THE JESUS TOMB?

My lunch companions were all atwitter about the news of a “Jesus tomb” that was supposedly found; it was on all the national news channels!

James Cameron of “Titanic” directorial fame is involved and I suppose his involvement adds a small amount of credibility to the whole thing.

Christian scholars from around the world jumped on this with vigor and probably correctly, called it a clever promotion of a documentary film on the Discovery channel, a book and a DVD.

The timing of the whole thing is also interesting with Easter just around the corner.

I feel these types of so called “religious discoveries” play a positive role in our society because they bring up discussions that usually reveal how totally ignorant the religious public is about the historicity of their religion; I am talking about Christians here.

Many Christians are still surprised to learn that Jesus had a family. They all know about Mary and Joseph but few are taught that the Bible (New Testament) talks about brothers and sisters of Jesus. One brother is supposedly older than Jesus – virgin birth?

One immediate scholarly criticism was how Jesus’ family burial tomb could be located in Jerusalem; they were all from Galilee and they were dirt poor – the tomb belongs to an obviously middle class family.

Well, it is obvious that Jesus was in Jerusalem when he was crucified. His mother was there and his disciples were there also. Were they there just for the Passover? Did they ever go back to Nazareth after the crucifixion?

St. Paul indicates that the followers of Jesus were headquartered in Jerusalem after Jesus’ death, ostensibly waiting for him to materialize after death. His brother James was the head of the clan in Jerusalem and one would assume that he would keep his mother close by. James is known to have been buried in Jerusalem.

St. Paul also indicates that he raised a lot of money for the “saints” in Jerusalem and for this reason they did not throw Paul out on his ass when he came around saying he knew what Jesus was all about even though he never met him. It is quite possible that the Jesus “family/clan” was actually well to do with all the contributions coming in so they actually may have been able to afford a tomb.

There is very little evidence about the “Jesus people” after his crucifixion. We know that the group was called the “Ebonites” and that they left Jerusalem after the Roman destruction of the city in 70AD. Some scholars suggest that they headed for Syria where they all eventually died out.

We do know that this group never considered Jesus as divine but as a holy prophet. Obviously, the people that invented Christianity wanted nothing to do with the original followers of Jesus; they were heretics!

My point is that the Gospels are not historic documents so there is much we don’t know and probably will never know. Even if we do find the tomb of Jesus; how do we confirm his bones as his?

The group that made the documentary base all on the coincidence of the names found on in the tomb: Jesus son of Joseph, Judah son of Jesus, Maria, Marianne, Joseph and Mathew. Since all these names were quite common at the time of Jesus, what are the odds that they could be THE Jesus family?

Just a quick note before I end, scholars rationalize that if miracles do not occur and have not occurred in recorded history then they probably never occurred in biblical times either. The assumption of Jesus into “heaven” is a nice story but just that; he is buried somewhere but where?

Even if we found him, Christians will not buy it cause’ to buy it would mean that the whole religion is based on a fallacy.

More as the story develops…

OBAMA NOT BLACK ENOUGH?

Turning to the Democratic side of the Presidential race, we have the Barack Obama phenomenon.

I found it interesting that many American Blacks do not consider him as their own, saying he is “not black enough”. What does that mean?

Well Obama is not a descendant from African American slaves like most if not all American Blacks are. His father is from Africa (Kenya, I think) while his mother is a white woman from Kansas.

Ostensibly, he is a 50/50 mixture which makes him neither white nor black but a variation of both. In the old days we used to call such people “mulattoes” but I don’t think there is a specific word for them today even though there are many more of them in today’s America.

Tiger Woods is American Black / Asian but all regard him as black. The fact is that it does not matter what you call yourself, its all about the way you look and if you look white you will be taken as white and if black.. I do remember movies where children of mixed parents could pass for white, so I guess it can work either way.

