Fighting, Muhammadan-style

Qur’an:9:88 “The Messenger and those who believe with him, strive hard and fight with their wealth and lives in Allah’s Cause.”



Qur’an:9:5 “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”



Qur’an:9:112 “The Believers fight in Allah’s Cause, they slay and are slain, kill and are killed.”



Qur’an:9:29 “Fight those who do not believe until they all surrender, paying the protective tax in submission.”



Ishaq:325 “Muslims, fight in Allah’s Cause. Stand firm and you will prosper. Help the Prophet, obey him, give him your allegiance, and your religion will be victorious.”



Qur’an:8:39 “Fight them until all opposition ends and all submit to Allah.”



Qur’an:8:39 “So fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief [non-Muslims]) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world).”



Ishaq:324 “He said, ‘Fight them so that there is no more rebellion, and religion, all of it, is for Allah only. Allah must have no rivals.’”



Qur’an:9:14 “Fight them and Allah will punish them by your hands, lay them low, and cover them with shame. He will help you over them.”



Ishaq:300 “I am fighting in Allah’s service. This is piety and a good deed. In Allah’s war I do not fear as others should. For this fighting is righteous, true, and good.”



Ishaq:587 “Our onslaught will not be a weak faltering affair. We shall fight as long as we live. We will fight until you turn to Islam, humbly seeking refuge. We will fight not caring whom we meet. We will fight whether we destroy ancient holdings or newly gotten gains. We have mutilated every opponent. We have driven them violently before us at the command of Allah and Islam. We will fight until our religion is established. And we will plunder them, for they must suffer disgrace.”



Qur’an:8:65 “O Prophet, urge the faithful to fight. If there are twenty among you with determination they will vanquish two hundred; if there are a hundred then they will slaughter a thousand unbelievers, for the infidels are a people devoid of understanding.”



Ishaq:326 “Prophet exhort the believers to fight. If there are twenty good fighters they will defeat two hundred for they are a senseless people. They do not fight with good intentions nor for truth.”



Bukhari:V4B52N63 “A man whose face was covered with an iron mask came to the Prophet and said, ‘Allah’s Apostle! Shall I fight or embrace Islam first?’ The Prophet said, ‘Embrace Islam first and then fight.’ So he embraced Islam, and was martyred. Allah’s Apostle said, ‘A Little work, but a great reward.’”



Bukhari:V4B53N386 “Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord, ordered us to fight you till you worship Allah alone or pay us the Jizyah tribute tax in submission. Our Prophet has informed us that our Lord says: ‘Whoever amongst us is killed as a martyr shall go to Paradise to lead such a luxurious life as he has never seen, and whoever survives shall become your master.’”



Muslim:C34B20N4668 “The Messenger said: ‘Anybody who equips a warrior going to fight in the Way of Allah is like one who actually fights. And anybody who looks after his family in his absence is also like one who actually fights.”



Qur’an:9:38 “Believers, what is the matter with you, that when you are asked to go forth and fight in Allah’s Cause you cling to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? Unless you go forth, He will afflict and punish you with a painful doom, and put others in your place.”



Qur’an:9:123 “Fight the unbelievers around you, and let them find harshness in you.”



Qur’an:8:72 “Those who accepted Islam and left their homes to fight in Allah’s Cause with their possessions and persons, and those who gave (them) asylum, aid, and shelter, those who harbored them—these are allies of one another. You are not responsible for protecting those who embraced Islam but did not leave their homes [to fight] until they do so.” [Another translation reads:] “You are only called to protect Muslims who fight.”



Muslim:C9B1N31 “I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me (that) I am the Messenger and in all that I have brought.”



Bukhari:V9B84N59 “Whoever says this will save his property and life from me.’”



Qur’an:8:73 “The unbelieving infidels are allies. Unless you (Muslims) aid each other (fighting as one united block to make Allah’s religion victorious), there will be confusion and mischief. Those who accepted Islam, left their homes to fight in Allah’s Cause (al-Jihad), as well as those who give them asylum, shelter, and aid—these are (all) Believers: for them is pardon and bountiful provision (in Paradise).”



Tabari IX:69 “Arabs are the most noble people in lineage, the most prominent, and the best in deeds. We were the first to respond to the call of the Prophet. We are Allah’s helpers and the viziers of His Messenger. We fight people until they believe in Allah. He who believes in Allah and His Messenger has protected his life and possessions from us. As for one who disbelieves, we will fight him forever in the Cause of Allah. Killing him is a small matter to us.”



Qur’an:48:16 “Say (Muhammad) to the wandering desert Arabs who lagged behind: ‘You shall be invited to fight against a people given to war with mighty prowess. You shall fight them until they surrender and submit. If you obey, Allah will grant you a reward, but if you turn back, as you did before, He will punish you with a grievous torture.”



Qur’an:48:22 “If the unbelieving infidels fight against you, they will retreat. (Such has been) the practice (approved) of Allah in the past: no change will you find in the ways of Allah.”



Qur’an:47:4 “When you clash with the unbelieving Infidels in battle (fighting Jihad in Allah’s Cause), smite their necks until you overpower them, killing and wounding many of them. At length, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind them firmly, making (them) captives. Thereafter either generosity or ransom (them based upon what benefits Islam) until the war lays down its burdens. Thus are you commanded by Allah to continue carrying out Jihad against the unbelieving infidels until they submit to Islam.”



Qur’an:47:31 “And We shall try you until We know those among you who are the fighters.”



Tabari VI:138 “Those present at the oath of Aqabah had sworn an allegiance to Muhammad. It was a pledge of war against all men. Allah had permitted fighting.”



Tabari VI:139 “Allah had given his Messenger permission to fight by revealing the verse ‘And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah.’”



Qur’an:9:19 “Do you make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Mosque, equal to those who fight in the Cause of Allah? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah. Those who believe, and left their homes, striving with might, fighting in Allah’s Cause with their goods and their lives, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah.”



Ishaq:550 “The Muslims met them with their swords. They cut through many arms and skulls. Only confused cries and groans could be heard over our battle roars and snarling.”



Qur’an:5:94 “Believers, Allah will make a test for you in the form of a little game in which you reach out for your lances. Any who fails this test will have a grievous punishment.”



Ishaq:578 “Crushing the heads of the infidels and splitting their skulls with sharp swords, we continually thrust and cut at the enemy. Blood gushed from their deep wounds as the battle wore them down. We conquered bearing the Prophet’s fluttering war banner. Our cavalry was submerged in rising dust, and our spears quivered, but by us the Prophet gained victory.”



Tabari IX:22 “The Prophet continued to besiege the town, fighting them bitterly.”



Tabari IX:25 “By Allah, I did not come to fight for nothing. I wanted a victory over Ta’if so that I might obtain a slave girl from them and make her pregnant.”



Tabari IX:82 “The Messenger sent Khalid with an army of 400 to Harith [a South Arabian tribe] and ordered him to invite them to Islam for three days before he fought them. If they were to respond and submit, he was to teach them the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Prophet, and the requirements of Islam. If they should decline, then he was to fight them.”



Tabari IX:88 “Abdallah Azdi came to the Messenger, embraced Islam, and became a good Muslim. Allah’s Apostle invested Azdi with the authority over those who had surrendered and ordered him to fight the infidels from the tribes of Yemen. Azdi left with an army by the Messenger’s command. The Muslims besieged them for a month. Then they withdrew, setting a trap. When the Yemenites went in pursuit, Azdi was able to inflict a heavy loss on them.”



Ishaq:530 “Get out of his way, you infidel unbelievers. Every good thing goes with the Apostle. Lord, I believe in his word. We will fight you about its interpretations as we have fought you about its revelation with strokes that will remove heads from shoulders and make enemies of friends.”



Muslim:C9B1N29 “Command For Fighting Against People So Long As They Do Not Profess That There Is No Ilah (God) But Allah And Muhammad Is His Messenger: When the Messenger breathed his last and Bakr was appointed Caliph, many Arabs chose to become apostates [rejected Islam]. Abu Bakr said: ‘I will definitely fight against anyone who stops paying the Zakat tax, for it is an obligation. I will fight against them even to secure the cord used for hobbling the feet of a camel which they used to pay if they withhold it now.’ Allah had justified fighting against those who refused to pay Zakat.”



Muslim:C9B1N33 “The Prophet said: ‘I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and they establish prostration prayer, and pay Zakat. If they do it, their blood and property are protected.’”



Muslim:C10B1N176 “Muhammad (may peace be upon him) sent us in a raiding party. We raided Huraqat in the morning. I caught hold of a man and he said: ‘There is no god but Allah,’ but I attacked him with a spear anyway. It once occurred to me that I should ask the Apostle about this. The Messenger said: ‘Did he profess “There is no god but Allah,” and even then you killed him?’ I said: ‘He made a profession out of the fear of the weapon I was threatening him with.’ The Prophet said: ‘Did you tear out his heart in order to find out whether it had professed truly or not?’”



Muslim:C20B1N4597 “The Prophet said at the conquest of Mecca: ‘There is no migration now, but only Jihad, fighting for the Cause of Islam. When you are asked to set out on a Jihad expedition, you should readily do so.’”



Muslim:C28B20N4628 “Allah has undertaken to provide for one who leaves his home to fight for His Cause and to affirm the truth of His word; Allah will either admit him to Paradise or will bring him back home with his reward and booty.”



