Gay challenged Holy Scripture - right on!

Friday, August 29, 2008

To: The Canton Observer
Re: “Twisted Scripture?” August 28.

I found your article “Twisted Scripture?” , August 28, about a man suing a Bible publisher for printing Bibles with translations that discriminate against gays, quite interesting and thought provoking.

I have no idea as to the legality of Bradley Fowler’s case against Bible publisher Zondervan but I do know that Mr. Fowler has a very legitimate reason for complaining.

We have no original copies of the books of the Bible. What we do have are copies of copies and translations of translations. Many translators had ideas about what they thought the Bible should say and injected their personal views into their translations.

At the time the books of the Bible were written, homosexuality as a sexual preference did not exist. Sex between males, especially adult males and boys, occurred and was considered part of the Greek and later Roman culture.

Since homosexuality as we know it, did not exist at the time the Bible books were written, using terms like homosexuality in translating the Bible are obviously a product of the translators bias and not what the words of the Bible were trying to convey.

Mr. Bradley, apparently a devout Christian, has every right to challenge the translators and even to accuse them of injecting deliberate homophobic bias where none existed.

Who is Joe Biden?

What about this Joe Biden guy as a running-mate?

Actually, both me and my wife were kind of hoping Obama would pick Hillary at the last moment because that would be “monumental” but we knew deep down that he could not because she is not vice-president material and would not sit still for the boring VP job.

Biden is not exiting but he brings a few things to the ticket. He is older (65) so he can add a voice of experience and wisdom. He is white or non-any-minority (European). He has proven international experience where Obama has none. He is a Catholic which may or may not be a plus since that will not influence other Catholics, may turn off Baptist and other evangelicals (anti-papal) and raise the abortion issue (may be excommunicated by the Vatican?) or at least denounced by the more radical American higher clergy.

Biden is known to talk too much and stick his foot in his mouth often. Can he be trained (can’t teach an old dog new tricks?). He is a good attack dog but is he a smart attack dog?

I think the reason this ticket does not excite me right away is that it is strange. Usually you have an older candidate for president and a younger candidate for VP where the VP is in a kind of OJT – training for the office of president and not visa versa. This may be a problem for some people especially if McCain picks a younger man for VP which he basically has too since there is no one older than McCain; the McCain ticket will feel more natural, more normal.

The best weapon Biden will have against McCain is tying McCain to Bush; in fact making McCain appear to be another Bush and repeating the slogan “four more years of Bush…”.

We will see if Biden was a wise choice or not…

What is your vote strategy?

Recently, in a discussion about how we intend to vote, my good friend Bob announced that he intends to vote against all incumbents. This is a basic “throw the bums out” strategy, where, because our government has failed to properly govern, a new cadre of politicos needs to be given a chance to govern properly.

I cannot disagree with that strategy…

My own representative, Thaddeus McCotter (R) was a staunch supporter of President Bush and the Iraq War and answered my myriad letters to him with some understanding and sympathy for my concerns but with non wavering support for the integrity of what President Bush was doing.

Recently, Representative McCotter (R-MI) sent out a myriad of emails and communications, bashing President Bush on a variety of issues. Do you think he sees the writing on the wall? Would you vote for such an obvious hypocrite that changes positions with the prevailing wind? Not me and hopefully many more in his district. I don’t even know who his Democratic challenger is but I know McCotter needs to pay for his actions.

Our two (2) Michigan Senators are both Democrats (Levin & Stabenow) and have some seniority, especially Levin who has been in the Senate forever but to vote for Republicans in these Senate races may be unwise at this time in our history.

Republicans need to be reminded that Bush belonged to their party and they did nothing to control his obviously damaging to the country and world, behavior. They have to pay a price for their lack of caring and concern for the welfare of their country and the people that populate their country. For their totally selfish and inexcusable behavior, they need to be voted out of office.

