Speaker Pelosi says that contraception will help the economy:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?
PELOSI: Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So no apologies for that?
PELOSI: No apologies. No. we have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy.
(quote at 1:19)
What the liberal media doesn't want you to know is this: she wants to subsidize soylent green with the current stimulus bill.
She proposes that when senior citizens reach 75 years old and enter the hospital for any reason, they will be drafted for soylent green duty.
Behind closed doors, President Obama was asked his opinion. He said, "I don't know when human life ends. It's above my pay grade."
(This is obviously satire.)
30 January 2009
The Wisdom of the Cross
Parts of the First Homily of the New Archbishop of Detroit, Allen Vigneron:
This speaks to me very personally in a strange way. Recently, I have met newly or just-to-be newly married couples that have been asking a bunch of questions about marriage. Specifically, they're asking about how raising kids is going.
My impression (from the myriad of questions and the pattern of questioning) is that they're asking because they're trying to figure out what the pleasure-pain ratio of having children is (is it easy or hard/is it worth it?). In other words, now that marriage has helped my life satisfaction, will children make it even better? Until I'm sure it will, I'll continue to contracept and keep my sweet dogs and cats with the other human sweetness.
When things don't go exactly as planned, when things get out of control, what will happen?
On the other hand, if they have the wisdom of the cross, perhaps they will totally give themselves to the other (and not artificially contracept). If an unexpected blessing (unplanned pregnancy) happens, perhaps they will welcome the preborn human person with open arms.
What is the wisdom of the cross? It's "the true wisdom of the gift of self."
Does any one know what I mean? Perhaps I'm sensing something that's not there? God only knows their hearts.
There are many ways in which this conflict between the true wisdom of the gift of self and the pseudo-wisdom of self-sovereignty are exemplified in our society. I will mention three of those that seem to me among the most lamentable. First, there is the conflict between those who base their decision about a state in life or their selection of a profession on discerning the will of God and those who make these choices on the basis of gaining wealth or security or the world’s esteem. Second, there is the conflict between those who judge it wise always to protect the right to life of others, even at a cost to themselves, and those who would be willing to violate that right, if that is the price to be paid to keep control of the circumstances and conditions in which they have decided to live. Third, there is frequently in our society a conflict between those who make the well-being of their spouses or children the first priority in their lives and those who are convinced that their families exist to bring them self-gratification.
...
And those of you who are parents, please teach this wisdom to your children by what you say, and most of all by the way you live. This wisdom of the cross is the greatest gift you can give those whom you love so dearly.
This speaks to me very personally in a strange way. Recently, I have met newly or just-to-be newly married couples that have been asking a bunch of questions about marriage. Specifically, they're asking about how raising kids is going.
My impression (from the myriad of questions and the pattern of questioning) is that they're asking because they're trying to figure out what the pleasure-pain ratio of having children is (is it easy or hard/is it worth it?). In other words, now that marriage has helped my life satisfaction, will children make it even better? Until I'm sure it will, I'll continue to contracept and keep my sweet dogs and cats with the other human sweetness.
When things don't go exactly as planned, when things get out of control, what will happen?
On the other hand, if they have the wisdom of the cross, perhaps they will totally give themselves to the other (and not artificially contracept). If an unexpected blessing (unplanned pregnancy) happens, perhaps they will welcome the preborn human person with open arms.
What is the wisdom of the cross? It's "the true wisdom of the gift of self."
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13
Does any one know what I mean? Perhaps I'm sensing something that's not there? God only knows their hearts.
23 January 2009
Save the Sheep From the Wolves!
I’ve been reading Human Dignity and Bioethics: Essays Commissioned by the President's Council on Bioethics. In the essay “The Nature and Basis of Human Dignity” by Patrick Lee and Robert P. George, in the footnotes it says,
Of course this military scenario is ridiculous, but why aren’t animal activists (PETA) trying to save Apes from each other’s militant advances in the wild or otherwise? In Spain (lifesitenews.com), the government has already resolved to equate great apes and humans.
