Archive for September, 2007

Goldwasser vs. Ahmadinejad

Published by
tieki rae
at September 27, 2007 in Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev, Gilad Shalit, Hamas, Hizbollah, Iran, Israel, ahmadinejad and media bias. 4 Comments

From YNet:  Goldwasser recounts confrontation with Ahmadinejad

Goldwasser managed to enter Ahmadinejad’s press conference at the United Nations building in New York on Tuesday, and told Ynet that the she was surprised by the treatment the Iranian leader received upon his arrival.”He came in and started to smile at everyone. The reporters gave him great respect… As he walked by me he said hi to me, because he still didn’t know who I was. He thought I was one of the supporting journalists, and that he was walking into a place where everyone loved him. He seemed very pleased,” Goldwasser recounted.

Goldwasser said she was not afraid to present the president with her question, and asked him, “Hello, my name is Karnit, the wife of Ehud Goldwasser, the soldier who has been held captive for over a year. Since you are the man that is behind the kidnapping due to the aid you grant Hizbullah, why don’t you allow the Red Cross to visit the two soldiers?” she asked.

The president ignored the question.

Goldwasser being escorted out of press conference (photo: Shachar Ezran)

“Now he knows that the kidnapped soldier’s wife can reach him too,” Goldwasser told Ynet, “he knows that he does not scare us.”

Good for her.  The way Karnit Goldwasser has led the fight to keep her husband and his fellow soldiers (who were kidnapped by Hizbollah and Hamas) in the attention of the media and international leaders is the definition of true loyalty and love.

I’m also a big fan of how she used this opportunity to stick it to both the media and Ahmadinejad.

As a side note, this is what my American Foreign Policy professor had to say about Bollinger’s introduction to Ahmadinejad’s speech on Tuesday:

“It was not very academic of him.  I would have started out by saying, ‘We have someone like you in our country too.  I think he’s wrong, and I think you’re wrong.’  That way we’re on the middle ground.”

The someone Prof. Katzenstein was referring to, of course, is President Bush.  Smooth?  I thought so.

If a Palestinian were President

Published by
tieki rae
at September 22, 2007 in AIPAC, Israel, academia, cornell, education and palestinians. 3 Comments

“I would rescue American foreign policy from special interest groups … [pause for effect] … like AIPAC.”

Well, isn’t that democratic of Dr. Hanan Ashrawi?  This moderate Palestinian legislator and so-called advocate of peace was visiting Cornell this week and speaking on “Peace in the Middle East:  Who Needs It?”  It’s good to know that we have individuals around the world believing in the right of citizens to organize themselves and lobby their governments.  (sarcasm /off)

Dr. Ashrawi spoke/ranted/whined for about an hour about the apartheid state of Israel and the horrific, against-international-law occupation of the poor, innocent, freedom-loving Palestinians.

Honestly, the best part was the Q&A session at the end.  Once I got past the groan-factor of snooty Cornell students and professors brown-nosing a Palestinian legislator (“Thaaaaank you, Dr. Ashrawi, for coming to Cornell.  This is such an honor…”), it was actually rather entertaining.

One of my favorite questions came early.  A student asked Ashrawi to clarify her comments about calling for an international boycott of Israel.  When national governments fail, asked this student, like the USA for instance, would Dr. Ashrawi advocate non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher education taking up the banner and boycotting Israel?  Part 2 of the question was directed to President Skorton.  Would President Skorton be willing to lead up an effort to get Cornell to divest from Israel?  Haha, let me just say it was a beautiful moment.

Of course, responded Ashrawi, Palestinians are grateful when individuals and organizations, like the British academia, boycott Israel on their own.  President Skorton, on the other hand, stammered over himself explaining how he doesn’t generally believe that institutions of higher learning should be used for political purposes.  Only twice in his professional career has he advocated divestment in reaction to a political / human rights situation:  South Africa and Darfur.  So, he does believe there is legitimacy in that method, but does not support the application in this particular case.  I was in love.  Right after Ashrawi rambled on about the importance of action by institutions like Cornell, Skorton basically says “in your dreams.”

