Hilary Clinton is an Old Woman

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-clinton-raps-benghazi-critics-084552064–politics.html

It is time for those of us, and I too am 65, to give over and let the younger generation have a time at bat. This is why I am appalled by those who want to run Hilary Clinton in 2016. By then she will be 70 and frankly, although I too, do not think of myself as old, nonetheless, she and I are old, and it is time to give over the world to our children.

Regarding Benghazi, it seems to me that she should just move on and be a grandmother. Her last grandstand is merely a revenge tactic against fellow citizens who do not agree with her view of what happened and what we can do about it. She is merely trying to focus attention upon her critics and not upon the facts. And this is doubly egregious since her whole speech is about the real world and the facts. Yet, she is spinning about others and ignoring the false information from President Obama about the video, and the false talking points from some bogey man in the CIA, and the false statements on national television by the USA UN ambassador, and the weeks of administration insistence upon the video and the mob.

Mrs. Clinton lashes out at others as being not realistic, while she and the Obama administration attempted to blind fold the American public to the facts of Benghazi and her own and President Obama’s failure to treat the attack realistically. She, and Obama, and the joint chiefs and the CIA and the FBI were all watching the events as they were happening. It is the same as watching a person on a public street being attacked by a gang of four knife wielding crooks and doing nothing about it. Because that is what she and President Obama did, they watched it happen, did nothing about it and went to bed as our citizens were tortured and brutally murdered at our embassy in Libya.

Mrs. Clinton should not be allowed to escape the verdict of the people that she and President Obama failed, and that they covered up by lying to the Press and the American people. Both she and all involved should not be allowed to turn the tables on her accusers. She and President Obama were in charge, our military was at the ready and it was Mrs. Clinton and President Obama who failed to grasp the gravity of the real life situation and instead waited for some kind of magical solution as they watched our citizens die in Benghazi.

This writer is not a Clinton hater and I know that many admire Mrs. Clinton for standing by her man during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Nonetheless, Benghazi is something that we cannot ignore in an attempt to “honor” a spurned wife. Some would ask why I bring up the impeachment over the Lewinsky scandal. Some would ask why I bring up Mrs. Clinton’s own evaluation and scathing criticism of Obama when she was running against him. I do it because history is real and no amount of good intentions or fervor in favor of a particular person should blind us to the facts. In fact, Mrs. Clinton’s parting speech says the same thing. However, she wants to apply the rules to others but not to herself. Well, friends, that is not real.

Syria and Terrorists

The terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra does not differ ideologically from other Syrian Salafi Islamist groups like Ahrar al-Sham and Liwa al-Tawhid. In the end what they want is to establish an Islamic State. Since November 2011 the group has claimed responsibility for “nearly 600 terrorist attacks, killing and wounding hundreds of Syrians

Like Jabhat al-Nusra, a number of other Islamist groups also want to install an Islamic state in Syria, while even secular rebel units increasingly speak in ugly sectarian terms that demonize minorities, particularly members of Assad’s Alawite sect and the Christian minorities.

I am not with the regime but I am against their enemies because they are worse than then them! I pray for the safety of all innocent lives in Syria, especially the Christian minorities that are now being targeted by these radical Islamist groups.

Palestine and Israel are a Real Tragedy for People

http://news.yahoo.com/abbas-asks-israel-let-palestinians-fleeing-syria-211524805.html

The key here is that Palestine did not accept the fleeing refugees. Instead their Palestinian brothers, (so-called) used them as human hostages against Israel. The so-called “Right of Return” was a key element in the Zionist claim to get back the land of ancient Israel against the Palestinians. So Abbas knew what he was doing and he dropped the request of asylum when Israel recognized the ploy and denied the request. Sadly, the downtrodden and homeless Palestinians are the hapless pawns in this mid eastern game of politics.

Putin’s Policu On Mid East Better than Obama’s

http://news.yahoo.com/russias-vladimir-putin-says-west-fomenting-jihadi-blowback-173800021.html

President Obama should get outside his Muslim childhood and hear the real call of Islam which is a called to radicalism, terrorism, and Jihad. All of these are against democracy and freedom. Instead they are religious, medieval, and tyrannical. It is very surprising that V. Putin, a former KGB agent but for the second time, the President of Russia, should see the world with more clarity and realism than B. Obama. Yes, you can throw the relative state of freedom and democracy in Russia against me. Nonetheless, Putin’s realistic and politically incorrect assessment of the Terrorist Islamic movement in Mid East, is accurate and should be given a lot of attention.