If they can call great apes humans, why do they still deem that throwing humans in the trash is perfectly acceptable (moral) and legal (not the same thing)? It makes some people crazy. From lifesitenews.com:
I’m not saying that driving an SUV into a Planned Parenthood like Matthew Derosia did is the answer. We just have to keep up the good fight for the preborn and their mothers like Pastor Luke Robinson is trying to do.
As African American pastor Pastor Luke Robinson from Frederick, Maryland (yes, Maryland; my state that has only one OTAAAC member in the federal Congress) said at this year’s March for Life,
See blackgenocide.org for more on this genocide of African American children.
Save the Sheep From the Wolves? How about saving innocent preborn babies from the Culture of Death led by President Obama and the DNC (Destroys Unborn Children; lifesitenews.com)!
It is worth noting that nonhuman animals themselves not only regularly engage in killing each other, but many of them (lions and tigers, for example) seem to depend for their whole mode of living (and so their flourishing), on hunting and killing other animals. If nonhuman animals really did have full moral rights, however, we would be morally required to stop them from killing each other. Indeed, we would be morally required to invest considerable resources-economic, military, even-in order to protect zebras and antelopes from lions, sheep and foxes from wolves, and so on.
Of course this military scenario is ridiculous, but why aren’t animal activists (PETA) trying to save Apes from each other’s militant advances in the wild or otherwise? In Spain (lifesitenews.com), the government has already resolved to equate great apes and humans.
If they can call great apes humans, why do they still deem that throwing humans in the trash is perfectly acceptable (moral) and legal (not the same thing)? It makes some people crazy. From lifesitenews.com:
"[Matthew Derosia of Cottage Grove] saw all these little babies that made it and he heard all these horror stories about the babies that made it in the trash can making noise. It made him sick," said Georjean [Derosia, Matthew’s mother]. "He worries about these babies that get aborted and he obsesses on it."
I’m not saying that driving an SUV into a Planned Parenthood like Matthew Derosia did is the answer. We just have to keep up the good fight for the preborn and their mothers like Pastor Luke Robinson is trying to do.
As African American pastor Pastor Luke Robinson from Frederick, Maryland (yes, Maryland; my state that has only one OTAAAC member in the federal Congress) said at this year’s March for Life,
Please Mr. President [Obama], be that agent of change that can commute the sentence of over 1400 African American children and over 3000 children from other ethnic groups sentenced to die every day in this country by abortion.
See blackgenocide.org for more on this genocide of African American children.
Save the Sheep From the Wolves? How about saving innocent preborn babies from the Culture of Death led by President Obama and the DNC (Destroys Unborn Children; lifesitenews.com)!
Mexico City Policy Response
From lifesitenews.com regarding the withdrawal of the Mexico City Policy ("a Reagan-era policy that forbids taxpayer monies from funding organizations that promote or perform abortions overseas"):
“We are distressed that in the midst of the country's greatest economic crisis since the Depression, this Administration is going to allocate millions of taxpayer dollars to abort children in developing countries.
“Reversing the Mexico City Policy is nothing less than a bailout of the abortion industry, taking money away from grassroots organizations that truly help women and children in order to fund two radical abortion lobbyists in particular – International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International.
“By forcing abortion down the throats of indigenous peoples throughout the world, who want real aid, not abortion, we are needlessly antagonizing potential allies, undermining the President's promise of respectful international cooperation of just two days ago.
“We truly hope that this is not the first step toward the new Administration becoming the most pro-abortion Administration in history.”
Arizona Right to Life
Campaign Life Coalition
Caring to Love Ministries, Inc.
Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute
Catholic Medical Association
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
Divine Mercy Care
Expectant Mother Care
Fair Park Bible Fellowship
Good Counsel Homes
Heartbeat International
Human Life Alliance
International Right to Life Federation
Latin American Alliance for the Family (ALAFA)
LCMS World Relief and Human Care
Life Coalition International
Life Education and Resource Network Inc.
Life Issues International
Life Legal Defense Foundation
Lutherans for Life
Pro-Life Action League
40 Days for Life
I would like to add my name also: Gutterball Master of WZE.
I don't want my tax dollars to go to fund abortion! I want my tax dollars used to help the poor with food, medicine, clothing, shelter, and job training (etc), not to kill them!