Muslim:C28B20N4629 “The Messenger said: ‘One who is wounded in the Way of Allah—and Allah knows best who is wounded in His Way—will appear on the Day of Judgment with his wound still bleeding. The color (of its discharge) will be blood, (but) its smell will be musk.’”



Muslim:C34B20N4652-3 “The Merit Of Jihad And Of Keeping Vigilance Over The Enemy: A man came to the Holy Prophet and said: ‘Who is the best of men?’ He replied: ‘A man who fights staking his life and spending his wealth in Allah’s Cause.’”



Muslim:C42B20N4684 “A desert Arab came to the Prophet and said: ‘Messenger, one man fights for the spoils of war; another fights that he may be remembered, and one fights that he may see his (high) position (achieved as a result of his valor in fighting). Which of these is fighting in the Cause of Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Who fights so that the word of Allah is exalted is fighting in the Way of Allah.’”



Muslim:C53B20N4717 “The Prophet said: ‘This religion will continue to exist, and a group of people from the Muslims will continue to fight for its protection until the Hour is established.’”



Bukhari:V5B59N288 “I witnessed a scene that was dearer to me than anything I had ever seen. Aswad came to the Prophet while Muhammad was urging the Muslims to fight the pagans. He said, ‘We shall fight on your right and on your left and in front of you and behind you.’ I saw the face of the Prophet getting bright with happiness, for that saying delighted him.”



Bukhari:V5B59N290 “The believers who did not join the Ghazwa [Islamic raid or invasion] and those who fought are not equal in reward.”



Qur’an:2:193 “Fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief) and religion is only for Allah. But if they cease/desist, let there be no hostility except against infidel disbelievers.”



Qur’an:2:217 “They question you concerning fighting in the sacred month. Say: ‘Fighting therein is a grave (matter); but to prevent access to Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, to expel its members, and polytheism are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they make you renegades from your religion. If any of you turn back and die in unbelief, your works will be lost and you will go to Hell. Surely those who believe and leave their homes to fight in Allah’s Cause have the hope of Allah’s mercy.”



Qur’an:2:244 “Fight in Allah’s Cause, and know that Allah hears and knows all.”



Qur’an:2:246 “He said: ‘Would you refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you?’ They said: ‘How could we refuse to fight in Allah’s Cause?’”



Ishaq:280 “The Apostle prepared for war in pursuance of Allah’s command to fight his enemies and to fight the infidels who Allah commanded him to fight.”



Qur’an:61:2 “O Muslims, why say one thing and do another? Grievously odious and hateful is it in the sight of Allah that you say that which you do not. Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in a battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.”



Bukhari:V4B52N61 “Allah’s Apostle! We were absent from the first battle you fought against the pagans. If Allah gives us a chance to do battle, no doubt, He will see how bravely we fight.”



Ishaq:398 “Ask them for their help. Thereby make the religion of Islam agreeable to them. And when you are resolved in the matter of religion concerning fighting your enemy you will have the advantage.”



Qur’an:3:146 “How many prophets fought in Allah’s Cause? With them (fought) myriads of godly men who were slain. They never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah’s Cause, nor did they weaken nor give in. Allah loves those who are firm and steadfast [warriors].”



Ishaq:393 “How many prophets has death in battle befallen and how many multitudes with him? They did not show weakness toward their enemies and were not humiliated when they suffered in the fight for Allah and their religion. That is steadfastness. Allah loves the steadfast.”



Qur’an:3:153 “Behold! You ran off precipitately, climbing up the high hill without even casting a side glance at anyone, while the Messenger in your rear is calling you from your rear, urging you to fight. Allah gave you one distress after another by way of requital, to teach you not to grieve for the booty that had escaped you and for (the ill) that had befallen you.”



Qur’an:3:154 “Say: ‘Even if you had remained in your houses, those ordained to be slaughtered would have gone forth to the places where they were to slain.”



Ishaq:440 “Helped by the Holy Spirit we smited Muhammad’s foes. The Apostle sent a message to them with a sharp cutting sword.”



Ishaq:470 “We attacked them fully armed, swords in hand, cutting through heads and skulls.”



Qur’an:61:4 “Surely Allah loves those who fight in His Cause.”



Qur’an:61:11 “Believers, shall I lead you to a bargain or trade that will save you from a painful torment? That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), and that you strive and fight in Allah’s Cause with your property and your lives: That will be best for you!” Qur’an 61:12 “He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens under which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Eden: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement. And another (favor) which you love: help from Allah for a speedy victory over your enemies.”



Qur’an:8:5 “Your Lord ordered you out of your homes to fight for the true cause, even though some Muslims disliked it, and were averse (to fighting).”


Qur’an:24:53 “They swear their strongest oaths saying that if only you would command them. They would leave their homes (and go forth fighting in Allah’s Cause). Say: ‘Swear not; Obedience is (more) reasonable.’”



Qur’an:4:74 “Let those who fight in Allah’s Cause sell this world’s life for the hereafter. To him who fights in Allah’s Cause, whether he is slain or victorious, We shall give him a reward.”



Qur’an:4:75 “What reason have you that you should not fight in Allah’s Cause?” [Another translation says:] “What is wrong with you that you do not fight for Allah?”



Qur’an:4:76 “Those who believe fight in the Cause of Allah.”



Qur’an:4:77 “Have you not seen those to whom it was said: Withhold from fighting, perform the prayer and pay the zakat. But when orders for fighting were issued, a party of them feared men as they ought to have feared Allah. They say: ‘Our Lord, why have You ordained fighting for us, why have You made war compulsory?’”



Qur’an:4:78 “Wherever you are, death will find you, even if you are in towers strong and high! So what is wrong with these people, that they fail to understand these simple words?”



Qur’an:4:84 “Then fight (Muhammad) in Allah’s Cause. Incite the believers to fight with you.”



Qur’an:4:94 “Believers, when you go abroad to fight wars in Allah’s Cause, investigate carefully, and say not to anyone who greets you: ‘You are not a believer!’ Coveting the chance profits of this life (so that you may despoil him). With Allah are plenteous spoils and booty.”



Qur’an:4:95 “Not equal are believers who sit home and receive no hurt and those who fight in Allah’s Cause with their wealth and lives. Allah has granted a grade higher to those who fight with their possessions and bodies to those who sit home. Those who fight He has distinguished with a special reward.”



Qur’an:4:100 “He who leaves his home in Allah’s Cause finds abundant resources and many a refuge. Should he die as a refugee for Allah and His Messenger His reward becomes due and sure with Allah. When you travel through the earth there is no blame on you if you curtail your worship for fear unbelievers may attack you. In truth the disbelievers are your enemy.”



Qur’an:4:102 “When you (Prophet) lead them in prayer, let some stand with you, taking their arms with them. When they finish their prostrations, let them take positions in the rear. And let others who have not yet prayed come—taking all precaution, and bearing arms. The Infidels wish, if you were negligent of your arms, to assault you in a rush. But there is no blame on you if you put away your arms because of the inconvenience of rain or because you are ill; but take precaution. For the Unbelieving Infidels Allah hath prepared a humiliating punishment.”



Qur’an:4:104 “And do not relent in pursuing the enemy.”



{Special Thanks to Race Bannon}

Christmas 2006

Just a few thoughts for the day.

I took a look at Time Magazine's "People who mattered in 2006." What a crock of left-wing pablum. I won't denigrate this blog by listing all the "chosen people according to Time Magazine." Most were socialists, communists or Democrats -- oxymoron anyone? Then some obtuse writer (obviously not familiar with Catholicism) writes an unbalanced slam attempt to "praise" the good Pope Benedict XVI. Now, I will claim to be pro-Catholic (original) Scriptures and pro-Pope, Magisterium, and Tradition. So my 'slant' does color my objectivity. Someone writing for a national magazine might take a lesson from a "fair and balanced" school of opinions, however.

Although I am loathe to advertise for Time Magazine, the link is here. A few quotes: ". . . he precipitated a burst of controversy with a speech quoting derogatory language about Muhammad and suggesting that Islam was predisposed toward violence." Anyone with a computer can "google" and find the truth about Muhammadanism. All the Pope did was prove the point - but no one in the MSM seems to have gotten the obvious message! " . . . suddenly morph back into the aggressive Panzer Cardinal of his pre-election days and become a full-blown culture warrior?" No concept of the Catholic Faith. We who are not "cafeteria Catholics" praised Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's staunch support of the Faith. And if the writer had done more homework, he would understand that the man who is Pope Benedict XVI has not changed in any way. Pope Benedict XVI doesn't do or say anything without deep prayer and study of all the potentialities. But the writer doesn't really know who Pope Benedict XVI is. He only knows what others have reported. And that's so like non-Catholics. They base their opinions on what someone says about the Church instead of going directly to the Church for information.

". . . the man who had seemed one of the Roman Catholic Church's most inflexible prelates appeared to flip-flop . . . ." I nearly laughed out loud when I read this statement. Thankfully the reporter used the word "appeared" because Pope Benedict XVI has not flip-flopped at all. What he's done is maneuver the discussion to basic intellectual freedoms by using the quote from the 14th Century "Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on the subject of Christianity and Islam, and the truth of both." And those intellectual freedoms are Reason and Logic to which Pope Benedict XVI added the reasonable logical conclusion of Reciprocation between "Christianity and Islam." As a Catholic, I can assure you that all of this was with the prayerful guidance of the Most High God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the Father of Our Lord, Jesus Christ whose birthday we celebrate today, along with the Holy Spirit's intervention in the hearts and minds of the hearers. (Proof of this is in the renewed use of the word "reason" and "reasonable" in the English interpretations of statements by Muhammadanism's leaders.)