Christianity Promotes Science not Prevents it!!

An Answer to those who perpetuate the lie that religion and in particular, Christianity, are anti science.

Ace I will not answer such silliness except to say, read your history and realize that learning was carried over from Greek and Romans by the Christian monasteries, to include languages and mathematics. geology, archeology,botany, astronomy, etc. Second, Almost all major Universities in Europe, Asia, Africa, USA, indeed the world were founded by devout Christians, many of them Priests, Pastors or Evangelists. Third, the great scientists of the early discoveries were Christian monks, Pastors or Scholars to include Gregor Mendel the father of modern botany and plant genetics, Newton, the father of modern physics, Kepler and myriad others. The great hospitals and institutions of charity were founded by Christians to include the more secular ones such as the Red Cross, Boy and Girl scouts. The great abolitionists were Christians, as well as the Woman suffrage leaders. Note that the Civil rights movement was led by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King and the Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy, and the Rev. Fathers Berrigan were stanch anti-war protesters. So, Ace, please read your history, get enlightened and realize that you are merely repeating parrot like the mantra of ignorant anti religion and anti Christian bigots and those who promote anti religion intolerance.

Catholic Colleges and Bishops

http://ncronline.org/news/theology/bishops-colleges-find-good-collaboration-ex-corde-review

This writer attended several Christian affiliated colleges. Many times I asked myself if the school I attended was Christian in any sense other than an active Chapel life. It seemed that the philosophy, theology, ethics and morality of Christianity had no interaction with classroom presentations. Once a student left the Chapel, it was exactly like every other secular based school.

During the Pontificate of John Paul II the relationship of Roman Catholic colleges and universities was highlighted by two events. This author is presenting this from memory so minor details may be missing but the gist is the same.

Hans Kung is the name. A Roman Catholic priest, writer, theologian and holder of the official chair of Theology at a German university, Father Kung wrote several items that were called into question by the official teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church. He was required to clarify his positions and eventually, his explanations of what he taught were not judged adequate by the official Roman Catholic teaching authority. The case was refered to Pope John Paul II, who after review, decided that Father Kung could not accurately and sufficiently represent the official Roman Catholic theology on subjects under his purview. He was required by his bishop to relinquish the official chair of Roman Catholic theology. Father Kung was not forbidden to publish his thoughts. He was not stripped of his priesthood. He was not accused as a heretic. The narrow, and in this writers opinion, correct judgement, was that which was stated above. Father Kung was judged to be not sufficiently committed to official Roman Catholic teaching for him to remain the official teacher of that position at a university.

The second is similar but involves an entire university, namely, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. The Pope warned Notre Dame and other official Roman Catholic Universities that they could not have it both ways. Namely, the university could not teach, promulgate, or promote distinctly unchristian or antichristian positions and remain an official university of the Church. Please note, that his Holiness John Paul II did not say that presentations of other than Christian philosophies, theologies, ethics, morals or whatever, could not be treated at such a university. What was required was a distinctly Roman Catholic analysis, critique and answer to those presentations which a reasonable Christian would regard as not in keeping with the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. Also note, that the Pope did not require the school to stop academic freedom, however, if the school wanted to adopt, teach, promulgate and promote distinctly unchristian or antichristian positions, it should give up its affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church and become just another secular institution.

Considering that so many of our finest American Universities, such as Yale and Harvard and just about all the ivy league schools were founded by Christians and supported throughout their founding years by the Christian Church. And considering that if we were to look at the founding documents and charters of these school, the founders intended for the schools to teach, promulgate, and promote the distinct teachings of the Christian Church. It is a sad commentary on academic fraud that these very schools attack, degrade, and dismiss Christianity and Christian philosophy, world view, ethics, morals and theology and even personal worship as not even to be tolerated.

It would be delightful and I think a meaningful exercise for all Christian denominations to begin dialog with colleges and universities that claim affiliation with the Church. Since, it is my belief that most of these institutions do not subscribe in any meaningful way to the teachings of the denominations to which they claim affiliation, they should voluntarily give up that affiliation and declare themselves purely secular schools. By the way, any specifically Church owned property, endowments, Teaching Chairs, fellowships, etc. should be returned to the founders. If such things as property, and the like cannot practically be returned, a monetary amount should be appraised and the school pay that amount to the Church. Of course, it would be hoped that the schools could reform themselves along the lines by which they were founded. Although, this writer holds out little hope for this.