You may tell me that they were just loyal to their party but Chuck Hagel was and is a Republican, a Republican that repudiated the actions of his President, early on and forcefully and that is what the rest of the Republicans needed to do. The fact that they did not means they are not fit to govern or represent constituents.

I cannot speak about all Republicans, just the ones that represent me and the ones I know about but I hope all voters will take the time to check how their Congressmen and women behaved during the Bush administration and if they contributed to the mess we are in or tried to keep us from sinking deeper into the mess we are in.

We need to let politicians know that we are keeping tabs and will reward or punish with our votes. Unfortunately, most voters get their info from political commercials and talk shows and so whoever has the best and most effective media consultant – wins!

RUSSIA AND GEORGIA - What's Up?

Well I might as well get into this Georgia / Abkhazia & South Ossetia conflict in more detail since Russia recognized the break-away republics as legitimate and sovereign this morning.
Yesterday, President Bush warned Russia NOT to recognize the two republics saying it would be “unacceptable” to the United States.

What do it all mean?

The history of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia is very fluid with borders and peoples changing locations and allegiances many times. I think for our discussion we should know that Georgia has existed as a separate entity for some time in history but we know it as a country within the Soviet Union until the break-up of the union and the independence of Georgia in the early 1990s.

Georgia’s borders were ruled legitimate and recognized as such by the world (including Russia) upon Georgia’s declaration of independence.

The other thing to realize here is that the areas of Georgia known as Abkhazia and South Ossetia are populated mostly by non-Georgians (different culture, language, etc.). We may compare this situation to that of Kosovo which was a part of Serbia (Yugoslavia) but populated by non-Serbs (Albanians) that the United States recognized as independent from Serbia even though the Serbs did not want to let go of the area.

South Ossetia (in Georgia) shares the same culture and language with people in North Ossetia (in Russia). It would seem logical that the two Ossetias should be one, especially if that is what both parts want. It is not the same as the Communist North Vietnam invading the capitalist South Vietnam.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Georgian forces have had battles with both regions, actually small wars, and that the autonomous regions fought fiercely to keep their independence and have tried to thwart any Georgians from moving into their territory by attacking their villages.

In 2008, Georgia attacked South Ossetia and the Russians intervened; plain and simple and will not let the Georgians attack again. Russia has now declared these territories as independent of Georgia and under Russian protection – that’s all folks!

South Ossetia is pretty poor and barren but Abkhazia borders the Black Sea and has a huge amount of Russian investment in luxury villas, resorts, etc. It also has a valuable port on the Black Sea. Georgia still has a Black Sea presence but not as big – look at map.

So I can’t really get all upset over what Russia did since we have lost all credibility with our unprovoked invasion of Iraq – who are we to talk? BUT I do have some consternation about Russia’s threats of invasion or retaliation against former Soviet states that now choose to side with the West. Here is where we need to make some diplomatic or military moves.

Even if Georgia gives up those disputed territories, we should arm the Georgian army with defensive weapons so they can repel, at least, initially, any Russian incursion into their legitimate and sovereign territory. Give them tank busters and truck busters and some good artillery that can take out a line of Russian tanks. The Afghanistan rag-tag soldiers beat the Russians once and drove them from their country, I am certain the Georgians can do the same.

GAY MARRIAGE ISSUE SOLVED!

Another point raised by the Rev. Warren in his questioning of Obama and McCain about religious matters was the GAY MARRIAGE issue.

I just happened to read a great article in the USA TODAY paper entitled “Gay marriage: A way out”, Oliver Thomas, August 4, 2008. All we need to do is change the way we marry; a little.

My new European in-laws showed me how marriage takes place in Europe. All couples go to the County Clerk’s Office or European equivalent and sign a civil union agreement that is a binding agreement recognized by the government. They then can go and have a wedding, if they want. They can have a celebration or a church ceremony but their union is made official only by the government.

In this country, a couple buys a license from the clerk’s office and then gets married by whomever the state allows to marry people, be it a judge, ship captain, priest, minister, etc. The official signs their marriage certificate to make it legal. Here is where the problem lies.