Regarding the visit to Turkey the reporter states ". . . a fine piece of popular diplomacy, a sign that this noncharismatic academic, if pressed, can pull off the stagecraft . . ." similar to Pope John Paul II. Who is this man speaking of? Pope Benedict XVI exhibiting "popular diplomacy?" What he was and is doing is being the Vicar of Christ's Church on Earth and doing "what Jesus would do" to use a worn phrase. And to state that Pope Benedict XVI is not a charismatic figure immediately verifies that this MSM reporter has never even met the man.

Then this writer sums up his attitude with these words: ". . . Benedict, perhaps better than his critics, understands the pious truism that taking the papal office can involve a subsuming, sometimes almost an erasure, of the man he thought he was before." How can this reporter even elevate himself to tell the public what the Pope thinks? But let's back up here. The writer addresses His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as "Benedict?" Now, if not before, one sees through the words to the MSM agenda. There is no proper reverence or regard for the leader of the Catholic Church in this reporter's terminology.

And all this on Christmas Day 2006.

In looking at the other Time Magazine photos and articles, the leftist, socialist, Marxist, communist agenda of every "reporter" is evident. The twists of words, the praise of genocidal leaders of various Countries, the slaps and slams at anyone and anything who does not support this agenda is so blatantly evident as to be laughable. The only problem is that it's not a joke.

My Christmas Request: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. Pray for the United States. Pray "Maranatha" Come, Lord Jesus!

May 2007 bring God's Peace in the Middle East.

Just how big is your God?

Christmas Eve, 2006. Some of us are surprised we've lived this long. Others of us haven't given it much thought. Tomorrow, some of us will proclaim the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living and Most High God. Others will ignore or tolerate or harass or kill anyone worshiping Jesus.

How do you describe your God? Can you really describe Him in mere words? If He's small enough for you to describe Him, then how big is He, really? You may be able to tell me his attributes. You may be able to describe an event in your life in which the majesty of the Almighty God became truth for you. Can you actually put into words the description of your God?

How do you know your God? Through His attributes? Through His grace? Through His salvific sacrifice? Through His love? Through His mother?

In times past, the mother of the king was "the queen mother" of the realm. Bathsheba was the queen mother when Solomon reigned. And the mother of Jesus was and is Jesus' queen mother. "Was" while He lived on earth. "Is" as He reigns from heaven. Another comparisons for contemplation: Mary, the mother of Jesus as the "second Eve."

Justin Martyr, who died around 165, repeated an older tradition when he stated:

"[The Son of God] became man through a Virgin, so that the disobedience caused by the serpent might be destroyed in the same way it had begun. For Eve, who was virgin and undefiled, gave birth to disobedience and death after listening to the serpent's words. But the Virgin Mary conceived faith and joy; for when the angel Gabriel brought her the glad tidings that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that the power of the Most High would overshadow her, so that the Holy One born of her would be the Son of God, she answered, ‘Let it be done to me according to thy word' (Lk. 1:38). Thus was born of her the [Child] about whom so many Scriptures speak, as we have shown. Through Him, God crushed the serpent, along with those angels and men who had become like the serpent." (Dialogue with Trypho 100, quoted in Mary and the Fathers of the Church, by Luigi Gambero, Ignatius Press, 1999 pg. 47.)

Church Father Cyril of Jerusalem in the early fifth century compared the ArchAngel Gabriel to the ArchEnemy Satan. Saint Irenaeus of Lyons in the early third century preached that Mary is the "cause of salvation" just as Eve was the "cause of death." Both women were virgins when Eve encountered Satan and Mary encountered Gabriel. Eve was disobedient while Mary was obedient. The role of Eve was dependent on Adam as the role of Mary is dependent on Jesus.

God made salvation dependent on the action of a man. The original sin was Adam's sin, not Eve's. Had Adam not succumbed to Eve's temptation, he would have saved Eve and the entire human race from the punishment of God. 1 Corinthians 15:21a: "For by a man came death." It doesn't say "by a woman" but "by a man." The Fall of Man was the direct result of the sin of Adam. But, God made salvation dependent on the action of a Man! "For by a man came death; and by a man the resurrection of the dead. And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). The Salvation of All was the direct result of the obedience of Jesus.

Just as Eve had a causal role in the Fall of Adam, so also, Mary the Mother of Jesus has a causal role in the redemptive act of Jesus. As the one, so the other. As Eve was the undoing, so Mary was the restoration. The parallels are clear in Scripture, not to mention Tradition.

How did I get from asking you to describe God to an explanation of the attributes of Mary, Theotokos? I would suggest it's because one gets to know Someone by knowing His mother. And when one knows Jesus through His mother, one can better describe God.

Your Christmas Eve input? Pace e Bene. Auntie Coosa

"What is Truth?" - Pontius Pilate - St John 18:38

"What is Truth?" is the age old question. Some people spend a lifetime searching for something truthful to believe in. Some people try to analyze everything, every word, find every nuance, every angle of a word or a phrase. These people may say they have found truth, but rather than live it, they want to convert others to it or perhaps explain it over and over and over again, thinking that verbosity equals truth (or perhaps their continuous discussion is in an attempt to convince themselves of something their inner conscience [that 'gut feeling'] indicates is not quite Truth). But verbosity is just talk. Show me actions which provoke truth.

The Epistle of St. James is a good place to start looking for actions which will exhibit truth. Many former believers in an ordered universe and an ordered Church fail to take the words of St. James to heart. Rather than read, mark and inwardly learn this Epistle (aka form one's conscience based on Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Logic), they prefer to quote non-canonical works or something they read somewhere written by someone with an agenda against Scripture, Tradition, Reason and/or Logic.

God is All-Good in that He gives us many ways to form our conscience so as to draw us to Him and His Church. Western Civilization since the renaissance has attempted to separate the Church, Scripture and Tradition from Reason and Logic. Perhaps they think that separation will allow them to "prove" their agenda. But in the final analysis, Reason and Logic will point to the Church, Scripture and Tradition every time.

The world has been given an example in the person of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who is now Pope Benedict XVI {La pace è su lui.}. His careful study and inspired writings are both Reasonable and Logical. Even his term "reasonable" is now being used by translators who interpret Shiite and Sunni discourses. Pope Benedict XVI {La pace è su lui.} has forced the public to examine dogma and doctrine using Logic and Reason.

And what is the final reward? More people in the 'West' are thinking more intimately about what they believe. And this translates into action based on belief. Although some, it appears, are still caught in a whirlpool of verbiage with little action. Muhammadan leaders are beginning to use the terms Reasonable and Logical in a more universal and open understanding of the term, not as strictly defined to their sect of Muhammadanisn. It's not much, but it is a change for the better for all concerned.

So, "What is Truth?" It's all found here.

12 December 2006

So much is going on in the world that it seems to me it's hard to keep up with it all.

One thing that really strikes me, in fact forcefully strikes me, is the FACT that the Middle East belonged to various and sundry pagan nations AND the Hebrew Nation long before Muhammad was born. Yet, Muhammadans falsely claim that the Middle East and in fact the entire world belongs to "Islam" aka Muhammadanism.

Now saying that is like saying that some outsider you never met claims that your home, your land, your very life belongs to him. How can THAT be? It's not logical. It's not REASONABLE.

That's one of the "R" words which Pope Benedict XVI sets at the forefront of any discussion with Muhammadans. (The other "R" word, you recall, is RECIPROCITY.)

Christians use logic and reason to win souls to Christ and the Church. Logic and Reason is not linked to violence. Yet, violence is a reasonable and logical DEFENSIVE tool which must be used occasionally in order to stop the plunder and killing of innocent people by those attacking them.

That sounds reasonable. In Muhammadanism, killing only other Muhammadans, and killing ONLY those Muhammadans of your particular sect, is considered "killing an innocent person." Explain how THAT is logical and reasonable.

What Pope Benedict XVI has proved beyond a reasonable doubt, without ever raising his voice, is that Muhammadanism is not reasonable or logical.

NOW it is up to the imams and mullahs and Muhammadans to examine their religion, their faith, their very life-style in a reasonable and logical manner.

The questions are: Can they do it? Will they do it? Has Pope Benedict XVI been the catalyst which will initiate an examination of the Muhammadan conscience?

Stay tuned.

A Letter Home from Afghanistan

{Chris Cavoli wrote a letter home to the families of his soldiers, due to the fact that they've lost a bunch of guys (about 15) and have had dozens of wounded. He was concerned that morale at home may be waning.....

He really wanted to highlight the good they're doing. The letter found its way to Hugh Hewitt (a nationally syndicated talk show host), who posted it to his website.

Chris Cavoli and his Battalion is in Kunar Province (northeastern part of country) and is the toughest area of the country (this is the area where the Taliban fled and where Al Qaida top brass is supposed to be operating). I think it is important for all of us to know this.}

Dear CHOSIN Family,

As you all make your way back from summer vacations and travels, I thought I would welcome you back with some great information about your loved ones' exploits over here in Operation Enduring Freedom.

