Michael Voris: Church Enemies are Within

Michael Voris sent this E-Mail to subscribers today:

Dear Friend in Christ,

The Pope made it pretty clear today. The greatest enemies of the Church are from within. Please watch and consider today's Vortex and pass it along to friends and family.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RealCatholicTV#p/a/u/0/ime_wQbBn24

God Bless you,

Michael Voris
senior executive producer, RealCatholicTV.com

Thomas Sowell: A ‘Duty to Die’?

This piece by Thomas Sowell on National Review Online should make everyone sixty-five and over feel really warm and fuzzy.

There was a time when some desperately poor societies had to abandon the elderly to their fate, but is that where we are today?

This is more than just an idea discussed around a seminar table. Already the government-run medical system in Britain is restricting what medications or treatments it will authorize for the elderly. Moreover, it seems almost certain that similar attempts to contain runaway costs will lead to similar policies when American medical care is taken over by the government.

Make no mistake about it, letting old people die is a lot cheaper than spending the kind of money required to keep them alive and well. If a government-run medical system is going to save any serious amount of money, it is almost certain to do so by sacrificing the elderly.

Back in the days of Aunt Nance Ann, nobody in our family had ever gone to college. Indeed, none had gone beyond elementary school. Apparently, you need a lot of expensive education, sometimes including courses on ethics, before you can start talking about “a duty to die.”

Much of what is taught in our schools and colleges today seeks to break down traditional values and replace them with more fancy and fashionable notions, of which “a duty to die” is just one.

Here's the whole article:
A ‘Duty to Die’? - Thomas Sowell - National Review Online

The Technology Obama Fears

A few days ago, President Obama delivered the Commencement Address at Hampton University, and excoriated modern technology (although his administration uses it extensively to get their message out). The kind of technology he was talking about, I suspect, is the kind that makes the information delivered regularly by PJTV available to anyone who seeks the truth.

Here is one of the latest specials by Bill Whittle of PJTV. If you don't have eleven minutes right now, please remember to check back when you do. This is well worth your time.

http://www.pjtv.com/v/3533

Michael Voris: Socialism is Evil

Michael Voris of Real Catholic TV asked subscribers to pass along his newest video, so here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RealCatholicTV#p/a/u/0/z_LNIdmsPDU

Theodore Dalrymple on Greeks Demanding Gifts

Theodore Dalrymple writing succinctly in City Journal warns that the problems in Greece are soon to be manifest in much of the Western world.

The Greek demonstrators did not understand, or did not want to understand, that if there were justice in the world, many people, including themselves, would be worse rather than better off, and that a reduction in their salaries and perquisites was not only economically necessary but just. They had never really earned their wages in the first place; politicians borrowed the money and then dispensed largesse, like monarchs throwing coins to the multitudes.

It is an obvious but often forgotten lesson of economics: what cannot continue will not continue.

Here's the whole piece:
Know Thyself by Theodore Dalrymple, City Journal 7 May 2010

The Summer That Could Change The World II

That's Caroline Glick of
The Jerusalem Post. Her column last week was titled "Column One: Time to plan for war." In it she echoes the warning given by Retired Major General Paul Vallely, which was documented in this earlier post. Both General Vallely and Caroline Glick are very much in the know on the topic they discuss, and neither is prone to hyperbolic discourse. It should be an interesting, and perhaps world-changing, summer.



H/T: bkmck

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Have a Beautiful Sunday.


Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans think that being a mother is the most important role for a woman to fill in today’s world, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Eighteen percent (18%) disagree, and another 18% aren’t sure.

Organizing for America: A (Low) Class Operation

Andrew Marcus at Big Government.Com just posted this piece.

Despite the fact that it is well established that the term ‘Tea-Bagger’ is a sexually offensive slur, officials at Organizing for America, the official Democrat Party group dedicated to organizing the party in ‘10 and ‘12, are using the term “Tea-Bagger’ in their official gatherings.

OFA Leaders Use The Term ‘Tea-Bagger’ At Their Official Meetings!

Jonah Goldberg: Is Arizona's Law Wrong if it Works?

Here’s President Obama on the law’s ramifications: “You can imagine, if you are a Hispanic American in Arizona — your great-grandparents may have been there before Arizona was even a state. But now, suddenly, if you don’t have your papers and you took your kid out to get ice cream, you’re going to be harassed. That’s something that could potentially happen. That’s not the right way to go.”

