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« October 2006 | Main | December 2006 »
Friday, November 17, 2006 - 12:53:11
Jesus Camp or religious boot camp?
I saw the movie "Jesus Camp" the other day. It was disturbing. I wasn't disturbed by the religious indoctrination, the speaking in tongues, the horrible christian rock music, or even having ten year old kids out on the streets witnessing to strangers. What was most disturbing is the camp director's political messages that were all wrapped up as being straight from the bible.The people in this movie used the word "war" to describe their mission. While it was clear that part of their goal was to find non-believers, they seemed far more concerned about making such their own flock didn't stray.
My favorite part of the movie, of course, was when they were filming Rev. Ted Haggard, the leader of one of the biggest evangelical churches in the country, preaching on the sins of homosexuality. This was a year before he was caught having a relationship with a male prostitute.
The part that disturbed me the most was then they were preaching for "righteous judges." it was around this time they pulled out a life-sized cut out of George W. so that they could pray for their leader. The audience was children most of the time - at a small camp for apparently religious wing-nuts.
Many of the children were home schooled. To me, home schooling is a bad idea, but its also a freedom we have, and the liberty we have to raise our children how we think is best. Between being smothered at home and reinforced with right-wing doctrine at church - of course these children get no other point of view. There was a scene in which they laughed at the idea of evolution but I sincerely doubt they really looked at it.
The Jesus camp director was keenly aware of the similarities between what they were doing and how children of Islamic radicals raise their children. Their attitude was - they are raising their children to be fanatics - so we better do the same. Of course- in this climate, fanatics tend to go too far when they are doing it for "the lord."
Its impossible to argue with these people. The world is simple to them - there are those that love Jesus and those that don't. Unfortunately, they seem to think most mainstream American Christians are members of "dead churches" where they don't shout and speak in tongues - and therefore Jesus doesn't come to their church. Its this "my version of Christianity is better than your version of Christianity" that is the most frightening part of this movement. These people are willing to die for their cause, because just like suicide bombers, they are going to heaven when they die. It they have to take few heathens with them, or a few hundred thousand Iraqis, it doesn't seem to matter. See the extended entry for the handiwork of one such wacko.
When a segment of the population isolates itself from the outside world, starts talking in terms of a war, us vs. them, and claiming to have a monopoly on true religion - I think that is breeding grounds for seriously disturbed zealots - When you never have to have your ideas challenged in school, in church, or by interacting with society - strange ideas become normal. The zealots are welcome to keep their ideas - I just hope I'm not in their proximity when they decide to become martyrs.
At least they don't break your kneecaps anymore
I hate payday lending. Its one of those things like gambling - a victimless crime - in that the customers know what they are doing, know its bad for them, but do it anyway. The payday lenders are barely legal in this state and routinely get sued, lose, go bankrupt, and then start up another company it seems. While some more libertaria types might see payday lending as "freedom to contract" I see them as shady fly-by-night businessmen looking for a quick buck. If its such a great thing, maybe it should just be a service at our local bank. Instead, its run out of crummy retail shops, where they don't have to invest anything because they will surely go out of business soon.I was looking at the history of the check cashing laws, and found this interesting paragraph from an article way back in 2001.
An attempt by Sen. Cliff Hoofman, D-North Little Rock, to repeal the Check Cashers Act failed in the Senate in February. Hoofman had hoped to get another vote on the repeal, but complained that his attempt was sidetracked by a parliamentary procedure by Sen. Doyle Webb, R-Benton.
Webb had been the Check Cashers Act’s Senate sponsor in 1999, when only two senators — Mike Beebe, D-Searcy, and Mike Ross, D-Prescott — voted against it. Ross is now U.S. congressman for the Fourth Congressional District.
Webb had been the Check Cashers Act’s Senate sponsor in 1999, when only two senators — Mike Beebe, D-Searcy, and Mike Ross, D-Prescott — voted against it. Ross is now U.S. congressman for the Fourth Congressional District.
Doyle Webb is the same attorney ( and former Chief of Staff for Lt. Gov. Rockefeller) who made himself the beneficiary of a will and the subject of severe ethical scruitiny.
This Week's supreme court case concerning payday lenders, to me, is really a non-issue and merely said that the payday lenders get to litigate the issue of whether the state is properly regulating them.
I won't bore you with the details about why the Sup. Ct. didn't address teh constitutional issues - it was a delay and was consistent with how they handle similar problems with declaratory judgments in much less controversial cases.
I don't think payday lending is right, moral, or legal. But, the easiest way and the best way to take care of it is through legislation, not the court system. Legislation authorized payday lending, and apparently it might take leglislation to end it. This case isn't going away but I hope some courageous leglislators, backed by the new governor, will do the right thing and put these guys out of business for good.
Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 10:12:46
Contract Negotiation
If only contract negotiation were so interesting.........Sunday, November 12, 2006 - 20:55:38
And now for something completely different - a few photos
I'm no photographer, but I liked how my photos turned out today from when I went sailing on Lake Maumelle. It would be sad if Bob Johnson and the Deltic Deforseters get their way and carve up the land around the lake for condos and parking lots. . And yes, it was cold Very cold. Photos are on the extended entry.Jesus Camp Closed- Kids Forced To Take 3 Hour Bus Ride To Speak In Tongues Somewhere Else
Anyone catch that documentary, "Jesus Camp" ? If you were planning on sending your little ones there next summer, they are just out of luck.Death row inmates' pages on MySpace draws criticism
Reading about murderer Heath Stocks' clemency request irritated me. For every murderer the Governor has assisted with clemency, there are probably fifty people with long drug sentences that are far more deserving of a reduced sentence. Why the Governor is so fond of letting murderers out - who go on to kill again - I will never understand.
Here is killer Heath Stocks' website. Apparently dozens of killers are also on Myspace.com as well now. Do you think I should add them as my "virtual friend" ?
Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 13:21:25
New York Times Article on Partial Birth Abortion and the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ( SCOTUS ) will hear a case on partial birth abortion, ruling on a law passed by congress that is almost identical to a law struck down in 2000 because there was no exception made for a woman's health. This will be a very good measuring stick as to how the new justices will vote and whether they will be activist judges and go against precedent or stick to precedent.Election Endorsements - Re Post
The Long Nightmare Is Almost Over
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