It has been a long, hot summer here in AOR Chosin, but things are going very well. As you know, we have perhaps the most challenging area of responsibility in the division; the mountains are very high and very steep, the roads and the towns are very undeveloped, and the enemy is fighting hard to hold onto his most cherished safe haven. It is a tough fight. To win, we have to defend the population from the enemy's intimidation, and we have to hunt the enemy in his hiding places and homes. This is not easy: our soldiers, unlike in other theaters, have to live among the people we protect. Our soldiers have to spend enormous amounts of time in the field, living daily without the creature comforts most people consider necessities - running water, phones, hot meals, beds. Most of all, our soldiers have to spend enormous amounts of time in contact with the enemy, crowding him out of his normal stomping grounds and cornering him in places we can destroy him. And we are succeeding at this every day. This battalion has beaten more enemy in more places in six months than most brigades do in a whole year. We have forced the enemy out of his sanctuaries and we have run him out of his towns and we have closed off his escape routes.

Most of all, we have separated the enemy from the people. Every day, we fight to convince the people of Afghanistan that their best future lies with us and with the Government of Afghanistan. We have built roads and bridges and clinics and schools. We have conducted medical visits that have treated thousands and thousands of people. We have handed out eyeglasses and bookbags and more pens than we can count. We have built hydroelectric plants, we have trained policemen, we have conducted classes on governance. We have spoken at schools, started sports clubs, and spent countless hours on street corners teaching kids to do high-fives. We have saved drowned children and cared for kids who have fallen out of trees and have worked feverishly to save the lives of people hurt in accidents or wounded by the enemy. We have created an incredible sense of goodwill toward us and toward the Government of Afghanistan in this part of the world. When a 1-32 patrol comes by, people gather from all around to greet us and to interact. As we roll up in HMMWVs, we can see children running -sprinting-hundreds of meters across open fields just to wave at us or to ask for a Gatorade. It is impossible to visit AOR Chosin and not feel the affection of the people toward us. We are creating for them the first hope for a good future that they have had in more than thirty years.

All of this is possible first and foremost because we are protecting the people. The enemy preys on the local populace remorselessly, and intimidates and beats and kills those who don't go along with them. If we are to create hope for these people, the first step is to keep the enemy away from them. We can't roll out, do some good, and then head back to our bases, leaving the people to contend with the enemy for the rest of the night. If we were to do that, merely accepting our goodwill would bring people trouble, and believe me, these poor people can't afford any more trouble than they've already got in their lives. So, the most important thing we do is stay out among the people and protect them. We are there with them - we are out in the rain and the sun and the wind, and we are in their villages and on their roads keeping the enemy away from them. And they know it. Over time, as the people have realized that we are there for them, that we truly are committed to our mission, they have come to trust us. They bring us food, they bring us "chai," and -most of all- they bring us information about the enemy. By being among them in the good times and the bad, we have earned their trust, and given them the confidence to side with us against the enemy.

The enemy sees what we are doing. He knows the people are turning against him, and he senses that his time is slipping away. He will strike back when he can, and he will strike where he thinks we are absent. This is the time for us to press the fight.

The enemy will not just go away, he will need to be faced down and chased away - by your valiant loved ones, who will continue to show the people of Afghanistan and of America what it means to fight for right.

This doesn't come free. It takes incredible effort to remain as committed to the mission as we have. It takes sweat, and some tears, and -despite our best efforts- some blood. We have lost many soldiers here, fine young men and women whose patriotism and valor is exceeded only by the bravery they displayed in Always Placing the Mission First.

Their efforts and their sacrifice have been in the service of a just cause, and an important one. The enemy we fight is not some strange group of unknowns in a far-off land; this enemy is the direct enemy of the United States, the very groups and their associates who launched the attacks of 9/11, 2001. When we fight here, dear members of the Chosin Family, we are fighting America's fight. We are defending the way of life we cherish for each of you, and we are carving out the future that we want our children to have. We are truly doing the Nation's work in 1-32, and I very deeply believe that our sacrifice -even the Ultimate Sacrifice-is not in vain. We are winning.

But we aren't there yet. Day in, day out, the soldiers of 1-32 continue to face and overcome obstacles that would stop any other unit. They are led by wonderful sergeants and excellent lieutenants, who lead by example and by their own bravery: of the dozens of Purple Hearts earned so far in 1-32, the vast majority have been earned by Team Leaders and Squad Leaders and Platoon Leaders who put themselves in front, who put their own lives on the line, that they might accomplish the mission and their men might live. And what men, what soldiers!

They succeed wherever they go and whatever they do, no matter what the odds. Your loved ones have earned for themselves a reputation as the hardest-fighting battalion in this Division. It is impossible to take two steps in this country without hearing tales of the daring and valor of the soldiers of 1-32 Infantry. I hope you can understand even a small portion of the pride we feel for the job we are doing. Your loved ones are writing new pages in our Regiment's history, our Division's history, and, indeed, in the history of our Army.

If I sound proud, I am. I have never, in almost twenty years of military service, seen a battalion perform this brilliantly, for this long, under such harsh conditions. And it is clear where the credit is due: to the fine soldiers of this great unit, who daily display the finest qualities of military professionalism and American citizenship.

And the credit is due to our strong families, our rocks, who wait at home.

It is truly the deepest privilege of my life to serve among you all.

With Respect and Affection,

Chris Cavoli

CHOSIN

1-32 Battalion Commander

Scientists and their religious affiliations

Just how many influential scientists were Muhammedans?

From 100 Scientists Who Shaped World History (Bluewood Books: San Francisco, CA, © 2000), written by John Hudson Tiner.

Hakim Ibn-e-Sina A.D. 980-1037

From the book Science: 100 Scientists Who Changed the World (Enchanted Lion Books: New York, 2003), written by John Balchin.

Al-Khwarizmi A.D. 800-850

Two lists of 100 and one percent were Muhammedans.

From the book The Scientific 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Scientists, Past and Present, Citadel Press (2000), written by John Galbraith Simmons, there are NO Muhammedans listed.

Three lists of 100 and less than one percent are Muhammedans. Yet Muhammedans want us to believe that their culture should be the dominant one on earth?

Does anyone wonder why the civilized world rejects Muhammedanism? There's very little opportunity for imagination and invention in their culture.

The late Saudi theologian, Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Jubair, stated, "Only one ambition is worthy of Islam, to save the world from the curse of democracy: to teach men that they cannot rule themselves on the basis of man-made laws."

Well, for 200 years or so, we've done just that and democracy has produced a plethora of scientific knowledge. And for that we can all be thankful.

Pace e Bene.

The Ever Expanding Blogosphere

All I can say is 'wow' as I read other blogs and learn from them.

Asia blogs, too.

Senate Majority Leader Pelosi is already breaking promises made pre-election.

Did I already mention that Senator Pelosi lied when she promised the most “honest, ethical, and open Congress in history?"

Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) is under investigation by the FBI. And he's set to assume a top post which would put him in control of the FBI's budget. Does Democrat leadership have no concern for ethics?

Senate GOP Leader Bill Frist shows his commitment to the people of Tennessee.

Surprise of the day. Iranian weapons arm Iraqi terrorists and Hezbollah is training them.

Turns out Erin Brockovich got her 15-minutes (plus) of fame and now has had her latest lawsuits dismissed. "There's no scientific evidence that a standing oil well could cause Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's or thyroid cancer."

Bill Roggio was able to secure an embed without going through an outside media organization and will be blogging directly from Iraq. His would be a good blog to bookmark.

That's enough chatter for today unless something else comes up.

If it's good enough for Mexico, shouldn't it be used by the USA?

Mexico’s Immigration Law: Let’s Try it Here at Home
By J. Michael Waller

Mexico has a radical idea for a rational immigration policy that most Americans would love. However, Mexican officials haven’t been sharing that idea with us as they press for our Congress to adopt the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill.

That’s too bad, because Mexico, which annually deports more illegal aliens than the United States does, has much to teach us about how it handles the immigration issue. Under Mexican law, it is a felony to be an illegal alien in Mexico.

Read the article, please.

A Different Christmas Story

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam'
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least?
Give you money?" I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, Would you do the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. Service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

Attributed to:
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One

Apathy Threatens Democracy in the USofA

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government."

"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury."

"From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years."

"During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. from bondage to spiritual faith;
2. from spiritual faith to great courage;
3. from courage to liberty;
4. from liberty to abundance;
5. from abundance to complacency;
6. from complacency to apathy;
7. from apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage"

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:

Number of States won by: Gore: 19; Bush: 29

Square miles of land won by: Gore: 580,000; Bush: 2,427,000

Population of counties won by: Gore: 127 million; Bush: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Gore: 13.2; Bush: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."

Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty-million criminal invaders called illegals and they vote, then we can say good-bye to the USA in fewer than five years.

Apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

Islam is without Laughter II

I want to reemphasize my point in the last post.

Islam or Mohammedanism is not a cheerful ideology. There is no joy in Islam-ville. There is only wailing and fist raising and gnashing of teeth against anyone and anything that is not Islam or who doesn't imitate the Koranic Mohammed.

Why is that?

In civilizations of the world prior to the advent of the "Wars of Mohammedanism," there is joy, laughter, music, dancing, singing, and propagation of the arts for the pleasure and enjoyment of the community. Whether pagan or Christian, people not shackled with Mohammedanism are prone to enjoy life for the sake of life. They are free to use sarcasm, satire, the arts and graffiti to express themselves. Civilizations not shackled with Mohammedanism have both time and opportunity to educate, invent, farm, raise animals, work for the betterment of their societies, and create infrastructures and governments which represent diverse points of view. And they prefer peace over war but are willing to stand up to those who would attempt to destroy their vibrant and genuine way of life.