Another winning question concerned her claim that the security wall built by Israel inhibits the peace process.  A student read to her the statistics of terrorist attacks before the wall and after the wall, essentially proving that Israel has protected its citizens with the construction of the wall.  Her response:  “Well, that seems like selective reporting.  After all, Hamas said last year that they no longer support suicide bombings.  It was their decision.”  Oh, yeah.  That big wall in their way probably had nothing to do with it.

All jokes aside, it frustrates me what views are presented as honorable and legitimate, all in the name of higher education.  Universities like Cornell bring in an individual from a people that terrorizes Israel night and day and wishes for its destruction.  Even if Ashrawi is a voice of moderation among Palestinians, she makes excuses for terrorists and wishes for the downfall of America’s greatest ally.  Columbia actually brings an authoritarian dictator who advocates for the destruction of not just Israel, but also the United States.  And we’re told, what a great intellectual opportunity!

Malkin: Lame, Lame Duck

Published by
tieki rae
at September 18, 2007 in attorney general and president bush. 11 Comments

I just noticed a post up at Michelle Malkin’s site about President Bush’s decision to nominate Michael Mukasey for Attorney General rather than Ted Olsen.

My expectations of the Bush administration are so low now, it’s hard to get worked up anymore when the White House abandons conservatives in its futile quest to appease Democrats. But I am moved to agree with Paul Mirengoff of Powerline that the decision to pass up Ted Olson for Attorney General in favor of Schumer-approved nominee Michael Mukasey was an especially dispiriting “act of preemptive surrender.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Nebraska State Senator Sues God…

Published by
tieki rae
at September 18, 2007 in democrats and nebraska. 12 Comments

… Over Natural Disasters

Honestly, it’s times like this when I wonder why I’m proud to have been a Nebraskan.

Nebraska Democratic State Senator Ernie Chambers has decided to go straight to the top in an effort to stop natural disasters from befalling the world.

Chambers filed a lawsuit against God in Douglas County Court Friday afternoon, KPTM Fox 42 reported.

Click here for more from KPTM Fox 42 in Omaha.

The suit asks for a “permanent injunction ordering Defendant to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats.”

The lawsuit identifies the plaintiff as, “the duly elected and serving State Senator from the 11th Legislative District in Omaha, Nebraska.”

Chambers also cites that the, “defendant directly and proximately has caused, inter alia, fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornados, pestilential plagues…”

Chambers says he isn’t suing God because he has any kind of beef with the deity. He says the suit is to fight possible laws restricting the filing of frivolous lawsuits. Chambers tells KPTM FOX 42 News that his lawsuit is in response to bills brought forth by other state senators to try and stop lawsuits from being filed.

“The Constitution requires that the courthouse doors be open, so you cannot prohibit the filing of suits,” Chambers says. “Anyone can sue anyone they choose, even God.”

Chambers bases his ability to sue God, as, “that defendant, being omnipresent, is personally present in Douglas County.”

Yes, the same Ernie Chambers who wears cut-off sweatshirts and tennis shoes to legislative sessions.  When I was in middle school, we took a field trip to the State Capital, and who do you think was speaking?  Sen. Ernie Chambers, the filibusterer extraordinaire.  Honestly, even my 6th grade self recognized a certified blowhard.

Question: Do you think Mr. Chambers realizes the irony of protesting the restriction of frivolous lawsuits by filing a frivolous lawsuit? He is proving his opponents’ point: Some lawsuits have no legitimate purpose and do nothing but waste government money and therefore should be restricted.  (By the way, according to Wikipedia — for whatever that’s worth — Chambers is agnostic.  Doesn’t that further prove the frivolous nature of his lawsuit?  Seriously, that’s the best defense he can come up with for not restricting frivolous lawsuits?)

What can I say? He’s always been a smart one.

New Christians

Published by
tieki rae
at September 10, 2007 in christians. 12 Comments

I have a pet peeve. This is the epitome of my pet peeve:

Hello World,

We’re the New Christians. Nice to meet you. Fact is, many of you know us or think you know about us. This is just a way for us to let you know what we’re like and what we do. We’re normal people like you first of all. We go to Starbucks, watch movies, and enjoy reading Harry Potter. We attend public schools and use curse words sometimes. We’re the New Christians.