Evangelicals have a problem with the “marriage” of gays. They hold that marriage, as performed by a religious official can only be between a man and a woman. They hold that the Bible somehow condemns homosexuality, calls it a sin, and therefore they cannot abide by it or even allow it. I have argued against that in previous blogs but let us say here that it is their belief and we will go along with it – “marriage” is only between a man and a woman.

IF all couples, gay and straight, are legally joined in civil unions ONLY by the government and can get “married” ONLY by a church, priest or minister of their choosing; the problem is solved.

In this way, we can have legal unions between men and women or gays, with all the legal benefits that such unions bestow without any theological issues. The government stays out of religion as it is constitutionally mandated to, the religious people keep their beliefs and principals and gays get what they want; a legally recognized union of two people.

Now all we need is to get some legislation to make this happen. I know that people would appreciate this easy way out of a dilemma that cannot be solved any other way.

THE OLD RUSSIA IS BACK; Poland acts!

Talks between Poland and the U.S. about installing interceptor missiles on Polish soil have gone on for a number of years with Poland not at all eager to install those missiles.

When Russia invaded Georgia, a deal was reached almost immediately allowing the U.S. to install those interceptor missiles BUT also providing Poland PATRIOT MISSILE BATTERIES along with a small U.S. military presence in Poland. Whoa! This is huge in the whole Russia vs. the world, scheme of things.

At the outset, the missiles in Poland were to be for possible Iranian attacks against the U.S., Europe, Israel, etc. The placement of the missiles in Poland had nothing to do with Russia even though the Russians looked at it that way.

Russia was even asked to join NATO; it refused and warned other former Soviet countries not to join NATO. The original purpose of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was to counter any possible SOVIET aggression in Europe. Since the downfall of the Soviet Union, NATO has been a policeman in Europe (Serbia, Kosovo) as well as elsewhere (Afghanistan).

By invading Georgia, Russia has once again placed itself at odds with the West (NATO) and has caused a mad scramble by countries that fear Russian invasion to join NATO.

Poland is already a member of NATO but when I talked to some of my friends in Poland, they were skeptical about their safety. They reminded me that on the eve of WWII, they also had a mutual defense treaty with France and Britain and look what good that did them; they were invaded by Germany on the west and Russia on the east.

Even after WWII, they were sold to the Soviets by Roosevelt and Churchill for 50 years of Soviet oppression; why should they trust the U.S. and the West to act any differently this time?

It is important to note that the placement of Patriot Missiles on Polish soil by the Americans IS absolutely and specifically an anti-Russian move since the Patriots are short range interceptor missiles designed to protect against missiles fired at Poland, not to intercept missiles fired from Iran at the U.S.

Russia immediately warned Poland that they are now potential targets of a nuclear attack. Well, poor Poland has been in this position before and has been throughout its long history.

Putin is asserting Russia’s new power but he may have hurt himself and Russia in the process. NATO did not want to allow Georgia to join, just yet, as deference to Russia but now that we know the old Russia is back, it is time to form up sides again and admit everybody and anybody that wants the protection NATO can give them. Arms build-up anyone? Here we go again…

ENOUGH WITH THE BAIL-OUTS!

This morning I read that the American auto companies are asking for a 50 Billion Bail-out by the U.S. government and McCain has said he might consider it.

I say enough is enough. Our government has bailed out enough businesses and it is time to let the capitalist system work by itself.

I did not agree with the Bear Stearns bail-out. You make stupid financial decisions, then you pay for your stupidly. The feds said a Bear Stearns failure would have dominoed throughout our economy, hurting too many people. Well?

The auto companies knew this day of higher gas prices was coming. Every Tom, Dick and Harry knew it was coming. I can excuse Joe Public for not worrying about it and continue to buy gas guzzlers but the auto companies had a duty and obligation to their shareholders to be prepared for such an eventuality and the fact that they were not is shame on them.