Mohammed created a capricious god and a religion of lies. Because he claimed that "god said" thus and so, no human could or would examine the Koran in the way that scholars expose Judeo-Christian theology to scrutiny and exegesis. The Koran prevents and prohibits the very style of close examination which all other cultural and religious ideologies undergo in a dynamic and vital civilization.

Why is that? I opine because Mohammedanism is a dead religion. It was created by a man and for those who enjoined themselves to his tribe. Once the war-lord died, so should have his religion and culture of death.

Interestingly, even the Catholic Encyclopedia sees the ambiguity of the "real" Mohammed and the one conjured up by his apologists. Mohammed wasn't a good Mohammedan. His life showed disrespect for the very religion he created.

It is a very sad circumstance that Mohammedanism failed to die with its creator.

Islam is without Laughter

I was sitting in the backyard at my son's home talking to him while he smoked and fried turkeys for Thanksgiving and the thought hit me that Islam doesn't understand the USofA well enough to subdue the entire Nation.

There are some people who for reasons of their own seek to undermine the strength of the USofA. And the USofA has a lot of strengths. We're an intelligent bunch of people who've taken Western Civilization to heights not even dreamed of by those alive a thousand years ago or even a hundred years ago or even fifty years ago.

My own dear grandparents started life in a horse-drawn buggy and before they passed away had flown in a jet airplane. Think about that for a while. The USofA has made humongous gi-normous strides in every field of study. Chemistry, electronics, medicine, psychiatry, . . . just to name a few, . . . have grown and branched out into additional fields of study because the USofA doesn't stop to rest on her laurels. She (the USofA) continues to grow and expand and push the limits of imagination into the realm of reality.

I'm not going to name or list the geniuses we've paid homage to in the USofA, just google and find them on your own. This is not about them, it's about us.

Islam aka Mohammedanism is a school of thought based on the ramblings of a man who became a "tribal leader" and then did what some men who attain a certain amount of booty do. He became full of himself. He placed himself above all others. In his own mind, he became 'the perfect human' above which and beside which there would be no other.

But he forgot one little thing. The most important thing failed to cognate between the hemispheres of his noggin. He forgot that he would grow old and die and would no longer be the 'leader' of the tribe.

Because he became conceited and set himself above all laws both written on parchment and on the hearts of humans, he started doing things which he knew were wrong morally and ethically. To vindicate himself, he dictated at length the reasons he was allowed to break any and all laws as he broke them. And to additionally place the stamp of approval on himself, Muhammad claimed that what he said was from god and could not be changed, ever.

There-in lies the key to understanding Islam for what it truly is. The early writings, as I understand, were explanations about daily life and how to get along with the neighboring tribes who didn't believe in Muhammad or his god. The writings or sayings of Muhammad which were written before he became a tribal chief are interspersed in the Koran (which is not set down chronologically but rather by the length of the narrative) with later sayings where he was trying to vindicate himself for his actions.

Due to many pagan doctrines which 'tribal chief' Muhammad had incorporated into his belief system so that he could destroy, kill, rape and steal from others thereby becoming a wealthy tribal chief, Muhammad himself drifted away from the ideal of his own cultural and religious system.

Islam is not only without laughter, Muhammad is responsible for making it a laughing-stock in the realm of religious and cultural ideology. Those who follow the Koran and suras follow a marred philosophy. The dogma of Islam has been flawed by Muhammad himself when his sayings attempted to justify his illicit behaviors.

Muhammad may have started his own religion and culture but he failed to incorporate his own code of ethics into his personal life once he became a tribal chief with the ability to wage war.

Because there are enough intelligent people in the USofA who can 'see through' the illusion of Islam to the core of its deformed ethic, Muhammadans will never be able to over-run the entire Country.

Sometimes you have to stop reading the "news"

Ever read the news and suddenly realized that reading it was the root cause of your stress?

Well, me, too.

The only GOOD news I found is here. Seems Congress and renowned scientists finally realized I am correct about global warming! Yes, there are 60 scientists who have spoken out.

“Observational evidence does not support today's computer climate models, so there is little reason to trust model predictions of the future…Significant [scientific] advances have been made since the [Kyoto] protocol was created, many of which are taking us away from a concern about increasing greenhouse gases. If, back in the mid-1990s, we knew what we know today about climate, Kyoto would almost certainly not exist, because we would have concluded it was not necessary,” the 60 scientists wrote.

“It was only 30 years ago that many of today's global-warming alarmists were telling us that the world was in the midst of a global-cooling catastrophe. But the science continued to evolve, and still does, even though so many choose to ignore it when it does not fit with predetermined political agendas,” the 60 scientists concluded.

No need to apologize, I stood firm on my beliefs and I am vindicated as I knew I would be. The "greenies" can weep in their vegan tofurky on Thanksgiving and I shall dance in the street in thanksgiving for standing up to them and not allowing them to influence what I knew was true.

Responses anyone?

I haven't had anyone respond to my posts. Not the personal ones nor the political ones nor the religious ones nor the 'funny' ones.

My email has a special file for stupid people's emails and it remains empty, even though those stupid people are listed in my email rules to go to that folder.



Wondering why the folder was empty, I searched my email rules and discovered that I'd forgotten to remove the stupid people from my "blocked senders" email file.

So that's been fixed. Any stupid people who want to email me can now do so and the email will go directly into your very own email file when I download all my emails. Then I can read the stupid people's emails at my leisure.

This assumes that the stupid people in my life know who they are. And I do believe that they do. I know of only two such people. One stalked me after we broke up and he's not that computer literate. Yes "Mac" that means you. The other claims to be illiterate but can use a computer, so should be working instead of living on the dole. I guess acting stupid pays off for people who have no pride.

I recommend counseling and prescription drugs for both stupid people who think their tirades affect my life.

Tattoo?

For me.


Something like this for my hiking friend.

Comments?

Whoa! Are you sure? The RED Corvette?!

I cannot believe this. My backpacking friend and I went touring the countryside on Saturday. She saw this Vette for sale and we stopped to see it. She fell in love.

It's a 1988 T-Top Red Corvette!!!

And it appears that my backpacking friend is going to be able to buy it! If all goes well, she picks it up right before Christmas.

What a great Christmas present!

How to be a Liberal

How to Be a Good Liberal

You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean Communists.

You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.

You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical ocumented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.

You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.

You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Gen. Robert E. Lee, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell.

You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.

You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

You have to believe that conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and beastiality should be constitutionally protected and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese government is somehow in the best interest to the United States.

You have to believe that it's okay to give federal workers Christmas Day off but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."

You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast right wing conspiracy.

If you DON'T agree with the above, maybe you're not as "liberal" as you thought. Maybe it's time for some soul searching. You might find a nice quite pew in a Church where you can sit down and work out your conflicted soul to decide what you really believe. Pace e Bene.

Pumping Iron

Joined a fitness club today and had my first 30 minute work out.

Yes, 30 minutes. I'm out of shape, so we start in small increments.

And no Praline Pecan Parfait at Dairy Queen will entice me to gain 50 pounds in one year ever again.

I hope to have lost what I want to lose by March. I want to be able to get on the StairMaster with a full pack and pump it for at least four hours by March 1.

Everything is so positive right now. So peaceful. So calm.

Turning 62 was like sliding into homebase and not even feeling the slide. Standing up and dusting myself off and returning to the duggout as the crowds in the stands clapped and cheered. A big grin on my face. I made it. I lived to be 62. I was able to retire with health insurance. I'm in okay condition and soon to be better than average condition. And I am committed to working out and getting my body in as good shape as my mind thinks I already am.

Ever look in a mirror and do a double-take at the reflection? I look and say "who are you?" and "where's the body my mind thinks I have?" Well in four months, I'm gonna be there or as close as I can get.

For you doubters -- only time will tell. LOL.

Anti-Al Qaeda Nuns

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

Democrat Agenda in the past year

I didn't make this up. I followed a link to another link and it turned up on my monitor. And I had to share it.




The following is an abridged list of actual bills that have been introduced by House Democrats this or last year.




Justice for the Unprotected against Sexually Transmitted Infections among the Confined and Exposed Act (JUSTICE) Act (Lee, D-CA)—H.R. 6083. Requires community organizations to be allowed to distribute sexual barrier protection devices (e.g. condoms) in federal prisons. Also prohibits a federal prison from taking adverse action against a prisoner who possesses or uses a sexual barrier protection device.



Crack-Cocaine Equitable Sentencing Act (Rangel, D-NY)—H.R. 2456. Eliminates the mandatory minimum sentence for crack-cocaine convictions.



Tupac Shakur Records Release Act of 2006 (McKinney, D-GA)—H.R. 4968. Enshrines copies of government records concerning rapper Tupac Shakur in a specially created collection at the National Archives.



Antibullying Campaign Act (Nadler, D-NY)—H.R. 3787. Creates a new federal grant program aimed at reducing bullying in public schools “based on any distinguishing characteristic of an individual.”



To provide for coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs of incontinence undergarments (Frank, D-MA)—H.R. 1052. Makes adult diapers a covered item under Medicare and Medicaid.



Gas Stamp Act (McDermott, D-WA)—H.R. 3712. Creates billions of dollars in gas stamps each year for people to get free gas, to be distributed to those already eligible for food stamps.



States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (Frank, D-MA)—H.R. 2087. Allows physicians in states with medical marijuana laws to prescribe marijuana without violating federal law.



Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act (Rangel, D-NY)—H.R. 663. Allows those convicts who are just out of prison to vote.