Unfortunately, in our society, it matters how you look and color is a big factor. I think we have come a long way and many white Americans were and are prepared to vote for a black person for president. People point to Colin Powell as someone that could have won the presidency if he would have run. I have to point out that Colin was from Jamaican ancestry not African American slave ancestry even though his forebearers were probably all slaves too.

Does it matter what type of black you are to the American public? I think it does.

Do you think Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton ever had a chance? I think not.

American blacks realize that African blacks do not hold American blacks in high regard. They consider them lower class. I know this from personal experience with blacks from Africa.

American blacks, according to the latest poll, are supporting Hilary Clinton, just like they supported ole’ Bill. They knew they could count on them to dish out the money while Barack may be less of a socialist and more middle class, working stock type like Chicago, where he lives.

Shaping up to be quite an interesting race on both sides of the aisle.

RUDY MY MAN?

Lately, I have been wondering that since I have crossed Senator McCain off my list as potential Republican presidential candidates, what do I think about the rest of the Republicans in the race. How about ole’ Rudy Giuliani (63)!

He reminds me a little of good ole’ Bill Clinton. They both are very centrist; Democrat Clinton behaved like a Republican when it came to the economy and government in general but he was definitely a liberal Democrat when it came to social issues. Giuliani spouts off good Republican ideals like small government, fiscal responsibility, etc. but holds traditionally Democratic social views.

They both absolutely like to play with the ladies.

I have been advocating, for a long time, for a third political party that would hold the same views as Bill and Rudy. So do I have my candidate?

Not so fast. Rudy has to win over the Republican Party. He obviously feels that the Republicans that elected Bush are no longer in charge. The new Republicans are fed up with Bush stepping all over historic Republican ideals that define the Party; they want to go back to their roots.

Remember being a religious fanatic does not make you a Republican. Under Bush, the religious right claimed the Republican Party but things have changed. There has been a backlash from serious Christians who feel it was a huge mistake to align with a specific Party especially one that has so many hypocrites and downright crooks and perverts. New Republicans do not want to be identified with the religious right either.

Under Bush, Republicans thought that going the ‘Christian values’ way guaranteed a political win; now going that way is a liability. Hell, even Democrats were beginning to act like holy rollers, thinking they might as well join in the movement if it meant winning – things have certainly changed. BUT McCain does not know that!

Rudy has been married three (3) times and was caught cheating on his second wife, the first marriage was annulled after fourteen (14) years but no children; no sex for 14 years? I know, I know that is not the deciding factor. Actually he claimed his first wife was his second cousin and he did not know it so the marriage never happened – sure, whatever you say – you can pay the Vatican and get an annulment for any reason.

Will the Republican Party hold that against him or think it may hinder his chances for winning. Well his current popularity seems to indicate that people don’t really give a shit about your personal life as long as you are not a perv of some sort. Remember the anti-gay Republican preacher that was outed as a flaming gay, buying sex and drugs and let us not forget the Republican Congressman and his sex-emails to House pages. Bottom line, the value people turned out not to have any values at all.

I think his liberal social views may be his biggest problem and I have to admire the fact that he is sticking with his personal views and not becoming a McCain who obviously bends his views with the prevailing or imagined wind.

Rudy uses the standard, I am against abortion but pro-choice. He likes gun control because he was a city mayor but he also supports capital punishment especially for acts of terrorism. His history attests to his crime fighting skills but he is soft on illegal immigration.

He still thinks of himself a Catholic and once closed a museum exhibit that showed a statue of the Virgin Mary in cow dung; he lost that one on first amendment rights.

I will say he is interesting and a bit complex. He has an independent mind and is not scared to tackle issues. In other words, he is not simply a Republican template. To me that means he is worth looking into.

He is not too mucho looking and that will play against him with people that vote on looks. You don’t think people actually do that?

ANARCHY IN IRAQ?

Reading the Sunday papers, I now see the military big shots as saying that Iraq is no longer considered in a civil war but more like in a state of anarchy. Interesting word this “anarchy”.

