Sojourners magazine, the Sabbath, and Jim Wallis

I'm encouraged by the title of Jim Wallis' book God's Politics : Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It, his magazine "Sojourners", and this article I read about the Sabbath in his magazine. His selling point, as the Amazon editorial puts it, is that "the true mission of Christianity--righting social ills, working for peace--is in tune with the values of liberals who so often run screaming from the idea of religion."

I often wonder at the audacity of television personalities and political parties. I wonder, how conservatives so devorce themselves from the causes that they hear espoused every week in their churches, namely protecting G-d's creation, feeding the poor, and equal rights for all people? And how, equally mystifying, can liberals not see the that the ethics of religion provide a moral basis for the causes that they themselves demand? Finally, and most frighteningly, what forces are at work to diminish the voices of reason in mitigating this conflict. Why is it that only the screaming heads are allowed to speak?

Seperately, as a Sabbath-observer, I found the article about the Sabbath in his magazine quite refreshing as well. The idea is that observing a day of rest (not just any day, but the 7th day, the day G-d commanded) never was just a rule observed by a people by rote. This day, for it's observants, provides psychological rejouvination, and a reminder every week that there are things, ethical things, that we as a people maintain, from which we will not shy away. Every week, we have a physical reminder that we separate our inner selves to G-d.

There's so much more to say. I'm not going to say it all here.

Life in the armpits??!!!!!

Metaphors are often more graphic than we realize. The latest edition of the Economist has an article entitled "Life in the armpits of palestine." The article describes some of the day-to-day hardships of living in regions of the West Bank of Israel which will be surrounded by the new security fence.

The reason the title cought my eye was that I've recently discussed this same metaphor to my new wife, who moved here from Odessa Ukraine. We're moving next week to the bayou in Louisiana and a couple of my relatives before the wedding described the region as "the armpit of America." As english-speakers, the words just roll off the tongue; kind of a cutsey way to say that it can be hot (and humid) there. But to someone who hasen't heard the metaphor it sounds horrific. Who in their right mind would ever want to live there!??? Have we made a profound mistake by moving there??

I spent a lot of conversation time prophilacticly trying to steer the conversation away from such allusions. I demonized similar comments publicly so as to make clear that I wanted to put a better light on the subject. For the most part, it seems to have worked. The more tactful of my family quickly cought on and made sure to mention some of the more interesting things about the region ("you can always find something to do in New Orleans").

But the thing about it all that strikes me is the power that can be behind such a silly little phrase (armpits are gross!!!). A funnier one I always remember explaining is "love-handles." People talk about them all the time, but try explaining the allusion to someone unfamiliar with the term and it gets a whole lot more interesting...

We can be on the lookout for more of these. They're everywhere, I know. Perhaps we should be more careful with them; perhaps we can enjoy language more by thinking about what we're saying more often. Something to think about...

Yanukovich's response to protests

In case the world was wondering... THIS is how Yanukovich's government deals with protesters when noone is watching...

HotLine - everything about elections in Ukraine

HotLine - everything about elections in Ukraine: "On December 7th at 14.00 the city court of Kyiv district in Kharkiv will review the issue on relocating the three tent camps at Independence Square in Kharkiv.

From November 23rd supporters of Viktor Yushenko and Viktor Yanukovych have been living at the Square. And on November 28th "greens" joined them.

The court should review the complaint of the city executive committee. The authorities motivate it with the desire to settle a Christmas tree at the main square of the city. "

The Truth About Julia Tymoshenko

Finally, an article that gets her story right! The leading headlines have, on the whole, consigned themselves to repeating various "allegations" regarding Yulia Tymoshenko. This article interviews her, and recites what ACTUALLY happened during her political life. Yes Ukraine, there are "normal" people working for you in your country. This is one...

from the article:
"In the past seven years, Julia Tymoshenko has endured imprisonment, the jailing of her husband and several assassination attempts. But, even considering the drama that has accompanied her life, she could never have imagined the events that saw her emerge as a leading actor in one of the most unexpected political upheavals of recent history.

Since 21 November, Tymoshenko has been the force behind the protests that have kept up to half a million people camped outside the parliament in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. And as the country gears up for one last push towards true democracy, the pressure grows on her - a glamorous radical, and deputy to the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko - to keep up the momentum for reform.

Yet no fanfare, and no visual frisks from men carrying Glock firearms, greet my arrival at her dacha outside Kiev. I simply push open the back door, and there she is: a tiny, pretty woman with a mass of honey-blonde hair, wearing pink jeans and a black polo-neck, smiling that amazing smile."

more: News

Libertarian Party: Issues and Positions

A great quote I read from the Libertarian presidential candidate, Michael Badnarik,

''If you were in prison and you had a 50 percent chance of lethal injection, a 45 percent chance of going to the electric chair, and only a 5 percent chance of escape, are you likely to vote for lethal injection because that is your most likely outcome?" Libertarian nominee Badnarik asked a crowd at his party's convention. ''If you continue to vote for the Democrats or the Republicans you are committing political suicide,"

What do you do when it's clear that "neither" party has any integrety anymore? Try looking beyond the system for once...

The link below is a wonderful source about the Libertarian political platform.

Libertarian Party: Issues and Positions

Waiting to hear Kerry's plan

Great article that really sums up the state of the presidential debate. Unfortunately it, like every other mass media outlet involved in our collective psychoses, fails to grasp the natural conclusion to be reached when you "two party" system fails to offer anything resembling a coherant choice. Can anybody say "3rd party"??? And no, Ralph Nader is not the only other presidential candidate. This year, in at least 48 states, there voters will be offered the chance to vote for a Libertarian candidate. ....and.... in all of those states, without even having considered the option, voters will NOT chose that option. Some people just don't get it....

Waiting to hear Kerry's plan

looking outside.

Today is the day when I mark my shift to the outside world. True, navel gazing is fun, and there is always more to discover about your navel; and true, we should write what we know, and I certainly know my navel better than most things. But just as I only began to understand my world by travelling out into it, I can only add intelligent discourse about the world by, ... well, writting about.

Want to listen to some interesting internet news radio or TV sites? http://www.europetvnews.com/ has lots. The network of news sites that they've developed is amazing too. If only they'd start collaborating with The Economist...