The unions were allowed to demand higher and higher wages and benefits even though the auto companies knew that the costs were unsustainable. They went on a buy-out binge of those high priced workers, cut medical benefits to retirees and slashed production. Good, keep it up and maybe you will survive. As to wanting capital to finance the building of a new, high mileage vehicle line – sorry, get the money on Wall Street not the tax payer.

They will say that they ONLY want the government to guarantee those loans not make those loans. Well, I am not sure all the auto companies will make it and when they go belly-up, the taxpayer is on the hook to re-pay those loans – no deal.

Same goes for Freddie Mac and Fannie May. The people running those quasi-government institutions were stupid and corrupt and Congress let them get away with it. Yes, they made home ownership easy and affordable but just like all the rest of the companies, they needed to be prepared for a downturn and they were not and so…

Bad economic times are also times of opportunity and times when real change can occur to help prevent this from happening again.

The only shame is that little guys get hurt because these huge guys were stupid but how else are they going to learn if they are always bailed out by Uncle Sam?

More on abortion...

More on abortion…

Last night a 20/20 documentary called “Babyland” showed how the United States, as the richest nation in the world, had high infant mortality rates, higher than many poorer nations.

The show concentrated on large cities especially Memphis where the rates were the highest. The infant mortality rates were high not because of a lack of medical expertise. No, all the most modern medical techniques were used to try to keep babies alive, the problem was the mothers and our society.

The babies were premature, some addicted to crack, etc. The mothers were as young as 12 and most had no prenatal care at all.

The Catholic Church forbids the use of any birth control and urges the use of the rhythm method. The Republicans urge the promotion of the “abstention” method and obviously no Planned Parenthood methods including abortion.

Well there you have it – ignorance and stupidity in the modern era.

Evangelicals get so emotional about abortion that they become stupid and loose track of reality. Take a look at the babies that never should have been born. Take a look at the mothers that never should have been allowed to get pregnant. Get a clue.

McCain and the abortion issue!

I am still bothered by McCain’s anti-choice rhetoric especially the fact that he believes that human life begins at conception and therefore the clump of cells cannot be aborted because it has a fundamental right as an individual that is I suppose, a rightful citizen of this world and of the human race. And as such, is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I respectfully disagree and consider that type of logic as illogical and based on the insane thinking of fetus worshipers otherwise known as anti-choice people who like to label themselves as pro-life.

Everyone is pro-life so that label is specious.

Developing medical science has made fetal viability a possibility at earlier and earlier periods of gestation. In earlier days, if you were three (3) months early, the fetus would not survive. That may still true in some cases but the odds are much better today that the fetus “could” survive.

I think the survivability issue is critical in deciding at which point an abortion cannot be performed but there is a good portion of time when an abortion can be performed because there is no question of survivability and therefore in my mind, a human does not exist only a potential human and that is not the same.

I guess what it boils down to is the question of “birth” and that is when a fetus becomes a person, “at birth” and not at conception when it is just a pair of cells.

Of course you can twist your religious beliefs to encompass your way of thinking but since religion is only a belief / myth and in no sense constitutes anything factual or real, it cannot be used to dictate to anyone how they should behave with THEIR body or products of their bodies; there are only practical, medical and ethical reasons that should define what you can or cannot do.

I realize that McCain is just kissing up to the evangelicals but it still irks me. What irks me more is how these evangelicals want to tell me and you what the hell we can or cannot do based on their belief that they are absolutely right and have the power to dictate to us because they are…what?

I say keep your nose out of business that does not concern you – period!

BUSH TO WITHDRAW FROM IRAQ?

So Bush agreed to an Iraq withdrawal plan after all. The “I will accept no timetables” president must have had a change of heart about the war he started in 2003 and which has claimed over 4,000 American lives and countless thousands of innocent Iraqi lives.

It is quite ironic that the timetable he is agreeing to is the same proposed by Barak Obama; McCain, up to this day, opposed any timetables just like his good friend, the president.