These same military types are suggesting that if this is the case, US troops should be pulled from harm’s way and positioned somewhere where they can safely await the outcome of the slaughter.

Interesting, that is what I suggested in my previous blog. Maybe these so called military brains do have some brain cells still working OR are starting to get some balls and stand up to the idiot that is running the ill-fated show in Iraq. Speak up boys!!!!

McCain -What are you doing?

The Blog RJ Eskow: McCain On Roe v Wade - And His Life In One Sad Sentence The Huffington Post

McCAIN HAS REALLY LOST IT NOW!

I have written off Senator McCain from my possible presidential material list some time ago for supporting Bush’s Iraq policy when he knew full well that it was wrong and damaging to us, Iraq and the rest of the world.

I just heard that he now, is calling for the overturn of Roe vs. Wade (legalized abortion) when in the past he maintained that it was a state issue. His pronouncement means that he is calling for a Supreme Court action to undo a national law – he has gone too far!

He has also hired the same assholes that attacked Kerry’s war record and for that matter, attacked him, his wife and his child. Does McCain think no one is watching?

He is obviously playing to the religious right with his anti-choice stance. His handlers don’t seem to notice that the country has had it with the holier than thou, religious hypocrites on the right; look where it has got us.

I am anti-abortion but pro-choice – yes, you can be both. No one likes abortion – be serious – but in some cases it is the preferred choice. I stand for the right of every couple to decide how to lead their own lives - period. I am also a realist; abortions will happen legally or illegally; let’s make them as safe as possible.

Bush calls himself pro-life and because of him, thousands have died in Iraq.

McCain is playing politics big time and that is sad – he could have been a contender – I planned to vote for him – what the hell happened?

Flash! Just today, McCain said that the Iraq war has been mismanaged for years. He blames everything on Rumsfeld. Sorry but Rumsfeld was following orders. McCain is trying too hard to remain a Republican. He does not notice that Republicans are abandoning ship; the only logical way to survive politically. Maybe McCain IS too old.

DEMOCRATS NEED A PLAN OR ELSE SHUT UP!

Democrats in Washington are furiously debating the war on Iraq and trying to pass an non-binding resolution that tells President Bush that they don’t agree with his Iraq policy and especially the new “surge” tactic – bullshit.

One thing McCain said that made sense was why waste your energy on such a meaningless resolution that does absolutely nothing. If you are going to disagree with Bush and his Iraq policy COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN!

I would hope the Democrats, in all their wisdom or at least access to people with wisdom, could come up with a plan for Iraq to their liking and to the liking of the American people. I would venture to say that ANY REASONABLE plan would be readily accepted by the war weary American public.

No one has supported my plan of dividing Iraq into three (3) regions with a central government charged with only distributing oil revenues – well too bad – it was a good plan.

What’s left?

Well, we need to admit that a victory, at least a victory as envisioned by Bush (Iraqi Democracy) is impossible – period.

Next, we need to take our troops out of harm’s way and assign them to seal all borders – tightly; that has not been done until recently – stupid us.

Then allow the civil war to come to its natural conclusion – simple.

But how can we allow all those innocent people to just be slaughtered – what the fuck do you think we are doing now and have for years – grow up!

I think that if any of those Democrats running for president what a realistic shot at the presidency; they best come up with an Iraq plan, other than just removing our troops.

BILLIONS FOR WAR BUT AT WHAT COST!

A story on ABC News last night infuriated me.

The Bush Administration has, three years in a row, CUT the budget for cancer treatment clinical trials. These are trials where new and innovative cancer treatments are tried. In some cases, these trials are the last hope some cancer patients have because all other modes of treatments have been tried and failed.

The budget for these trials was $160 million originally and now has been whittled down to $130 million which means some trials just have to be abandoned.

Why is Bush cutting the funds supporting these trials? Well, it is obvious that he has to fund the war on Iraq somehow.

