by the community, not put down. Children should be told to look up to and emulate the successful college graduate, the black lawyer or doctor, and not to look up to the drug pusher or gang chief.<br />
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<b>What can the rest of us do?</b><br />
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States must help their struggling cities to revitalize. This involves investing in a quality education for inner city kids, including everything from trade schools to AP courses in high school. As the cities begin to cultivate a quality workforce, government at all levels should give incentives to attract businesses to the cities. As employment opportunities grow in number, tax revenues increase and pretty soon the cities are prosperous once again.<br />
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Let’s bring back our jobs from China and give them to our people!<br />
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One thing that must also be done to revitalize the inner cities is to take a hard line against crime. If the place is a war zone, you’re not going to attract industry no matter what incentives you provide. The better educated and skilled workers will leave, seeking employment elsewhere, where it is safer.<br />
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There are entirely too many gang members controlling the streets of our cities. There are too many stray bullets hitting children and bystanders. Career criminals (those with a long “rap sheet”) are not being rehabilitated by their frequent visits to prison. They should be put away either for life or for a very long time. I suspect they commit most of the crimes, they aren’t repentant, and they shouldn’t be out in the streets. Yet revolving door courts do just that: put them back out after a slap on the wrist.<br />
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To summarize, to improve the lot of minorities, especially blacks, their own communities can do some things, especially in the area of child rearing. Local and state governments can work to revitalize our cities, which can include rebuilding our aging infrastructure (thus creating jobs). Improving education is a key component. Federal, state, and local governments can offer incentives (as well as a well-trained and skilled workforce) for companies to bring their businesses to your cities. The cities and the black community must be united in their resolve to rid the cities of crime. Many more black men are killed by black men than by the police or white people. If crime isn’t brought down, none of these other steps will do much good, our cities will continue to be urban jungles, and black unemployment will remain high. <br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-84239302694863030892015-06-19T16:24:00.000-04:002015-06-19T16:24:16.067-04:00Deja VueI feel like I’ve entered a time warp, and we aren’t in 2015 anymore but back in the 1960s. We’ve had riots in the streets (in Ferguson and Baltimore). We’ve had a racially-motivated killing of 9 people in a church in Charleston, reminding us of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1963. It’s enough to make you think we’ve made very little progress in this country in the area of race relations. Hearing of this senseless shooting and mass murder, our emotions ran from outrage to frustration to despair – how can this be happening 50 years later?<br />
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Race relations is a complex and emotionally-charged subject, and goes well beyond the scope of this blog. Nevertheless I’d like to share a few thoughts that you may, or may not, agree with, but at least I’m giving you something to think about.<br />
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<b>Isolated Incident</b><br />
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Like many of the school shootings we’ve experienced over the past 15years or so, this church mass murder in Charleston was the work of a single deranged person. The shooter doesn’t represent a broad consensus, so I don’t believe we can interpret this shooting as something that has been widely supported. We are always going to have mentally disturbed people with guns out there, and we are always going to have extreme bigots. So mass murders will continue to happen, hopefully with much less frequency.<br />
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While race was certainly a factor in this terrible crime, that doesn’t mean there are many others just waiting to shoot or otherwise harm minorities. Despite a person’s dislike for a particular group, most are not going to engage in mass killings.<br />
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<b>Was this shooting a Hate Crime?</b><br />
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I’m not familiar with the provisions of the Hate Crime laws, but the message the shooter gave to the woman he spared leaves no doubt that he wanted to kill black people because of what he perceives they are doing to this country.<br />
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As far as I’m concerned, I really don’t care whether it’s a “hate crime” or not. He murdered 9 people in cold blood, and that’s enough for me. He should receive the death penalty.<br />
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<b>Violent Society</b><br />
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Why do we have all these school and other shootings in the US, but such violence is rare in other industrialized countries?<br />
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Sadly we are a violent society. We have gang wars, armed robberies, muggings, violence against women, and a host of other violent acts with much greater frequency than other industrialized nation. <br />
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Our country was formed out of the violence of the Revolutionary War, the Union was preserved by the violence of the Civil War, and we settled the West using the violence of fighting the Indians. Our mentality is often “might makes right” and we may turn to violent acts to get our way or make a statement. For example, anti-war or calls for justice demonstrations can turn violent. You can’t legitimately call for peace and justice while you are burning and looting.<br />
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As our society continues to deteriorate and drifts further away from the Judeo-Christian ethic, there will be less respect for people, more prejudice, and probably more violence. If the people don’t have a moral compass, there’s anarchy. We need to change hearts.<br />
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<b>How do you change people’s hearts?</b><br />
