Friday, January 27, 2006

Just deserts

The huge Hamas win was helped by two entities. One was Fatah who has done nothing to help the Palestinian people, only themselves. The other was the Israelis. The treatment of the Palestinians by the Israelis is not unlike the treatment of Jews by the Nazis.

Saturday, January 14, 2006

They're at it again!

When the right-wingers can't defend a their position with a logical, cogent argument, they go for the ad hominem attack. Hey, it worked against the Democrats' cigar-store Indian John Kerry. Now the right-wingers are going after Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who served in combat in Vietnam. A right-wing web site is now questioning the circumstances surrounding the awarding of Rep. Murtha's two Purple Hearts. [See The Washington Post, 14 Jan 2006] My question is has David Thibault served in combat? Of course the attack on Rep. Murtha may cause a buzz for a while. It doesn't matter if it's inaccurate. Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Re: the chaplain

Very well stated by Sara Horn at her blog A Greater Freedom.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Let's twist (the truth) like we did last summer

I've been watching the issue of Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt with great interest. I am deeply saddened by media and bloggers who don't take the time or effort to investigate what the truth may be. We have torrents of information spewed at us but not necessarily a drop of fact.

And I'm just as guilty for I accused a blogger of removing my post on her blog. She explained she did not; but she does moderate the postings and mine hadn't been posted as yet. I apologize to her and to readers (?) of this blog.

However that does not change the basic issue. The chaplain said “I’m facing being kicked out because I pray in Jesus’ name.” That is not true. Navy spokesman Lt. William Marks said Friday (Jan. 6) that Chaplain Klingenschmitt had been granted an indefinite extension because he had provided the appropriate “proof of continued or renewed ecclesiastical endorsement.” (Chaplains have to be recommended by their denomination.) Lt. Marks also said Chaplain Klingenschmitt twice had been orally notified of the extension in December, and a written notice of the extension was mailed to him Dec. 22.

Lt. Marks had told the publication Stars & Stripes in December that Chaplain Klingenschmitt (was) still an active-duty sailor in good standing, has no disciplinary action pending, and has not received any punishment for language used in public forums.

This last point is very important. Chaplain Klingenschmitt says he cannot pray in Jesus' name in public while in uniform. Again, not so. But you need to understand what "public" means. If a chaplain has been asked to deliver the invocation or benediction at a commissioning ceremony or a change of command, the Covenant and Code of Ethics of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces says "When conducting services of worship that include persons of other than my religious body, I will draw upon those beliefs, principles, and practices that we have in common." If the chaplain feels uncomfortable with that, he or she can decline that invitation. But if the chaplain is conducting a service for his or her denomination, Title 10, United States Code, applies.