In the president’s (flawed) scenario, that hypothetical Hispanic citizen will be “harassed.” What does that mean? It means he will be asked to prove his citizenship, which he will obviously be able to do. He won’t be tried, convicted, and deported; he will be inconvenienced. Indeed, under the more realistic scenario, he will be pulled over for a traffic violation and asked to offer his driver’s license (his “papers”). And that will be it.

Meanwhile, imagine you’re an American kid of Chinese ancestry. Given your SAT scores and GPA, you should be able to get into, say, the University of Michigan. But because of Michigan’s race-based policies, you’re turned down because you’re not black or Hispanic. That’s not just inconvenient, that’s a lifetime loss. You’ll never be able to go to that school. Period. Similarly, being turned down for a job you deserve because of your skin color is a real loss. Being questioned for a few minutes about your immigration status may be inconvenient, or even feel insulting. But, beyond ruining your day, you’ll be fine.

Here's the whole article from National Review Online:

Is Arizona Law Still Wrong If It Works? - Jonah Goldberg - National Review Online

Abby Sunderland Stops In Cape Town

Remember Abby Sunderland? She was the subject of an earlier post on this Blog. That's a photo of her as she was leaving from Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, California, on January 23, 2010, for her attempt at a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world.

Unfortunately, the two auto pilot systems on her boat failed her (she got the second one working by using spare parts from the first, but still had problems). As a result, she has had to make a stop for repairs in Cape Town, South Africa. On the way in to Cape Town her engine went out, so the repairs will take longer than anticipated. Here's a photo of her arrival in Cape Town on Wednesday, after 103 days alone at sea.


Abby is disappointed that she will not be making the circumnavigation without stopping, but she will still be the youngest person to complete this extraordinary task of circling the globe solo (albeit with a stop en route).

You can follow Abby once she resumes her adventure by clicking on her Blog which is linked on the right side of this one under "My Blog List." The below video was on her Blog yesterday. It shows her arrival in the busy port of Cape Town.

The Summer That Could Change The World

That's retired Major General Paul Vallely, whom you'll probably remember as one of the top TV analysts during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He made this video with Bill Whittle of PJTV in which he discusses possible preemptive attacks by Iran and Israel on each other as early as this summer.


http://www.pjtv.com/v/3505

Never too Late: A Muslim Speaks Out Against Radical Islam

Just when it seemed it would never happen, a prominent Muslim has decided it was time someone who practices the Muslim faith, and believes in the Koran, took a public stance against the radicals who have hijacked their religion and used it as an excuse for violence against non-Muslims.

That's Naseem Mahdi, the national vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He spoke at the National Press Club yesterday, and condemned radical Muslim fanatics who are violating the basic beliefs of the Muslim faith.

Here are some of his remarks to Fox News about why he decided to speak out.

It was painful for me but I had to say what I said yesterday. You see, for a very long time, a small minority of Muslim clerics, they have hijacked the faith of Islam. It's not a problem of Muslims, it's universal, it's an international problem. I consider Islam the most beautiful religion because it teaches us to live in harmony with Christians and Jews. And when I see these people promoting hatred, I feel pain in my heart. That is painful to me. And what I said was not a pleasure to say because, a vast majority of Muslims are moderate, peace loving and abiding by the laws of the countries they live in. And they are being labeled as if they are all fanatics.

The second point I highlighted in my talk on Tuesday is loyalty to homeland. And this is not, I repeat, a political statement of mine. This is my religious duty. This is my faith. That we should be loyal to the country we live in. The Prophet Mohammed has said love of homeland is part of faith. So how could I think otherwise. If I live in the United States this is my religious duty. This is painful to me -- that people are living in the most beautiful country in the world, getting all of its benefits and then they are saying they are not loyal to this country? That's not only against religion, it's against common courtesy.

To read the rest of his remarks about his speech and a transcript of his speech at the National Press Club, go here.

A Man For All Seasons

Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, the Bishop-designate of Springfield, Illinois, delivered this short but timely and poignant sermon on April 30, 2010. Thanks to Michael Voris for bringing it to our attention via Real Catholic TV.


HOMILY FOR THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS PRECEDING THE ILLINOIS
CATHOLIC PRAYER BREAKFAST

April 30, 2010

Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki
Bishop-designate of Springfield in Illinois

As you may know, Pope Benedict XVI has appointed me to serve as the
ninth Bishop of Springfield in Illinois. As the date of my Installation Mass, I have chosen June 22nd, the Feast of the English martyrs, Saints Thomas More and John Fisher. This day is appropriate because St. John Fisher was a Bishop, while St. Thomas More is a special patron saint for me not only because I am named Thomas and I served as Chancellor, as Thomas More did, but also because Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers and politicians. I think his intercession will be vitally needed in my pastoral ministry as shepherd of our state capital.