Here’s a quick profile of us:

  • We vote Republican and Democrat. We’ve learned from our parents’ mistakes. We know that there’s more to politics than abortion and gay marriage. We stand for non-discrimination against gays and we crusade for social justice.
  • Speaking of social justice, did you know that we started Invisible Children and International Justice Mission? Christians have been helping the poor for centuries. For example, we started orphanages and leper colonies. Today, we proudly carry on that tradition.
  • We hang out in bars. Yup, turns out that Jesus hung out with people by going to parties. So we’re loosening up, having a drink, and learning to have fun.
  • We’re not here to convert you. If you ask us, and if we have an opportunity, we’ll share what we believe. But becoming a Christian is a very personal decision that cannot be forced. We know that, and we’d never push you to do something you don’t want to do.
  • We think Christian music is cheesy too. It’s true. We love that South Park episode as much as you do. We’re working on making better bands. Try Relient K, Switchfoot, and Mae sometime.
  • We have brains and use them. That’s right. We have reasons for what we believe including logical arguments and archaeological evidence. Who says faith has to be blind?
  • We’re cool with evolution. What? Really? It’s true! There’s this book out by Francis Collins that explains how Christianity and evolution can work together. Did I mention that Collins was head of the Human Genome Project AND a Christian? Look it up yourself.
  • We think Pat Robertson is nuts too. Let’s leave it there okay?
  • We’re not that interested in divisions anymore. We’re starting to hang out together as Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and even some Orthodox and Catholics have joined the ranks.

People who call themselves Christians (Christ-like) but follow a liberal theology that is, at best, only mildly heretical.

I was thinking about how I might best express my feelings toward this new brand of Christianity and I came up with this response:

Hello “New Christians,”

I’m an “Old Christian.” I found your letter to the world quite interesting. As admirable as your zeal for reaching the world is, I wonder if you might not have gotten around to reading Romans 12:2 yet, seeing as you’re new to the faith and all. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” There is a fine line between being of this world (John 8:23) and conforming to this world. In other words, although I enjoy a Starbucks Chai Frappuccino as much as the next person — since I am of this world, after all — I am not so sure cursing stays within the same “of this world” boundaries. In fact, I believe that Paul is pretty clear in Ephesians 4:29 when he states, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” I’m curious as to how the f-word or b-word, etc. would be “good for edification” and “give grace to those who hear.” Anyway, I thought I would give you some spiritual food for thought in response to your quick profile.

  • I find it interesting that you consider the pro-life beliefs of us “old Christians” to be a mistake. Social justice is an admirable cause indeed, but do you not consider striving to save the lives of innocent unborn children necessary and Christian as well? When Proverbs 31:8-9 reads, “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy,” are the unborn somehow exempt from this instruction?
  • Re: “We hang out in bars.” I’d just remind you of Romans 13:13-14, “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lust.“
  • Re: “We’re not here to convert you.” Really? I’d be interested in hearing your interpretation of Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” I’m not saying that we should look at our secular friends and family simply as people to be converted, but if you are not concerned about their eternal destiny, what kind of friend are you?
  • Re: Christian music. Seriously, that’s all you have? Are you so desperate to be in the popular crowd at school that you generalize all Christian music as lame? Maybe the older groups like Carman, DCTalk, Petra, and the Gaithers don’t appeal to you - but are you really being Christ-like by so immaturely dismissing them? Concerning South Park, refer back to Ephesians 4:29 and perhaps Romans 12:2.
  • Re: Your brains. Thanks. It’s really considerate of you, and again, so Christ-like, to imply that as opposed to you, the “old Christians” don’t use their brains. Interesting, you think the Cornell admissions committee would have figured that one out before letting me in. By the way, have you ever read Proverbs 1:7? “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
  • Re: Evolution. Really, this one is too easy. Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Sorry, contrary to popular liberal theological opinion, there is not a lot of room for interpretation in the first couple chapters of Genesis - especially in the original Hebrew, which I somehow managed to learn without my brain, apparently. One God, six days. Pretty awesome, isn’t He?
  • Re: Pat Robertson. I highly recommend you commit Ephesians 4:29 to memory and then explain to me how calling a fellow Christian a “nut” is edifying and grace giving.
  • Finally, re: denominational divisions. You know, I almost agree with you here. I couldn’t care less about denominational titles and distinctions. However, I couldn’t care more about theological distinctions and statements of faith. It’s completely fine to hang out with individuals who prescribe to a different set of beliefs. Just remember, there is only one truth and one way to heaven. John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”