I want you to think about that while you ponder the latest report out of a Washington agency responsible for tracking our tax dollars and how they are spent. The report said that up to $10 BILLION dollars sent to Iraq are UNNACOUNTED for.

Now how does that make you feel?

IS "VACCINE' AN INTRUSION?

In my “Vaccine” Blog, how could I possibly welcome “government intrusion” into our lives and actually allow our government to “force” vaccination onto our citizens – humor or actually a good discussion point?

I have been adamantly against government intrusion into our lives all my life. My views on this subject are definitely Libertarian and border on the anarchistic; so why allow our government to “intrude” by mandating “this” vaccine for young girls.

Number one, parental approval is built into the plan so no girl is being forced to have the vaccine against her parent’s will.

The way I read it, schools will need to have girls vaccinated before they can attend the school or have a form from the parents expressly stating that they do not want their child to be vaccinated.

Currently, schools demand proof of vaccination for the common types of childhood diseases like polio, measles, etc. These vaccines are standard practice in this country and have led to a complete or near eradication of previously very dangerous medical conditions.

To my knowledge, only certain radical religious groups who feel any form of human medical intervention is “against” their religious beliefs and leave their medical well being in the hands of their god do not vaccinate their children, but they also don’t send their kids to public schools either.

So if we accept the standard vaccination rules as good and beneficial, why not the cervical cancer vaccine.

Or the bigger question, why do I allow and support our government’s interference in our lives in some cases but not others?

Specifically, let us talk about health. Americans, despite living in the richest and most advanced nations, are actually very unhealthy. They are at a greater risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease than most other industrialized countries; all because of lifestyle and our government can’t do a damn thing about it except preach a healthier lifestyle; it’s a free country!

On the other hand, making sure that infants and children are protected from disease and illness through the use of the latest medical technologies (vaccines) is, I think, a governmental responsibility since it benefits the individual as well as society as a whole.

Some may say the cervical cancer vaccine is different. It does not protect against a childhood disease or illness, it actually protects against a “possible” infection in the girl’s later life and then only IF she has sex with a carrier of the specific virus that causes the disease.

Simply put, if a vaccine is available that will prevent a “possible” disease from happening in the future; why not give it. The fact that it prevents a “sexually transmitted disease” or STD seems to make a difference.

If we discovered a vaccine against HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, etc. would we even hesitate to give it to our young? Would giving the vaccine somehow say something negative about the parents or would it be just plain good common medical sense since we have no control over the future behavior of our children even if we really think we do?

OR would it make our children into crazed sex addicts; fearing nothing from STD, they screw everything that moves at anytime and anywhere? I admit that this IS a commonly held belief.

I remember the time before HIV / AIDS. I don’t recall people screwing in the streets. Actually there was probably less sex between the unmarried then due to a healthy fear of pregnancy and a different social value system when it came to sex.

Unfortunately sometimes you have to force kids to take their medicine and parents to give the medicine.

PROSECUTORS IN THE NEWS!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

To: The Detroit Free Press
Re: “Teacher in sex-abuse case given new trial”, Feb. 8.

Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca thinks that the unanimous opinion of 12 jurors on guilt or innocence is sacrosanct. What about the ever growing number of legally convicted felons awaiting the death penalty for rape or other capital crimes, set free by DNA evidence; the prosecutor and the jurors in those cases were also absolutely sure of their guilt. I think some prosecutors, in their mad rush to convict and close a case, only look at and collect evidence that supports their case for guilt; information to the contrary is just not followed up on. Recent cases involving overzealous prosecutors have made national headlines and I think the public is justified in harboring a healthy skepticism, especially in so called, open and shut cases.

CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE!

OK, there is one issue that has me upset. It is about the new cervical cancer vaccine called “Gardasil”.

This vaccine prevents cervical cancer by blocking infection from the two strains of human papilloma virus that cause most cervical cancer. The virus is a common sexually transmitted disease. The vaccine also prevents genital warts. It should be given to girls before they become sexually active anywhere from 9 up.