Department of Peace and Nonviolence Act (Kucinich, D-OH)—H.R. 3760. Establishes a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence, as well as a Peace Day. The department would promote “human rights,” international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, structured mediation, and peaceful conflict resolution.



National Health Insurance Act (Dingell, D-MI)—H.R. 15. Institutes a new 5% value-added tax on property and services and creates a board to oversee payment to any individual for medical services not covered by Medicare.



Freedom of Choice Act (Nadler, D-NY)—H.R. 5151. Creates a right to unrestricted pre-viability abortions, and late terms abortions for the life and health of the mother.



End the War in Iraq Act (McGovern, D-MA)—H.R. 4232. Defunds the War in Iraq, forcing immediate troop withdrawal.



Public Interest Lawyer Assistance Relief Act (Andrews, D-NJ)—H.R. 1753. Forgives the law school debt for attorneys working for a tax-exempt organization or the government.



A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act (Lee, D-CA)—H.R. 1050. Builds on and strengthens FDR’s “Economic Bill of Rights,” creating rights to “decent” jobs, income for individuals unable to work, a “decent” living for farmers, freedom from monopolies, “decent” housing, “adequate” health care, Social Security, education, work training, collective bargaining, a safe working environment, information on trends in pollution sources and products and processes that affect the well-being of workers throughout the world, voting, and personal security. The bill also requires the Attorney General to create a registry of all corporations convicted of violating state or federal law.



Social Security Forever Act (Wexler, D-FL)—H.R. 2472. Imposes a new income tax on workers, employers, and self-employed businessmen to fund Social Security.



Health Security for All Americans Act (Baldwin, D-WI)—H.R. 2133. Requires states to create programs to ensure universal health coverage, and allows states to force employers to pay for health insurance for their employees.



Universal National Service Act (Rangel, D-NY)—H.R. 4752. Makes it an obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the U.S., between the ages of 18 and 42, to perform a two-year period of national service, either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense.



Living American Wage Act (Green, D-TX)—H.R. 5731. Mandates that the federal minimum wage be equal to or greater than 112% of the federal poverty threshold beginning in 2007, and states that the minimum wage should be revised every four years.



Media Ownership Reform Act (Hinchey, D-NY)—H.R. 3302. Restricts ownership of radio and television stations, forcing some owners to divest their holdings, and regulates broadcast content.



Universal Education Act (Kind, D-WI)—H.R. 3930. Creates a Universal Education Corporation that provides taxpayer dollars to foreign countries that enter into education reform agreements with the U.S.



Medicare for All Act (Dingell, D-MI)—H.R. 4683. Increases taxes on workers and employers to offer to all citizens, and other individuals legally present in the U.S., Medicare benefits equivalent to the health care plans federal employees receive.



Menu Education and Labeling Act (DeLauro, D-CT)—H.R. 5563. Regulates what certain restaurants must print on their menus.



Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right of all citizens of the United States to a public education of equal high quality (Jackson, D-IL)—H.J.Res. 29. Creates a constitutional right to equal public education.



Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right of citizens of the United States to health care of equal high quality (Jackson, D-IL)—H.J.Res. 30. Creates a constitutional right to equal health care.



Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States respecting the right to decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing (Jackson, D-IL)—H.J.Res. 32 and Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States respecting the right to a home (Rangel, D-NY)—H.J.Res 40. Creates a constitutional right to housing.



Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States respecting the right to full employment and balanced growth (Jackson, D-IL)—H.J.Res. 35. Creates a constitutional right to full employment.



####


RSC Staff Contact: Marcus Kelley, marcus.kelley@mail.house.gov, (202) 226-9717

RIP dear American Soldier

This afternoon, I stood with a group of people who'd been asked by the Blue Ridge GA newspaper, to honor a fallen soldier. I don't even know the soldier's name. When his funeral procession came by, everyone saluted or put his had on his heart. Some cried. A child in one of the limousines waved through an open window. This soldier represented all of the soldiers who have died and those still in Iraq and other deployments around the world.

Rest In Peace, dear American Soldier. Thank you for making the greatest sacrifice. I hope your family received comfort from those who stood along highways and roadways today honoring you.

Welcome home, Soldier.

Friday the thirteenth

This was written by a Democrat.

Dear Mr. Ex President Clinton:

I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Thank me, I voted for Clinton-Gore." So, I sat down and reflected on that,and I am sending my "Thank you" for what you have done, specifically:

1. Thank you for introducing us to Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Dolly Kyle Browning, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broderick. Did I leave anyone out?

2. Thank you for teaching my 8 year old about oral sex. I had really planned to wait until he was a little older to discuss it with him, but now he knows more about it than I did as a senior in college.

3. Thank you for showing us that sexual harassment in the work place (especially the White House) and on the job is OK, and all you have to know is what the meaning of "it" is. It really is great to know that certain sexual acts are not sex, and one person may have sex while the other one does NOT have sex.

4. Thank you for reintroducing the concept of impeachment to a new generation and demonstrating that the ridiculous plot of the movie "Wag the Dog"could be plausible after all.

5. Thanks for making Jimmy Carter look competent, Gerald Ford look graceful,Richard Nixon look honest, Lyndon Johnson look truthful, and John Kennedy look moral.

6. Thank you for the 73 House and Senate witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment and 17 witnesses who have fled the country to avoid testifying about Democratic campaign fund raising.

7. Thank you, for the 19 charges, 8 convictions, and 4 imprisonment's from the Whitewater "mess" and the 55 criminal charges and 32 criminal convictions (so far) in the other "Clinton" scandals.

8. Thanks also for reducing our military by half, "gutting" much of our foreign policy, and flying all over the world on "vacations"carefully disguised as necessary trips.

9 Thank you, also, for "finding" millions of dollars (I really didn't need it in the first place, and I can't think of a more deserving group of recipients for my hard-earned tax dollars) for all of your globe-trotting. I understand you, the family and your cronies have logged in more time aboard Air Force One than any other administration.

10. Now that you've left the White House, thanks for the 140 pardons of convicted felons and indicted felons-in-exile. We will love to have them rejoin society. (Not to mention the scores you pardoned while Governor of Arkansas)

11. Thanks also for removing the White House silverware. I'm sure that Laura Bush didn't like the pattern anyway. Also; enjoy the house warming gifts you've received from your "friends."

12. Thanks to you and your staff in the West Wing of the White House for vandalizing and destroying government property on the way out. I also appreciate removing all of that excess weight ( China, silverware, linen, towels,ash trays, soap, pens, magnetic compass, flight manuals, etc.) out of Air Force 1. The weight savings means burning less fuel, thus less tax dollars spent on jet fuel. Thank you!

13. And finally, please ensure that Hillary enjoys the $8 million dollar advance for her "tell-all" book and you, Bill, the $10 million advance for your memoirs. Who says crime doesn't pay! This is from two people that couldn't remember anything while in the White House!

14. The last and most important point - Thank You for forcing Israel to let Mohammed Atta go free. Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammed Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center. This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. Why shouldn't Americans know the real truth?

What a guy!!!

God bless America and THANK YOU (once again) for spending my taxes so wisely and frugally.

SINCERELY, A US Citizen

PS.

Please pass along a special thank you to Al Gore for "inventing" the Internet, without which I would not be able to send this wonderful, factual e-mail.

AND THE REST OF THE STORY Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a New York State Senator,now comes under the "Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan,"which means that even if she never gets re-elected, she STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies. (Would it not be nice if all Americans were pension eligible after only 4 years?)

If Bill out lives her, he then inherits HER salary until HE dies. He is already getting his Presidential salary until he dies.

If Hillary out lives Bill, she also gets HIS salary until she dies. Guess who pays for that?

WE DO!

It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua , New York. Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense. Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents.

The Clintons charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton 's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff - and, this is all perfectly legal! When she runs for President, will you vote for her?

...Muslims prove Islam is religion of violence by murdering Catholic priest.

Nearly every one of the links below produces a story exactly like the one preceeding it. For a second, I thought, why put them all in? Then I decided that it was to be a small tribute to the great faith of a Syrian rite Priest in Mosul, Iraq.

Aljazerra.net
WISC-TV Madison, WI
WCSH6.com Portland, ME
WESQ News Channel 3 Palm Dessert, CA
The Boston Channel 5, MA
Los Angeles, CA NBC4.tv
Dallas/Ft Worth TX NBC5i.com
Assyrian International News Agency
KETV.com Omaha
WESH.com Orlando, FL
The Hometown Channel.com AR
nbc4.com DC MD VA
News4Jax.com FL
WPXI.com Pittsburgh, PA
KIROTV.com WA
WTOV9.com OH WV
WSOCTV.com NC
WFTV.com FL
NBC13.com AL
TheMilwaukee WI Channel.com WISCtv
wnbc.com NYC
newsnet5.com OH
WJACtv.com PA
WXII11.com NC
WBAL Channel.com MD
wnbc19.com NC
WSBTV.com Atlanta GA
Local 6.com FL
The Denver Channel.com
NBC4i.com OH
Turn To 23.com CA
NBC6.net FL
WTAE TV 4 The Pittsburgh Channel.com PA
KSAT tv Click on SA.com TX
NBC4.com CA
Local 10.com FL
NBC 11.com GA
WRAL.com NC
NBC 11.com CA
WKOX tv.com TX NM
Kansas City Channel.com MO
NBC10.com PA NJ DE
The Hawaii Channel.com HI
NBC 30.com CT
WHIO TV.com OH
10 News.com CA
Click 2 Houston.com TX
The INDY Channel.com IN
WDIV tv.com Detroit MI
NBC 5 tv Chicago IL
The KSBW Channel.com CA
KTUV.com CA
KCRA tv.com CA
KCCI.com IA
WMTW tv ME
WSTM tv.com NY
Eyewitness News RI
WAVY.com VA
KFVS tv MO
WBOC tv DE MD VA
WHO-tv.com IA
WCSH tv.com ME
WANE tv IN
KVOA tv.com Phoenix AZ
FOX 12 Boise ID
KVIA tv TX
KPLC tv.com LA
KXAN-tv.com Austin TX
WOI-tv IA
KOLD-tv.com AZ
WBAY tv.com WI
KNDO/KNDU WA
WLUC tv6.com MI
KTRE tv.com TX
WWAY tv3.com NC

Revelation 20:4

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Is it a stem or a stalk?