Obama in His Own Words

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28 As I view this video I am concerned at why this information has been suppressed. Oh, Yes, I am able to get it on the Tube (at least for now) but it is not broadcast and this part of President Obama’s story has successfully be covered up. There is so much about the President that we do not know and this very troubling video indicates that his real agenda is much more influenced by “…my Islamic faith…” than it is by his love for America. At times, as I listened, I wondered if he had anything good to say about anybody other than Moslems and Islam. It would seem that Mr. Obama sees it as his duty to promote, extend and defend the religion of Islam as being, “…from the beginning of our nation…” a vital part of the development of Democracy and the Constitution. Is this some kind of academic dribble from Harvard? It may be it is that because the Harvard of today, founded and funded for two hundred years by Christian Congregationalists is already divided between the secular anti Christian University and the modernist revisionist liberal protestant Theological School. I would not be surprised if a student of the secular Harvard was taught that Islam and Moslems were as important, or even more important for the founding of Western European civilization and the same for the founding of the USA than our Judaeo Christian founders. At any rate, this is must watching for anyone who wants to know about President Obama in his own words. Yes, this is an edited video but the portions shown cannot be ignored or excused by a claim against the editors. After all, the words are Obama’s words and no one else’s. Judge for yourself, dare to watch the video. Is Obama lying to us about everything? For ther Bush haters, just remember how you regarded President Bush and ask if your judgements are not duplicitous?

What About Hassan Nidal?

http://news.yahoo.com/awol-muslim-soldier-guilty-fort-hood-bomb-plot-205502556.html Noteworthy here is the relative swiftness of the indictment, trial and judgement. However, as is clear, although there was a serious possibility of harm to people, it was a plan and no one was killed. However, Hassan Nidal killed 13 soldiers in cold blood as they were deploying. He was himself shot and treated and is still being treated at tax payer expense while the families of the dead soldier have only their grief. The murders by Nidal were on video tape and any jury can see him actually walk up to soldiers and murder them. But what has happened? He has not gone to trial and I cannot understand why?

Christians Helping Peace in Syria

» 03/16/2012 23:50 VATICAN – SYRIA Vatican Nunzio: For the Church in Syria it is time to go on the offensive and not stand and watch by Bernardo Cervellera In an interview with AsiaNews, Mgr. Mario Zenari, for the past three years nunzio in Damascus, described all the elements that make up the tangled skein of Syria. The deep division between Sunnis and Alawites (Shiites) and the growing hatred. The too fearful Christians must commit themselves to building a society where there is respect for man and his rights, equality for women, equality among all citizens, freedom of religion and of conscience. Being in Syria is a mission. At Homs a priest talks with the rebels and with the army to provide aid to the poor, to save the lives of the inhabitants, to bury the dead that nobody wants to touch. In a year of violence at least 800-900 children have been killed. The majority were shot in the streets by unknown snipers. Syria is changing and there’s no turning back.

Damascus (AsiaNews) – “This is the Christians’ hour”; there has begun “a new historical process in Syria” from which it will never turn back and “Christians cannot miss this rendezvous with history”: Msgr. Mario Zenari, for three years now the Vatican nuncio in Damascus, speaks almost excitedly as he recalls the Christians’ missionary efforts of Christians, which is to be “like sheep among wolves”, but with an identity and a task. Precisely because in Syria the gap between the different components of society is widening more and more, he sees an urgent need for Christians to come out into society and build bridges of reconciliation, defending the values typical of the Church’s social doctrine: human dignity, rejection of violence, equality between men and women, fundamental freedoms, freedom of conscience and religion, the separation between religion and state. “It is urgent”, he said, “to go out into the open, on the attack, and not to sit back and watch.” Mgr. Zenari, 66, tells stories of ordinary heroism of some priests who have remained in Homs during this months’ bombing and violence. While sharing in the mourning for the tragedy of the Belgian children killed in a car accident in Switzerland, he reminds us that in Syria 800-900 children have already been killed, mostly shot “in the head and the heart” by strangers: “Their murder is an atrocity” and it is necessary that the international community ensure “justice for these children.” Here is the full interview which Mgr. Zenari gave via telephone to AsiaNews.

Your Excellency, what is it like is to be in Syria at this moment?