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I believe there is only one way that is most effective, and that is to have a personal relationship with God, and learn the Bible so you understand biblical principles (many of which tell us how to behave). Becoming a Christian or getting in touch with your Jewish roots point you in the right direction concerning how you view others (made in God’s image), ourselves, and God.<br />
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Political correctness won’t do it. Only God can change your heart. We become transformed people when we follow Christ. The sooner this country turns back to the faith of our fathers, the sooner society will improve and the violence is diminished.<br />
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<b>Lastly, is the wide availability of guns responsible for this carnage?</b><br />
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When President Obama made a televised statement on the shooting in Charleston, he let an opportunity go by to say something meaningful. Instead, he dredged up gun control as the best way to reduce the killings. Certainly gun control has its place, and closing the loopholes in the current laws will go far in keeping guns out of the hands of deranged individuals.<br />
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However, if a person is determined to commit murder, there are knives and other means of killing. So gun control goes only so far. What his country needs is a change of heart and better care and monitoring of the mentally ill.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-90524027993264934372015-03-06T15:01:00.002-05:002015-03-06T15:01:42.534-05:00Spiritual Warfare Part 2In an earlier post I wrote about Spiritual Warfare. Historically we have seen struggles which were clearly seen to be good versus evil. I believe there was a spiritual component to them.<br />
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(1) Wars, WWII<br />
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While nobody likes war, sometimes it becomes necessary for a nation to defend itself from aggressors. Typically the aggressors are considered evil because they are attacking innocent people, trying to grab more territory, destroying cities and villages, and are generally up to no good. Probably the best examples of evil aggressors were the Nazis and Japanese in World War II. They made their leaders into gods, rather than worship the true God. So I believe WWII was definitely a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil.<br />
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(2) Idol worship<br />
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Another struggle is against the “gods” of this world, such as materialism, accumulation of wealth, career, success, etc. There’s nothing wrong with any of these until we make them into idols. When these things dominate our lives and are more important than God, then they become idols. That’s the constant spiritual struggle we face.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750359271927765026.post-87842752491397548692015-03-05T10:56:00.002-05:002015-03-05T10:56:56.863-05:00Spiritual Warfare Part 1Occasionally you might hear a Christian you know use the term “spiritual warfare.” In Christianity there’s the concept of “spiritual warfare” which refers generally to the struggle between good and evil. Those with a biblical worldview see personal as well as global events through the lens of the Bible. I’d like to explain “spiritual warfare” so you understand where your Christian friend or co-worker is coming from when he or she uses that term. The Apostle Paul describes the struggle we all face in Ephesians 6:10-12 in the New Testament:<br />
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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (NRSV)<br />
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We see God involved in our struggles in many places in the Bible.<br />
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In 1 Samuel 17:46 David said the following to Goliath:<br />
“…for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.” (NRSV)<br />
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In 2 Chronicles 20:15 God says the battle is his:<br />
Thus says the Lord to you: “Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s”. (NRSV)<br />
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Part of our spiritual battle has to do with temptation. Speaking about temptation, 1 Peter 5:8 warns:<br />
Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. (NRSV)<br />
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Christians believe that many of the struggles in this world have a spiritual component. Let’s look at an external struggle and an internal one to get an understanding of the spiritual aspect of each.<br />
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(1) Extremism and terrorism<br />
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Whether we like it or not, I believe the struggle against Islamic extremism has a spiritual component. What makes it a spiritual battle is the fact that these radicals are evil by any religion’s definition. Secondly, they are killing people under the banner of their religion. While most Muslims are content to live their lives in peace, aggressors like ISIS kill even their fellow Muslims.<br />
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Thirdly the battle against radicals, extremists, and terrorists is a spiritual battle because of their desire to wipe other religions off the face of the earth. If they had their way, there would be forced conversions, mass executions for those who refuse, and everybody would be subject to harsh Sharia law.<br />
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By the way, calling these radicals “fundamentalists” is wrong and misleading. The term originated in Christianity to identify those who rejected liberal theology and wanted a return to the “fundamentals” of Christianity. These Islamic radicals aren’t concerned about the purity of their beliefs. Moreover, they don’t even obey their religion’s scriptures, which forbid killing of civilians and harsh treatment of “People of the Book” (Sura 2:62; 5:69). They want an Islamic society but don’t seem to want to follow the teachings of their holy scriptures.<br />
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(2) Temptation to sin<br />
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Interestingly, Islam recognizes the struggle that takes place within a person. One meaning of the word jihad is the struggle within the believer between good vs. evil. Christians also understand that life is constant battle against temptation and the lure of the things of this world which can separate us from God. That is the heart of spiritual warfare.<br />
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Now when you hear somebody talk about “spiritual warfare” you’ll know where the person is coming from.<br />
Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03985225878567748380noreply@blogger.com0