“We are distressed that in the midst of the country's greatest economic crisis since the Depression, this Administration is going to allocate millions of taxpayer dollars to abort children in developing countries.
“Reversing the Mexico City Policy is nothing less than a bailout of the abortion industry, taking money away from grassroots organizations that truly help women and children in order to fund two radical abortion lobbyists in particular – International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International.
“By forcing abortion down the throats of indigenous peoples throughout the world, who want real aid, not abortion, we are needlessly antagonizing potential allies, undermining the President's promise of respectful international cooperation of just two days ago.
“We truly hope that this is not the first step toward the new Administration becoming the most pro-abortion Administration in history.”
Arizona Right to Life
Campaign Life Coalition
Caring to Love Ministries, Inc.
Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute
Catholic Medical Association
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
Divine Mercy Care
Expectant Mother Care
Fair Park Bible Fellowship
Good Counsel Homes
Heartbeat International
Human Life Alliance
International Right to Life Federation
Latin American Alliance for the Family (ALAFA)
LCMS World Relief and Human Care
Life Coalition International
Life Education and Resource Network Inc.
Life Issues International
Life Legal Defense Foundation
Lutherans for Life
Pro-Life Action League
40 Days for Life
I would like to add my name also: Gutterball Master of WZE.
I don't want my tax dollars to go to fund abortion! I want my tax dollars used to help the poor with food, medicine, clothing, shelter, and job training (etc), not to kill them!
21 January 2009
President Obama's Inauguration
I’ve been trying to think about what I wanted to write about the inauguration of President Obama. I thought of how ironic it was that he stumbled over the words of the oath of office with Chief Justice Roberts as he was swearing to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America (I voted against him since I thought he wouldn’t live up to this very oath). I was thinking about how parts of his inauguration speech sounded as if he was at the March for Life (which is tomorrow; I’m going; here's President Obama's invitation). The way he talked about leaving behind stale political arguments and standing up for the most vulnerable (“every man, woman, and child”; how about the un-born, about to be born, and even the just born?) seemed misplaced (abortion is older than the recognition of human dignity; it’s a conservative position to be pro-abortion as a choice (PAAAC)).
Instead, I remembered the people I personally knew who faced the decision to have an abortion or not.
One person I knew got pregnant from her boyfriend and her parents did not want to be shamed by a baby out of marriage. People from the group in which this scared woman was part offered their home for her and her baby now conceived (after calling their parents). We talked about how she could get through the pregnancy. She aborted the baby and was still with the boyfriend the last time I checked.
One person I talked to at my former employer was a father of a girl. He said that if his daughter got raped, he would encourage her to get an abortion. He identified himself as a non-churchgoing Christian. I said plainly, “But you would be murdering your grandson or daughter.” He said, “It wouldn’t be my grandson or daughter!” I offered the SLED test to him and asked if he still thought it was at least a human person. He said no. I offered the fact that an abortion would be yet another violent act upon his daughter. I actually forget what he said about that.
I have asked myself, “What would I do if my daughter was raped and got pregnant?” I still think that I would continue to love both my daughter and her child – my grandson or daughter – and do whatever I could to support them.
May President Obama change his stale political arguments.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Instead, I remembered the people I personally knew who faced the decision to have an abortion or not.
One person I knew got pregnant from her boyfriend and her parents did not want to be shamed by a baby out of marriage. People from the group in which this scared woman was part offered their home for her and her baby now conceived (after calling their parents). We talked about how she could get through the pregnancy. She aborted the baby and was still with the boyfriend the last time I checked.
One person I talked to at my former employer was a father of a girl. He said that if his daughter got raped, he would encourage her to get an abortion. He identified himself as a non-churchgoing Christian. I said plainly, “But you would be murdering your grandson or daughter.” He said, “It wouldn’t be my grandson or daughter!” I offered the SLED test to him and asked if he still thought it was at least a human person. He said no. I offered the fact that an abortion would be yet another violent act upon his daughter. I actually forget what he said about that.