Bush and McCain will state that so much progress has been made and that the future of Iraq looks so good that a timetable was made possible. The “surge” has enabled us to be able to agree to a specific timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal.

But guess what? No progress has been made. Nothing has changed. American troops died and will die some more, for nothing.

In a separate story, the Shiite Iraqi government forces are hunting down Sunni leaders that made the so called “peace” possible. The Shiites are not even waiting for American troops to leave before they start consolidating power and removing all Sunni opposition.

If they are smart, they will not engage in an all out civil war until the Americans are out completely but believe you me, the civil war is coming. Blood will run in the streets, other Sunni Arab countries (Saudi Arabia) and Shiite countries (Iran) will get involved and we are going to have a real hullabaloo.

Bush wants to put some form of closure on Iraq before he leaves office – how nice, BUT his name will go down in infamy as a single person that did so much harm to his own country and people as well as the world at large and remember, he still has some time left!

ABORTION QUESTION IS PRO-CHOICE OR ANTI-CHOICE!

I am still pissed off about the presidential candidates accepting questions from Pastor Rick Warren about their religious views – never should have happened!

Obviously, the abortion question came up in the question “at what point do you consider a developing baby gets human rights” or something like that. That is a loaded question.

McCain predictably answered “at conception” and Obama answered “that is above my pay grade” and many evangelicals considered that answer as flippant.

Well, I consider McCain’s answer as arrogant and haughty since it is his opinion and only his opinion because there is no answer to that question - period. At least Obama said that it was not up to him to make that judgment but for someone above him (maybe god?).

One evangelical said that the presidency IS the highest pay grade and I say that is ignorant because presidents are only humans and they are asking a question no human can answer.

The abortion question comes down to a simple question, do I have a right to decide what to do with the fruit of my loins; it is my sperm and my wife’s ova and does not belong to any one else and as such, no one has ownership of my sperm and my wife’s ova but us – kapish?

The one thing these evangelicals need to learn is that they do not speak for god and have no idea about what god wants. They cannot prove that god even exists. They have a wish, a belief about how things are and actually their beliefs are about how they want things to be and that is pure imagination – no reality or facts involved.

The facts are that MOST Americans believe in “choice” because that makes the most sense in a “real” world – notice that it is MEN that are anti-choice and not women – think about it.

More on the race later….

RELIGIOUS TEST FOR THE PRESIDENCY?

Why were Obama and McCain talking to Rick Warren of the mega church (Saddleback Church) of Lake Forest, California about their religious views?

Our Constitution specifically states that there shall be NO RELIGIOUS TEST FOR POLITICAL OFFICE, Article VI, Section 3, but in these United States that we live in currently, there is a DE FACTO RELIGIOUS TEST FOR ASPIRING TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Put another way, do you thing that a presidential candidate could have a snow ball’s chance in hell at election if he declared himself to be an atheist, agnostic, non-religious or someone who felt religion is a private matter between him and his god? No sir!

McCain was visibly uncomfortable talking about religion maybe because he really does not give a shit about religion as expressed in his initial run for the office in 2000, but now realizes religion is a must to win the presidency. Obama just loves to yap about his religion even though he was raised non-religious and did not attach himself to any religion until someone told him about the religious test he needs to pass before he can be elected.

Both candidates are hypocritical as hell playing to the religious right but knowing full well that it does not mean anything to them personally; it is just what they need to do to win – pretend they give a shit about religion.

I think this is a crying shame but the reality is that most Americans care about a candidate’s religious outlook and where he stands on religious issues; some more than others.

I find it very disconcerting that so much emphasis is placed on a candidate’s religion and religious views when it has been shown that the people that spout off about religious values the most are the biggest hypocrites.

I hope I will see the day when the candidates for the presidency will run on their ability, their record and their brain power and not on how many Bible verses they can quote.

BUSH KNOWS PUTIN - NOT !

How did you like the little move Putin made in the country of Georgia? - No, not Atlanta, Georgia but in a country named Georgia. Pretty audacious don’t you think?

