take a couple of minutes

Please take your time and read the transcript from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He's in New York for the United Nations general assembly and spoke today at Columbia University. His visit was shrouded in controversy and many called in an abomination that he was invited to "spew his drivel" in an American institution. I even heard that the State of New York was considering pulling funding for the university.

For me, the read was an interesting one. It took awhile to get into what Mahmoud was saying; he started off with a rambling sermon about science full of quotes from the Qu'ran that I'm sure were a yawner for those in attendance. (note to self...)

Even though it was revealed through his answers that his logic isn't sound, I found myself agreeing with the sentiments of some of his responses. He was taken aback at the rude introduction given him by the acting university president, as it is a great disrespect to insult a guest. Ahmadinejad made reference to Iranian culture, but I have a feeling it might be a more general trait of all Islamic culture. Having spent some time in Morocco, I know firsthand that hospitality there is unmatched throughout the world (that is, the parts that I know). The President of Columbia lost some of his clout with, what I deem, an insulting introduction. Additionally, I agree that science is a tool to be used for the good of mankind, but if used as a tool of manipulation, it is detrimental. Pharmaceutical companies that withhold treatment in the name of bigger profits is an example.
"If humanity achieves the highest level of physical and spiritual knowledge but its scholars and scientists are not pure, then this knowledge cannot serve the interests of humanity." I agree.
He also delved into the Palestinian question. While I do not agree with him that violence and terrorism is an adequate response to violence and terrorism (it seems like a childish "he did it first" sort of response), I do agree that the Palestinians should be able to decide their own future instead of having it dictated to them through forceful or manipulative means, either from internal or foreign sources. However, if they choose to wage war or commit violent acts against others as their chosen path, I cannot support that decision.
Either way, please check out the link. It's important to investigate the world around us and understand how we can be involved in it.

missing the point

I'm reading a book right now entitled "Adventures in Missing the Point" by Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo... Having that title in mind,

The people in Jena, Louisiana are missing the point. I've been hearing about the protests and reading the signs they're carrying at the protests. Many are asking for the end of racial profiling in the justice system. While I wholeheartedly agree, that's not the point. The point is a kid was sent to the hospital for a beating he received that some allege was intended to kill him. The point is the attackers were incensed because nooses were hung from a tree in a region of the world where that was common not too long ago. Those nooses were hung as a warning to not sit in the "white" area.

The point is this... You aren't defined by what color your skin is. Those are social constructions that you accept if you so choose. You aren't better or worse than anybody because of your skin or where you come from. You are defined, if you so choose, by the things you do. You pigeonhole yourself for hanging nooses from a tree just to send a message and you stunt your own self-realization by solving your problems by beating others to a pulp. Both actions are reprehensible and both go to show how far we as a people need to go.

awesome

Hillary Clinton recently returned a campaign donation ($850,000) to a man who skipped out on his trial date years ago for fraud. This man is also tied to one of the original Woodstock promoters. Hillary Clinton supports a notion to give $1 million to a Woodstock museum. Round of applause to Mrs. Clinton for returning the money.



Round of applause to Bill for the beard.

let down

Remind me to never google "emergent church" for a long, long time. quoting the bible till you're blue in the face doesn't really convince me, sans one ingredient....

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.