Stalk: Noun; the stem of a plant.
Stalk: Verb, Instransitive; to walk with a stiff, haughty, or angry gait; to move threateningly or menacingly.
Stalk: Verb, Transitive; to follow or observe (a person) persistently, especially out of obsession or derangement.
Stalking: Noun; Broadly, engaging in a course of conduct directed at a person that serves no legitimate purpose and seriously annoys that person.

In 1999, I was stalked by a former boyfriend. I broke off the relationship for a number of reasons. He barely graduated from Georgia Tech and was proud of barely graduating. He was also proud of naming his daughters after his old girlfriends, none of whom would marry him. As a scholar and a woman, I perceived his educational accomplishment as nothing to brag of and his naming his daughters after old girlfriends as a character flaw. The larger question for me was "Why is he telling me this?" Am I supposed to congratulate him for barely passing his college courses? Did he think it was 'cute' to have named his daughters for his old girl friends? He is (or was if he's not still breathing) totally unimpressive.

In 2005, I had the misfortune to inherit a stalker from a hiker-friend of mine. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time and having emails interpreted differently from intended by someone who has no real grasp of reality created the "intemperant cyber stalker." This person has obvious mental handicaps and while able to type on a computer has no understanding that the art of communication does not include intimidation and threats. This person does not have the talents needed to integrate into society and so prefers to stand out as an example of "who not to grow up to be" for children everywhere. This person is totally and completely unimpressive.

Sometimes people don't realize that the phrase "here's your sign" refers to them.

As Forrest Gump once said: Stupid is as Stupid does.

So how did I move from victim to victorious? The boyfriend received a certified letter to cease and desist. The cyber stalker has been eliminated from my inbox. The reason for this post? When does cyber stalking turn into vandalizing? Maybe someone familiar with the situation has a clue and can share it.

I'm 62 and retired! Right where I want to be!

Well, I'm retired. I'm also jobless. But that's okay, because I'm retired.

How does it feel? Everyone asks that. It was like "sliding into home base." There were no blinding lights, no magical moment, just -- left the office and drove home.

On the 30th I drove up to my son's in Tennessee and am here having celebrated my birthday with 36 of my son's neighbors. My daughter-in-law is one of those people who can put a party together and be hostess and make everyone feel comfortable. She's a gem.

Since I've retired, I don't have to drive back home just yet, so I'll be here for a bit longer.

I'm reading which I find most eye-opening. I'll have a book report for the blog after I've finished reading.

Thru Hike wise: All set to start 18 March 2006 from Springer. Plan to do some preparatory hiking in October and in November. I own all the gear except the Sawyer water filter, Ursak, food and cook pot. I'll use what I have to see if it meets my needs. Not sure if I'll take Casey with me in October, but may. She's been in the kennel (with Chester) all this week and just might enjoy a short saunter in the woods. Nothing strenuous. Guess I need to do a bit of waterproofing when I get home.

I had posted images of my gear, but some of them refused to show up, so I'll make that available at another time.

Edited by AuntieCoosa 10/10/2006.

A bit of relevant history

Behind each image is a part of the history of the bin Laden family.



Part One.......................Part Two......................Part Two continued.

Freedom of speech relates to blogs. This is my contribution to exercise this elemental right of U.S. Citizens.
"Let's Roll!" U-S-A...U-S-A...U-S-A!!!

It worked before! Do it again!

PRESIDENTS HOOVER & EISENHOWER DEPORTED MILLIONS OF ILLEGALS SO AMERICANS HAD WORK!

Back during the great depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the deportation of all illegal aliens in order to make the jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work. And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 1.3 million Mexican nationals (called operation "Wetback") in order that returning American WWII and Korean veterans had a better chance at jobs.

It took 2 years, but they deported them. If they could deport the illegals back then, they can sure do it today!! If you have doubts about the veracity of this information, just type Operation Wetback into your favorite search engine and confirm it for yourself.

Reminder

Don't forget to pay your taxes.....

12 million illegal aliens are depending on you!

Maranatha

Even so, Lord, come quickly.

In the News:
The Pope proves his point by quoting the erudite Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez contemptuous of USA in USA.
1000 Taliban killed in Afghanistan, survivors will regroup to fight again.
A stolen baby is found.

And not in the news, but news none the less:
Auntie Coosa's angels watching over her as car breaks down in a convenient spot.
Repair and replacement of worn parts will cost in the neighborhood of $1000. The car still gets 38 miles to the gallon, so it's getting repaired.

Auntie Coosa has seven more work days until retirement. So, she laughed at the inconvenience of being without a car for a couple days. No one got hurt and you can't take it with you, so you may as well spend it on something useful.

What is important in this situation? As in all situations it is important to Love God, to Do Mercy and to be willing to be martyred for the Faith.

I am proud of 'my' Pope. The former Archbishop of Canterbury has added his voice of approval for Pope Benedict. Some of my friends have indicated that the Christian and Jewish communities are beinging drawn together as a result of this situation. I hope so.

And if you don't know WHAT to do. Pray. Just continue to grow in your Faith in God and pray, pray, pray.

Pace e Bene.

Retirement = Gettin' Political

I really didn't intend to become more political when I retire, but it seems that's the course laid out for me.

Just think of me as "a voice crying: In the wilderness of your lives, create a straight path to the Lord."

If you're waffling, if you say you're not particularly 'religious,' if you say you don't believe in 'fairy tales,' if you've left the Church, then climb on board the "Coosa Caboose" because it's going to be a wild ride! Or just skip the posts and dialogue, whatever your pleasure. Just remember, I will say "I told you so" when the end of times arrives. Maranatha! Even so Lord Jesus come quickly!

When I discuss politics, the title will always include the words "Coosa's Caboose." You are forewarned. So skip over it or read it at your own peril.

Here's a political statement. Cover your children's eyes.



Now here's something they can meditate on.

Monk praying.

I'm adding this link for your additional education. The Anchoress has an excellent article and links and a list of related articles on the subject of faith, reason, forced conversions and martyrdom.

Think long and hard about what YOU would do, should you be called to convert or die by a Mohammedan.

A Message for Legislators Regarding the WOT

I've already sent this to my State and Federal Legislators and I post it here for others to consider sending to their legislators.

Dear Legislator,

If you are not reading the following blog regularly, may I recommend this to you and to your legislative colleagues?

http://regimechangeiran.blogspot.com/

We all must remain educated on the subject of Islam so that we are not blind-sided by false accusations of "islamophobia" (which is merely a smoke screen to hide the real intent).

Thank you,

Pope Benedict XVI teaches at the University of Regensburg

The discussion is entitled: "Three Stages in the Program of De-Hellenization" and here are quotes (emphasis mine):

I was reminded of all this (reasonability to raise the question of God through the use of reason, and to do so in the context of the tradition of the Christian faith) recently, when I read the edition by professor Theodore Khoury (Muenster) of part of the dialogue carried on -- perhaps in 1391 in the winter barracks near Ankara -- by the erudite Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on the subject of Christianity and Islam, and the truth of both.

It was probably the emperor himself who set down this dialogue, during the siege of Constantinople between 1394 and 1402; and this would explain why his arguments are given in greater detail than the responses of the learned Persian. The dialogue ranges widely over the structures of faith contained in the Bible and in the Koran, and deals especially with the image of God and of man, while necessarily returning repeatedly to the relationship of the "three Laws": the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Koran.

In this lecture I would like to discuss only one point -- itself rather marginal to the dialogue itself -- which, in the context of the issue of "faith and reason," I found interesting and which can serve as the starting point for my reflections on this issue.

In the seventh conversation ("diálesis" -- controversy) edited by professor Khoury, the emperor touches on the theme of the jihad (holy war). The emperor must have known that sura 2:256 reads: "There is no compulsion in religion." It is one of the suras of the early period, when Mohammed was still powerless and under [threat]. But naturally the emperor also knew the instructions, developed later and recorded in the Koran, concerning holy war.

Without descending to details, such as the difference in treatment accorded to those who have the "Book" and the "infidels," he turns to his interlocutor somewhat brusquely with the central question on the relationship between religion and violence in general, in these words: "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The emperor goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. "God is not pleased by blood, and not acting reasonably ("syn logo") is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats.... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...."

The decisive statement in this argument against violent conversion is this: Not to act in accordance with reason is contrary to God's nature. The editor, Theodore Khoury, observes: For the emperor, as a Byzantine shaped by Greek philosophy, this statement is self-evident. But for Muslim teaching, God is absolutely transcendent. His will is not bound up with any of our categories, even that of rationality. Here Khoury quotes a work of the noted French Islamist R. Arnaldez, who points out that Ibn Hazn went so far as to state that God is not bound even by his own word, and that nothing would oblige him to reveal the truth to us. Were it God's will, we would even have to practice idolatry.