My favorite movie of all time is “A Man For All Seasons,” about the life of
St. Thomas More. In the screenplay written by Robert Bolt, there is a very
poignant scene towards the end of the story of the trial of Thomas More, who was charged for High Treason for his refusal to sign the Act of Supremacy, making King Henry VIII the head of the Church of England. Sir Richard Rich has just perjured himself on the witness stand by giving false testimony by which More would surely be convicted. Before Sir Richard leaves the witness stand, More says, “I have one question to ask the witness. That’s a chain of office you are wearing. May I see it?” Rich allows More to examine the medallion, whereupon More says, “The red dragon.” More then asks Cromwell, who is conducting the interrogation, “What’s this?”

Cromwell answers, “Sir Richard is appointed Attorney-General of Wales.”
More we are told, looks into Rich’s face with pain and amusement and asks,
“For Wales? Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world . . . But, for Wales!”

Unfortunately we live in a time when many other politicians are quite
willing to give their souls for even less than Wales! As we gather for this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass preceding the Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast, we pray for the intercession of Saints Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher, that politicians and all government officials may follow their courageous example of faithful adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Today’s Mass is celebrated as a Memorial of Pope St. Pius V, who lived
during the time of Saints Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher. The pontificate of Pope Pius V was one of the most glorious of the 16th century. He enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent, published the Roman Catechism and revised the Missal and Breviary. We pray for his intercession as well.

Our liturgy today also continues the celebration of the Easter season. Our
first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us of the life of the early Christian community. Then, as now, courtroom trials depended on the testimony of courtroom witnesses. Conviction or acquittal can depend on what a person has experienced and how credibly the person expresses that experience to a judge or jury. If we expect people to believe in the resurrection of Jesus, there have to be credible witnesses. St. Paul cites the companions of Jesus as witnesses to the resurrection. He passes on their testimony as well as their own.

We are called to bear witness to Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Jesus shows us how to live by His example of selfless sacrifice. He teaches us the truth about God, about ourselves, and about the world. He gives us eternal life through faith and the living of our sacramental life. Everything we say and do should convince people of the Gospel message. The Eucharist we are about to receive fills us with the presence of Christ so that we may be credible witnesses to the good news of eternal life with our Risen Lord.

May God give us this grace.


H/T: Dtezz

The Nation - Far Left of the Mark

I hate to claim prescience (see yesterday's post), but look what Robert Dreyfuss, contributing editor of The Nation had to say about the Times Square attempted bombing:

It may be that the Pakistan-based Taliban, the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has quietly established a Connecticut franchise while we weren't looking. That's possible. But it seems far more likely to me that the perpetrator of the bungled Times Square bomb plot was either a lone nut job or a member of some squirrely branch of the Tea Party, anti-government far right. Which actually exists in Connecticut, where, it seems, the car's license plates were stolen.

You can read the whole "squirrely" piece by Dreyfuss here.

As more and more information about the "suspect" and his ties to Radical Islam comes to light, don't look for Robert Dreyfuss to apologize to the Tea Party Patriots for casting aspersions on them by his premature prognostications.

You Mean It Wasn't A Tea Party Patriot?

Imagine the disappointment on the Left when it was announced that a foreign born terrorist had been arrested for the attempted car bombing of Times Square this past Saturday. Unless they can come up with some way to spin the story better than seems possible, they will not be able to weave the Tea Party Patriots into the plot. That's not to say they won't try. Bill Clinton must be on stand-by to reprise his condemnation of Rush Limbaugh and talk radio that he coined after the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in 1995, and if they attempt to make the arrested Pakistani-American (in their convoluted way) appear to be closer to a Timothy McVeigh than to an Osama bin Laden, don't be surprised.

In fact if they can find a photo-shopped likeness of Faisal Shahzad appearing to be in attendance at a Tea Party function, remember you heard it here first. Picture this guy at a Tea Party.


Here's the latest on the "suspect" from the new York Daily News (emphasis added).

A detailed profile of Faisal Shahzad is still taking shape. Law enforcement officials have released the following details:

- Shahzad, 30, maintained a residence in Bridgeport, Conn. FBI agents searched the home and removed several plastic bags from the two-story Colonial home.

- Neighbors report he claimed to work on Wall St.

- Shahzad has told investigators he acted alone, not on behalf of a larger terror organization.

- Law enforcement officials initially tracked Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Pakistan, by recovering his number from the cell phone of the woman who sold him a Pathfinder SUV just weeks before the failed bomb attempt.