Many Americans are scratching their heads saying where is this place and what significance does it have for us? Well, plenty!!!

Ole’ Bush W sure did not play this one right. He said he knew Putin’s soul and that they were like blood brothers and I say George, you don’t know diddly squat about Putin or Russia and for that matter, anything else that goes on in the world – you are and have always been a dumb ass and have placed this country as well as the world in grave danger due to your ignorance and incompetence.

Condi Rice is also going a bit crazy right now because she was suppose to be the expert on Russia – she can even speak Russian and boy did she not see this coming. What an end to a presidency; leaving more crap for the next president to deal with because of the ineptitude of the current administration.

I hope Obama capitalizes on this fiasco and ties McCain to it since he supported everything that Bush did.

There is a lot of analysis going on in the media and it is fascinating to read and I will have more in depth analysis but for the time being all you need to know is that we dropped the ball on this one. We pushed Putin into action that was quite predictable.

Georgia attacked South Ossetia and the Ruskies were ready; boy were they ready. The Russians want the glory days back. They want to be contenders again. They want respect and they want their empire back again.

The U.S. was surrounding Russia with NATO countries and Georgia wanted to be part of NATO also so they can feel safe from Russian aggression. Maybe they started this fight to force the West to allow them to join NATO –quickly.

You noticed how quickly Poland signed the deal to allow U.S. missile defense batteries to be located on Polish soil. Up to now Poland was hemming and hawing but once the Russians attacked Georgia – where do we sign – the Russian bear is back.

I am embarrassed for this administration and for this country as we must appear as total morons in foreign affairs. Where is Brzezinski, where is Kissinger, where are the people that now about Russia. Bush surrounded himself with ignorant twits, Rice being the main one.

I will be looking for the Russian experts that the Obama and McCain camps bring on-board. This will be critical for our future. I hope the experts are not too old now; the experts that knew who Stalin was and what he was capable of.

NEW YORK CITY VISIT

I have had a busy summer and it has not ended yet – more to come – so let us start.

Went to New York City to see my newly married son – just a long weekend is all we had time for. The city was boiling. The subways were boiling. It was even too hot to sit outside of a restaurant to eat; we needed air conditioning at all times – not my idea of fun at all.

We did not let the heat thwart us – we stayed at the Brooklyn Marriott – great place – close to the subways but we walked to most places. New York is a huge city that is run very well not at all like decrepit, mismanaged, corrupt Detroit.

The restaurants are great and plentiful. We tried a “vegan” place and I will have to admit that everything was tasty even though I didn’t know what I was eating 100% of the time.

For me, New York City is great for a visit. I am not a city dweller but I need to be near a city. I long for my wide open (green) spaces and a lot of floor space in my house. I want to look at the sky without a skyscraper being in the way. Each to his own.

HOFFA JUST PLAINLY LIES ABOUT MEXICAN TRUCKS

Monday, August 11, 2008

To: The Detroit News
Re: “Bush lets Mexican trucks menace America’s roads”, August 8.


Another bunch of spin from the “Labor Voices” section, “Bush lets Mexican trucks menace America’s roads”, August 8.

James P. Hoffa would have us believe that Mexican trucks are somehow unsafe and that is why he is against allowing them to haul products directly from Mexican manufacturers to American buyers. The previous way was for Mexican trucks to off load their cargo at the border which would then be loaded onto border trucks which would then transfer those goods to U.S. trucks for the trip to their final destination.

Evidence shows that a greater percentage of American trucks flunk roadside inspections than do Mexican trucks so Mr. Hoffa is just blowing smoke to hide his real goal of protecting union jobs even if that means higher costs to the Americans that buy goods manufactured in Mexico. Canadian truckers have been able to deliver their goods directly to American buyers since 1982.

I don’t blame Mr. Hoffa for trying to keep his union alive but misleading the American public is just not acceptable. He needs to admit that we all now operate in a global economy and protectionism just doesn’t work and has never worked.