Diane Rehm's show this morning had a very informative thought - provoking hour discussing the history of religious intolerance in this country. Sadly, what we are seeing directed at the Muslim community these days is nothing new, and the vitriol hasn't always been directed toward Muslims. I'm feeling like President Reagan's "shining city on a hill" is the shine from the light of an oncoming train. Here's to all of us endeavoring to be more patient, thoughtful, understanding, compassionate, and mindful of each other's basic humanity.
Let's move onto "this day in history." On this date in 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. Who would've thunk that the hips on a guy from Tupelo, MS would cause such a broo - haha! ;D
On this date exactly 1 year ago, political discourse took a new high in low when Rep. Joe Wilson (Bat$hit - SC) shouted "You lie!" during President Barack Obama's speech to Congress on health care. His campaign coffers sadly saw an upswing after his little shout - out. I don't supposed there's any chance of him losing in November, is there?
Finally, on a fun note, Adam Sandler is 44 today! Let's laugh! :D
Let's Countdown; invite your favorite "lunch lady" if you want! ;D
"Breaking News: NBC – Florida Pastor Back to ‘Praying’ Over Quran – Burning" AKA "After Canceling Quran – Burning, Pastor Tells NBC – ‘Back to Square One’" AKA "NYC Imam Denies Moving Center to Get Pastor to Stop Quran – Burning" - So, Rev. Jones somehow got it into his reptilian little brain that a deal had been made to move the Park 51 community center, so he decided to "suspend" the Koran bonfire?! Good grief, that man is ill; he needs to be on meds – in all seriousness.
President Obama via GMA appealed to Rev. Jones to not pull his little stunt. I’d also heard at some point this afternoon that Rev. Jones would be willing to cancel Saturday if President Obama called him. Hell, if that’s all it takes, call the mother sparker up & reverse the charges! SOD Gates DID call Rev. Jones; only God will suffice. A meeting has apparently been arranged between Rev. Jones & the Imam in charge of the proposed Park 51 community center. He thinks this meeting – if it’s really happening – means the center is being moved. HOWEVER, other Park 51 people said no deal has been made. Good sparkin’ grief...I didn’t think this situation could get any worse, but, by golly, it has. If the Park 51 center does end up moving because of this xenophobic "man of God," I will absolutely retch.
Here’s Imam Muhammad Musri from the Islamic Society of Central Florida; he’s saying a meeting between him, Rev. Jones, and the Park 51 Imam had been arranged. They will meet if the burning doesn’t occur on Saturday. The Florida Imam would like for the Park 51 center to be moved, but he won’t advocate or push a position on the Park 51 people. Have other Islamic leaders in this country or around the world expressed willingness or a desire for the proposed Park 51 center to be moved? Way to go, Keith, for asking the question about equating moving the Park 51 center to Saturday’s planned activities! The Imam from FL claims he did not make that connection; only Rev. Jones did. Imam Musri made clear that his personal preference would be for the Park 51 center to be moved. He’s expecting no Korans to be burned on Saturday; don’t hold your breath on that score. Here’s Michael Eric Dyson. He looks a little confused, too, but not hopeful that Saturday will be cancelled. He correctly called what Rev. Jones is planning terrorism – THANK YOU! Senator McCentury finally spoke out today about what might go on Saturday? Well, better late than never (?). Mr. Dyson really hopes the Park 51 center won’t be moved to placate this "man of God."
"Faiz Shakir Spoke to the Wife of the Park 51 Imam" - Absolutely no plans have been made to move the Park 51 center, and no meeting has been scheduled specifically for Saturday. Mr. Shakir thinks Rev. Jones felt cornered by SOD Gates’ phone call; he’d planned this shameful display long before the Park 51 stuff ever made the news. That’s a good point! Leaflets have been dispersed to personnel in Afghanistan threatening death & violence. Travel warnings to Americans planning to go abroad have been issued. The leaflets are also inciting local residents to violence against American personnel. Craig Wattson’s son, Parker, is serving in Afghanistan; his son is in the area where the leaflets were dispersed. Tensions are already high in the area in which Parker is serving; Koran burning in FL won’t help relieve those tensions at all. Oh Mr. Wattson, extremists of any stripe are not "reasonable." That’s why they are extremists.
** I haven’t had a chance to watch Keith with Dave from last night yet! So, no spoilers, and I won’t be blogging about this! ;D Look at all the empty seats at that Oakland A’s game. Do they really suck this year or something? **
"State Secrets Decision" - The lawsuit against the company that jetted someone outside of the United States to be tortured by the CIA has been thrown out. Let the renditions resume! *&^%$#@! Professor Jonathan Turley will just LOVE this decision. The government isn’t disputing the facts. How sick is that?
SCOTUS may or may not end up hearing this case. They’ve actually avoided any cases of this nature. Gee, what a shock – NOT! Countries where people have been taken have released documents about the activities that went on in their nations – no "states secret national security" issues there. Here? In this country? With a non – GWB administration?! Well... *&^%$#@! Professor Turley made a faboo point. DICK & his ilk are out bragging about what they did, but when the victims of what they did try to get a little legal relief, they are silenced. How sparked up is that??!! GGGgggggRRRrrrr.....
"In the Beginning" AKA "Grand Design" - Pope John Paul II gave something to Stephen Hawking at some cosmology conference at the Vatican:
It’s OK to study the universe and where it began. But we should not inquire into the beginning itself because that was the moment of creation and the work of God.
Huh?! Guess what? Well, maybe "God" wasn’t necessary after all. Oh boy...here’s another can of worms to be opened up. From the book by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow,
As recent advances in cosmology suggest, the laws of gravity and quantum theory allow universes to appear spontaneously from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.
Uh Keith, couldn’t this segment have waited until next week or so after all the 9/11 remembrances & potential Koran burnings in FL were over with? We have enough "people" doing & saying bat$hit things in the name of God these days. This segment won’t help AT ALL. Religious leaders are having a cow; file this revelation under "No $hit, Sherlock!" Here is Leonard Mlodinow, who’s claiming to not know everything & doesn’t make any claims of God’s existence or non – existence in the book. Again, Keith, I gotta take issue with your timing on this story – sorry. OK, most of this stuff is way over my head; there’s a reason why I never took physics & why math is Satan’s spawn! Stephen Hawking will always get a benefit of the doubt from me because he consented to be a voice on The Simpsons! :D