I have asked myself, “What would I do if my daughter was raped and got pregnant?” I still think that I would continue to love both my daughter and her child – my grandson or daughter – and do whatever I could to support them.
May President Obama change his stale political arguments.
19 January 2009
President Obama’s Call to Responsibility
I’ve been reading a book that I received from the The President’s Council on Bioethics entitled Human Dignity and Bioethics: Essays Commissioned by the President's Council on Bioethics. One thing that I found from the book was a discussion about the (US) Declaration of Independence that I haven’t thought of before. Namely, the endowment of human rights can be rethought as a call for human duties, or responsibilities. In other words, one can be thought of as not having a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but a duty to uphold the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of others in society (of individuals around them).
If we took the later approach, more individuals would be supported by others; if the former, only the individual is looking out for numero uno. With the former, social justice as a universal idea would more naturally come to the forefront of our consciousness; with the later, the individual would seek to gain more power to hold onto their rights. If right language were turned into duty and responsibility language, the consequences of our actions would have to be examined more closely.
Consequences come from taking on additional responsibility (ask any manager). There is more for the one with more responsibility to think about. What will I do if I do this? What will someone else have to do if I do that?
------------- ------------- -------------
I just read what President Obama’s inaguration speech (at the time after taking the oath of office) will be about:
Yes, he will talk to governmental and business leaders about responsibility, but I’m sure it will also be addressed to the general population.
He may say. “Don’t just do things because you feel like it. You must sacrifice for the good of the country and do your duty! Face the consequences of your actions.”
Yes, I will go there: President Obama must do some self-reflection. He said,
“Look, I got two daughters – 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Will President Obama teach his daughters that they must face the consequences of their actions? Will he teach them to despise the life they created? Will he teach them that babies are cruel punishments? Will he teach his daughters that they have a duty to uphold the life of his granddaughter or grandson in their womb after their mistake?
President Obama, please think and pray long and hard about it.
It’s your call to responsibility.
If we took the later approach, more individuals would be supported by others; if the former, only the individual is looking out for numero uno. With the former, social justice as a universal idea would more naturally come to the forefront of our consciousness; with the later, the individual would seek to gain more power to hold onto their rights. If right language were turned into duty and responsibility language, the consequences of our actions would have to be examined more closely.
Consequences come from taking on additional responsibility (ask any manager). There is more for the one with more responsibility to think about. What will I do if I do this? What will someone else have to do if I do that?
------------- ------------- -------------
I just read what President Obama’s inaguration speech (at the time after taking the oath of office) will be about:
A top aide says Barack Obama's inauguration address will call on Americans to embrace a new era of responsible behavior — in government and in business.
Rahm Emanuel, Obama's choice for chief of staff, says Obama's speech Tuesday will ask the nation to reject the "culture of anything goes."
Emanuel says Obama will ask Americans to restore a national value system that honors responsibility and accountability. It harkens back to John F. Kennedy's call for personal sacrifice in his 1960 inauguration address.
Yes, he will talk to governmental and business leaders about responsibility, but I’m sure it will also be addressed to the general population.
He may say. “Don’t just do things because you feel like it. You must sacrifice for the good of the country and do your duty! Face the consequences of your actions.”
Yes, I will go there: President Obama must do some self-reflection. He said,
“Look, I got two daughters – 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Will President Obama teach his daughters that they must face the consequences of their actions? Will he teach them to despise the life they created? Will he teach them that babies are cruel punishments? Will he teach his daughters that they have a duty to uphold the life of his granddaughter or grandson in their womb after their mistake?
President Obama, please think and pray long and hard about it.
It’s your call to responsibility.
15 January 2009
Against Pornography
(Warning: the content below may not be suitable for those under 13, but I think it's OK for them too.)
I just had someone search for "against pornography" on this blog. I have not written on this topic much if at all. But it's a strange coincidence that I just finished listening to a talk by Christopher West on the Theology of the Body here ("Theology of the Body: A Bold, Biblical Response to the Sexual Revolution").
Other deep and meaningful articles by C. West are linked below.
