Bang! - Happy Fourth Of July!

From Andrew Greeley in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Are the American people guilty of a war crime because of the Iraq war? Surely the leaders who cooked up the excuses for the war are. So, too, are the national media that allowed patriotism to silence them. So, too, are those ordinary Americans who almost insisted on some kind of patriotic gore. On this weekend in which we glorify -- with good reason -- our patriotism, we might examine our conscience about what phony patriotism has caused us to do. A third of the American population supported the war and has now changed its mind. It might be wise for such folk to prepare answers to the kinds of questions God might ask about phony patriotism.

Happy Birthday USA! We are 232 years old - young compared to many other countries. We've seen better times in our history, and we've seen worse times. Raise a glass of whatever you're drinking today to better times.

Photo from Liz Condo/The Advocate.

Counterlight's Farewell to Fr Jake

Fr Jake is closing down his blog. He's done a mighty work to engage us and inform us for five years. May God bless him and keep him. And now go see Counterlight's send-off. The link to Jake's "Last Words" is there, too.

Gems From The Advocate - Part Two

The new science law in Louisiana is unique in the country:

Louisiana is the only state in the nation that has enacted a law that could change the way evolution is taught in public schools, officials said.

Lawmakers in five other states debated similar bills this year but they failed to pass, said Heather Chikoore, education policy specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.

“It has definitely been a topic in states,” Chikoore said.

The measure here won final Senate approval 36-0 and cleared the House 94-3. Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed the bill.

I tell ya, I stand tall and proud. Not one senator and only three representatives voted against the bill. Imagine! We are UNIQUE! Yes! Our Rhodes scholar governor and our legislators know their science. Better than the scientists!

But Barbara Forrest of Hammond, a professor and co-founder of the Louisiana Coalition for Science, said the new rules add more infamy than distinction to the state.
....

“They pretty well have their way on this type of stuff,” Forrest said of the Louisiana Family Forum. “People who don’t agree with them are afraid to cross them.”

Ha! What does she know? She's just another pointy-headed fanatic who wants real science taught in the science classrooms. What's wrong with exploring other "theories" like Creationism and Intelligent Design in science class? Some say that's introducing religion, but what's wrong with a little faith-based teaching in science class? The plus side is that the schools graduate more students with proper "family values"? What's the harm of a little ignorance of real science in the mix, just so the students are set straight on the "family values" stuff? And for the numbers of young people who don't actually graduate from high school, (the percentage is high) well at least they may have been exposed to right thinking.

The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union said last month that her group “will do whatever is necessary to keep religion out of our science classrooms.”

The ACLU and cohorts are nothing but spoilers. Why the obsession with teaching real science?

Gems From The Advocate - Part One

David Vitter wants to use his campaign funds to pay his legal fees:

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. David Vitter will ask the Federal Election Commission today whether he can use campaign funds to pay for the $137,177 in legal fees he incurred from his involvement in the case of a woman convicted of running a high-priced Washington prostitution ring.

The Louisiana Republican acknowledged in July 2007 that his phone number appeared on the client list of the woman dubbed “the D.C. Madam.” Deborah Jeane Palfrey was convicted in federal court in April of money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy.

In a letter to the FEC, an attorney for Vitter says his client incurred the legal expenses in monitoring the Palfrey trial and quashing the subpoenas issued to him.

Vitter also had to hire attorneys to defend himself to the Senate Ethics Committee because of a complaint filed by the government watchdog group Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The complaint was dismissed by the committee, which noted that Vitter was not charged with a crime and the incidents occurred when he was a House member.

Tears are running from my eyes as I read of our senator's plight. A heartbreaking story, no? I hurt for him having to pay out all that money. OK, so his phone number was on the DC Madam's list, but should the consequences for him be so harsh?

Those of you who sent Vitter money for his campaign, what do you think? Is this how you want your money spent? Let him know your thoughts on this matter.

Nada Te Turbe

Nada te turbe
Nada te espante
Quien a Dios tiene nada le falta
Solo Dios basta
Todo se pasa
Dios no se muda
La paciencia todo lo alcanza

Let nothing disturb you,
nothing afright you.
Whom God possesses
in nothing is wanting.
Alone God suffices.
All things are passing.
God never ceases.
Patient endurance attains all things.

YouTube stolen from Margaret's website Leave It Lay Where Jesus Flang It.

English lyrics from Margaret, and Spanish lyrics from Paul, who is also a thief.

What are friends for, if not to steal from?

"Exorcise Your Right To Vote"

From Darkblack. Posted without comment, but with a link to an earlier post of mine.

From One Of Our Own

From the letters section in the Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana:

I am disappointed with your article of June 21 titled “An Anglican mission: African bishop encourages Baton Rouge church.” I believe that the article could unnecessarily confuse or offend some readers. I wish to clarify some items.

Episcopalians are Anglicans and are recognized as such by the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church is the official representative of the Anglican Communion in America. It is erroneous to suggest otherwise.

The Anglican Mission of the Americas Church mentioned in the article is not recognized throughout the Anglican Communion in this way. It should not have been suggested through the comments of the interviewees alone what the Episcopal Church teaches.

The entire letter is worth reading. It was written by The Rev. Ken Ritter, rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, dean, Baton Rouge-South Deanery, Diocese of La., Baton Rouge.

Here's the link to the article to which Fr Ritter refers. Irony abounds. The visiting bishop who will save the unhappy ex-Episcopalians in Baton Rouge is from Rwanda! You'd think his mission work at home would keep him occupied.

"NOW THIS IS SWEET!!"

All women should live so long as to be this kind of old lady!

Toward the end of Sunday service, the Minister asked, "How many of you have forgiven your enemies?" 80% held up their hands.

The Minister then repeated his question. All responded this time, except one small elderly lady.

"Mrs. Neely, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"

"I don't have any." She replied, smiling sweetly.

"Mrs. Neely, that is very unusual. How old are you?"

"Ninety-eight." she replied.

"Oh, Mrs. Neely, would you please come down in front and tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years and not have an enemy in the world?"

The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle,
faced the congregation, and said:

"I outlived the bitches."

From my daughter in an email.

Ella Again - Because I Promised Susan S.

"One Note Samba" with Joe Pass in Germany, 1975.

They're Back!

Tim Chesterton, from Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada, and Rural Rector, from eastern Long Island, NY, who were both on sabbatical from blogging, are now back to work again. Tim is at the usual place, Tale Spin with a new look. Rural Rector is back with not only a new look, but a new name at A Country Parish.

Welcome back to the blogosphere, Fr Tim and Rural Rector.