My heart is sad. This is the fourth spring that I’ve lived in Damascus and this year I still haven’t seen spring arrive. They’re expecting the fruits of Kofi Annan’s mission, but there are fears that the parties will say “Yes, but …”, where the “but” is more important than the “yes”. Instead it is urgent that both parties make a tremendous effort. The distances between them have become huge and are widening every day. For this reason it’s necessary for both parties to jump through hoops to rebuild the dialogue. A reversal is necessary, a conversion… The climate is so deteriorated that a fair amount of heroism is needed, perhaps a bit more from one particular side. Hopefully the help of the international community will bear fruit, so it will make them make great gestures, but it’s a bit difficult.

Before, the international community accused only the regular army. Now Annan has called for an end to the violence from both sides; Britain hopes for a peaceful solution; France is doubtful about sending weapons to the rebels…

Yes, this is true. The request has to come from 360 degrees, from all sides. Maybe at the beginning the media exaggerated about only one of the sides. But both parties are called upon to make gestures of goodwill and put an end to violence. At first, perhaps driven by enthusiasm for the Arab spring in other regions, the riots were seen in a very idealistic manner; and then going forward, we saw many other aspects come into play. To date, Syria is a tangled skein, and there are many elements to watch.

Could you list these elements?

Initially there were demonstrations for more democracy, more respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, with peaceful demonstrations that were suppressed. But then so many factors were added: first, the fact that 75% of the society here is composed of Sunnis; then, that it is governed by 12% of the population who are the Alawites. This tension between Sunnis and Alawites today is decisive, without forgetting the other aspects. History will assess how the relationship between Sunnis and Shiites has gone (the Alawites are somehow linked to the Shiite world).

There is also an attempt to internationalize the conflict.

We are neighbors with Iraq, with Israel, with Lebanon; and we’re not far from Iran… and so in Syria ingredients come in from all sides and complicate the mess.

There is a risk that the international community use Syria as a chessboard for its interests: the West, Saudi Arabia and Qatar against Iran; Israel against Hezbollah; Turkey against Syria … But the needs of the Syrian people are forgotten.

There are various readings. There is the simplistic one of the regime which claims that a foreign conspiracy is present. It’s impossible to evaluate fully how much is true and how much is propaganda.

The Syrian Christians, 10% of the population, seem caught in the crossfire.

For me there is a place for Christians and they cannot afford to miss this appointment with this new historical process. There is no doubt that Syria is changing: a new process has begun and there’s no going back. Where should the Christians place themselves? I would answer based on the Psalms, a wisdom that is at least 2500 years old. And one Psalm says: Do not lean on a falling wall [Ps 61 (62), 4]. And neither should a man stand by, gazing out the window. Christians are in society and must roll up their sleeves. In the past there have been faithful who have made a glorious contribution in the field of culture, art, politics: one of the founders of the Baath Party was a Christian. Woe, therefore, if they miss this appointment. What’s more, Christians start off with an advantage. The Pope, a few months ago, at the Syrian ambassador’s presentation of credentials [June 9, 2011], pointed out that there are exemplary relations between Christians and Muslims. The Christians in Syria also have a good elite: cultural figures, academics, lawyers, presidents of hospitals… It’s time to live out our task and make our contribution, reclaiming our dignity and our identity, based on the Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church: human dignity, rejection of violence, equality between men and women, fundamental freedoms, freedom of conscience and religion, the separation between religion and state, etc… It is urgent to go out in the open, on the attack, and not to sit back and watch.

Three years ago I presented my credentials to President Assad. And I was impressed that for following 15 minutes during the personal interview, the president continued to speak of the importance that Christians have for Syrian society. He truly admired the Christian components in the country. In this phase of transformation, one cannot look back and think about some protection from the outside: we must work for a rule of law, in which all citizens are equal, have the same rights and duties.

Another thing I noticed is that at every level Christians serve as a bridge. In many mixed villages, Alawites and Christians live in peace, Sunnis and Christians the same, Druze and Christians live in harmony… In these times, with the conflict, sometimes there has been friction and confrontation, but until now, no church has ever suffered even a scratch. In any case, we Christians can have a function of reconciliation among all the groups living in the country. The idea is going around that the fate of Christians in Syria is likely to be similar to what happened in Iraq. But Syria is not Iraq, and it’s not even Egypt: it has its own characteristics, with a tradition of good tolerance.

The Gospel tells us: I send you out as sheep among wolves. And the wolves are not only in Damascus but also in Frankfurt, New York, London, Paris …. only somewhat more subtle and refined. Being in the midst of wolves is part of our mission and we need not fear. The Gospel also says: “Do not be afraid.”