"'Pornographic Interference'"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=67
"Hugh Hefner’s Longing for Love"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=42
"Authentic Art vs. Pornography"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=46
"Why Do Men Look at Porn? Oprah Viewers Want to Know"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=19
My basic understanding is that by indulging in pornography, we continue to debase what sex is truly meant to be. This keeps us from seeing the other (person) as truly who they are: a beautiful creature created by God. Until we reverse this thinking, we will never be truly satisfied by what we were created to truly (not falsely puritanically/demonically) desire. We were meant to reflect God's Love, "God’s love is a love that yearns for intimacy with the 'other' and rejoices in that other’s beauty."
It is not wrong to long for intimacy. We must instead orient our longing towards what will ultimately satisfy. On Earth, the longing is for the opposite sex in marriage to fully give our life to the other or for a foretaste of union with God (in real celibacy). Ultimately and Divinely, it's for God. Sex is meant to be a direction marker towards Peace and fulfillment in God that is bodily imprinted in our very selves.
Pornography rapes the mind and the soul through the body!
This is a partial explanation of why I'm against pornography and why I think all people should read and listen to the Theology of the Body.
It will change your life forever!
I just had someone search for "against pornography" on this blog. I have not written on this topic much if at all. But it's a strange coincidence that I just finished listening to a talk by Christopher West on the Theology of the Body here ("Theology of the Body: A Bold, Biblical Response to the Sexual Revolution").
Other deep and meaningful articles by C. West are linked below.
"'Pornographic Interference'"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=67
"Hugh Hefner’s Longing for Love"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=42
"Authentic Art vs. Pornography"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=46
"Why Do Men Look at Porn? Oprah Viewers Want to Know"
http://www.christopherwest.com/page.asp?ContentID=19
My basic understanding is that by indulging in pornography, we continue to debase what sex is truly meant to be. This keeps us from seeing the other (person) as truly who they are: a beautiful creature created by God. Until we reverse this thinking, we will never be truly satisfied by what we were created to truly (not falsely puritanically/demonically) desire. We were meant to reflect God's Love, "God’s love is a love that yearns for intimacy with the 'other' and rejoices in that other’s beauty."
It is not wrong to long for intimacy. We must instead orient our longing towards what will ultimately satisfy. On Earth, the longing is for the opposite sex in marriage to fully give our life to the other or for a foretaste of union with God (in real celibacy). Ultimately and Divinely, it's for God. Sex is meant to be a direction marker towards Peace and fulfillment in God that is bodily imprinted in our very selves.
Pornography rapes the mind and the soul through the body!
This is a partial explanation of why I'm against pornography and why I think all people should read and listen to the Theology of the Body.
It will change your life forever!
Governor Kaine Pro-Life?
Today, I got an email from DFLA (Democrats for Life). I can't reproduce the email, but from their website:
I responded with the following email:
From lifesitenews.com:
He's a card carrying member of DFLA? I guess keep your enemies closer...
At least Judas didn't betray Jesus until after/during the Last Supper.
(Again it all comes down to this question, when are all men created equal with the right to life? I say with the Church (and even some Atheists): at conception!)
Please read this article about President elect Obama appointing pro-life Democrat and DFLA member Governor Kaine as the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
I responded with the following email:
Governor Tim Kaine is not pro-life. See the lifesitenews[.com] link: http://www.lifesitenews.com/search/index.html?cx=partner-pub-8135422256096759%3Abgo9vm-3lml&client=google-coop-np&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Tim+Kaine#673 . Please remove the "Pro-life" label from his name. He is pro-abortion as a choice (PAAAC; http://wonderingzygoteemeritus.blogspot.com/2008/04/paaac-pak-and-otaaac-o-tak .html )
From lifesitenews.com:
Obama recently selected as the next DNC chairman Democratic Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, a Catholic who rejected the death penalty by invoking the Catholic belief that "life is sacred," yet who supports Roe v. Wade for protecting the "personal liberty" to choose abortion.
He's a card carrying member of DFLA? I guess keep your enemies closer...
At least Judas didn't betray Jesus until after/during the Last Supper.
(Again it all comes down to this question, when are all men created equal with the right to life? I say with the Church (and even some Atheists): at conception!)
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