As far as understanding of God and thus the concrete practice of religion is concerned, we find ourselves faced with a dilemma which nowadays challenges us directly. Is the conviction that acting unreasonably contradicts God's nature merely a Greek idea, or is it always and intrinsically true?

[snip]

In all honesty, one must observe that in the late Middle Ages we find trends in theology which would sunder this synthesis between the Greek spirit and the Christian spirit. In contrast with the so-called intellectualism of Augustine and Thomas, there arose with Duns Scotus a voluntarism which ultimately led to the claim that we can only know God's "voluntas ordinata." Beyond this is the realm of God's freedom, in virtue of which he could have done the opposite of everything he has actually done.

This gives rise to positions which clearly approach those of Ibn Hazn and might even lead to the image of a capricious God, who is not even bound to truth and goodness. God's transcendence and otherness are so exalted that our reason, our sense of the true and good, are no longer an authentic mirror of God, whose deepest possibilities remain eternally unattainable and hidden behind his actual decisions.

As opposed to this, the faith of the Church has always insisted that between God and us, between his eternal Creator Spirit and our created reason there exists a real analogy, in which unlikeness remains infinitely greater than likeness, yet not to the point of abolishing analogy and its language (cf. Lateran IV).

God does not become more divine when we push him away from us in a sheer, impenetrable voluntarism; rather, the truly divine God is the God who has revealed himself as logos and, as logos, has acted and continues to act lovingly on our behalf. Certainly, love "transcends" knowledge and is thereby capable of perceiving more than thought alone (cf. Ephesians 3:19); nonetheless it continues to be love of the God who is logos. Consequently, Christian worship is "logic latreía" -- worship in harmony with the eternal Word and with our reason (cf. Romans 12:1).

[snip]

A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures.

[snip]

"Not to act reasonably (with logos) is contrary to the nature of God," said Manuel II, according to his Christian understanding of God, in response to his Persian interlocutor. It is to this great logos, to this breadth of reason, that we invite our partners in the dialogue of cultures. To rediscover it constantly is the great task of the university.

[Translation of German original issued by the Holy See; adapted]

© Copyright 2006 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Now, I ask you to read the entire lecture and you will see that the Main Stream Media have twisted the intent of the message. And I believe the real message is that last quote above . . . "Not to act reasonably is contrary to the nature of God."

If Islam and Mohammedanism cannot act reasonably, how can they dialogue their culture and religion with other religions? And as we see, with the assistance of the MSM, Mohammedans are willing to behead and kill those who would say that their religion is violent.

Does the word "reasonability" have no Arabic translation? Apparently so.

The Truths the Democrats Fear

The Democrats threatened ABC/Disney over "The Path to 9/11" - but what's so extraordinary that legislators in the federal government would use their power so...cravenly? Apparently, the truth hurts.

Click on the title or the lines above and when you get to the YouTube screens on the site, you may have to click on the arrow at the left side of the screen twice to get it to load and play (as I did).

If you haven't visited YouTube yet, I invite you to do so and to search for "WTC" or "World Trade Center" or "911" (in any configuration) to watch some lovely tributes as well as to see some footage you may not have seen before.

Support Traditional Values!

Urban Sprawl as Urban Myth

Read the article by Anne Casselman in DISCOVER Vol. 27 No. 09 | September 2006 | Environment

So click on the link and read the entire article. I so love it when I'm intuitively correct.

This made my weekend! But then, I'm easy to entertain. Auntie Coosa

Crock and The Croc

Scene: Heaven

From below, a tanned man wearing khaki short sleeve button down shirt, khaki shorts and hiking boots ascends.

From above, a buff colored Cocker Spaniel comes prancing over the clouds.

First to speak, the Cocker says, "Hey, I hear you're looking for me."

The man says, "G'day mate. Do I know you? Why do you think I'm looking for you?"

The Cocker says, "I heard that someone was hunting a Crock and that's my knickname."

The man laughs and says, "WhoooooHoooooo, they call me 'The Croc Hunter' as in Crocodile. I'm looking for me Mum and me best mate, Suey."

The Cocker smiles his clownish grin and says, "They're over here waiting on you. C'mon and I'll take you there."

Crock and The Croc walk side by side, ascending the clouds into the realm they'll call home until it's our turn to do the same.

(Now, do NOT tell me that dogs don't go to heaven or that Steve Irwin isn't there [yet], or any such foolishness. This is the scene in my heart, not actual fact. Just because no One lets me get there to check out this story doesn't mean I can't visualize it and enjoy it for what it is: a scene in my heart. As you read this, put aside all your negativity and just enjoy the tale. You too may have a "heart scene" that you've never shared with anyone because you're afraid of negative comments. Feel free to share in the comments. And if you don't want me to post the comment, let me know, as I moderate all comments.)

Pace e Bene,
Auntie Coosa

Crockett -- a year later

On the anniversary of Crockett's death (09/03), I was visiting my son and his family. The entire month of August, I have mourned his death. I have not made the pilgrimage to his burial site in about six months. He lives in my heart and only his bones and skin are there. I will go visit and put new flowers on his grave this month.

The defining moments in my life (so far): The birth of my children, their marriages and the birth of my grandchildren. The deaths of my grandparents. Easter Triiduum 1992 when I was confirmed into the Catholic Church. Being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. The day John Kennedy was killed. The terrorists planes ramming the Twin Towers on 09/11/2001. And the death of Crockett Nicholas on 09/03/2005.

I've had other 'moments' but I've chosen these at this time to define me.
1- I'm a mother and a grandmother.
2- I lost my grandparents, moving me up one rung on the forebear ladder from 'grandchild' to 'parent.'
3- Becoming a Catholic is indescribable: it was the culmination of my spiritual search for "place."
4- Having FMS has been a challenge. I was able to hold the disability at bay with vitamin supplements, but it finally wore me down and I am on prescriptions which allow me to function more or less 'normally' (depending on your definition of 'normal' of course).
5- The day JFK was shot, I was a freshman at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. On my way back to my dorm (the old "Auburn Hall" which is now apartments), someone walked past me and told me JFK had been shot. Now, I was a Goldwater Girl, but I knew enough to say "don't joke about such things" not knowing that it wasn't just 'idle talk' but reality. I remember standing in the doorway to the dorm room of the only girl in Auburn Hall with a television set (black and white) and watching the replay of the event. It was not something I assimilated easily. We don't (the USA doesn't) kill its Presidents, we just vote them out of office (at least every 8 years if not every 4). But JFK was shot and killed. And for what? Did the USA go into a hidey-hole? No, we are (the USA is) too diverse to do that. We get up and continue to live our lives.
6- On September 11, 2001, I had a dental appointment in a town south of where I live and was on the highway driving there when the terrorists used our own airplanes to strike a blow at the USA. I arrived and was ushered into the area where the staff and dentist were watching the replays. I was the only patient they'd not been able to contact to change my dentist appointment. We talked and then I got my teeth cleaned and we watched more news. My comment was "This is the USA, this doesn't happen in the USA!" Well, of course, it did. We know the hows and whys now, five years later. The 9/11 Commission Report is being made into a docudrama by ABC News and Disney (edited due to threats by the Democrat Party who do not like to see the truth show up on everyone's television screens) this Sept 10 and 11. The 5 hour docudrama is reportedly taken directly from the 9/11 Commission Report.
7- Crockett was run over at 12:15 AM on 09/03/05. His death was devastating to me. The only parallel is the death of both grandmothers. My one grandmother decided she was going to die and two weeks later she did. She was my anchor to my genealogy. The other grandmother's death cost me my "grandchild" status. I was a traumatized zombie for two weeks after that. But with Crockie, I've never quite gotten over his untimely death. Partly out of guilt for not leashing him, partly out of anger that the truck (pulling a double wheeled open trailer) could have slowed, honked, and missed him. Instead the driver hit him, got him caught in the double wheels of the trailer, zig-zagged along the road to release his trapped body, and turned off his running lights so that no one could read his tag number. He sped up once the body was left lying in the middle of the roadway. It was dark, I didn't even think that the "thud" I heard was Crockett's death, and it took me 10 to 15 minutes to locate his body. Crockett "always" went to the back yard. He had been beside me and then when I took something from the car into the house, I noticed he was gone. I never for once thought that he'd crossed the highway (he'd never done that before). Now, I'm fairly sure that he had seen deer eating fruit in the yard and they'd run across the street instead of back into the woods behind my house as they usually did. He followed and was prancing back home when he was hit.

Maybe because Crockett's death is the most recent "defining event" of my life, it's still the one which affects me the most. There was an indefinable specialness about Crockett. I miss him terribly. Crockett and Casey tolerated each other, but I know she missed him after he died.

(The date on the photo is not correct.)

Crocodile Hunter

One thing Steve and Terri Irwin did for the world is to give us a wealth of information about Australia. Suddenly everyone wanted to go to Australia to see their Zoo. Another thing they did was educate a generation of children and adults about wildlife. Steve's enthusiasm was contagious -- even through a television screen. He LIVED his life. And we who watched The Crocodile Hunter television programs are richer for it.

Terri, we will always hold you and Steve and your family in high regard.


Your family has been a part of our extended family for a long time. I pray that GOD will give you grace in this time of loss. You will always be dear to our hearts. There just are no adequate words to express our deep sympathy for you. We love you, Terri, Bindi and Bob. We love you.

Pace e Bene, Auntie Coosa