It sounds like a medical breakthrough; another disease prevention tool but alas no my dear friends.

The conservatives in general and conservative parent groups are actually against giving the vaccine to young girls. Now you know what I mean when I say conservatives; yes, overly religious people, as I call them.

They feel the vaccine will encourage girls to be promiscuous; not scared to try sex. This same theory is used against putting young girls on birth control pills; they make having sex safe from pregnancy.

Before I go on, the plan is to vaccinated girls at such an early age that they will not know what the vaccine is for; they don’t have to be told and it is complicated to explain at that age so the argument that the vaccine will cause promiscuity is absurd.

Just yesterday, the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, showed some balls and common sense by signing an ordinance requiring all girls in the state to be vaccinated against this disease. He sidestepped opposition in the state legislature and issued an executive order – what a man; trying to save lives against fierce opposition – imagine.

Now legally, a parent can opt out of the vaccination but if that parent’s daughters come down with the disease in later years, I hope those girls sue the hell out of their parents for their inexcusable ignorance.

OUR NEW PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT!

Hey, have you noticed that the race is on for the presidency. Wow, for the first time in our history, the campaign has begun THIS early.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama are the front runners for the Democratic nomination and if they don’t do something really stupid, they will probably be the choices for president and vice-president in that order. One of the dangers of starting this early is that you now have much more time in which to fuck up – we shall see how they do.

Surprisingly, even some of my conservative acquaintances do not dismiss Hillary right away because she is a woman and are actually open to a woman president because anybody and I mean anybody is OK with them as long as Bush leaves and the Bush nightmare comes to an end. They will also accept a “black” as vice president – history is being made as we speak.

The reason I mention that Obama will in all probability be the candidate for vice-president is simply because he is too young and too inexperienced (born 1961) – he just doesn’t appear ready to lead.

None of the other Democrats declared for the presidency, I think, have a chance. Edwards has lost once and he should leave it at that. Kerry said he will not run again – smart. Al Gore would also be smart not to make a fool of himself by running. No one else appears as an attractive candidate so it is done: HILLARY AND BARACK.

Since we have so much time before the elections are held, we will definitely be talking about this subject again – you can count on it.

What about the Republican candidates?

February 2007 Update!

Wow it’s February already and I have not had a chance to blog for quite some time. Not that there is nothing going on but for some reason I am way too busy – this has to stop.

The President’s “State of the Union” speech was predictable. His handlers try to make him sound sane and somewhat smart but the nation now knows better.

The situation in Iraq is getting worst by the day. Our troop surge will add to American casualties but do little else. I notice that American soldiers are going out on patrol with Iraqi troops (read Shiites) and killing a whole bunch of Sunnis. I guess one way to stabilize Iraq is to kill all the Sunnis – it could happen!

Another thing I noticed is that we were starting to use Kurdish troops to patrol Baghdad. They at least don’t belong to either the Shia or Sunnis factions and don’t mind killing either BUT they really need to stay up north and protect the Kurd regions because they will be next on the list for extermination once the Shiites eliminate the Sunnis.

Bush will be asking for BILLIONS $$$ to support the war and to build up Iraq. He thinks that he may pay them to behave in a civil fashion. Actually, people will gratefully take the money but don’t expect them to use the money for the good of Iraq.

The Democrats are making grumbling sounds against Bush and the war but all gestures against the war are so far empty and therefore useless at achieving anything resembling progress in Iraq.

It appears that Bush will have his way till he leaves office so we are looking at two (2) more years of this bullshit at which time he will retire to his ranch in Texas and write a book blaming everyone for his dismal failure as president.

If it sounds that I am a little dispirited, well I am. Here we are, the most powerful and rich nation ever and we are being led by an asshole and there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it – pretty depressing.

I think the fact that this February is brutally cold and snowy may be adding to the overall feeling of malaise.

Hope to perk up soon.