- Shahzad bought the SUV left in Times Square with stolen plates from a nearby junkyard, from a Connecticut woman three weeks ago. He reportedly paid $1,300.

- Sources said Shahzad left a loaded 9mm handgun with five full clips inside his car before heading for his flight.

- Officials said Shahzad's final destination was Pakistan. He spent several months there last year in the southern port city of Karachi, according to Pakistani media.

- Other reports, which could not be confirmed, said Shahzad also traveled to the city Peshawar, a hub of Taliban activity near the Afghan border.

Hold on now, the reports of his travel to Peshawar, a hub of Taliban activity, are unconfirmed, so don't go thinking the guy is a radical Muslim. And remember, not all Muslims are radical, that's why the majority of them living in this country are so quick to condemn the violent actions of the radicals who happen to practice their religion.

We have to have confidence that Janet Napolitano, Eric Holder, and other "experts" in the Obama administration will get this whole thing sorted out, and will continue their "vigilance," which along with the vigilance of a truly patriotic street vendor saved the lives of a lot of people in Times Square Saturday night.

Make no mistake, the system did not work and obviously did not save any lives Saturday night. Numerous lives were saved and a tragedy was avoided thanks to Divine Providence and an alert 57 year old disabled Vietnam veteran, Lance L. Orton Sr, who sells T-Shirts on the street. Eric Holder, Barack Obama, and Janet Napolitano can talk all they want about how the system worked, but if you want to thank someone, thank God and Lance L. Orton, Sr (photo below).

A Political Conundrum

(Click to enlarge)


H/T: MLees

If Everyone is Special; No One Is.

H/T: robpmck

Sundays are for Beauty - Benny Goodman

"Sing, Sing, Sing" was written in 1936, by Louis Prima and first recorded by him with the New Orleans Gang in March, 1936. It became identified more with Gene Krupa and Benny Goodman over the years.

This has to be from the 40's when the Big Band Era was at its zenith. They were great days, and a band with Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Gene Krupa all playing in it was truly something to behold.


Have a Beautiful Sunday.

Atlas Shrugs Wins One for Free Speech

That's Pamela Geller (also know as Atlas Shrugs) in the above photo with Mark Steyn. She created a furor over at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) when she placed advertisements on Miami/Dade buses. The ads asked a series of questions:

Fatwa on your head? Is your family or community threatening you? Leaving Islam? Got questions? Get answers! RefugefromIslam.com.

Here's a photo of the Ad that appeared on the sides of Miami buses:


(Click to enlarge)

Needless to say, CAIR was not enthralled with the ads (they're also not enthralled with our First Amendment - except when it allows them to spew their offensive ads against Jews and Christians) so, as is their wont, they intimidated Miami-Dade Transit into taking the pro-religious liberty advertisements off Miami buses because they offended Muslims.

The following is from Pamela:

On April 13 our ads began running on Miami buses. On Friday, April 16, after CAIR complained, Miami-Dade Transit pulled our ads. The reason? Karla Damian, a spokesperson for Transit, said they might be “offensive to Islam.”

It was an outrageous denial of our free speech rights, and a stunning capitulation to Sharia. Even worse, it was a blatantly inconsistent application of Miami-Dade Transit’s policies: CAIR and other Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups ran campaigns on buses across the country last year, including Miami, inviting people to convert to Islam and claiming that Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were Muslim prophets. Miami-Dade Transit allowed the CAIR bus ads, despite how offensive they were to Jews and Christians.

In December 2008, the Miami Herald ran a glowing piece on the CAIR bus ad campaign, which ran in Miami-Dade and Broward counties for eight weeks. No one took offense, despite the Islamic supremacist nature of the ads. No one breathed a word of protest.

It was important to counterbalance this offensive appropriation of the founding figures of Judaism and Christianity and outright deception with a healthy message. But although Miami-Dade Transit had no trouble with CAIR’s offensive message, they found our defense of religious freedom unacceptable.

But CAIR didn’t win this time: after our excellent lawyer, David Yerushalmi, and his associate, Robert Muise of the Thomas More Law Center, threatened a lawsuit for breach of contract and infringement of our First Amendment rights, Miami-Dade Transit agreed to restore our ads.

In tacit recognition of their wrongdoing, they also agreed to add the ads to twenty new buses at a very steep discount.

Click below to read Pamela's piece which appeared on Pajamas Media.

Pajamas Media » Free Speech 1, CAIR 0: RefugeFromIslam.com Ads Going Back Up in FL


H/T: bkmck

Last Word on Arizona's Immigration Law

(Click to enlarge)