I have continually before my eyes outstanding examples of this mission. In these days Homs is hell. Everyday I phone three priests who have remained there. As we speak, we hear gunfire because the Christian quarter is between in the crossfire. One of them is remarkable for what he is able to do: he talks to the rebels to halt the violence, asking them permission to let pass the trucks with food aid for the poor. On the other hand, from the other side, he asks the army not to shoot, in order not to hit the neighborhoods where there are still inhabitants, or sacred buildings. And he serves as a bridge, like a sheep among wolves. Several days ago there were the bodies of three soldiers in front of the cathedral. They had been there for 10 days. No one dared to recover them because there was the risk of being killed. So he went to the rebels and asked for clemency for these bodies. The rebels at first were angry, shouting: “What do we care for these pigs?” But he said: “No, after we are dead we are not pigs, we are all equal.” And he managed to get them to listen: they loaded the bodies onto a truck and dumped them onto a piece of road where it was easier for their fellow soldiers to recover them.

The Church can do a lot, on a practical, charitable level, and with our choices, focusing on the defense of the human person, above party lines. We must give attention to the hungry, the wounded, the dead… So many people have been killed and no one knows by whom. We must go out, denounce, give our testimony in favor of the human person.

These days the world has been impressed by the tragedy of that bus that crashed in a tunnel in Switzerland. 22 Belgian children died and the emotion that it aroused is understandable. Here in Syria, until 2 weeks ago, according to the UN there have been 7500 killed, but now we are up to 9500. Of these, at least 500 are children! This means that out of every 15 deaths, one was a child. Some of them died crushed by the rubble caused by bombs, but the majority died in the street and not because they stumbled or fell, no: they were shot in the heart or the head with bullets. I hope that the international community can do something to ensure justice for these children. It is good and fitting to be moved over 22 children, but here there are 800-900 who have died. It is urgent to denounce these crimes. Human life is sacred, that of those who wear the military uniform, like that of the rebels, but even more so that of children. Their murder is an atrocity.

The road Syria is on is long, difficult and painful, like that of a river: it may deviate, go right or left, but it reaches the sea. The Synod for the Middle East prompted the bishops and the faithful to witness to the faith and work together to build the city of man along with the others. The Church must speak its position, meet, comfort, clean up these disfigured faces. Being in this country is a mission.

What can we Catholics do in the rest of the world? The Custody of the Holy Land, for example, has launched a campaign to help the Christians of Syria…

We must begin by thanking you for your generosity and solidarity, which is much needed. I hope that with Caritas and other institutions we can alleviate all the suffering in the country. It is also necessary try to understand the situation of the Christians. It’s one thing is to reason at a table, and another thing to get carried away by sentiment. We must understand even the feelings and listen.

What worries me most is the growing hatred in society. For now it isn’t manifest, but it’s burning. The bullets that the two groups are exchanging are only the tip of the iceberg. We are walking on embers that can ignite at any time. For our part, we Christians witness to charity. It’s the Christians’ moment, we must act and go on the offensive in defense of the human person: it is important not to miss this historic moment.

No Obama Outrage over Islamic Stonings

http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-militia-stone-youths-death-emo-style-171115804.html Granted at the outset that this story deals with the sovereign state of Iraq. Also granted that essentially these murders are none of our business. Lastly, granted that the President of the USA cannot comment upon everything that happens in our world. Yet this story is very shocking because it comes out of Iraq. It is remembered that we lost the lives of several thousand of the best of USA youth in order to secure the freedom of this Moslem Nation. It is also remembered that ten thousand of USA youth were maimed in the war to “free” the Iraqi people. Therefore, to read that this type if Islamo/nazi radicalism is once again prominent in Iraq is disheartening.

Taking all of the above items into consideration, this writer is disappointed that the President of the USA displays a very pro Islamic orientation. He apologizes for an accidental burning of a mere book, namely the Quran. Hey, it is not our problem that Moslems cannot cope with the burning of their scripture. I am a Christian and my church discards dozens of holy Scriptures yearly. The printed books are worn, or weathered, or yellowed or their covers are destroyed. As a Christian, our holy Bible is a book. It is the content and the message of the content that is holy and not the pages on which the words are printed. And while I can accept the President’s statement that he apologized in order to save lives, nonetheless, I do not hear him protesting the incident here described nor do I hear him decrying the continued genocidal bombing by Moslems of Christian churches in Nigeria.

Why is this important? This writer believes that the job of the President of the USA is to uphold the Constitution, to defend the nation against its enemies, foreign and domestic and to extend the interests of the nation worldwide. However, President Obama seems more intent on apologizing for the nation, and taking a defensive position concerning the international interests of USA.